The subjects you pick at A’level determine the courses you can do at university.
Most students find this out too late.
By then, their combination is set — and some courses they wanted are out of reach.
This guide explains how combinations work, so you can plan ahead.
What Is an A’Level Combination?
An A’level combination is the set of subjects you offer in your Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations.
Each combination has two types of subjects:
- Principal subjects — your main A’level subjects, typically three. These carry the highest weight in your cut-off calculation.
- Subsidiary subjects — supporting subjects, typically including General Paper and sometimes a fourth subject at a lower level.
The combination is usually referred to by its initials. PCB stands for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. HEG stands for History, Economics, and Geography. MEG stands for Mathematics, Economics, and Geography.
Why Your Combination Matters
Every university course in Uganda requires a specific combination or a set of acceptable combinations.
Medicine requires Biology and Chemistry. Engineering requires Mathematics and Physics. Computer Science requires Mathematics. Law and Social Sciences often accept arts or business combinations.
If your combination doesn’t match what a course requires, your application is disqualified — regardless of your cut-off score.
This is separate from the cut-off threshold. You need both: the right combination and a high enough score.
Common Combinations and What They Open
PCB — Physics, Chemistry, Biology Qualifies for Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, and other science-based health courses.
PCM — Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics Qualifies for Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture, and physical sciences.
MEG — Mathematics, Economics, Geography Qualifies for Business, Economics, Statistics, Surveying, and some Engineering courses.
HEG — History, Economics, Geography Qualifies for Social Sciences, Law, Business, Development Studies, and arts-based courses.
MPC — Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry Strong combination for Engineering and physical sciences, similar to PCM.
BCG — Biology, Chemistry, Geography Qualifies for Agriculture, Environmental Science, Nursing, and some science courses.
Most universities publish their approved combination requirements for each course in their admission guidelines. Calcut uses this information to match your combination to your course options automatically.
Changing Your Combination
Once you sit your A’level exams, your combination is permanent.
You cannot change the subjects on your UACE results slip. What you can change is how you use them. If your combination qualifies for a broader range of courses than you initially thought, Calcut surfaces all of them.
Some students sit A’level twice to change their combination or improve grades. That is a personal choice. Calcut helps you understand what your current results already unlock — so you make informed decisions.
Using Calcut to Check Your Combination
When you open Calcut, it asks you to select your A’level combination.
You choose your Principal subjects and your Subsidiary subjects from the available list. Calcut cross-references your combination against every course at every public university in Uganda.
You see only the courses you actually qualify for. You don’t guess. You don’t spend hours manually reading admission booklets.
Your combination plus your grades equals your options. Calcut shows you all of them at once.
Calculate Your Cut-Off Points Now
Enter your O'level and A'level results. Get your academic weights in seconds. See every course you qualify for — from all universities in Uganda.