Scottish Highers & Advanced Highers to UCAS Points Converter (2026/27)
Calculate total UCAS Tariff points score for UK university entry from Scottish SQA Highers and Advanced Highers qualifications.
In Scotland, secondary school students taking SQA qualifications (Scottish Qualifications Authority) earn Highers (usually taken in S5) and Advanced Highers (taken in S6) for Scottish and UK university entry.
While Scottish universities (such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, and Aberdeen) often state entry offers as letter grades across 4 or 5 Highers (for example, AAAB), universities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland frequently express entry requirements as a total UCAS Tariff score.
âī¸ Rules & Thresholds
- Official SQA Higher UCAS Tariff Points:
- Grade A: 33 UCAS Points
- Grade B: 27 UCAS Points
- Grade C: 21 UCAS Points
- Grade D: 15 UCAS Points
- Official SQA Advanced Higher UCAS Tariff Points:
- Grade A*: 56 UCAS Points (same as A-Level A*)
- Grade A: 48 UCAS Points (same as A-Level A)
- Grade B: 40 UCAS Points (same as A-Level B)
- Grade C: 32 UCAS Points (same as A-Level C)
- Grade D: 24 UCAS Points (same as A-Level D)
- Combining Highers and Advanced Highers: Students progressing from S5 to S6 can add UCAS points earned in Advanced Highers to their existing S5 Highers, provided the Advanced Higher is in a different or advanced subject module.
đ Practical Examples
- Higher Subject 1 (Grade A): 33 Points
- Higher Subject 2 (Grade B): 27 Points
- Higher Subject 3 (Grade C): 21 Points
- Higher Subject 4 (Grade D): 15 Points
- Advanced Higher 1 (Grade B): 48 Points
Highers Subtotal: 33 + 27 + 21 + 15 = 96 UCAS Points
Advanced Higher Subtotal: 48 UCAS Points
Total Combined Score: 96 + 48 = **144 UCAS Points**.
University Offer Equivalency: Exceeds a 120 UCAS Tariff point offer requirement by 24 points.
đ Common Pitfalls
- Confusing Higher Points with Advanced Higher Points: An A at SQA Higher is worth 33 points, whereas an A at Advanced Higher is worth 48 points.
- Overlapping Same Subject Grades: UCAS rules forbid counting a Higher and an Advanced Higher in the exact same subject if the university specifies non-duplication.
- Assuming Scottish Universities Demand Tariff Points: Most ancient Scottish universities specify entry offers as exact Highers letter combinations (e.g. AABB or ABBB) achieved by the end of S5 or S6.
â Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Under official UCAS Tariff rules, an SQA Higher grade A is worth 33 UCAS points. Grade B is worth 27 points, grade C is worth 21 points, and grade D is worth 15 points.
An SQA Advanced Higher grade A is worth 48 UCAS points (equivalent to an A-Level grade A). An Advanced Higher grade A* is worth 56 UCAS points.
Most Scottish universities express entry requirements in Highers letter grades (e.g. AAAB), but some post-1992 Scottish universities and almost all universities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland accept UCAS tariff scores.
Yes. You can combine UCAS tariff points from Highers passed in S5 and new Highers passed in S6 to calculate your overall UCAS tariff score for university entry.