Graduate Jobs + UCAS points

MattandJet · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:24

Hi all,

Just a quick question, I see a lot of graduate jobs/schemes requiring an "x amount" of UCAS points..

.. are these the points for just GCE A Level or can they also include GCE AS Levels?

[TW]Fox · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:27

They also include AS levels.

JIM_BOB7813 · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:28

MattandJet said:
Hi all,

Just a quick question, I see a lot of graduate jobs/schemes requiring an "x amount" of UCAS points..

.. are these the points for just GCE A Level or can they also include GCE AS Levels?

It should say, but AFAIK it usually only wants A level and not any AS-only levels.

Mulder · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:28

It's your top 3 A Levels.

MattandJet · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:30

Mulder said:
It's your top 3 A Levels.

Thanks, is 300 a good amount? Im only starting to look around now I'm at Uni.

Mulder · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:40

MattandJet said:
Thanks, is 300 a good amount? Im only starting to look around now I'm at Uni.

Depends on the Job. 300 is the equivalent of three B's so is plenty for general management grad schemes. Most people applying for City jobs will have more like 340/360 though.

[TW]Fox · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:40

MattandJet said:
Thanks, is 300 a good amount?

300 is sufficient for virtually all high end grad schemes.

MattandJet · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:42

Thanks for the replies all,

...what happens if you're a 1st degree student but say 300Points, and applied for a job with min 2.1 degree and 340Points.... would they automatically dismiss you based on UCAS Points or??

SlyReaper · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:43

Unless they specifically say to exclude AS levels, I always include them. 450 points looks much more attractive than 340.

Sukh · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:43

300 points
Minimum 2:1
At least B grade in Maths and English GCSE

Although of course many people apply with better results, and the above is just my experience of banks, finance etc.

Mulder · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:44

MattandJet said:
Thanks for the replies all,

...what happens if you're a 1st degree student but say 300Points, and applied for a job with min 2.1 degree and 340Points.... would they automatically dismiss you based on UCAS Points or??

Possibly, it depends more on other things though. If you've got a 1st in a difficult subject from a reputable uni then your A-Levels won't matter so much and they may overlook them. Not so great subject from a not so great uni and they're unlikely to.

Welshy · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:45

300 UCAS points is most likely well above average, and should get most employers interested providing you have a decent degree grade (predicted or obtained).

It's really up to their discretion if they decide to use one in compensation for the other. You may get lucky and they let you off, but I wouldn't be surprised if the larger companies who get thousands of applications to not bother to be honest.

Spare a thought for me, I've only got something like 180 UCAS points

Making it a right pain trying to get on a grad scheme, even when I'm predicted a 2:1 degree...

Mulder · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:46

[TW]Fox;13612147 said:
300 is sufficient for virtually all high end grad schemes.

I wouldn't say so. Nearly everyone applying to Banks or the Big 4 is likely to have more than 300.

SlyReaper · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:46

MattandJet said:
Thanks for the replies all,

...what happens if you're a 1st degree student but say 300Points, and applied for a job with min 2.1 degree and 340Points.... would they automatically dismiss you based on UCAS Points or??

Your degree should render your A-levels irrelevant. The fact that they want to know your UCAS points when they already know you have a degree is silly.

Sukh · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:46

Mulder said:
Possibly, it depends more on other things though. If you've got a 1st in a difficult subject from a reputable uni then your A-Levels won't matter so much and they may overlook them. Not so great subject from a not so great uni and they're unlikely to.

Im sorry to disagree, but big firms have automated online applications which will automatically reject you if you don't meet certain criteria.

Im my experiance, most ask for 300/320 points so you should be good, and I wouldn't bother retaking any A-levels as they ask if the results were obtained on the first attempt.

Mulder · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:49

Sukh said:
Im sorry to disagree, but big firms have automated online applications which will automatically reject you if you don't meet certain criteria.

I'm sorry but that isn't true. Most big firms will have minimum criteria and yes you'll be unlikely to get offered an interview if you've got less than the prescribed number of points but they'll never automatically reject you just for having 20 points lower than they ask for. It's more about the overall package.

MattandJet · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:53

As it stands now I have 300Points (BioA(120), ChemB(100), MathsC (80)), Im guessing from the replies its probably not worth retaking because they use the results from the first attempt?

Its unlikely I'd apply to the Big 4 or Banks in London, so it should be okay.

Thanks for your input all

Sukh · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:56

Mulder said:
I'm sorry but that isn't true. Most big firms will have minimum criteria and yes you'll be unlikely to get offered an interview if you've got less than the prescribed number of points but they'll never automatically reject you just for having 20 points lower than they ask for. It's more about the overall package.

Im just talking from personal experiance, a friend got rejected from BarCap for not meeting UCAS points automatically via email. Especially when times are this tough, they are very picky.

[TW]Fox · 3 Mar 2009 at 21:59

Mulder said:
I wouldn't say so. Nearly everyone applying to Banks or the Big 4 is likely to have more than 300.

They use the UCAS points as a qualifier - if you've got 300, you get through the initial thing for the big 4.

Sukh · 3 Mar 2009 at 22:01

What he said, its a rough filter for applicants, along with competency based questions and/or questions about the job your applying for.