Btech National Diploma in Sport

[yelenots]

My son will be leaving high school next summer and is wanting to take a BTEC sport course at our local 6th form college. Does anyone know if it is any good and would he be able to get in uni with this qualification? OUr other 2 children just did A levels so we're not so sure about this other option! Thanks

[Buenchico]

If your other children each took 3 A-levels the maximum number of UCAS points they could have achieved (by getting 3 A grades) would have been 360. (However, from this year the maximum number of points available from 3 A-levels is now 420, through getting 3 A* grades).

The maximum number of UCAS points available from a BTEC National Diploma (by getting a triple distinction) is also 360. So the UCAS system ranks a BTEC National Diploma as similar to three A-levels.

For finer detail, see the 'Diploma' column, under 'BTEC Nationals' here:
http://www.ucas.ac.uk..._tariff/tarifftables/
Compare it with the 'GCE A level and AVCE' column, under 'GCE and VCE'.

Whether the BTEC qualification would actually be useful in gaining university admission must, of course, depend upon it's relevance to the subject which your son would be seeking to study. (i.e. it's clearly useful for a sports-based course, it might help gain admission to a more general course relating to the leisure industry but it obviously would be useless when seeking a place to study, say, mathematics).

Remember that admission to Uni isn't solely based upon grades and UCAS points. A good 'personal statement' to accompany the application is also important. The BTEC course, and the sports activities which are likely to be associated with it, might put your son in a good position to submit a first-class statement:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11023939

Chris

[yelenots]

Hi Chris Thank you for the info very helpful! The college where he would be going he has to study 5 AS levels and then drop one of them for the 2nd year. I didnt know the points had gone up, my daughter only needed the 360! He is wanting to study sport and biology - not sure what else yet!
Thanks again

Lynda

[sherrardk]

I would say that a BTEC Sports course would be an ideal foundation for his future study plans. However, he should check out which Universities accept BTEC qualifications as some of the more prestigious don't accept them.