Universities in the UK that accept the gaokao
If you are a Chinese student planning to study in the UK, it can be helpful to know which universities accept the gaokao
Seeta Bhardwa
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China’s National College Entrance Examination (NCEE), or gaokao, is the admission test that all final-year school students in the country must take if they wish to win a place in a Chinese university.
Many international universities now accept the gaokao as part of a student’s application form. If you have taken the gaokao and are considering studying abroad, here is a list of all the universities in the UK that accept the gaokao.
It is important to check all the entry requirements with your university because most of the institutions will also ask for other documents such as the results of English language proficiency tests and high school certificates.
UK universities accepting gaokao/NCEE results
University of Cambridge (preparation courses)
Acceptance rates of the gaokao will vary year-on-year, but generally successful candidates to the University of Cambridge will have scores in the top 0.1 per cent in their province.
Applicants will have to have achieved a minimum 60 per cent overall average.
Students must have completed the gaokao with a minimum 80 per cent overall average. There may be some variation in scores across the different provinces.
The university will consider students who have a minimum of 80 per cent in the gaokao for direct entry into the first year.
Royal Holloway, University of London
Applicants will need to have achieved a grade of 75 per cent overall, with 70 per cent in any A-level subject required by the course.
Entry requirements for the University of Southampton vary based on the course you are applying to.
Requirements will vary based on courses, but generally a grade of 80 per cent or higher is required for the majority of courses.
Students who have achieved 75 per cent in the gaokao will be considered for entry to undergraduate programmes.
What is the gaokao and how can you prepare for it?
Candidates who are expected to complete the gaokao with a minimum 75 per cent overall average will be considered for most courses. Candidates for applied medical sciences require a minimum 78 per cent overall average, and candidates for computer science require 75 per cent overall, with 75 per cent in maths and two other science subjects.
Entry requirements vary across courses, but a minimum of 60 per cent is generally required.
Students must achieve a minimum 80 per cent overall average, but scores will vary across courses.
Students with a minimum score of 75 per cent overall average in the gaokao can apply.
Most undergraduate bachelor’s degree courses will consider 75 per cent overall average from the gaokao.
Students who have achieved 75 per cent in the gaokao may be given an offer to study on a bachelor’s degree programme.
Accepted scores for the gaokao will vary based on the province the student took the test in.
Queen Mary University of London
Gaokao scores of 80 per cent will be accepted on a selection of courses at Queen Mary University of London, including physics, maths and engineering.
Students should achieve an overall score of 75 per cent.
Gaokao pass with an overall average 65 per cent or higher is needed.
Applicants with a Grade 12 Senior High School Certificate with an average of 75 per cent or above plus a gaokao score of 110/150 in maths can be considered for some bachelor’s degrees in engineering and science.
An average score of 70 per cent will be considered for bachelor’s degree courses.
Acceptance rates vary across courses depending on the A-level equivalent requirements.
No pass rate is given, but students must successfully pass the gaokao to be admitted to a bachelor’s degree programme.
Gaokao percentage rates will depend on the equivalent A-level or Ucas point requirements for each course. For example, if the entry requirements are AAA, the corresponding gaokao percentage will be 90 per cent to 100 per cent.
A minimum grade of 67 per cent is required for undergraduate courses.
Students with high scores in the gaokao will be considered for undergraduate degrees on a case-by-case basis, dependent on course-specific grades.
A pass of 70 per cent overall is required for bachelor’s degree study.
A minimum score of 75 per cent overall and 75 per cent in any required subjects is needed for undergraduate courses. Some courses with higher entry requirements may demand a minimum score of 80 per cent overall.
A 70 per cent overall pass rate is required.
Students will need to achieve 75 per cent to 80 per cent overall depending on the subject they are applying for.
London School of Economics and Political Science
Entry requirements will vary based on the A-level equivalent grades.
A score of 75-85 per cent in the gaokao is necessary to study at the University of Leeds. Some programmes may require additional qualifications such as A-level maths.
The gaokao is accepted for direct entry in courses in the science faculty. Students should have scores of least 80 per cent overall and 80 per cent in maths (if A-level maths is required).
