If you are studying the International Baccalaureate and applying to UK universities, you already know that the total points figure on your predicted grade form tells only half the story. Almost every competitive UK university issues IB conditional offers with two separate requirements: a total points target and specific Higher Level grade requirements. You can miss an offer by hitting 39 points with the wrong HL profile just as easily as by scoring too low overall.
This guide gives you the actual numbers — by university, by subject — so you know exactly where you stand and what you need.
How IB Scores Map to A-level Grades
UK universities are built around A-levels, so it helps to understand the rough equivalences before diving into the numbers. The official UCAS tariff conversion is:
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Review my statement → From €7.49 · Results in under 10 min| IB HL Grade | A-level Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 7 | A* |
| 6 | A |
| 5 | B |
| 4 | C |
Standard Level grades carry less weight. Most universities focus primarily on your HL profile when assessing applications, using SL grades only as a secondary check.
In terms of full diplomas, the broad equivalences that admissions tutors work with are:
- 42–45 points → A*A*A* territory
- 39–41 points → A*A*A / A*AA
- 36–38 points → AAA / A*AAB
- 34–36 points → AAB / ABB
- 32–34 points → ABB / BBB
- Below 32 → BCB and below
One critical caveat: which Maths course you took matters. For STEM subjects at virtually every top UK university, Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches is strongly preferred over Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations. If you are applying for Maths, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics or Economics, this distinction can make or break your application.
Oxford and Cambridge
Oxford
Oxford's typical IB offer range is 38–40 points, but the total alone is not what Oxford is looking at. The HL profile — which subjects you took at Higher Level and what grades you got — is what drives shortlisting decisions.
By subject:
| Subject Area | Typical Total | Typical HL Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities (PPE, History, English, Law) | 38–39 | 6,6,6 or 7,6,6 in relevant subjects |
| Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) | 39–40 | 7,6,6; relevant science at HL grade 6+ |
| Engineering | 39–40 | Maths HL grade 7; Physics HL grade 6 |
| Mathematics | 39–40 | Maths HL grade 7 |
| Medicine | 39 | 7,6,6 including Chemistry HL; Biology or Physics or Maths HL |
In practice, the average IB score among students who receive Oxford offers is around 41–42, with HL patterns of 7,7,6 or 7,7,7 being common. If you are sitting at 38 predicted with a strong personal statement and relevant admissions test scores, you are in contention. Below that, it becomes very difficult.
Oxford fully accepts IB students and treats the qualification seriously. You will still need to sit the same admissions tests as A-level students — TMUA for Maths, ESAT for Engineering, BioMedical Admissions Test for Medicine — and attend interviews.
Cambridge
Cambridge is the most demanding of all UK universities for IB scores. The typical offer is 40–42 points, with HL profiles of 7,7,6 being the floor for competitive courses rather than the ceiling.
By subject:
| Subject Area | Typical Total | Typical HL Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities | 40–42 | 7,7,6 at HL |
| Sciences | 40–42 | 7,7,6; relevant sciences at HL grade 7 |
| Engineering | 40–42 | Maths HL grade 7 |
| Medicine | 41–42 | 7,7,7 in practice for admitted students |
| Mathematics | 41–42 | Maths HL grade 7; Further Maths HL advantageous |
Cambridge's contextual admissions processes can moderate these requirements slightly for some applicants, but the numbers above reflect what the majority of successful IB applicants actually achieve.
Top London Universities
Imperial College London
Imperial is primarily a STEM university, and its IB requirements reflect that. The typical range is 38–42 points depending on programme, with a heavy emphasis on HL grades in relevant scientific subjects.
| Course | Typical Total | HL Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering (all) | 38–40 | Maths HL grade 6–7; Physics HL grade 6 |
| Mathematics | 38–40 | Maths HL grade 7 |
| Computing | 38–40 | Maths HL grade 6–7 |
| Medicine | 38–39 | Chemistry + Biology both at HL; both grade 6 minimum; English SL grade 5 |
Imperial explicitly states a preference for Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches over Applications and Interpretations for all STEM courses. This is not a soft preference — some courses will not accept Applications and Interpretations at all.
UCL (University College London)
UCL covers almost every subject, so requirements vary considerably. The typical range is 34–40 points.
| Course | Typical Total | HL Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | 39 | 19 points from three HL subjects; Biology + Chemistry at HL, one at grade 7 |
| Engineering | 36–38 | Maths HL grade 6; Physics HL grade 6 |
| Laws (LLB) | 38 | No specific HL subject requirements |
| Economics | 38–39 | Maths HL grade 6 |
| English Literature | 38 | English HL grade 6 |
LSE (London School of Economics)
LSE is extremely competitive for Economics and Social Science. Typical requirement: 37–38 points with HL grades of 6,6,6. Mathematics HL is increasingly expected for Economics, Finance, and Statistics programmes, even where not formally required.
King's College London
Typical range: 35–38 points with HL grades of 6,6,6.
| Course | Typical Total | HL Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | 37–38 | 7,6,6 including Chemistry and Biology at HL |
| Law | 36–38 | English HL grade 6 |
| Nursing | 32–34 | Biology or equivalent at HL |
Other Major UK Universities
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh is popular with international students and receives a high volume of IB applications. Typical range: 34–38 points.
| Course | Typical Total | HL Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | 37 | 7,6,6 including Chemistry + one further science at HL |
| Engineering | 35–37 | Maths HL grade 6; Physics HL grade 6 |
| Law | 34–36 | English HL grade 5+ |
| Computer Science | 36–38 | Maths HL grade 6 |
University of Bristol
Bristol has a wide spread of requirements — from 32 to 39 points depending on course.
| Course | Typical Total | HL Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | 36–37 | Chemistry HL grade 6; Biology or Physics or Maths HL |
| Engineering (Aerospace) | 38 | 18 points at HL including Maths grade 7 and Physics grade 6 |
| Physics | 38 | Maths HL grade 6; Physics HL grade 6 |
| Economics | 39 | Maths HL grade 6 |
| Law | 38 | No specific HL requirements |
| History | 36 | History HL grade 6 |
University of Warwick
Warwick has increased its entry requirements significantly in recent years. Typical range: 36–39 points.
| Course | Typical Total |
|---|---|
| Economics | 39, with Maths HL grade 6 |
| Computer Science | 36–38; TMUA also now required |
| Mathematics | 38–39; Maths HL grade 7 |
| Law | 36–38 |
University of Manchester
Typical range: 34–37 points with HL grades 6,6,6 including English.
| Course | Typical Total |
|---|---|
| Medicine | 37, with 7,6,6 at HL including Chemistry/Biology |
| Engineering | 35–37, with Maths HL grade 6 |
| Economics | 36–37, with Maths HL grade 6 |
Durham, Exeter, Bath
All sit in the 36–38 point range for most courses. Durham's Medicine asks for 38 points. Bath and Exeter Engineering typically require Maths HL grade 6 and 36–38 total.
Southampton, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Cardiff, Queen's Belfast
The range here is broadly 32–36 points for most courses. Medicine at these institutions typically requires 36–37 points with Chemistry and Biology HL.
IB Score Tier Summary
| Score Band | Where You Are Competitive |
|---|---|
| 42–45 | Oxford, Cambridge; most courses at all top universities |
| 40–41 | Oxford (most courses), Cambridge (humanities), Imperial, UCL Medical School |
| 38–40 | Imperial (all courses), UCL (most courses), LSE, Bristol (top courses), Durham, Warwick (top courses), Edinburgh |
| 36–38 | Warwick, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, King's College London, Exeter, Bath |
| 34–36 | Southampton, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Cardiff, Queen's Belfast |
| 32–34 | Mid-tier universities; Foundation Year at top universities |
| Below 32 | Post-92 universities; Foundation Year programmes |
Medicine: IB Requirements Across UK Medical Schools
Medicine is in a category of its own. The requirements are highest, the HL subject requirements are near-universal, and competition is fiercest.
Near-universal requirement: Chemistry and Biology both at HL, both at grade 6 minimum. There is almost no UK medical school that will accept you without these two subjects at the right level.
By approximate entry threshold:
- 40+ in practice: Cambridge (7,7,7 at HL among admitted students)
- 39 points: Oxford, UCL
- 38–39 points: Imperial, Durham, Newcastle, St Andrews, Cardiff, Glasgow
- 37 points: Edinburgh, Manchester, King's College London, Bristol, Sheffield
- 36 points: Birmingham, Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham, Southampton, Leicester, Lancaster, UEA
Most medical schools also require UCAT (or BMAT at some institutions). Your IB score gets you to the door — the admissions test and interview are what open it.
What IB Students Often Get Wrong
Hitting the points target but missing the HL requirement. An offer of "38 points including 6,6,6 at HL" is not an offer of 38 points. Both components are binding. Gaining 39 total by doing well at SL while missing a required HL grade results in rejection.
Taking Applications and Interpretations Maths for a STEM course. This is the most common structural mistake IB students make. If you want to study Maths, Engineering, Physics, Computing, or Economics at a top UK university and you are currently in Year 11 or Year 12, this decision matters enormously. Analysis and Approaches is the right choice.
Assuming IB is disadvantaged vs A-levels. It is not. Oxford and Cambridge both actively recruit IB students and are well-equipped to evaluate the qualification. Some admissions tutors say IB applicants are often better prepared for independent thinking precisely because the diploma requires breadth.
Underestimating the personal statement. IB students sometimes assume that a high predicted score does the heavy lifting. It does not. The personal statement remains the primary place where admissions tutors assess your intellectual curiosity, your engagement with the subject, and whether you are ready for university-level study. A score of 42 with a weak personal statement will lose out to a score of 38 with an outstanding one at most non-Oxbridge universities.
If you are working on your personal statement alongside your IB predictions, getting expert feedback before you submit is one of the highest-leverage things you can do. Statementory analyses your statement line by line against what admissions tutors are actually looking for — try the free preview to see how yours scores before you commit to sending it.
Key Takeaways
- Always check the specific HL requirements for your course, not just the total points figure
- For STEM courses: take Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches — not Applications and Interpretations
- Medicine requires Chemistry and Biology both at HL grade 6, with totals from 36 (regional schools) to 40+ (Cambridge)
- Oxford and Cambridge take IB students seriously — but still require admissions tests and interviews
- Your personal statement matters just as much as your predicted grades
- When in doubt, check the specific course page on the university's official website — requirements can differ between departments
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