What's New in the UCAS Tariff: Apprenticeships & AAQs

For 2026 entry, the UCAS Tariff has grown — and that's good news if you're not on a traditional A-level route. Level 3 apprenticeships in England now earn points, and the reformed Alternative Academic Qualifications (AAQs) count at the same points as the qualifications they replaced. The grade values you already know haven't changed, so you can calculate your UCAS points with confidence.

The short answer: what changed for 2026 entry

Quick answer: The headline change is that completed Level 3 apprenticeships in England now enter the UCAS Tariff. AAQs — the new-spec BTEC Nationals and OCR Cambridge Advanced Nationals — also carry points, matching the qualifications they replaced. Existing grade-to-points values are unchanged. For the wider picture, see the history of the UCAS Tariff.

Level 3 apprenticeships now earn UCAS points

This is the biggest structural addition to the Tariff in years. For 2026 entry, a completed Level 3 apprenticeship in England can be scored on the UCAS Tariff — meaning your apprenticeship can sit alongside academic qualifications as part of a university application.

Here's the key difference: apprenticeship points aren't based on a single grade like A or D*. Instead, they're awarded according to the apprenticeship's level and its duration. So a longer Level 3 programme maps to a points value you can actually use when you apply. This is genuinely new and still settling in, so it's worth being clear about how it works before you rely on it. For the full explanation, read apprenticeship UCAS points explained, and for the figures see the apprenticeship points table.

How apprenticeship Tariff points are worked out

Because there's no exam grade to convert, the Tariff scores apprenticeships in a different way. Points come from two things: the level (Level 3) and the duration of the programme. The longer your completed Level 3 apprenticeship, the higher the Tariff value it maps to.

When you're checking whether your apprenticeship scores, look for these three things:

• It is a Level 3 apprenticeship (Level 2 and below don't count on the Tariff, the same way GCSEs don't).
• It is completed — finished programmes are what get scored.
• Its duration band — this is what determines the exact points value.

Be aware that fewer universities currently use apprenticeship Tariff points than use A-level points, and many courses still ask for specific grades rather than a points total. That's not a problem with your route — it just means you should check each course page. To estimate a value, use the apprenticeship UCAS points calculator, and to understand which universities work in points at all, read do all universities use UCAS points?

AAQs explained: the reformed BTECs and Cambridge Advanced Nationals

AAQs, or Alternative Academic Qualifications, are the reformed Level 3 applied and vocational qualifications introduced from 2025. The two big families you'll meet are the new-spec BTEC Nationals and the OCR Cambridge Advanced Nationals. If your school or college moved you onto a new course code recently, this is probably what happened.

The reassuring part: AAQs sit in the Tariff at the same points as the qualifications they replaced. A reformed Extended Diploma scores exactly like the old one. Nothing is lost in the switch — the names and specifications changed, but the points didn't. So if you've been working towards a target total, that target still stands. For the detailed figures, see the BTEC UCAS points table and the Cambridge Technicals points.

What the points look like (so you can sense-check yours)

These familiar values help you sense-check what your AAQ is worth. They're unchanged from the predecessor qualifications, so the numbers below apply whether you're on an old-spec or reformed course.

OCR Cambridge Advanced Nationals follow the same Extended Certificate pattern (D* = 56 down to P = 16). To total a full programme, use the BTEC points calculator, or check a single result like DDD BTEC points.

What hasn't changed in the Tariff

It's just as important to know what stayed the same. Grade-to-points values have been stable since 2017: A-level A* = 56, A = 48, B = 40, C = 32, D = 24, E = 16 still apply, exactly as before. The Tariff still covers Level 3 only, so GCSEs and other Level 2 qualifications don't add points. And you still don't double-count the same subject — one qualification per subject.

In other words, the 2026 news is about *additions*, not a reset. Your existing total is safe, and any points you'd already calculated still hold. For the underlying rules, see what is the UCAS Tariff? and do GCSEs count for UCAS points?

How to count your points with a new qualification

Adding it all up is straightforward, even with a newer qualification in the mix:

1. Identify your Level 3 qualifications — including any apprenticeship or AAQ.
2. Look up each value — use the table above or the qualification's own calculator.
3. Add them up — without double-counting the same subject.
4. Check the total in the main calculator for a clean, realistic figure.

That final number is the one universities will actually see, so it's worth getting right. Use the UCAS points calculator for a single qualification, or the mixed qualifications calculator if you're combining an apprenticeship, AAQ and A-levels.

What your total means for your next step

Once you have an accurate, current total, the next move is to see what it's worth. Find out how many UCAS points you need for the courses you're eyeing, then explore what you can study with your UCAS points. With a realistic number in hand, you can aim at courses that are genuinely in range.

Related guides on how the Tariff works

If you're chasing related questions about how the Tariff is built and changes over time, these definitional guides go deeper:

• History of the UCAS Tariff
• What are UCAS points?
• Do UCAS points expire?

Qualification points tables

Quick-reference points tables for the qualifications mentioned above:

• Apprenticeship points
• BTEC points
• T-Level points
• Cambridge Technicals points

Frequently asked questions

Do apprenticeships give UCAS Tariff points in 2026?

Yes. For 2026 entry, completed Level 3 apprenticeships in England now earn UCAS Tariff points — the biggest new addition to the Tariff. Points are based on the apprenticeship's level and duration rather than a single grade.

How are apprenticeship UCAS points worked out?

Apprenticeship points are awarded by level (Level 3) and duration, not by a grade like A or D*. A longer, completed Level 3 apprenticeship maps to a Tariff value you can use in your application. Use the apprenticeship calculator to estimate yours.

What are AAQs and do they count for UCAS points?

AAQs (Alternative Academic Qualifications) are the reformed Level 3 applied qualifications introduced in 2025 — new-spec BTEC Nationals and OCR Cambridge Advanced Nationals. They count for UCAS points at the same values as the qualifications they replaced, so no points are lost.

Did the UCAS Tariff change my existing grade points for 2026?

No. Grade-to-points values have been stable since 2017 — for example A-level A* = 56, A = 48 and B = 40 still apply. The 2026 news is new qualifications being added, not a reset of existing values.

Do all universities accept apprenticeship UCAS points?

Not all. Fewer universities currently use apprenticeship Tariff points than use A-level points, and many selective courses still ask for specific grades rather than points. Always check the entry requirements on the course page.

Is a reformed BTEC worth the same UCAS points as the old one?

Yes. Reformed BTECs sit in the Tariff at the same points as their predecessors — for example a BTEC Extended Diploma at DDD is still 144 points and at D*D*D* is 168 points.