Best Subject Combinations for A-Levels

There are several university pathways that are commonly chosen after A-Levels and subject combinations that are considered the best. 

Though "easier to get in" is not equal to "easy". Each subject and university has its own different level of entry competitiveness. However, there will always be some specific schools and degree programs that would attract students with perfectly balanced A-Level results the most—especially beyond Oxbridge or Imperial.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)

General A-Level combination: Mathematics + Physics + Chemistry (for Engineering or Natural Sciences) or Mathematics + Biology + Chemistry (for Medicine/Biomedicine), or Mathematics + Computer Science + Physics (for Computing/IT).

The leading universities in the field of STEM are:

• University of Cambridge - world-class STEM courses like Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics.

• Imperial College London - first in the UK for degrees in engineering, computing, and science.

• University College London (UCL) - has a reputation for engineering, computer science, and life sciences.

• University of Manchester - a research-intensive but more down to earth STEM alternative.

What makes the path effective: STEM programs consist of A-Levels that demonstrate students' analytical and mathematical capabilities. Universities like Manchester or Leeds can be considered less difficult to get into than Oxbridge, but they still have a strong reputation and global recognition.

Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences

Typical A-Level combination: History + English Literature or Language + Geography, Psychology + Economics + Modern Languages or Sociology.

Universities to consider:

• Durham University – the leading humanities and social sciences university in the UK, with a vast coverage of history, politics, philosophy, and literature.

• Queen Mary University of London – a slight entry threshold compared to Oxbridge, a great range of humanities, law, and social science programs.

• University of Kent or University of Reading – environment with balanced academics and flexible entry for social sciences, international relations, and arts degrees.

Why this path works: Humanities and social sciences are the areas where students are admitted more easily because they concentrate on writing, reasoning, and communication rather than on specific subject prerequisites which makes them open even for people with different A-Level backgrounds.

Business, Management & Economics

Typical A-Level combination: Mathematics + Economics + Business Studies or Accounting.

Some universities might have a preference for Sociology, Geography, or a foreign language as a third subject.

Universities and programs:

• University of Birmingham – leading business, economics, and management programs with sensible entry requirements.

• University of Nottingham – gaining recognition for the international business and finance programs to a lesser extent, since they are not as competitive as LSE or Warwick.

• University of Surrey or University of Portsmouth – career-focused business courses; ideal for students seeking industry connections with a less demanding admission process.

The success of this route can be attributed to the fact that most business and economics degrees will have a mathematics or economics requirement as a subject, however, they will also be very accommodating with the third subject in the majority of cases. A Math + Economics + one humanities or business-related A-Level combination will often give wide access to the UK business schools.

How to Use This Information

1. Focus on your specialization area: STEM, Humanities, or Business.

2. Align your A-Level selection with your target study programs.

3. Select a group of universities:

   • one that is ambitious (e.g. Oxbridge, LSE, Imperial),

   • one that is realistic (e.g. Birmingham, Manchester, Durham),

   • one that is a safe option (e.g. Kent, Portsmouth, Reading).

Check the official entry requirements on UCAS — this is especially important if you are going to apply for medicine, engineering, or law where certain A-Level subjects are indispensable.

Summary