What is UCAS?
UCAS (Universities & Colleges Admissions Service) is a clearing house for applications to almost all full-time undergraduate degree programmes at UK universities and colleges.
What are UCAS Points?
UCAS rates qualifications and awards them a tariff score based on various factors. The points accrued by completing multiple qualifications which are on the UCAS tariff can be combined together to meet University entry requirements.
The New Tariff
UCAS tariff points have changed for entry to Higher Education in 2017 and beyond. All qualifications in the new system carry far fewer points than was previously the case.
All qualifications have been reassessed by UCAS and had a new rating applied. For example a Grade A* at A Level used to carry 140 points under the old tariff. The same A* grade would now carry 56 points under the new system.
All of RSL's qualifications have retained their value relative to equivalent qualifications from other Awarding Organisations.
Which RSL Qualifications Have UCAS Points?
The following is a list of all our current qualifications which carry UCAS points:
Graded Music
Which Graded Music Exams carry UCAS Points?
Rockschool
Rockschool's Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals, Piano,, Keyboard, Ukulele, Music Theory and Music Production Grades 6, 7 & 8 all have UCAS points.
RSL Classical
RSL Classical Piano, Violin and Guitar all have UCAS Points available at grades 6, 7 & 8.
Grade Exam (including Music Production)
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given Grade Level (Grade Exam & Performance Certificate), grade boundary and mark:| Grade | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 8 points | 10 points | 12 points |
| Grade 7 | 12 points | 14 points | 16 points |
| Grade 8 | 18 points | 24 points | 30 points |
Where a candidate has taken more than one exam in one instrument, they can only put forward the exam which gave them the highest number of points. However, where points are awarded for graded exams in different instruments, these can be accumulated, but it would be the decision of the university or college whether or not they choose to accept both sets of points.
Music Theory
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given Music Theory grade and mark:| Grade | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 4 points | 5 points | 6 points |
| Grade 7 | 6 points | 7 points | 8 points |
| Grade 8 | 8 points | 9 points | 10 points |
Performance Arts Awards
Which Performance Arts Exams carry UCAS Points?
Performance Arts Award's Level 3 (Grade 6, 7 & 8) Examinations carry UCAS points, enabling them to help with entry to university.
The following is a list of all our Performance Arts qualifications which carry UCAS points:
- Musical Theatre Grades 6 – 8
- Acting Grades 6 – 8
- Screen Acting Grades 6 – 8
- Jazz Dance Grades 6 – 8
- Street Dance Grades 6 – 8
UCAS Points Awarded for Musical Theatre, Acting and Screen Acting Exams
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given grade and mark:| Grade | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 8 points | 10 points | 12 points |
| Grade 7 | 12 points | 14 points | 16 points |
| Grade 8 | 24 points | 27 points | 30 points |
UCAS Points Awarded for Dance Exams
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given grade and mark:| Grade | Pass | Merit | Distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 6 | 8 points | 10 points | 12 points |
| Grade 7 | 12 points | 14 points | 16 points |
| Grade 8 | 16 points | 18 points | 20 points |
Where a candidate has taken more than one exam, they can only put forward the exam which gave them the highest number of points
Vocational Qualifications
UCAS Points Awarded for Music Practitioners (Vocational Qualifications)
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given qualification and mark:| Qualification | Pass | Merit | Distinction | Distinction* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 Certificate | 4 | 8 | 12 | 14 |
| Level 3 Extended Certificate | 8 | 16 | 24 | 28 |
| Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma | 24 | 48 | 72 | 84 |
| Level 3 Diploma | 32 | 64 | 96 | 112 |
| Level 3 Extended Diploma | 48 | 96 | 144 | 168 |
UCAS Points Awarded for Creative Music Industry (Vocational Qualifications)
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given qualification and mark:| Qualification | Pass | Merit | Distinction | Distinction* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 Award | 4 | 8 | 12 | 14 |
| Level 3 Certificate | 8 | 16 | 24 | 28 |
| Level 3 Extended Certificate | 16 | 32 | 48 | 56 |
| Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma | 24 | 48 | 72 | 84 |
| Level 3 Diploma | 32 | 64 | 96 | 112 |
| Level 3 Extended Diploma | 48 | 96 | 144 | 168 |
UCAS Points Awarded for Creative & Performing Arts (Vocational Qualifications)
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given qualification and mark:| Qualification | Pass | Merit | Distinction | Distinction* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 Certificate | 8 | 16 | 24 | 28 |
| Level 3 Extended Certificate | 8 | 16 | 24 | 28 |
| Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma | 16 | 32 | 48 | 56 |
| Level 3 Diploma | 24 | 48 | 72 | 84 |
| Level 3 Extended Diploma | 48 | 96 | 144 | 168 |
UCAS Points Awarded for Creative Digital Media (Vocational Qualifications)
See the table below for the UCAS points awarded for a given qualification and mark:| Qualification | Pass | Merit | Distinction | Distinction* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 Award | 4 | 8 | 12 | 14 |
| Level 3 Certificate | 8 | 16 | 24 | 28 |
| Level 3 Extended Certificate | 16 | 32 | 48 | 56 |
| Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma | 24 | 48 | 72 | 84 |
| Level 3 Diploma | 32 | 64 | 96 | 112 |
| Level 3 Extended Diploma | 48 | 96 | 144 | 168 |
Related Links
View the Official UCAS Website for more information.