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Yes. Computing is one of the more accessible degrees for adults without traditional qualifications, because the sector cares more about what you can do than what you did at sixteen. Here is how the routes actually work, and what to watch out for.
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Search this question and you will mostly find forum threads. That is not an accident: there is very little clear, current information written for adults in the UK who want a computing degree and do not have A-Levels. This page is our attempt to fix that.
This is the question underneath the question, and the honest answer is: it depends entirely on the course.
Traditional Computer Science degrees at research-intensive universities are the most likely to expect Maths A-Level, because the course itself is mathematically heavy — algorithms, discrete maths, formal methods.
Applied computing, IT and software development degrees are far less likely to require it. These are built around practical skills: programming, networks, databases, systems, security.
If you are told “you need Maths A-Level for computing”, that advice is describing one type of course as though it were all of them. Check the specific course, at the specific university, for the specific year of entry — entry requirements are published per course and they change.
An extra year at the front of a computing degree, covering the maths and programming groundwork before the degree proper begins.
Suits you if you want the groundwork built in, at one institution, without applying twice.
A standalone college qualification, usually in Science or Computing, designed for adults returning to education. You then use it to apply.
Suits you if you want a qualification in hand, or want to keep several universities open.
Computing is one of the subjects where relevant experience genuinely carries weight — IT support, network administration, self-taught development with a portfolio.
Worth knowing: assessed case by case, and having something concrete to show matters more here than in most subjects.
A computing or IT BTEC, HNC or HND is already a recognised entry qualification in its own right.
Suits you if you already hold one — you may not need any of the above.
We cover the general picture on our Study at University Without A-Levels page, and the foundation-versus-Access decision in Access to HE vs Foundation Year. If you are already working, the study format matters as much as the route — see doing a degree while working full time.
No. Degree courses that accept students without A-Levels do not assume prior programming experience, and foundation years exist precisely to build it.
Being able to code already will not usually get you past an entry requirement, but it will make the first year considerably easier, and it helps if you are relying on experience rather than qualifications.
If you have searched for digital technologies degrees, you will have noticed the results are different — mostly colleges, Higher Technical Qualifications, T Levels and degree apprenticeships rather than standard degrees.
That is a genuinely different route. Degree apprenticeships in particular are worth knowing about: you are employed, the employer and government fund the training, and you do not take a Tuition Fee Loan. They are competitive and you need an employer, but for someone already working in a technical role they can be a better fit than a degree.
If you tell us you are interested in digital technologies specifically, we will talk through both routes rather than assuming you want the degree.
Student Finance England decides whether you can be funded — not us, and not any admissions service.
What the decision turns on: your residency and immigration status, whether you have studied at university before, and whether the course and provider are designated for funding. Previous higher education study is the one that catches people out most often, including study you did not complete.
Check your own position at GOV.UK: student finance and who qualifies. Current amounts and repayment terms are published there and change annually, so we do not reproduce figures here.
It can be, and we would rather be straight with you than sell it.
Computing degrees are practical and the skills transfer, which is why they suit career changers. But a degree on its own does not guarantee a job in a competitive market, and employers in this sector look hard at what you can demonstrate — projects, placements, portfolios — alongside the qualification. Treat the degree as the structure to build that in, not as the finished product.
If your goal is a specific technical job rather than a degree, say so when you contact us. Sometimes the honest answer is that a shorter route fits better.
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For UK-based adults we work with a UK admissions partner whose team places students on in-person courses including Computing and Digital Technologies at partner institutions in London, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham. Classes run two days a week.
They are a separate organisation from StudyUKToday. If your enquiry is suitable and you tell us we may, we pass your name and mobile number to their admissions team — nothing else, and only with your explicit consent. We will tell you who they are before we do. Their team and the university make the decisions about eligibility and a place.
Not sure which of these applies to you? Answer a few questions and we will tell you which routes are realistically open — including if the answer is none of them.
Check your optionsYes. Foundation years, Access to HE Diplomas, BTECs, HNCs and relevant work experience are all recognised routes onto computing degrees. Requirements differ by course and university, so always check the specific course.
For traditional Computer Science at research-intensive universities, often yes. For applied computing, IT and software development degrees, frequently not. It depends on the course, not on the subject as a whole.
No. Courses that accept students without A-Levels do not assume prior programming experience, and foundation years are designed to build it. Existing skills help, especially if you are applying on the strength of work experience.
It can. Computing is one of the subjects where relevant experience carries real weight, particularly with a portfolio or demonstrable projects. It is assessed case by case by each university.
Usually not. Digital technologies routes are more often Higher Technical Qualifications, T Levels or degree apprenticeships rather than standard degrees. A degree apprenticeship means you are employed and do not take a Tuition Fee Loan.
Only Student Finance England can tell you. It depends on your residency status, previous university study and whether the course and provider are designated. Check GOV.UK for your own position.
Answer a few short questions and we will tell you which routes are realistically open to you. It takes about a minute, there is no application, and it costs nothing.
StudyUKToday is not Student Finance England and cannot confirm your funding. We are not a university and do not make admissions decisions.