Online A Level courses for international students: will UK universities accept them?

Lift College's International A Levels are studied online with a named UK tutor, from anywhere. The unit exams are sat in person at one of nine Tutors & Exams centres in England, so learners overseas travel to a centre for each exam series.

• International A Levels are not awarded UCAS Tariff points.
• International A levels are well regarded by UK higher education providers.
• Most admissions teams use International A levels and GCE A levels interchangeably.
• Consideration of International A levels is at the discretion of each university or college.

Pearson says International A Levels are accepted as equivalent to GCE A levels on a grade for grade basis for admission, and lists all Russell Group universities in the UK, including Oxford and Cambridge, among those that accept them. Its recognition list, last updated February 2026, notes that recognition means the qualification is acceptable for admission and that you should check each university's own website.

If an offer is made in grades, such as AAB, Pearson says International A Level grades are accepted grade for grade. Some courses make offers in UCAS Tariff points. UCAS gives a UK A Level 56 points at A*, 48 at A, 40 at B, 32 at C, 24 at D and 16 at E. Because International A Levels have no Tariff points, ask the admissions team which International A Level grades meet a points offer. Our guide what are UCAS points? explains the Tariff.

International A Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics examine practical skills in written papers, with no laboratory endorsement. Some science and medical courses also look for evidence of laboratory practical skills, so check the entry requirements of each course before you apply.

Your named Lift College tutor can be your UCAS referee. For the UK A Level route, see A Level university progression.