Guidance for parents and students

Choosing A-Levels for Medicine or Engineering

Choose maths and science A-Levels with current medicine and engineering course requirements in mind.

Begin with the course requirements

Check a range of official university course pages before choosing subjects. Medicine and engineering have different requirements, and there can also be important differences between courses in the same field. Keep the intended entry year beside every requirement you record.

Medicine: check the science combination

Biology and Chemistry are important subjects to investigate when comparing medicine courses. Do not rely on a universal rule about a third subject: read each school’s requirements and ask admissions staff where your combination is unclear.

Engineering: investigate Maths, Physics and Further Maths

Review how your target courses treat Maths, Physics and Further Maths. Consider optional modules, workload and what your school offers. Further Maths is not a requirement for every engineering course, so check the course rather than generalising.

Balance eligibility with a sustainable workload

Talk with subject teachers about your strengths and the demands of each course. A fourth A-Level is a significant commitment. Keep time for understanding core topics and practising independently rather than choosing subjects solely for appearances.

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