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Courses, 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
5 hours teaching per subject each week
 A2 Level (Second Year)   Full-time students take 3 subjects
5 hours teaching per subject each week
 Fast Track A Level (1 Year)   Full-time students take 2 subjects
8 hours teaching per subject each week

Each course offers a broad range of subjects but please note that we cannot guarantee everyone’s preferred combination of subjects.

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

GCSE Points Tariff

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


AS Level

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

• 16 or over on 1st July 2023
• At least 20 points at GCSE which includes 5 passes at grade C or above
• The subject-specific requirements below:


 AS Levels & A2 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 Science related subject e.g., Geography, Sociology, Maths, Physics, Chemistry)
 Business Studies  English & Maths (preference to C* and above in either subject)
 Chemistry  Double Award Science minimum Grade BB or Grade C in GCSE
Chemistry plus English and Maths. (Must also take another Science related subject e.g., Geography, Sociology, Maths, Physics, Biology)
 Criminology*  English & Maths (A-Level equivalent offered as a certificate in AS)
 Digital Technology  English & Maths
 Economics  English & Maths with Grade B in either
 English Literature  English minimum Grade B
 Film Studies  English minimum Grade B
 Geography  English, Maths and Geography with a minimum Grade B in at least one of these subjects
 Government & Politics  English & 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
 Media Studies  English & 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 Science related subject e.g., Geography, Sociology, Maths, Chemistry, Biology) 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


A2 Level

(Second Year – Application code P00247-AA). The subjects offered at A2 mirror those offered for AS.

• 17 or over on 1st July 2023
• Must have 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).

Fast Track A Level

(One Year course – Application code P00245-AA)

• 18 or over on 1st July 2023
• Must have a pass grade (A*-E) in at least one A Level subject
– please note we do not accept Applied A Levels
• At least 25 points at GCSE including 5 passes at grade C

The subject-specific requirements below:


 
Subject GCSE minimum Grade C or as stated below
 Biology Double Award Science minimum Grade BB or Grade C GCSE Biology
 Business Studies  Maths & English (preference to C* and above in either subject)
 Chemistry  Double Award Science minimum Grade BB or Grade C in GCSE Chemistry 
 Digital Technology  English & Maths
 Economics  Grade B in English & Maths
 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 & Maths
 History  English minimum Grade B
 Maths  Maths minimum Grade B (Higher Tier). Students without pass grades in GCSE Further Maths or AS Maths must take GCSE Further Maths in addition to their A Level subjects
 Physics  Maths minimum Grade B plus
Double Award Science minimum Grade BB or Grade B in GCSE Physics
 Religious Studies  English & Maths
 Sociology  English & Maths


*Please note: This list is subject to change dependent on demand for subjects. Applicants hoping to take A Level Science subjects on the Fast Track course should have prior experience of having studied at least one Science subject at A Level

Our Subjects and Specifications - 2 Year A Level & Fast Track (One Year Intensive)

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.

Please note that students enrolled on Daytime (AS) subjects at Belfast Met in 22-23 may progress automatically to A2 but only if they have passed a minimum of two subjects (Grade E or higher) and only in the subjects they have passed. Students who progress in two subjects must take a third option to retain full-time status. This option will be determined by the course team.

Subject AO Website  College Contact 
 Biology CCEA  Click Here   [email protected]
 Business Studies  CCEA  Click Here  [email protected]
 Chemistry CCEA  Click Here  [email protected]
 Digital Technology  CCEA  Click Here  [email protected]
 Economics  AQA  Click Here  [email protected]
 English Literature  CCEA  Click Here  [email protected]
 Film Studies  WJEC  Click Here  [email protected]
 Geography  CCEA  Click Here  [email protected]
 Government & Politics  CCEA  Click Here  [email protected]
 History  CCEA  Click Here  [email protected]
 Maths  CCEA  Click Here  [email protected]
 Media Studies  WJEC  Click Here  [email protected]
 Physics  CCEA  Click Here  [email protected]
 Religious Studies  CCEA  Click Here  [email protected]
 Sociology  AQA  Click Here  [email protected]
 Criminology  WJEC  Click Here  [email protected]