Choosing your A-levels is the first major decision that shapes which university courses you can realistically apply for. Get it right and your options stay open. Get it wrong — take the wrong combination for your intended degree — and you may find yourself locked out of your target universities regardless of your grades.
This guide breaks down what you actually need, course by course, based on current entry requirements at Russell Group universities including Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, LSE, Imperial, King's, Warwick, Bristol, and Edinburgh.
First: What Happened to "Facilitating Subjects"?
For years, the Russell Group published a list of "facilitating subjects" — A-levels it said kept the most degree options open. That list no longer exists. The Russell Group discontinued it in 2024-25, replacing it with course-specific guidance on informedchoices.ac.uk.
What this means practically: there is no single set of "safe" A-levels anymore. The question is not whether you are taking facilitating subjects in the abstract — it is whether you are taking the subjects your specific target courses require or prefer.
The guide below tells you exactly that, course by course.
A-Levels by Course
Medicine
Essential (without these you cannot apply):
- Chemistry
- Biology
These two are non-negotiable at every Russell Group medical school. No exceptions. Every single one — Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, King's, Edinburgh, Bristol — requires both.
Strongly recommended:
- A third science: Physics, Mathematics, or Further Mathematics
- At Oxford and Cambridge, most successful applicants have three science/maths A-levels
Grade requirements:
- Standard: AAA at most universities
- Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial: A*AA
Also required:
- UCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test) — this has replaced BMAT at most medical schools
- Some universities require MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) or traditional interviews
Subjects to avoid as your third A-level:
- General Studies, Critical Thinking, or similar non-content subjects
- These are not valued by medical schools and take time away from building a strong science foundation
One note on the third subject: Mathematics is arguably the strongest choice alongside Chemistry and Biology. It is useful for biochemistry, statistics in medicine, and demonstrates quantitative ability. Psychology is also widely accepted.
Law
Essential (without these you cannot apply):
- None. Law has no required A-level subjects at any UK university.
This surprises many students. Law A-level itself is not required — and at Oxford and Cambridge, studying Law A-level before applying is not expected.
What universities actually look for:
- Subjects that demonstrate critical thinking and written argument
- History is consistently the most valued A-level for law — it requires reading complex material, constructing arguments, and writing under pressure
- English Literature similarly valued
- Economics and Politics are well-regarded
- At UCL, at least two A-levels must come from a preferred subjects list
Grade requirements:
- Cambridge: A*AA
- Oxford: AAA
- UCL, LSE, KCL: AAA
Additional test required:
- LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test) — required by Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, LSE, KCL, Bristol, Durham, Glasgow, SOAS
- The LNAT score matters significantly — do not underestimate how much preparation it requires
Subjects to think twice about:
- Avoiding any analytical writing subjects weakens your application. Law tutors want to see evidence you can handle dense reading and construct a sustained argument — pick subjects that prove this.
Engineering (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical)
Essential:
- Mathematics
- Physics
These two are required at every Russell Group engineering department without exception. Physics is non-negotiable for all branches of engineering. Mathematics must be A-level, not just GCSE.
Strongly recommended:
- Further Mathematics — not always formally required, but practically essential at Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial. Most students at these universities took Further Mathematics. Without it, the mathematical jump from A-level to university engineering is severe, particularly for electrical engineering (complex numbers, differential equations, Fourier analysis).
Grade requirements:
- Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial: A*A*A (with A* in Mathematics and/or Physics)
- Warwick, Bristol, Durham: AAA to AAB depending on discipline
Additional test:
- Cambridge requires the ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test) for Engineering and Natural Sciences
- Imperial requires ESAT for some programmes
Third A-level:
- Chemistry works well, especially for chemical or materials engineering
- Computing/ICT is useful for software-heavy roles but does not replace Physics
- Design Technology is accepted at some universities but not a strong choice for top-tier applications
Computer Science
Essential:
- A-Level Mathematics
Every Russell Group university requires Mathematics for Computer Science. Without it, your application will not be considered.
Strongly recommended:
- Further Mathematics — near-essential for Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick, and Imperial. The theoretical parts of CS degrees draw heavily on discrete mathematics, logic, and linear algebra. Further Maths covers foundational ideas in all of these.
- A-Level Computer Science — useful and demonstrates genuine interest, but at most universities it is not required and does not carry the same weight as Further Maths
Grade requirements:
- Oxford: A*AA (A* in Maths, Further Maths, or Computer Science)
- Cambridge: AAA
- Imperial: AAA or A*AA
- Warwick: AAA
Can I take Computer Science instead of Further Maths? For most courses below Oxford/Cambridge/Imperial, yes — Computer Science alongside Maths is a solid combination. For the very top universities, Further Mathematics is almost always the stronger choice. If you have to choose between them and you are targeting elite universities, take Further Maths.
Economics
Essential:
- A-Level Mathematics — with A* typically expected at LSE, Warwick, Oxford, and Cambridge
No serious Russell Group economics programme will consider an applicant without A-level Mathematics. This is as close to a hard rule as exists outside medicine.
Strongly recommended:
- Further Mathematics — particularly important for LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, and Warwick. Modern economics is quantitative. The mathematical jump from A-level to first-year economics at a top university is significant, and students with Further Maths cope far better.
- Economics A-level — useful background, but genuinely not required. Most applicants take it, but universities do not expect it and it is not a substitute for strong Mathematics performance.
Grade requirements:
- LSE: AAA (A* in Mathematics typical for successful applicants)
- Warwick: A*A*A (standard) or A*AB with contextual eligibility
- Oxford: AAA
- Cambridge: A*AA
Additional test required:
- TMUA — mandatory at LSE (for BSc Economics), UCL (Economics), and required for Cambridge and Oxford
- A strong TMUA score can make or break an Economics application at these universities
Subjects to avoid:
- Taking two humanities subjects alongside Mathematics weakens an economics application at top universities. They want to see quantitative aptitude, not just broad academic ability.
Mathematics
Essential:
- A-Level Mathematics (obviously)
- Further Mathematics — effectively required at Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial, and very strongly expected everywhere else
Applying for a Mathematics degree at a Russell Group university without Further Mathematics is technically possible at some institutions, but practically speaking it signals you are not ready for degree-level content. Most departments will look past your application.
Grade requirements:
- Oxford: A*A*A (A*s in both Mathematics and Further Mathematics)
- Cambridge: A*A*A (same expectation)
- Imperial: Further Mathematics required
Additional tests:
- Cambridge: STEP 2 and STEP 3 (see separate guide)
- Oxford, LSE, Warwick, Imperial, Durham, UCL: TMUA
Third A-level:
- Physics is the strongest third choice for Mathematics — the subjects share problem-solving approach and the combination is very well received
- Chemistry works well too
- Any rigorous analytical subject is fine
Natural Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
Oxford does not offer a Natural Sciences degree. Cambridge does — and it allows students to combine sciences before specialising.
For Cambridge Natural Sciences:
- Typically requires three science or mathematics A-levels
- Mathematics is very strongly recommended, especially for Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Materials)
- For Biological Sciences track: Biology plus Chemistry plus a third science or Mathematics
For Oxford single-subject sciences:
| Course | Required A-levels | Grade requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | Mathematics + Physics | A*AA (A* in Maths or Physics) |
| Chemistry | Mathematics + Chemistry | A*A*A (A*s in Maths and Chemistry) |
| Biology | Biology + Chemistry or Physics or Maths | A*AA |
Further Mathematics: For Physics and Chemistry especially, Further Maths is very strongly recommended for Oxbridge. The mathematical content in first-year Physics at Oxford is graduate level by most universities' standards.
History and Humanities
Essential:
- None — History A-level is not required to study History at university (though it is obviously recommended)
Grade requirements:
- Oxford: AAA (History degree)
- Cambridge: A*AA typical
Recommended approach:
- History is the most obvious and useful choice
- English Literature complements well
- Languages (particularly if considering Modern History with a year abroad at Oxford, where A-level French, German, or Spanish is sometimes required)
- Philosophy or Religious Studies for related humanities paths
Subjects to think about: Humanities degrees at top universities require reading and writing at high volume and speed. Subjects that develop these skills are more useful than those that do not. If you are choosing between two options, favour the one with more written work.
Psychology
What universities expect:
- Science or Mathematics is expected as part of your combination
- Most Russell Group psychology departments want to see a mix of science/maths and humanities, reflecting the dual nature of the subject
Grade requirements:
- UCL: A*AA (one of UCL's most competitive programmes)
- Edinburgh: AAA–ABB depending on programme
- Range across Russell Group: AAA to ABB
A-Level Psychology: Useful for background knowledge, but most departments do not require it and some actively prefer applicants who have demonstrated quantitative ability through Mathematics rather than just taking Psychology A-level.
Strongest combination: Mathematics + Biology + one humanities subject (Psychology, English, History) is widely regarded as the strongest combination for competitive psychology applications.
Business and Management
Essential:
- No universal required subjects — Business Studies A-level is not required and does not particularly help
What matters:
- Mathematics is useful and, for quantitative business programmes, increasingly expected
- Analytical subjects in any form — Economics, History, Mathematics, Sciences
Grade requirements:
- Warwick (BSc Management): A*A*A
- LSE (Management): A*AA
- Range across Russell Group: AAA to ABB
A note on Business Studies A-level: Many applicants take it, but admissions teams at Russell Group universities see it as a weaker choice than Mathematics or Economics for demonstrating the skills the degree will require. If you are taking Business Studies as a third A-level, make sure your other two are strong.
What About "Soft" Subjects?
The phrase "soft subjects" is increasingly avoided by universities — it oversimplifies and the list has never been formally defined. But some A-levels are viewed as less rigorous by admissions tutors at highly competitive universities, and students taking them are implicitly choosing to be compared less favourably.
The subjects that consistently carry less weight in highly competitive applications:
- General Studies (widely not counted at all)
- Critical Thinking
- Citizenship Studies
- Media Studies (context-dependent — fine for media courses, weak for other applications)
The key principle is whether the subject demonstrates the skills your target degree requires. Media Studies for a Media Studies degree at Leeds is fine. Media Studies as one of three A-levels for a Cambridge Law application is a problem — not because the subject is bad, but because it does not demonstrate the analytical ability the course is looking for.
Should You Take the EPQ?
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is worth taking if your school offers it.
- Worth up to 28 UCAS points (A* = 28, equivalent to half an A-level)
- Students who complete EPQ are statistically more likely to achieve A*-B in their A-levels
- Twelve Russell Group universities — including Bristol, Sheffield, Bath, Southampton, and Leeds — offer reduced conditional offers to EPQ students
- Oxford and Cambridge view it favourably, particularly when the topic is linked to your chosen degree
- It gives you strong material for your personal statement and interviews
If you can take it without it damaging your A-level performance, take it.
The Admissions Test Layer
For many courses and universities, A-levels are just the starting point. Separate admissions tests have become standard across competitive subjects:
| Test | Required for |
|---|---|
| UCAT | Medicine at most UK universities |
| LNAT | Law at Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, LSE, KCL, Bristol, Durham, Glasgow, SOAS |
| TMUA | Maths and Economics at Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial, Warwick, UCL, Durham |
| STEP | Mathematics at Cambridge (STEP 2 and STEP 3) |
| ESAT | Engineering and Natural Sciences at Cambridge; Engineering at Imperial |
Your A-level combination determines which tests you need. And the tests are significant enough that you cannot treat them as an afterthought alongside your A-levels — many require months of dedicated preparation.
Your Personal Statement Connects Everything
A-levels tell universities what you have studied. Your personal statement tells them why you want to study their course — and whether you have thought seriously enough about the subject to be worth an interview invitation.
For every course on this list, the personal statement needs to go beyond what you covered in class. It needs to name specific books, ideas, or experiences that shaped your thinking about the subject. Generic enthusiasm ("I have always been passionate about economics") costs you marks against applicants who demonstrate real intellectual engagement.
Statementory reviews your UCAS personal statement against the criteria admissions tutors actually use — with a score out of 100, line-by-line annotations, before/after rewrites for weak sections, and a prioritised improvement plan. Most students improve by 15–25 points between their first and final draft.
Quick Reference: A-Levels by Course
| Course | Essential | Strongly Recommended | Third Subject Ideas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Chemistry + Biology | Physics or Maths | Maths, Physics, Psychology |
| Law | None required | History, English Lit | Economics, Politics |
| Engineering | Maths + Physics | Further Maths | Chemistry, Computing |
| Computer Science | Mathematics | Further Maths | Physics, Computer Science |
| Economics | Mathematics | Further Maths | Economics, History |
| Mathematics | Maths + Further Maths | — | Physics, Chemistry |
| Physics (Oxford) | Maths + Physics | Further Maths | Chemistry |
| Chemistry (Oxford) | Maths + Chemistry | Further Maths | Physics |
| History | None (History recommended) | English Lit | Languages, Philosophy |
| Psychology | Science or Maths | Biology | English, History |
| Business | None (Maths useful) | Maths, Economics | History, Languages |
Always verify requirements on the specific university course pages. Requirements change, and individual colleges within Oxford and Cambridge can have their own preferences.