The UK's top universities recently published a guide which acknowledges officially for the first time that they favour students who study traditional subjects at A-level.
The guide, produced in collaboration with the Institute of Career Guidance and compiled by the Russell Group, a group representing Oxford, Cambridge and 18 other leading universities, confirms rumours that they favour 'harder' subjects over 'softer' ones such as Media Studies or Sociology.
The guide also reveals a clear preference for Science and Maths subjects at A level – even for apparently unrelated degrees. Similarly some Russell Group universities require a language at GCSE, even if your degree is not in languages.
The publication makes it clear that many degrees at competitive universities will closed to you unless you study at least two of the following subjects in the Sixth Form – Maths, English, Geography, History, any of the three Sciences, a Classical or Modern Foreign Language
"If you plan to take more than one perceived 'soft' subject, some caution may be needed," the guidebook warns.
See www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/feb/04/university-places-traditional-subjects-a-levels for a fuller report.
See www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/feb/04/university-places-traditional-subjects-a-levels for a fuller report.