Let’s cut through the noise: some A levels are treated like afterthoughts. Not because they’re easy, but because people assume they are. You’ve heard the whispers - "Why are you taking Media Studies?" or "Isn’t General Studies just a free pass?" - and it stings. The truth? The least respected A levels aren’t weak. They’re misunderstood. And that misunderstanding is costing students real opportunities.
What Makes a Subject "Least Respected"?
Respect isn’t about difficulty. It’s about perception. A subject gets labeled "least respected" when universities, employers, or even teachers assume it doesn’t build "serious" skills. It’s not about what you learn - it’s about what people think you learned.
Take General Studies. For years, it was a catch-all subject, often tacked onto A level bundles just to fill a slot. Many top universities outright refused to count it as a full A level. Why? Because it didn’t fit the traditional mold of maths, sciences, or languages. But here’s what no one talks about: General Studies taught critical thinking, essay structure, and how to connect ideas across disciplines. It was the original interdisciplinary course - long before universities started bragging about "cross-disciplinary learning."
Then there’s Media Studies. It’s dismissed as "watching TV and writing essays." But if you’ve ever analyzed a news broadcast’s framing, deconstructed a Netflix documentary’s bias, or mapped how advertising targets teens, you know this isn’t fluff. It’s semiotics, psychology, and communication theory wrapped in pop culture. Yet, in 2025, a survey by the Higher Education Policy Institute found that 43% of Russell Group admissions officers still view Media Studies as "less rigorous" than traditional humanities.
The Top 5 Least Respected A Levels (And Why They’re Not What You Think)
Based on feedback from university admissions tutors, career counselors, and former students, here are the five A levels most often underestimated - and what they actually teach.
- General Studies: Teaches synthesis. You don’t memorize facts - you learn to pull arguments from history, science, ethics, and politics. It’s the closest thing to a real-world debate prep course.
- Media Studies: Builds digital literacy, audience analysis, and narrative structure. These are the exact skills needed for marketing, journalism, UX design, and social media strategy - all high-growth fields in 2025.
- Travel and Tourism: Often mocked as "just planning holidays." But it covers global economics, cultural sensitivity, supply chain logistics, and customer behavior. Airlines, tour operators, and even hotel chains hire graduates with this background - if they can get past the stigma.
- Performing Arts: Seen as "not academic." But it’s the only A level that requires you to manage deadlines, rehearse under pressure, adapt to feedback, and perform in front of judges. That’s leadership, emotional intelligence, and resilience - all measurable soft skills.
- Food Technology: Called "cooking class." But it’s chemistry, nutrition science, food safety regulations, supply chain management, and consumer behavior. The UK food industry is facing a 25,000-worker shortage by 2027. Graduates with this A level are in demand - if anyone takes them seriously.
Why Do These Subjects Get Stigmatized?
The bias isn’t new. It’s rooted in a 19th-century idea that only "pure" academic subjects - maths, classics, sciences - build intelligence. Everything else? Just "vocational." But that line has blurred. Today’s economy runs on communication, creativity, and critical thinking - skills these "underrated" A levels develop better than rote memorization.
Here’s the kicker: the most respected A levels - like Further Maths or Physics - are also the ones with the lowest pass rates. Students struggle. They burn out. Meanwhile, students in "easy" subjects often outperform them in university because they’ve learned how to manage workload, think critically, and adapt.
Universities don’t admit students because they took the "right" subjects. They admit students who show potential. And potential isn’t measured in subject names. It’s measured in grades, personal statements, interviews, and portfolios.
What Universities Actually Look For
Let’s clear up a myth: no university says, "We only accept Biology, Chemistry, and Maths." The UCAS admissions guidelines state clearly that they consider the full profile. In fact, many top programs - like Law, Psychology, and even Computer Science - now welcome students with Media Studies or Psychology A levels because they bring diverse thinking.
For example, University College London’s Psychology program explicitly lists Media Studies as a "valuable" subject. The University of Edinburgh accepts Travel and Tourism for its International Business degree. Manchester Metropolitan University highlights Food Technology as a strong foundation for its Nutrition and Dietetics course.
The real gatekeepers aren’t the universities - they’re the careers advisors and parents who still believe in the old hierarchy. If you’re taking one of these subjects and someone says, "Are you sure this will get you into uni?" - ask them to show you the official entry requirements. You’ll find they’re wrong.
Who Should Take These "Least Respected" A Levels?
These subjects aren’t for everyone. But they’re perfect for students who:
- Want to study communication, design, or social sciences
- Are interested in media, marketing, or digital content
- Learn better through real-world examples than abstract theory
- Want to build skills that employers actually value - like critical analysis, creativity, and adaptability
If you’re drawn to these subjects, don’t let stigma stop you. The world doesn’t need more people who can solve quadratic equations. It needs people who can explain why a viral ad works, why a food label is misleading, or how a news story shapes public opinion.
What to Do If You’re Taking One of These Subjects
Here’s how to turn stigma into strength:
- Frame it right in your personal statement. Don’t say "I took Media Studies because I like TV." Say: "I analyzed how social media algorithms amplify misinformation - leading me to pursue a degree in Digital Media Ethics."
- Build a portfolio. Save your essays, presentations, or projects. A 10-page analysis of a Netflix documentary is more impressive than a B in Further Maths if you’re applying for Media or Communications.
- Get references from teachers who can speak to your skills. A teacher who can say, "She managed a 3-month media campaign for the school newsletter with 80% student engagement," carries more weight than a generic "hard worker" comment.
- Research your target university’s actual requirements. Don’t rely on rumors. Go to the course page. Look at the entry requirements. If they don’t list a subject as "required," it’s not a barrier.
- Know your value. If someone says, "That’s not a real A level," smile and say, "Funny - it’s the one that taught me how to think."
The Bigger Picture
Education isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about preparing people for life. The subjects dismissed as "least respected" are often the ones that teach the most transferable skills. In a world where AI handles data and automation handles routine tasks, the people who thrive are those who can communicate, analyze, adapt, and create.
Media Studies isn’t about watching shows. It’s about decoding power. Food Technology isn’t about baking cakes - it’s about feeding a planet. General Studies isn’t a filler - it’s the glue that holds interdisciplinary thinking together.
So if you’re taking one of these subjects, don’t apologize for it. Own it. Because the future doesn’t need more people who followed the rules. It needs people who questioned them - and had the courage to take the path everyone said was wrong.
Are least respected A levels accepted by universities?
Yes, many universities accept them - if they’re relevant to the course. For example, Media Studies is accepted for Communications, Psychology, and even Law degrees at UCL, Edinburgh, and Manchester Met. Always check the official entry requirements on the university website. Don’t trust hearsay.
Do employers care about A level subjects?
Most don’t. Entry-level employers care more about your degree, work experience, and soft skills. For graduate roles, they look at your degree subject and internships. Your A levels matter mostly for university admission, not job hunting. A strong portfolio or internship in your field will always outweigh the subject you took at 17.
Is General Studies still offered as an A level?
As of 2025, General Studies is no longer offered as a standalone A level by any major exam board in the UK. It was phased out in 2017, but many students still reference it because it was common for decades. Its skills live on in subjects like Critical Thinking and Global Perspectives, which serve similar roles.
Can I switch A level subjects after starting?
Yes, if you’re early enough in the course - usually within the first term. Talk to your school’s head of sixth form. Many schools allow switches if you can show a clear reason and have the capacity to catch up. Don’t feel locked in just because you picked a subject at 15.
Why do some teachers discourage these subjects?
Some teachers were trained in a system that valued traditional subjects and still believe they’re the only path to success. Others are under pressure to boost university acceptance rates and think students should stick to "safe" choices. It’s not about what’s best for you - it’s about what’s easiest for them to explain to parents and inspectors.
Do these subjects have lower pass rates?
No. In fact, subjects like Media Studies and Food Technology often have higher pass rates than Further Maths or Physics. The difference isn’t difficulty - it’s perception. Students in these subjects tend to be more engaged because they’re studying topics they care about, which leads to better results.
Final Thought: Your Path, Not Theirs
The most respected A level isn’t the one everyone else takes. It’s the one that matches your strengths, interests, and goals. If you’re choosing a subject because it’s "respected," you’re playing a game someone else wrote. But if you’re choosing it because it excites you - because it makes you think, question, or create - then you’re already ahead.
Don’t let outdated opinions define your potential. The world doesn’t need more people who followed the script. It needs people who rewrote it.
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