The right three A-Levels open doors; the wrong three quietly close them two years before you ever apply. Here are the combinations that work for the most competitive degrees — and the traps that catch good students out.
Quick answer: For medicine, take Chemistry and Biology, with Maths or Physics as the third — Chemistry is required almost everywhere. For engineering, take Maths and Physics, with Further Maths the strongest third for Cambridge and Imperial. For law, there are no required subjects, but at least one essay-based subject (English, History or Politics) proves you can argue and write. The golden rule: choose three subjects that keep your target degree open — never three that overlap.
Your A-Level combination is one of the highest-leverage academic decisions you will make. Most universities ask for three subjects, and competitive courses often name specific ones. Pick well and you meet every entry requirement effortlessly; pick carelessly and you can rule out a degree before Year 12 even begins. Here is how the strongest combinations break down, course by course.
Chemistry is required by almost every medical school in the UK; most also expect Biology, and the safe, standard combination is Chemistry + Biology + a third (commonly Maths or Physics, but a strong non-science is accepted by many schools). A handful of medical schools accept Chemistry plus one other science without Biology, but Chemistry-and-Biology keeps every door open. Admissions also rest on the UCAT (and the personal statement and interview), so two confident sciences plus a subject you can excel in beats three sciences you merely survive. We map this in IGCSE subjects for medicine for the years before.
Maths is essential for every engineering degree, and Physics is required or strongly preferred by nearly all of them. The standout third subject is Further Maths — strongly recommended (sometimes effectively expected) for engineering at Cambridge, Imperial and UCL. If a student cannot take Further Maths, Chemistry is the natural alternative, and the better choice for chemical, materials or biomedical engineering. So: Maths + Physics + Further Maths for the most competitive courses, or Maths + Physics + Chemistry as a strong, flexible alternative.
This surprises families: law degrees specify no required A-Levels, and you do not need Law A-Level (most admissions tutors are indifferent to it). What they look for is the ability to read closely, reason and write under pressure — so at least one essay-based subject such as English, History, Politics or Economics strengthens the application. Several top universities (Oxford, UCL, Bristol, King's, Durham, LSE) also use the LNAT admissions test, which sits alongside your A-Levels rather than dictating them.
| Degree | Required / expected | Strong third |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | Maths (usually required) | Further Maths, Physics or CS |
| Economics / Finance | Maths (essential at top universities) | Economics + an essay subject |
| Architecture | Maths or Art; Physics useful | portfolio matters as much as subjects |
| Natural Sciences | two or three sciences + Maths | Further Maths for physical sciences |
| Psychology | often a science (Biology/Maths) | check each university — rules vary |
You will still see the phrase facilitating subjects online. The Russell Group retired that term in 2019 and replaced its guidance with the Informed Choices tool, precisely because the label made students think some subjects were universally "better". The underlying truth survives: a backbone of Maths, the sciences, English, History and languages keeps the widest range of degrees open — but the right combination is always the one that matches the course you actually want.
These follow medicine's logic closely. Dentistry and veterinary medicine almost always require Chemistry and Biology; pharmacy typically requires Chemistry plus a second science or Maths. As with medicine, two confident sciences plus a subject you can genuinely excel in beats three sciences you merely cope with, and admissions tests (such as the UCAT for some courses) sit alongside your A-Levels rather than replacing the subject requirements.
For economics and finance at competitive universities, Maths is essential or strongly required; for general business and management it is valued rather than mandatory. A strong, flexible combination is Maths + Economics + an essay subject. Importantly, you do not need A-Level Business or Accounting to study them at degree level — universities teach these from scratch, so choose the subjects that keep the most doors open.
The Extended Project Qualification is not an A-Level, but many universities welcome it and some make a slightly lower A-Level offer to students who complete one well. An A* EPQ is worth 28 UCAS points — half an A-Level — and it demonstrates the independent-research skill admissions tutors value, all without the load of a fourth examined subject. It is often a smarter "extra" than a fourth A-Level.
Choosing A-Levels around a specific course — medicine, engineering, law, economics — is where a quick expert conversation saves two years of regret. Our tutors and mentors map subjects to university requirements. Free trial and a free subject-fit chat.
💬 Book a Free Trial on WhatsAppReferences: Russell Group Informed Choices · UCAS entry requirements. Always confirm requirements on each university's course page.
