The Student Room Group

UK Medical Schools - Entry Requirements, Course Info & application cycle details

THIS INFORMATION, UPDATED AND IMPROVED CAN NOW BE FOUND IN THE TSRwiki: HERE
A Big thanks to Miles for providing the info in the first place :smile:
Daveo



Hopefully this thread will be of some use to applicants wanting to know individual medical school requirements and/or how to find the relevant information on their websites.

If anyone has any further detail to add or spots any mistakes, PM me and i'll edit them in. I have not included information about alternative qualifications or graduate entry.

Most Med Schools require a full A2 in chemistry, a popular combination is to add A2 biology and then a third A2 in an "arty" or humanity subject. However, Medical Schools do, contrary to popular belief, allow a wide range of flexibility!

Entry requirements for Scottish applicants can be found here.

Aberdeen

A-levels: Chemistry is highly desirable, plus at least one from Biology, Mathematics or Physics and one other. General Studies is excluded. Typical Offer ABB

Further Info? No formal GCSE grade specifications, albeit passes.

Course Information: www.abdn.ac.uk/medicine/prospective-students

Birmingham

A-levels: Chemistry required. One from Biology, Physics or Mathematics required. And one other subject, which may include those named above, excluding General Studies. Typical Offer AAB

Further Info? AS Levels: Biology required (Grade B minimum).
GCSEs: Normally a minimum of 8 GCSEs mostly A or A*. English Language Grade B minimum, (650 for TOEFL or 7.0 for each component of IELTS), Physics and Mathematics (at Grade A minimum) if not offered at A or AS Level, Integrated Science (Double Certificate) Grade A is acceptable as an alternative to Physics

Course Information: http://www.medicine.bham.ac.uk/prospective/mbchb/guidance.htm

Brighton and Sussex

A-levels: All prospective BSMS students will have studied both Biology (or Human Biology) and Chemistry at AS level. Students need to take A-level Biology (or Human Biology) or Chemistry but it is not imperative for students to take both A-level Biology and Chemistry Typical Offer ABB

Further Info? We do not recommend any subjects you should take as the 'third' A level with only General Studies normally being excluded from conditional offers.
GCSEs: We expect grades B in GCSE Maths & English

Course Information: http://www.bsms.ac.uk/studyingmedicine/faq.htm#alevel

Bristol

A-levels: Chemistry plus 2 other approved subjects (science). Candidates offering 1 approved non-science subject will be given equal consideration. For candidates offering 4 AS-levels, at least one should be in a non-science subject. Typical Offer AAB

Further Info?
GCSEs: Grade A passes are an advantage but there is no minimum requirement

Course Information: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/2004/sections/MDYF/MEDI/admissions

Cambridge

A-levels: All colleges strongly prefer applicants to have Chemistry A level. All colleges prefer applicants to have two science/ mathematics subjects at A level - note that most applicants for Medicine at Cambridge have at least three science/mathematics A levels. For individual college requirements consult cambridge website. Typical Offer AAA

Further Info? BMAT requirement, consult course information URL.

Course Information:http://www.cam.ac.uk/cambuniv/ugprospectus/courses/medicine4.html

Dundee

A-levels: Either GCE A-Levels including Chemistry and another Science (Typical Offer AAB) or two A2 and one AS Level including Chemistry (A2) and another Science at either level

Course Information (including Highers requirements): http://www.dundee.ac.uk/prospectus/undergrad/courses/medicine.htm

East Anglia

A-levels: One of which must be biology/human biology. General studies excluded. Typical Offer AAB

Course Information: http://www.med.uea.ac.uk/mbbs/mbbs_intro.htm

Edinburgh

A-levels: 3 A-levels and 1 AS in 4 subjects. Chemistry at A-level,
Maths or Physics or Biology at A-level and Biology at least at AS level. Typical Offer AABb

Further Info? GCSEs: Chemistry, Biology, Maths, English, a language other than English; Dual Award Combined Science may replace sciences. All at grade B or better

Course Information: http://www.mvm.ed.ac.uk/studying/admissions/academic/gce.htm

Glasgow

A-levels: A2 level passes must be in one of the following combinations: Chemistry + Physics + another subject or Chemistry + Biology + another subject or Chemistry + Maths + another subject.
(Science subject preferred at A) Passes in 4 AS subjects are expected from Lower Sixth. Typical Offer AAB

Further Info? GCSEs: A GCSE pass in English at C or above
applicants are recommended to have a GCSE pass in any of Maths, Physics or Biology not offered at A2 level.

Course Information: http://www.gla.ac.uk:443/studying/ug/prospectus2005/entryfaculty.cfm?faculty=6

Hull York

A-levels: including Biology, Chemistry and a third A level, excluding General studies. Typical Offer ABB

Further Info? GCSEs: 6 grades A-C including Dual Award Science, Maths and English. Applicants should have studied at least four subjects at AS level. Offers will be based on three A levels, which should normally include both Chemistry and Biology

Course Information: http://www.hyms.ac.uk/prospectus/admission.asp#a2_1

Imperial College London

A-levels: Three A2 levels, including chemistry or biology and one science or mathematics subject. Four AS levels, including chemistry and biology. Typical Offer AABb

Further info? All applicants must have the following subjects at GCSE level, at grades AAABB or above (in any order): biology (or human biology), chemistry, English language, mathematics (or additional mathematics or statistics), physics. The science double award may substitute all sciences at GCSE level.

Course Information: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/p1748.htm

Keele

A-levels: Chemistry is essential plus at least one from Physics, Biology and Mathematics plus one other academic “A2” subject. Typical Offer: AAB/ABB

Further info? Chemistry, Physics, Biology (Dual Award Science is acceptable instead of these subjects, if achieved at BB minimum), English Language (grade B minimum), and Mathematics are essential. A broad spread of subjects are expected at GCSE with 4 * 5 grade A passes.

Course Information: http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/ms/undergrad/courseinfo/entryrequirements.htm

Kings College London

A-levels: Chemistry and Biology, at least one at A level. If offered at AS level only, must be grade B. If Maths and Further Maths is offered, only one will be counted. Typical Offer AABc

Further info? GCSE requirement: grade B at English and Maths, if not offered at A/AS level.

Course Information: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ugp05/programme.php?getid=85

Leeds

A-levels: Normally 3 A levels including chemistry. Applicants are required to offer a very high standard of achievement in at least three subjects at A2 level or 2 subjects at A2 and 2 at AS.
Apart from chemistry at A2 there is no restriction on the acceptable A2 or AS examination subjects (other than General Studies), provided that they have a sufficient academic base. Typical Offer AAB

Further info? Where mathematics, biology and physics are not offered, a B pass or higher in these subjects or equivalent must have been obtained at GCSE level. We expect applicants to have obtained a substantial number of GCSE passes, at a high standard, covering a broad range of subjects. These should include a grade C in English or its equivalent, and good grades (As or Bs) in at least five other GCSE subjects.

Course Information: http://tldynamic.leeds.ac.uk/ugcoursefinder/2005/prospectus3SQL.asp?prog_id=149&recurse=1

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1
Leicester

A-levels: Normally four AS level subjects in first year, including Chemistry and Biology, excluding General Studies. Three GCE A levels including Chemistry required, excluding General Studies. Typical Offer AAB

Further info? GCSE: English Language and sciences if not held at A/AS level, either single subject or part of Dual Award Integrated Science.

Course Information: http://www.le.ac.uk/admissions/ugprospectus05/courses/medicine.pdf

Liverpool

A-levels: Two Sciences must be offered at A level from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Statistics. Biology and Chemistry, if not offered at A level, must be offered at AS level with a minimum Grade A. General Studies is only accepted at AS level. Typical Offer AAB

Further info? at least seven subjects, including Dual Science or Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and both English and Mathematics, should have been passed at GCSE (Grade A or B).

Course Information: http://wwwcgi.liv.ac.uk/php/FacultyMedicine/root/faculty%20of%20medicine/prospective%20students/prospectus.php?hash=A100

Manchester

A-levels: Subjects required: Chemistry plus one from Biology or Human Biology, Physics, Mathematics plus one further rigorous academic subject [ie.60% theoretical content]. A combination of three sciences will be regarded as equally acceptable at A-level. We do not accept two AS-levels in place of one A-level. Typical Offer AAB

Further info? The science subject not being offered at A-Level and that have not been offered at AS-level, are required at GCSE ideally grade B or above. 8-11 subjects. At least four at grade A which need not be in the sciences.

Course Information: http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/admissions/entryreq20052006v2.pdf

Newcastle Upon Tyne

A-levels: Subjects should include Chemistry or Biology at A or AS Level and excluding General Studies. Typical Offer AAB

Course Information: https://mbbs.ncl.ac.uk/admissions

Nottingham

A-levels: Chemistry, Biology (or Human Biology) and a third subject (excluding only General Studies) at A Level (A2). Chemistry and Biology must be passed at grade A. Taking a fourth A Level will not increase your chances of being offered a place at this medical school. Typical Offer AAB

Further info? GCSEs: Minimum of 6 Grade A's to include Chemistry, Biology and Physics (or integrated sciences). Grade A at AS Level Physics can compensate for achieving grade B at GCSE. Minimum of grade B in Maths and English Language.

Course Information: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/mhs/admissions/applying.html#academic_requirements

Oxford

A-levels:Chemistry with either Maths or Biology or Physics Typical Offer AAA

Course Information: http://www.admissions.ox.ac.uk/courses/medi.shtml

Peninsula

A-levels: A typical offer will be in the range 370-400 points from a maximum of 4 A2 & AS levels. This should include a minimum of 320-340 points from 3 full GCE A2 levels. At least one science subject is required and a non-science subject is desirable. General Studies is not acceptable at A level.

Course Information: http://www.pms.ac.uk/pms/undergraduate/aboutbmbs.php

Queens University Belfast

A-levels: Chemistry + one from Biology, Maths or Physics (N.B. only one mathematics subject will be counted at A-Level and General Studies is not acceptable). AS-Levels: If not offered at A-Level, Biology is required and a non-science is recommended. Typical Offer AAA/AAB

Further info? GCSEs: The GCSE threshold varies from year to year according to supply and demand. NB. Your application is unlikely to be considered unless you achieve a minimum of 5A*s and 5As at GCSE.

Course Information: https://admin.qol.qub.ac.uk/prospectus_viewer/?yoe=2005&subject_type=UG&subject_cd=CZ&x=14&y=16

Sheffield

A-levels: Candidates who have studied Chemistry and any two of the following subjects - Biology, Mathematics or Physics at GCE/A level plus any fourth subject will qualify for entry to the five-year degree programme. If you have taken five courses at GCE/A level, the best four grades will be taken into account. Typical Offer AAB

Further info? You must have GCSE passes at grade C or above in English, Maths and the Sciences (which may be dual awards). You should have at least four A grades in GCSE subjects.

Course Information: http://www.shef.ac.uk/medicine/admissions/qualifications.php

Southampton

A-levels: Applicants should offer predicted or actual overall tariff points of 360 from 21 units (preferred, although qualifications offered over 18 units are acceptable). Tariff points from A levels, 340 points from 3 subjects with no less than B grade in any A level subject. Within this framework of points, applicants would be expected to offer either A level Chemistry or Chemistry and Biology/Human Biology at Advanced Subsidiary level. Non-scientific A levels are considered of equal academic standing to sciences as long as Chemistry is offered to the appropriate level.

Further info? School leaver applicants should offer seven GCSEs at grades A/B in a wide range of subjects including English, Mathematics and Double Award Science.
.
Course Information: http://www.som.soton.ac.uk/prospectus/undergrad/pdf/selection_2005.pdf

St. Andrews

A-levels: Including Chemistry and at least one other science. Typical Offer AAB OR AB at Advanced (A2) Level and AB at AS Level in two other subjects. Subjects should include Chemistry at A2 Level and another science at either level. If Biology or Mathematics or Physics is not offered at A2 or AS Level, each must normally have been passed at GCSE grade B or better. A good pass in Combined or Dual Award Science at GCSE will be accepted instead of a single GCSE pass in Physics

Course Information: http://medicine.st-and.ac.uk/prospectus/4.php

St Barts and The London Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry

A-levels: You must take Chemistry and Biology at AS-level, and one or both of these subjects at A2 level. If you are planning to drop either Chemistry or Biology before A2, you must attain a B grade in that subject at AS-level. You should have at least two science A2s, one of which is either Chemistry or Biology, as well as a third A2 which can be either another science or a non-science subject. General Studies may not be offered as one of your three A2s . Typical Offer AAB

Further info? GCSEs: We would expect applicants to offer a wide range of subjects with at least six at grade A or B. English Language, Mathematics and science subjects are all required at grade B
.
Course Information: http://www.mds.qmw.ac.uk/applying/requirements.shtml

St Georges

A-levels: All candidates must offer Chemistry and/or Biology to A level and the other to AS level. All candidates must offer three A level subjects and an additional distinct AS level subject Applicants who are predicted AABb to BBCb will be considered for interview Offers will be the same as the predicted A level grades Typical Offer ABBb

Further info? GCSEs: The range and standard of your GCSE examinations. Using the following scale A*\A=3, B=2, C=1, you should have at least 25 points including at least grade B in GCSE English Language (or 80% at grade A where less GCSE subjects have been taken).
.
Course Information: http://www.sghms.ac.uk/Courses/undergrad/mbbs5select.htm
Reply 2
University College London

A-levels: Chemistry must be studied at Advanced Level. Biology must be studied at either Advanced or Advanced Subsidiary Level. A candidate can have a free choice of other ASub/A Level subjects, with the following exceptions: General Studies A level is acceptable only as an alternative to the additional AS level. Although we would not wish to discourage applicants who are studying two mathematical subjects at A level such applicants should be aware that they will need to offer four A levels as offers will only include one of these subjects amongst the three A level combination, e.g., Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics A levels and AS level Biology would not be acceptable Typical Offer AAB
Further info? Please note that some preference will be given to those applicants who, in addition to chemistry and biology, offer a contrasting subject at a or AS level.
GCSEs: Candidates must have GCSE/O Level (or acceptable equivalent) at 'B' grade or above in English Language and Mathematics.
.
Course Information: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/medicalschool/prospective-students/entry-reqs/index.htm

University of Wales Cardiff

A-levels: 21 units, including two GCE A-level sciences with grades AB, at least one of which must be Biology or Chemistry. Biology and Chemistry required at AS if not offered at A-level. Non-science subjects also welcome in addition to the 2 sciences. (Two AS subjects may replace the 3rd A-level)

Further info? GCSEs: English or Welsh Language at a minimum of grade B; Mathematics at grade B or above; AA in Dual Award Science or AAB in 3 separate sciences.
.
Course Information: http://coursefinder.cardiff.ac.uk/course_detail.shtml?course_id=877

University of Wales Swansea

This medical school is currently graduate entry only.
Course Information: http://www.gemedicine.swan.ac.uk/

Warwick

Graduate only. See Leicester for 5 year course.

Course Information: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/medicine/
Reply 3
Wow, you so cool. :biggrin:
Reply 4
Mad Caddie
Wow, you so cool. :biggrin:


Right. I'm off to the pub.. :biggrin:
Reply 5
indeed you are.. :adore:

but for Oxford's standard offer, anecdotally it's been AAA for sometime now, & checking the Medical Sciences site, that's what they now give the typical conditional offer as.
Reply 6
Elles
indeed you are.. :adore:

but for Oxford's standard offer, anecdotally it's been AAA for sometime now, & checking the Medical Sciences site, that's what they now give the typical conditional offer as.


I'm feeling drunk after 5 pints :redface: - such a lightweight :rolleyes:
And I changed it for you :tongue:
Reply 7
timeofyourlife
I'm feeling drunk after 5 pints :redface: - such a lightweight :rolleyes:


you'd make someone a cheap date! :aetsch:


And I changed it for you :tongue:


well, it wasn't purely for my happiness, but in the interests of accuracy! though i'm touched that you care so deeply.. :p: :wink:


i must do some work or i will soon fail. whoops. procrastination is eeevil.
Reply 8
Just a few things:

for glasgow offer is AAB
and for dundee it's ABB

:smile:
Reply 9
Bilal786
Just a few things:

for glasgow offer is AAB
and for dundee it's ABB

:smile:


thanks, done. don't want to be misleading people now, do we? :wink:

Edit: And yes, elles, i would indeed make someone a cheap date!
Reply 10
How about adding the non-A-Level entry criteria for 5 year courses... :wink:
Reply 11
Fluffy
How about adding the non-A-Level entry criteria for 5 year courses... :wink:


I will at some point, I do have other things to do, you know :wink:
Reply 12
timeofyourlife
I will at some point, I do have other things to do, you know :wink:



... so I read :wink:
Reply 13
For Queen's University, you might want to add that the normal GCSEs required are a minimum of 6-5A*s - I think it is something around that for this years entry.
Reply 14
Hawk
For Queen's University, you might want to add that the normal GCSEs required are a minimum of 6-5A*s - I think it is something around that for this years entry.


Have you got a link? I very much doubt they'd ask for a minimum of 5/6A*s - this could be an average of what current students obtain.
Reply 15
timeofyourlife
Have you got a link? I very much doubt they'd ask for a minimum of 5/6A*s - this could be an average of what current students obtain.


no seriously they do.
They never state it anywhere because they don't want to put too many people off.
My school is near Queen's, and there are alot of people who have applied there for medicine, and as they don't interview, one of their main deciding factors is GCSE.
In previous years it has always been around 7 or 6 A*s but this year I think it has gone down slightly as they had more places.
You also need to have your fourth AS subject at grade A.
Reply 16
Hawk
no seriously they do.
They never state it anywhere because they don't want to put too many people off.
My school is near Queen's, and there are alot of people who have applied there for medicine, and as they don't interview, one of their main deciding factors is GCSE.
In previous years it has always been around 7 or 6 A*s but this year I think it has gone down slightly as they had more places.
You also need to have your fourth AS subject at grade A.


Just checked it out and am certainly surprised. I edited the bit about GCSEs in.
Reply 17
Hawk what school do you go to? I was at a Queens opening day for medicine about a week ago? Where you there?
Reply 18
Nice one :smile: Thanks
Curriculum 2000 - UK medical school's requirements& selection policies.



PS- while the file is created by Cardiff, it is useful for any prospective applicant.