The Importance of Subject Selection for University Applications

How do University Subject Requirements Work?

Each university course publishes a series of requirements for applicants applying to their course. Whilst these differ between different courses and universities, every one will specify which subjects (if any) an applicant should have studied at school, as well as the grades they must achieve. Some subject requirements are essential (subjects which you must have studied to be considered for application), whilst others are recommended (subjects which will make applicants more attractive to admissions tutors) or helpful (subjects which are not required for admission but may be helpful in completing the course).

Understanding the subjects you should be studying in order to apply for your chosen course depends entirely upon a combination of how hard the university’s requirements are and your own personal preferences and abilities. As a general rule of thumb, you must study all essential subjects, and if you are serious about a course (especially at competitive universities such as Oxford or Cambridge) then you really should be studying or at least considering the recommended subjects.

How Important is Subject Selection for my University Application?

Choosing the right subjects at A-level (or equivalent) is very important indeed. As we can see from the above, depending on which subjects you are applying to, studying the required subjects can be the difference between being considered or denied access to your dream course.

As a matter of fact, UCAS’s big 2024 survey tells us that 1 in 5 students surveyed could not study a degree subject that interested them because they didn’t have the right subjects to progress in their application. If we consider that this statistic included only applicants who did not have the hard requirements, we may conclude that even more students were turned away having applied because more competitive applicants had a better subject combination.

How do I Choose the Right Subjects?

Taking all of the above into consideration, we may conclude that subject selection involves not just selecting the hard requirements published by the university, but also understanding how best to make your application as competitive as possible using the softer requirements, such as recommended and helpful subjects.

Planning ahead is therefore crucial, and there’s no better way to plan ahead than to discuss your situation with an expert. Our senior consultants have helped thousands of students make their applications to Oxford, Cambridge, and other top UK universities, and are perfectly placed to understand the current application trends, changing university requirements, and the best ways to maximise your potential for a successful application.

Our Private Consultations, the beginning of every student journey here at Oxbridge Applications, sits you down with an applications expert in a 90-minute meeting designed to: assess any progress you have made so far and your potential for success on your current rack; advance your application with bespoke guidance and a tailored strategy for every stage of the application; address any specific concerns you may have and discuss further support.

These sessions are the perfect forum for finding out exactly which subjects you would like to study at university, and how to tailor your subject choice to maximize your competitivity as an applicant. If you are already studying you’re A-level (or equivalent) subjects, our consultants are instead able to help identify the best university courses to target within your desired discipline or area of study.