Apprenticeship UCAS Points Table 2026

Quick answer: Yes — from 2026 entry, completing a Level 3 apprenticeship gives you UCAS Tariff points, set by how long it lasts: 12 to 17 months = 48, 18 to 23 months = 64, 24 months = 96, and 36 months or more = 112 points. You can total everything up with our full UCAS points calculator.

Do apprenticeships give UCAS points?

Yes. This is new for 2026 entry, and it is a real change worth knowing about. Completing a Level 3 apprenticeship in England, Wales or Northern Ireland — or an SCQF Level 6 apprenticeship in Scotland — now earns you UCAS Tariff points, just like A-levels, BTECs and T-Levels do. For years apprentices had no Tariff value at all, so this puts your hard work on the same scoring system as classroom qualifications. You can read more about what changed in our guide to new UCAS Tariff qualifications.

How to use the apprenticeship points tool

The calculator above this page does the maths for you in seconds. Here is how to get an accurate number:

1. Find your apprenticeship's expected duration. This is the planned length published for your standard or framework, not how many months it personally took you. You will usually find it on your training plan or your provider's course page.
2. Pick the matching band. Choose 12 to 17 months, 18 to 23 months, 24 to 35 months, or 36 months and over.
3. Read your total instantly. The tool returns your UCAS points the moment you select a band.

One important note: it is the *expected* duration that decides your points, not how long you actually took. If your apprenticeship was planned as a two-year programme but you finished a little early or late, you still sit in the band for the expected length. For the standalone version, use the apprenticeship UCAS points calculator.

How many UCAS points is a Level 3 apprenticeship?

A Level 3 apprenticeship is worth 48, 64, 96 or 112 UCAS points, depending on its expected length. The points are set by duration, not by the grade you achieve at the end. So a longer apprenticeship is worth more points than a shorter one, but a Distinction and a Pass of the same length score exactly the same. To see how that compares with classroom routes, look at our A-level points table — for example, 48 points is the same as a single A-level at grade A.

Apprenticeship UCAS points table (by duration)

Here is the full set of values for 2026. These are the only correct figures — use them as your ground truth.

So a two-year apprenticeship lands you on 96 UCAS points, and the longest apprenticeships reach 112 UCAS points — the same as three solid A-level grades. That is a meaningful score for a wide range of courses.

Why grade does not change your apprenticeship points

In England, apprentices can be awarded a Pass, Merit or Distinction at the end. You might expect a Distinction to be worth more — but for the Tariff, it is not. The UCAS Tariff awards points for a Pass only, so a Pass, Merit and Distinction of the same expected duration all score identically. A two-year apprenticeship is worth 96 points whether you passed or aced it.

This sounds odd at first, but it is deliberate and fair. Across all four UK nations, many apprenticeships are graded Pass-only and never offer a Merit or Distinction. Awarding points on duration keeps every apprentice on a level footing, wherever they trained. Your Distinction is still worth shouting about on your application and in your personal statement — it just does not change the points number.

What an apprenticeship must do to count

For your apprenticeship to earn Tariff points, a few clear conditions need to be met. None of them are hard to check.

• It must be a Level 3 apprenticeship in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or an SCQF Level 6 apprenticeship in Scotland. Level 2 apprenticeships do not carry Tariff points.
• It must be completed, including passing the end-point assessment, by 4 September of that academic year — the same kind of deadline that applies to other qualifications used for entry.
• The points only help where a university accepts them for your course. The Tariff gives your apprenticeship a value, but each course decides whether and how it uses that value.

If any of this feels fiddly, our plain-English guide on apprenticeships and UCAS explained walks through it step by step.

Worked example: turning your apprenticeship into points

Let's make this real with a quick example, so you can see exactly how the numbers come together.

Say you complete an 18-month Level 3 apprenticeship. You look up the expected duration, it falls in the 18 to 23 month band, and that gives you 64 UCAS points. Straightforward.

Now imagine a different student who finishes a two-year (24-month) apprenticeship. Their expected duration sits in the 24-month band, so they score 96 UCAS points — the same as CCC at A-level.

Finally, picture that same two-year apprentice who *also* studied an A-level alongside their training and earned a grade B (40 points). You simply add the two together:

That brings them to 136 UCAS points — a strong score that opens up plenty of courses. If you want the full logic behind every conversion, see how UCAS points are calculated.

Can you add other qualifications to apprenticeship points?

Yes. Apprenticeship points stack with other Level 3 qualifications — A-levels, BTEC, an EPQ and more — to build your overall total. As the worked example showed, you just add each qualification's points together. The one rule to watch is that you should not double-count the same learning: if a unit or module already sits inside your apprenticeship, you cannot also claim it as a separate qualification. To add several different qualifications cleanly, use the mixed qualifications UCAS points calculator. And if you took a vocational course alongside your apprenticeship, the BTEC UCAS points table shows exactly what each grade is worth.

Do all universities accept apprenticeship UCAS points?

Many will — but be realistic, because this is new for 2026. Not every course has updated its entry requirements to mention apprenticeships yet, and some selective courses still ask for specific A-level grades rather than a points total. That does not mean your apprenticeship is ignored; it means you should check each course's entry requirements before you apply, and contact admissions if it is not clear. Plenty of universities welcome apprentices and value the practical experience you bring. Our guide on whether all universities use UCAS points explains how this varies course by course.

How many points do you need?

Knowing what your apprenticeship is worth is half the picture — the other half is knowing what your target course needs. Most courses publish their entry requirements as a points total, a set of grades, or both. Once you have your number from the calculator, compare it against the course's requirement to see where you stand. Start with how many UCAS points do I need? to understand typical offers, then use what can I study with my UCAS points? to see realistic course matches for your exact score.

Next steps if your points are below your target

If your total comes in under your target, that is not the end of the road — it is just your next step. You have real options. Clearing can match you with courses that still have places, often with slightly lower requirements. You could boost your points by adding another qualification, like an EPQ. Or you could rethink your shortlist toward courses where your score is comfortably in range. Our guide on what to do when you have not enough UCAS points lays out each path, and the UCAS points for Clearing guide explains how Clearing works in practice.

Helpful for apprentices starting university