The traditional choice of taking three two-year A-level courses for sixth-form students is to change from this September.

The Government wants students to be given the chance to study more subjects or to combine academic and vocational qualifications, so they leave with a wider base of knowledge and experience.

The move will mean a heavier workload for students and there is still uncertainty about what grades they will need for degree course places, but the change seems to have been broadly welcomed by schools, colleges and universities.

The main difference will be the expansion of one-year AS-level courses to replace the current first year of an A-level course.

Margaret Price, assistant principal at York College, said they were encouraging the typical student, who had at least six grade Cs at GCSE, to take four AS courses in their first year.

They would then be encouraged to carry on with new one-year A2 courses in their second year in three of the same subjects - making up the equivalent of the current A-level qualification.

If they wanted, they could take a fifth AS course alongside the three A2s.

Students would also be able to combine them with GNVQ courses. Mrs Price said these would be taught in units - three units taken in one year would make up a part GNVQ equivalent to an AS course; six units taken over two years would make up a single GNVQ, equivalent to one A-level; and 12 units taken over two years would make up a full GNVQ award, equivalent to two A-levels.

For example, someone might do a health and social care GNVQ course alongside an AS-level in biology.

"There is an awful lot of choice for students. We will have to wait and see what sort of combination they want," she said.

She said 56 per cent of young people had part-time jobs nowadays and those doing a lot of hours or evening work might find it tough.

"But there is more investment going into young people's education now and they should welcome this," she said.

She said many students had found it difficult to narrow down their choices to three subjects in the past and now they would not have to.

Chris Bridge, head teacher of Huntington School in York, agreed.

"If they start with four subjects then they will know much more about them if they want to take them on," he said.

"They are going to be working harder in the lower sixth, but I believe they can do it. I don't think anyone in Britain knows what other people are capable of. I welcome these changes very strongly."

Mrs Price said most universities would want to see success in two subjects at A2 standard. "There is a likelihood that they could make an offer on four subjects, but we don't know what they're going to do."

Mr Bridge said: "We really need to know now because we have students who are making choices now."

Both the University of York and the College of Ripon and York St John said they welcomed the changes.

Connie Cullen, director of admissions and schools liaison at the University of York, said they expected to be making most offers for degree courses on three A2s and one AS.

"We don't necessarily expect to lower the grades we ask for. Obviously we are going to have to wait and see what their equivalent performance turns out to be.

"We expect to modify offers by asking for a similar grade in the extra qualification - we would expect a department now asking for three Bs at A-level to ask for three Bs at A2 level and one B in the new AS.

"If we find that most students are actually taking a fifth AS, we may put a condition on that as well."

Pauline Aldous, registrar for the College of Ripon and York St John, said: "In some subject areas the college is likely to look for candidates who study specific subjects to full A-level or full GNVQ as a necessary preparation for studying the subject at degree level.

"It seems unlikely to us at this stage that we will view a candidate offering AS-level only or parts of a GNVQ as being well equipped for degree-level study unless, of course, other experience was also offered.

"We are, therefore, likely to look for applicants who can offer some evidence of ability at A-level or full GNVQ."

For example, for a place on the Theatre, Film and TV studies course, students currently need a B and two Cs at A-level - under the new system the college would ask for the same grades or would accept a full GNVQ plus one A-level or some other equivalent.

So it seems when it comes down to it, to get on a popular degree course, students will still need three A-levels or their equivalent, sometimes with an AS as well.

Perhaps the real decision time will be the beginning of September 2001 when students decide which subjects to carry on with and whether to do an extra one-year course.

Meanwhile Mrs Price said the main advice to students remained the same as it had ever been: "Always choose the things you're going to enjoy most because you're going to do well at those."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.