Year 12 entry (16+)

Entry to Year 12 (16+) in September 2026

Entry Procedures Overview
Age of applicant	Applicants should be 16 years old in September 2026 (born between 1 September 2009 and 31 August 2010)
Number of places available	Approximately 40 places (the majority for boarding)
Music Scholarships	Available
Bursaries - Free and Subsidised Places	Available for day places
Registration deadline	Registration closed on Tuesday 30 September 2025 at 5pm
Date of Entrance Examinations	Applicants at schools in the UK will be invited to sit our entrance examinations at Dulwich College on Wednesday 5 November 2025. Applicants resident in Hong Kong will be invited to sit the entrance examinations in Hong Kong on Sunday 19 October. Applicants in other overseas locations will sit the examinations in their country of residence at the College’s representatives' offices or the British Council in late October/early November by arrangement with the Upper School Registrar.
Interview for Shortlisted Applicants	Applicants who are shortlisted for interview and are based in the UK will be invited for interview at Dulwich College on Wednesday 19 November 2025. Shortlisted applicants who are overseas will be interviewed online, on dates to be advised.
Results	Will be sent by email within three weeks of the examination or interview

Assessment

Entrance Examination
Applicants will sit written examinations in each of the three subjects chosen to be studied at A level, except for the following subjects:

• Art and Design & Technology– Applicants should submit a portfolio of work
• Computer Science – Applicants are expected to perform strongly in the Mathematics examination and an interview will be conducted
• Physical Education – Applicants will be invited to a  group interview and activity session

Applicants for whom English is not their first language will be expected to also pass the College’s English as an Additional Language examination.

Interview
Applicants who perform strongly in the entrance examinations are shortlisted for interview either in person or online.

Requirements for entry to Year 12

The Upper School provides a demanding academic curriculum that requires both intellectual ability and a strong work ethic. It is therefore suitable only for boys who have both qualities:

• For 16+ applicants to enter the Remove from elsewhere in the UK, the minimum requirement for entry will be 65 points at GCSE (calculated by adding up the grades achieved at GCSE) or the equivalent. We look for a grade 8 or above in English Language, Mathematics, and in all subjects chosen for study at A level, where previously studied.
• For overseas applicants there are special qualifications and procedures, as appropriate, details of which can be obtained from the Head of Upper School or from the Registrar. 

All pupils new to the College whose first language is not English are required to take an English test before arrival. If support is needed, pupils are required to take the English as an Additional Language (EAL) course through the Remove year. This leads to the IELTS qualification, which a number of universities now require from EAL pupils.

Selection

The offer of a place at the College is made based on

• the applicant’s performance in the examination
• an interview
• a report from the Head of the candidate’s present school

and is subject to the College's Standard Terms and Conditions.

Entrants who are required to take IELTS for immigration purposes or as evidence of language proficiency for their university application will be expected to take the IELTS test. Those who need support with this process will be given language preparation sessions. The College can arrange IELTS tests for these students.

Access Arrangements in Entrance Examinations

Access Arrangements are pre-examination adjustments for candidates based on evidence of need and normal way of working. They can include, but are not limited to, extra time, supervised breaks and use of word processor.  Access Arrangements are reviewed by our Learning Support team and granted in line with JCQ regulations. To evidence a need and normal way of working, you will need to submit the following at time of application:

• a letter/report from CAMHS, a HPC registered psychologist, a medical consultant, a psychiatrist, a Speech and Language Therapist; or
• a letter/report from the Local Authority Specialist Service, Local Authority Sensory Impairment Service or Occupational Health Service; or
• a current EHCP
• We will also require a letter from the current school stating the pupil's normal way of working

The College needs this information so that it can assess a pupil’s particular needs and (if required) can consult with their parents about the adjustments which could reasonably be made to cater for those needs during the admissions process.

Please indicate requirements in the Special Educational Need (SEN) section when submitting an online registration form. If there are any changes to requirements, please inform the Registrars no later than 10 days before the entrance examination.

If there are any changes to requirements, please inform the Upper School Registrar no later than 10 days before the entrance examination.

The specimen papers featured represent a guide to the style of paper applicants might expect. Further information about the entrance papers for subjects not featured here is available from the Upper School Registrar.

Factors to consider: 

• What are you good at?
• What do you most enjoy?
• What would you like to do next?

• What are your plans after A levels? 

Useful Resources

Upper School Curriculum
A level Examination Results
Leavers’ Destinations and University Courses
Higher Education and Careers

Our Head of Upper School, Mr ÓSiochrú, will be happy to discuss subject options, both prior to registering for a place and throughout the admissions process. Please contact the Mrs Jo Foster, Upper School Registrar, to arrange an appointment.

Future Pathways

The table below is a guide drawn from the HEAP Guide 2025 and the UCAS website.

Subject area	Preferred subjects (subjects in square brackets are useful but not essential)
Accounting and Finance	Mathematics [Economics]
Architecture	Mathematics and/or Physics [Sciences, Art, DT, Geography]
Biochemistry	Chemistry + another Science. Biology sometimes required [Sciences, Mathematics]
Biology	Biology + another Science [Sciences, Mathematics]
Biomedical Science	Biology, Chemistry [Sciences, Mathematics]
Biotechnology	Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics [Physics]
Business and Management	None [Mathematics, Economics, English, Humanities, Social Sciences]
Chemistry	Chemistry + another Science. Mathematics sometimes required [Sciences, Mathematics]
Chinese Studies	None [A modern language]
Classics	Some may require Latin/Greek [Latin, Greek, English Literature, History, Philosophy/RS, Languages]
Combined Honours	Check course requirements [Languages are common combination subjects]
Computer Science	Mathematics. Further Mathematics sometimes required [Sciences, Computer Science]
Dentistry	Chemistry, Biology [Sciences, Mathematics]
Ecological/Environmental/Earth Sciences	Sciences [Sciences, Mathematics, Geography, Psychology, Computer Science]
Economics	Mathematics [Economics, Further Mathematics]
Engineering	Mathematics, Physics [Chemistry, DT, Further Mathematics]
English	English [Humanities, Languages]
Geography	Geography [Sciences, Mathematics, Politics]
History	History [English, Humanities, Politics, Economics, Classics, Languages]
International Relations	None [Humanities, Economics, Politics, Languages]
Law	None [Humanities, Social Sciences, Languages]
Mathematics	Mathematics. Further Mathematics sometimes required.
Medicine	Chemistry, Biology [Physics, Mathematics]
Modern Languages	The language to be studied [other languages]
Music	Music [Instrumental grades required for many courses]
Natural Sciences	Sciences [Mathematics]
Neuroscience	Biology, Chemistry [Mathematics, Physics, Psychology]
Pharmaceutical Science/Pharmacology	Chemistry, Biology [Mathematics, Sciences]
Philosophy	None [Mathematics, Humanities, Social Sciences]
Philosophy, Politics and Economics	At least one of Politics, Philosophy or Economics. Mathematics required for some courses. [Politics, Philosophy, Economics, English, Languages, Humanities, Social Sciences]
Physics	Physics, Mathematics [Chemistry for Natural Sciences routes]
Politics	None [Humanities (especially History), Social Sciences]
Psychology	A science subject (preferably Biology) [Psychology, Mathematics, Social Sciences, Languages]
Sport Science	A science subject (preferably Biology) [Sciences, PE, Mathematics]
Theology	None [Religious Studies, Philosophy, Humanities, Social Sciences, Languages]
Veterinary Medicine/Science	Chemistry, Biology [Physics, Mathematics]
Zoology	Two sciences [Mathematics, Sciences]