Which A-Levels to choose for Medicine, Law and other courses in 2024?
Certain careers have different requirements and these have to be pre-planned for to secure the best chances of being able to progress in the future. The university course you intend on doing in order to get that job in the future will be easier to get into if you are aware of what the university and course leads are looking for. Of course good grades are a must but they also need to be in the appropriate subjects. So, how to get into medicine and law, amongst other major careers? Our A-Level tutors have answered this…
How to get into Medicine:
In order to study Medicine at university, all universities will require students to have a good level of scientific knowledge. This includes knowledge on the human body, its chemical compositions, some knowledge on medications (commonly covered in both chemistry e.g nanoparticles and biology e.g insulin), good knowledge of body systems and up to date knowledge on the UK’s health system. Whilst some of this has to be learnt independently, certain A level subjects will provide a platform to delve deeper.
Biology at A-Level
A-Level Biology is commonly required by universities in order to study Medicine, usually achieved at a grade A or above. The exception being if you apply for widening participation schemes that have a strict criteria. A-level Biology will provide students with an in depth understanding of the human body, genetics, physiology, evolution and microbiology. All of which are essential for studying Medicine.
“Some universities do not require Biology, however without Biology as a supporting A level, the basics of Medicine may come as a surprise. Thus, it may make matters more difficult initially. For a smoother transition, it is encouraged that students opt for Biology as an A level when applying for Medicine.” – Hina, A Level Biology Tutor
A-Level Chemistry
Almost all universities will require A-Level Chemistry for a Medicine applicant, with the exception of very few. It may seem a little confusing as to why this is more of a requirement than Biology but once you study Medicine you will soon come to realise that medicines themselves and the inner workings of the body are simply a series of chemical reactions. Pharmacology which is heavily studied in Medicine, the study of drugs and their actions is chemistry focused and a good understanding and application of chemistry is required to grasp these complex ideas.
The 3rd Subject
For your 3rd A-level subject, A-Level Maths is often seen as complementary, however it is not necessary for most universities. So when picking your 3rd A level subject, I would recommend choosing a subject that is interesting and enjoyable for you personally, perhaps a subject less heavy and challenging compared to the 2 sciences. It is important however that you are able to justify why you have chosen this subject in your medicine interviews and how this has helped you be a better Medicine applicant. So for example to justify picking English Literature you can explain that communication is an essential component to medicine and this subject has helped you improve in this area.
How to get into Dentistry/Veterinary
As mentioned above for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine have very similar requirements of A-Level Biology and Chemistry. The 3rd subject is fairly open to personal preference, although again A-Level Maths is viewed as complementary. A-Level Biology is viewed as the most important for Veterinary in 2024.
How to get into Law
Subjects such as History, Politics and Languages are viewed as helpful for studying Law at university. This is because the concepts covered in these subjects contribute to the formation of current laws. However, Law is fairly open with its requirement of subjects and most universities don’t specify particular subjects they require. Requirements for this degree are more heavily focused on the grades attained at A-level. It is important to note that A level Law is not a requirement to study Law.
The LNAT, which is an aptitude test, is also required for some universities.
How to get into Engineering
The subject required at A level depends on which type of engineering you wish to study.
A-Level Maths is viewed as a must in 2024 and it is clear why. The degree involves a lot of calculations and formulations in order for machinery to work. Physics is required for some types of engineering, especially electrical engineering where knowledge of circuits and such is vital. A-Level Chemistry is also favoured. Further Maths is a good pick for those students aiming for the top universities.
Please research requirements for your particular desired university and course before applying as there are discrepancies between different ones and this blog gives a general overview.
