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A-LEVELS

Full-Time A-Level information

Belfast Met is the largest provider of Full-Time A-Level programmes in the Northern Ireland Further Education sector.

However, despite our size we take pride in the fact that every student joining our A-Level programmes is made to feel welcome and given the level of pastoral and educational guidance required to make their time with us successful and enjoyable.

We deliver A-Levels through our two year programme (AS in year 1, A2 in year 2) or The Fast-Track Programme (AS/A2 combined in one year).

 

AS Level

(First Year A-Levels – Application Code P00246-AA. Please note that list of subjects may be amended)

16 or over on 1st July 2025.
At least 20 points at GCSE which includes 5 passes at grade C or above.


The subject-specific requirements below:

 AS Levels
Subject GCSE minimum Grade C or as stated below for subjects indicated 
Biology Double Award Science minimum grade BB or grade C GCSE Biology plus English and Maths. Must also take another STEM related subject
Business Studies English & Maths (preference to C* and above in either subject)
Chemistry Double Award Science minimum grade BB or grade C GCSE Chemistry plus English and Maths. Must also take another STEM related subject
Criminology* English & Maths
(A-Level equivalent offered as a certificate in AS)
Digital Technology English & Maths
Economics English & Maths with a minimum grade B in at least one of these subjects
English Literature English minimum Grade B & Maths
 Geography Geography, minimum grade B, English grade B & Maths
Government & Politics English minimum grade C* & Maths
History English minimum grade B & Maths
Maths Maths minimum grade B (Higher Tier). Students who have not already passed GCSE Further Maths must take it in addition to their A-Level subjects UNLESS they have already completed GCE AS Maths
Media Studies English minimum grade B & Maths
Physics Maths minimum grade B plus Double Award Science minimum grade BB or grade B in GCSE Physics, plus English. Must also take another STEM related subject. Students who have not already passed GCSE Further Maths must take it in addition to their A-Level subjects
Psychology English Grade B & Maths Grade B
Religious Studies English & Maths
Sociology English & Maths
Spanish Spanish Grade C plus English & Maths

 

 

A2 Level

(Second Year – Application code P00247-AA). 


•    17 or over on 1st July 2025
•    Must have 3 passes (grades A-E) at AS Level in chosen subjects awarded by the same Awarding Organisation.
(We may be able to accept students with passes in Economics and Sociology sat through Awarding Organisations other than AQA).

 AS Levels
Subject GCSE minimum Grade C or as stated below for subjects indicated 
Biology Double Award Science minimum grade BB or grade C GCSE Biology plus English and Maths. Must also take another STEM related subject
Business Studies English & Maths (preference to C* and above in either subject)
Chemistry Double Award Science minimum grade BB or grade C GCSE Chemistry plus English and Maths. Must also take another STEM related subject
Criminology* English & Maths
(A-Level equivalent offered as a certificate in AS)
Digital Technology English & Maths
Economics English & Maths with a minimum grade B in at least one of these subjects
English Literature English minimum Grade B & Maths
 Geography Geography, minimum grade B, English grade B & Maths
Government & Politics English minimum grade C* & Maths
History English minimum grade B & Maths
Maths Maths minimum grade B (Higher Tier). Students who have not already passed GCSE Further Maths must take it in addition to their A-Level subjects UNLESS they have already completed GCE AS Maths
Media Studies English minimum grade B & Maths
Physics Maths minimum grade B plus Double Award Science minimum grade BB or grade B in GCSE Physics, plus English. Must also take another STEM related subject. Students who have not already passed GCSE Further Maths must take it in addition to their A-Level subjects
Religious Studies English & Maths
Sociology English & Maths
Spanish Spanish Grade C plus English & Maths

 

Fast Track A Level

(One Year course – Application code P00245-AA)

•    18 or over on 1st July 2025
•    Must have a pass grade (A*-E) in at least one A-Level subject -please note we do not accept Applied A-Levels and BTEC qualifications.
•    At least 25 points at GCSE including 5 passes at grade C

Fast Track & A2 subject-specific requirements below. Subjects below with * offered at A2 only.

 

Subject GCSE minimum Grade C or as stated below
 Biology Double Award Science minimum Grade BB or Grade C GCSE Biology
Business Studies English & Maths (C* and above in either subject)
Chemistry Double Award Science minimum Grade BB or Grade C in GCSE Chemistry 
Criminology* English & Maths (A-Level equivalent offered as a certificate in AS and Diploma at A2)
Digital Technology English & Maths
Economics English and Maths with a minimum grade B in one of these subjects
English Literature* English minimum grade B
Geography English, Maths and Geography with a minimum grade B in at least one of these subjects
Government & Politics* English minimum grade C & Maths
History English minimum grade B
 Maths Maths minimum grade B (Higher Tier). Students who have not already passed GCSE Further Maths must take it in addition to their A-Level subjects UNLESS they have already completed GCE AS Maths
 Physics Maths minimum grade B plus English grade C
Double Award Science minimum grade BB or grade B in GCSE Physics
Psychology English Grade B & Maths Grade B 
Religious Studies* English & Maths
Sociology English & Maths

 

Subjects and Entry Criteria

 

If you want to study A-Levels full-time at Belfast Met there are three main pathways, each of which has its own set of entry criteria. 


Level  Pathway of study
AS Level (First Year) Full-time students take 3 subjects and are on campus 21 hours per week
A2 Level (Second Year)  Full-time students take 3 subjects and are on campus 21 hours per week
Fast Track A Level (1 Year) Full-time students take 2 subjects and are on campus 21 hours per week

Each course offers a broad range of subjects but please note that we cannot guarantee everyone’s preferred combination or first choice of subjects. Admission to a subject choice is dependent on the number of spaces available at the point of enrolment.


GCSE Points Tarif

Listed below is the subjects and entry criteria for each course.

GCSE Points Tariff for A Levels
Grade  Grade (9-1)  Belfast Met Point Tariff  
A* 9 or 8 6
A 7 5
B 6 4
C*/C 5 or 4 3
D 3 2
E 2 1

 

Course and Exam Fees

Most full-time students on the two-year programmes pay no fees but two factors determine whether a student is liable for charges: 
•    The student’s age on joining the course
•    Whether the student is part-time or full-time
The grid below shows the charges for 2025-26 – concessionary fees in brackets.
*Please note that these fees are 25 - 26 and may be subject to change at time of enrolment.

Two Year A-Level
One Subject Two Subjects Three Subjects
Under 18 years of age on 1 July 2025
£550 (£330) course fee + £70 exam fee = £620 (£400) £1100 (£660) course fee + £140 exam fee = £1240 (£800) No fee – Full-time student
Over 18 and under 19 years of age on 1 July 2025
£550 (£330) course fee + £70 exam fee = £620 (£400) £1100 (£660) course fee + £140 exam fee = £1240 (£800) No course fee - £210 exam fee
19 Years of age or over on 1 July 2025
£550 (£330) course fee + £70 exam fee = £620 (£400) £1100 (£660) course fee + £140 exam fee = £1240 (£800) £1650 course fee + £210 exam fee = £1860

 

One Year A-Level
One Subject Two Subjects Three Subjects
Aged between 18 and 19 on 1 July 2025
£550 (£330) AS course fee + £550 (£330) A2 course fee = £1100 (£660) + £140 exam fee = £1240 (£800) No course fee - £280 exam fee £550 AS course fee + £550 A2 course fee = £1100 + £420 exam fee = £1520
19 Years of age or over on 1 July 2025
£550 (£330) AS course fee + £550 (£330) A2 course fee = £1100 (£660) + £140 exam fee = £1240 (£800) £1100 course fee per subject = £2200 + £280 exam fee = £2480 £1100 course fee per subject = £3300 + £420 exam fee = £3720

 

Mixing & Matching
2 A2 Subjects + 1 Fast Track Subject 2 Fast Track Subjects + 1 A2 Subject
Over 18 and under 19 years of age on 1 July 2025
No course fee - £280 exam fee £550 + £350 exam fee = £900
19 years of age or over on 1 July 2025
£1100 + £1100 + £280 (exam fee) = £2480 £2200 + £550 + £350 (exam fee) = £3100

 

 

Please pay particular attention to the information below, especially if you are intending to join Year 2 of the Two-Year course or the Fast Track provision. This is because it is at the discretion of Awarding Organisations (AO) whether to permit you to mix and match an AS qualification sat under one board with an A2 in the same subject under a different board. It is your responsibility to contact the relevant AO to request confirmation in writing that such a combination
is permitted.

Subject AO Website  College Contact 
 Biology CCEA  Click Here   edwardadams@belfastmet.ac.uk
Business Studies  CCEA  Click Here  lbannon@belfastmet.ac.uk
Chemistry CCEA  Click Here  ggreenfield@belfastmet.ac.uk
Digital Technology  CCEA  Click Here  jcromie@belfastmet.ac.uk
Economics  AQA  Click Here  eshaw@belfastmet.ac.uk
English Literature  CCEA  Click Here  kmarsden@belfastmet.ac.uk
 Geography  CCEA  Click Here  thughes@belfastmet.ac.uk
Government & Politics  CCEA  Click Here  connelmckeown@belfastmet.ac.uk
 History  CCEA  Click Here  ajohnson@belfastmet.ac.uk
 Maths  CCEA  Click Here  sbarrett@belfastmet.ac.uk
 Media Studies  WJEC  Click Here  vgardiner@belfastmet.ac.uk
 Physics  CCEA  Click Here  nblack@belfastmet.ac.uk 
Religious Studies  CCEA  Click Here  slee@belfastmet.ac.uk
 Sociology  AQA  Click Here  khughes@belfastmet.ac.uk 
 Criminology  WJEC  Click Here  emckay@belfastmet.ac.uk