If you are applying to杜伦大学（Durham University）with Chinese qualifications for2027 entry, the headline number depends on the route you use. Applicants taking the Gaokao route into science faculties need a total score of 76–82%, or 80% in mathematics if the programme requires it. Applicants entering with a Chinese bachelor's degree normally need the first-year average that matches their target A-level offer: 82% or higher corresponds to AAA, and 80% corresponds to A*AA. There is no single university-wide minimum, because the threshold is set by faculty and by the applicant list entry, not by the degree alone.
Everything below is drawn from Durham's published 2027 entry requirements. Check your own figures against durham.ac.uk before you submit.
The four routes Durham publishes
GCE A-Level. The published range is AAB to AAA.
International Baccalaureate. 34–38 points, with three Higher Level subjects.
Gaokao. Durham states that science faculties accept Gaokao results, requiring a total score of 76–82%. Where the programme requires mathematics, the mathematics Gaokao score must reach 80%. IELTS is required for this route.
English Literature via Gaokao. This is handled separately and more strictly: a minimum of 80% in both the Chinese and English Gaokao subjects.
Year 1 of a recognised bachelor's degree. Grades must match UK A-level equivalences. Durham's published mapping starts at 82% average or higher for AAA, and 80% for A*AA. The full equivalence table continues on the university's own country-specific page, so use that page as the authority for your school rather than relying on a summary.
Which faculties set the higher bar
Thresholds differ between the Durham University Business School (DUBS) and Law School, Engineering, and the rest of the university. The applicant list Durham publishes assigns each Chinese institution one line with three numbers: the DUBS/Law figure, the Engineering figure, and the Rest of University figure.
Reading across the published entries, the pattern is consistent. Institutions in the top bands carry figures such as 75 / 75 / 75 or 75 / 75 / 80, while institutions in the lower bands carry 80 / 80 / 82. In other words, when the bar sits at 75, you are being measured against a 75% expectation; when it sits at 82, you need a considerably stronger average. The school you attended therefore determines the number you are working to, and the faculty you apply to determines which of the three numbers applies.
Durham uses band labels (A, B, C and All others) internally alongside those figures. Durham does not publish a count of institutions per band, so treat any band-count claim you see elsewhere as unverified.
Music
The conservatoires set a flat figure of 78% across DUBS/Law, Engineering and the rest of the university. Durham also lists specific Chinese conservatories from which it will consider applicants at that78% minimum, including Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Shenyang Conservatory of Music, Xi'an Conservatory of Music, Wuhan Conservatory of Music and Sichuan Conservatory of Music. A portfolio is required.
Study modes that will not qualify
Durham does not accept applications based on several non-full-time routes:
- online distance education
- night school (夜校)
- adult education (成人教育)
- self-taught examination degrees (自考本科)
- domestic 专升本 degrees, that is, a three-year college qualification followed by a two-year undergraduate stage at another Chinese university
If your qualification falls into any of these categories, it is not eligible regardless of your grades.
Cooperative and joint programmes
The 4+0 model: Durham refers to its list of recognised partner universities in China. If your university is on that list, you may apply.
The 2+2 model: the final two years abroad are weighted primarily, with the first two years as secondary.
The 3+1 exchange model: Durham relies mainly on your Chinese university transcript, and treats the exchange-year results as reference only.
The 3+1 dual-degree model: Durham recognises the application eligibility of dual-degree applicants, with further submission requirements stated on its own page.
How to self-check before you apply
Work through this list in order.
- Identify your route: Gaokao, IB, A-Level, or first year of a Chinese bachelor's degree.
- Find your institution in Durham's published list for your country.
- Note all three figures: DUBS/Law, Engineering, Rest of University.
- Match the faculty you are applying to against the corresponding figure.
- Calculate your current average against that number.
- Confirm your qualification is a full-time recognised bachelor's degree, or a listed cooperative-programme route.
- For English Literature, check the separate 80% Chinese-and-English Gaokao rule.
- For a science faculty via Gaokao, check the 76–82% total and the 80% mathematics requirement.
- Book the English language test if the Gaokao route applies, since IELTS is required there.
- Re-read the country page on durham.ac.uk on the day you submit, in case the figures have been revised.
Frequently asked questions
What is the lowest score Durham accepts for Chinese applicants? For first-year applicants the published equivalents start at 80% average (AAA) and 82% (AA*A). For the Gaokao route into science faculties the range is 76–82%.
Does the same number apply to every course? No. DUBS and Law, Engineering and the rest of the university each have their own figure in Durham's applicant list.
Is IELTS always required? Durham states IELTS is required for the Gaokao route. It does not publish a single minimum IELTS score in this requirements document, so confirm the level with the admissions team.
Where does Durham rank? Durham is listed 85th in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Ranking is separate from the entry requirements above.
Can I apply with a 专升本 degree? No. Durham excludes that route explicitly.