Above 85, the question changes. It is less about what is open and more about what is worth it: which universities, which route in, and, for anyone thinking about medicine or dentistry, whether the average clears 90.
What the Ministry’s rules leave open
At 85% every field on the Ministry of Higher Education table is open except medicine and dentistry, which need 90%, or 1260 out of 1,400, before enrolment. At 90% and above, nothing on the Ministry’s list is closed to you.
Watch the boundary. The Ministry’s wording is that the average must not be less than 90%, and 89.9% is less than 90%.
Medicine and dentistry: 90 is the line
The threshold has moved more than once in recent years and now stands at 90%. Clearing it is the first condition, not the last. The university must be recognised, you must live in the country of study for at least eight months of each year, and in countries that do not speak English the language rule decides whether the programme counts. That rule matters a great deal in Turkey, where it catches many families out.
The UK is a harder route into medicine for Tawjihi students than many expect. The University of Manchester, for example, considers only A-levels or the IB for medicine and dentistry. Check each medical school’s own requirements before building a plan around it. Our guides to medical and dental recognition cover what happens when you come home.
The UK: which foundation, not whether
Even at this level, universities such as Manchester and Birmingham do not take a Tawjihi certificate for direct entry. What a high average buys is a choice of foundation programme. From each university’s own page, checked on 19 October 2026:
| University | What it publishes for Tawjihi |
|---|---|
| University of Manchester | 85% or higher for the foundation programmes run with INTO Manchester, covering engineering and science, humanities and social sciences, biosciences, pharmacy and psychology. 90% overall, with 90% in maths and physics, for its own science and engineering degrees with an integrated foundation year |
| University of Birmingham | 85% or above for its foundation pathways, with at least 85% in maths for the engineering and physical sciences pathway |
| University of Portsmouth | 85% overall for entry straight to year one at International College Portsmouth |
Notice the subject conditions. An 88% average with 80% in maths does not meet Manchester’s integrated foundation requirement or Birmingham’s engineering pathway. When you compare foundation programmes, look at the progression grade into your chosen degree and whether progression is to one university or several.
Canada
In Canada a high average makes you competitive, but programme subjects still decide eligibility. Western University says admitted students typically hold at least the equivalent of a B average, and its engineering programme requires chemistry, physics and maths. Western also asks for final documents to be sent through World Education Services, so plan the paperwork early.
The mistakes we see most at this level
- Assuming a high average means direct entry to a UK bachelor’s degree. With a Tawjihi certificate, it usually does not.
- Enrolling in medicine at 89% on the hope that the Ministry will round up.
- Choosing by ranking alone. A highly ranked university that is not on the Ministry’s recognised list, or a programme that fails the language rule, is a poor choice for a student who plans to come home.
- Overlooking subject minimums. Maths and physics marks often matter as much as the overall average.
What to do next
Talk to us before you shortlist. We will check the average and the subject marks against the Ministry’s rules and the universities you have in mind, and help you choose a route in that keeps the degree usable at home. Then read our guide to attesting your certificates.