Access to HE & EPQ UCAS Points
Official 2025/26 UCAS Tariff values for Access to HE Diploma D/M/P credit combinations and EPQ A*–E grades with A-Level equivalence and university counting rules.
Access to HE Diploma UCAS Tariff points are calculated from the 45 graded Level 3 credit units at Distinction, Merit, or Pass — 45 Distinctions earns 144 points (AAA equivalent), making Access a fully recognised pathway into UK undergraduate degrees for mature and non-A-Level students.
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) is a standalone Level 3 research project worth up to 28 Tariff points at A*. Most universities award EPQ points, but many Russell Group STEM courses exclude them from formally meeting a headline offer grade even though they appear in your total.
Access to HE Diploma UCAS Tariff Points Table
How Do Access to HE Credit Combinations Convert to UCAS Points? Every Access Diploma uses exactly 45 graded credit units; the table below covers all eight recognised D/M/P combinations published in the 2025/26 UCAS Tariff.
| Credit Combination | Shorthand | UCAS Points | A-Level Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 Credits at Distinction | 45D | 144 | AAA (144) |
| 30 Distinction + 15 Merit | 30D 15M | 136 | AAB (136) |
| 24 Distinction + 21 Merit | 24D 21M | 130 | ABB- (130) |
| 15 Distinction + 30 Merit | 15D 30M | 122 | BBB+ (122) |
| 45 Credits at Merit | 45M | 108 | BCC- (108) |
| 30 Merit + 15 Pass | 30M 15P | 100 | CCC+ (100) |
| 15 Merit + 30 Pass | 15M 30P | 88 | CCD (88) |
| 45 Credits at Pass | 45P | 72 | DDD (72) |
EPQ UCAS Tariff Points Table (A* to E)
What Is a Distinction or A* Worth in EPQ UCAS Points? The EPQ uses a six-grade A* to E scale identical in size to an AS Level, with A* EPQ actually worth 4 points more than an AS A (28 vs 24).
| EPQ Grade | UCAS Points | A-Level / AS Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| A* | 28 | AS Level A (24) + bonus |
| A | 24 | AS Level A (24) |
| B | 20 | AS Level B (20) |
| C | 16 | AS Level C (16) / A-Level E (16) |
| D | 12 | AS Level D (12) |
| E | 8 | AS Level E (8) |
Access to HE & EPQ vs A-Level Equivalence
How Do Access to HE and EPQ Points Compare to A-Level Grades? Access 45D matches AAA at the top, while EPQ sits between AS and full A-Level in per-grade size.
Qualification-Specific Rules & Gotchas
Access to HE: Only the 45 graded units count
Access Diplomas are typically 60 credits total, but UCAS only tariffs the 45 Level 3 graded units (Distinction / Merit / Pass). The remaining 15 credits are ungraded Skills for Learning or project units — these never add Tariff points, even if completed at high standard. Northern Ireland Access Diplomas use a separate scale not listed here.
EPQ: Russell Group / high-tariff STEM exclusion
EPQ and Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate both appear on your UCAS Tariff total, but the majority of Russell Group and high-tariff STEM courses explicitly write them out of a formal offer — meaning your three A-Levels (or IB / BTEC equivalent) must hit the grade on their own. Humanities, social science, and arts courses are far more likely to accept EPQ points towards meeting an offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Access to HE 45 Distinctions worth in UCAS points?+
45 Distinctions on the Access to HE Diploma = 144 UCAS Tariff points, exactly equivalent to AAA at A-Level (the most common three-A-Level Russell Group baseline offer).
Is EPQ counted by Russell Group universities?+
EPQ is officially tariffed by UCAS (A* = 28 points), but most Russell Group and high-tariff STEM courses explicitly exclude the EPQ from formally meeting a course's headline offer grade — even though the points appear in your total Tariff score. Humanities courses are more likely to accept EPQ points towards an offer.
How many UCAS points is an EPQ A grade?+
An EPQ grade A = 24 UCAS Tariff points, exactly the same value as an AS Level A. An EPQ A* is worth 28 points, making it the highest-value single AS-sized Level 3 qualification outside A-Level/IB HL.
Does a 30D 15M Access Diploma beat a BBC at A-Level?+
Yes — 30 Distinctions + 15 Merits on Access to HE = 136 Tariff points, while BBC at A-Level = 112 points. Access 30D15M is actually equivalent to AAB (136 points), a full grade band higher than BBC.