Graphic design at uni

I know this forum hasn't got anything to do with uni but i have a question that maybe some of you guys will know the answer to.

I'm 22 now and wanting to study graphic design at uni next September. I got moderate GSCE grades, they weren't good but they weren't terrible, didn't do too well in my A-levels at all as i just wasn't interested in the subjects and did them for the sake of doing something.

However in the last year or so i've developed a keen interest in Graphic Design, practiced a lot on logo's and last year i was offering free Logo's on here to give me some practice, some of which were used on websites.

My question is, given my "ok" grades in school, if i were able to create a decent looking portfolio of designs, maybe offer some free stuff on here for a while, do you think any good universities will offer me a place based on my designs? I know it's not imperative to have a degree in Graphic Design to do well at it, but i want some kind of qualification from a decent university to hopefully kick start a career, and obviously train me in the areas i haven't looked at yet.

Any constructive feedback is welcome and appreciated! thanks for reading!

From my personal experience, all that matters is your work.

At the end of the day, your work makes you a graphic designer not the title or your previous grades.
People will hire you for your work, and that's all that matters.

^IMO though, it's what I experienced.
I know some universities can be bitches in regard to qualifications.

Why not teach it yourself? I've done it and it was my job for a while as well.
Quit it because I felt the need to go back to school again, and that was a stupid mistake.
(I have had no schooling at all, apart from a year or two in college)

Thanks for the answer! I just think that it would be a lot easier to get a stable job doing graphic design if i have a degree behind me from a good university, i know i could probably get onto courses or foundation courses at lesser universities, but i was wondering if any reputable universities would consider someone who isn't really classed as "academic".