Entry Requirements Explained

Entry Requirements Explained

Each course has specific requirements for you to reach before they can apply, these are usually a mix of qualifications, subjects, or exam grades for your own circumstances and background. Find out what everything means.

Standard Entry Requirements

For all Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses, we have standard entry requirements that applicants should reach.

We may require a specific grade in a specific subject in order to join some courses. All of these are advertised on our course information pages.


Minimum Entry Requirements

RGU is fully committed to widening participation to extend access to learning and enable talented individuals from under-represented groups, particularly those from deprived areas, to achieve their ambitions through higher education, whatever their circumstances.

Here at RGU we believe anyone with the talent and potential to succeed deserves the opportunity to study with us. We recognise you as an individual, and not all individuals’ experiences and opportunities are equal. This is why we apply what we call ‘contextual admissions’ in all our decision making.

Our admissions processes aim to be fair to all learners by taking full account of your circumstances when assessing any application. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps us to identify your full potential and widen access to RGU. Other information we take into account are your personal statement, work experience, voluntary and extra-curricular activities. As part of this assessment we also look for contextual indicators that show you are either:

  • a young carer
  • care-experienced
  • attending or attended a Schools for Higher Education Programme (SHEP)
    - such as Aspire North, LIFT OFF, LEAPS or Focus West
  • are from an SIMD1 or SIMD2 postcode
    The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation ranks each postcode in Scotland by factors such as levels of income, health, access to services, crime, employment and education. SIMD20 (sometimes referred to as SIMD1 is the 20% most deprived postcodes in Scotland. 

On our course information pages, we list our Scottish Higher entry requirements in two ways. We list our Standard Entry Requirements and our Minimum Entry Requirements (access threshold requirements). Our minimum entry requirements are the grades that applicants who are eligible for contextual admissions must achieve by the time you enter the University. These grades are in general 2-3 grades lower than our standard entry requirements.

On some course entry requirements you will see what we call ‘banded grades’. These show where we may be able to accept just 3 Higher grades instead of the standard 4. Where we can accept only 3, this will be at an increased grade.

Further information

Our dedicated Access RGU team are here to help you transition to University as well as throughout your learning journey


Subject Specific Requirements

Some courses or subjects need applicants to attend an interview, supply a portfolio of work or something else to support their applications. Further details about what will be required are given on each course page.

If you have any questions about specific requirements needed as part of your application, contact admissions by email admissions@rgu.ac.uk or call us on 01224 262728.


English Language

Applicants whose first language is not English should have a certain level achieved in a standard English test and we accept a variety of in-country and secure English language tests, find out more:


Alternative Qualifications

We welcome applications from those with equivalent qualifications to those stated, including SVQs/NVQs, access programmes, Foundation Apprenticeships and overseas qualifications.

Applications from students with non-standard qualifications or work experience are encouraged to apply or contact our Student Admissions Service for advice by emailing admissions@rgu.ac.uk or calling 01224 262728.


Contacts

If you have any questions about your eligibility for a course, get in touch with Admissions:

You can also find out more about our application processes:

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