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2025 Cambridge Graduate entry medicine - IB requirement

Hi, I’m currently stuck on deciding whether it is worth applying to the 4-year graduate entry medicine programme at Cambridge (A101).

I’m entering my final year of my biomedical sciences programme at a good Russell group uni. Hopefully I can get predicted/achieve a 1st.

My main issue is that Cambridge appears to have changed their requirements to apply to the programme for 2025 entry. It used to be that you did not need to take the UCAT and that if you achieve a 1st, you could apply with 665 in your IB higher level subjects. However for 2025 entry they decided to change it so now you have to take the UCAT but along with scoring a 1st, you need 665 in your higher level subjects AND a total point count of minimum 38 points.

The issue is, I ended up scoring quite average in my IB, getting a total of 36 points, with 765 at higher level (5 in chemistry and a 6 in biology)…
Hence, I do meet the higher level requirements but I don’t meet the newly introduced total point count requirement of 38-40.

So in other words, would it be a lost cause to apply? I’m aware it’s extremely competitive and not meeting the minimum requirements puts me at risk of instant rejection.

Some other background info:

I used to hold a music scholarship at school (I’m a classically trained pianist). I speak multiple languages and have actually completed a short lab internship at the University of Cambridge last year. I have some older clinical work experience but it is a few years back from when I was at school so I am currently in the process of setting up volunteering in the NHS and hopefully do some separate clinical shadowing along with that. I also just completed an exchange year at a top university in Asia.

So putting that together, if I get predicted/achieve a 1st + score well in the UCAT + decent work experience + lab experience in Cambridge… would it be worth applying? Or would I just instantly get rejected for not meeting the IB point count?

I am very keen on this course and it feels a little frustrating because they just introduced these new requirements for the year I was planning on applying.

Sorry for the long post, but any advice would be highly appreciated!

Reply 1

Hey there, thanks for posting a question in the Medicine forum. :biggrin:

The Medicine forum gets a high volume of questions being posted, and some of these are already answered by the resources and Megathreads that members of the community and volunteers have created. This is an automatic post which is designed to highlight these resources. Below is a list of threads and articles that could answer your question (you should be looking in the original post of the megathreads). If one of the below threads is a more relevant place to ask your question, please post a reply in that thread to ask your question. If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked below, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.

Megathreads
(Please read the first post, before then posting any further questions you have within that thread.)
The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread
The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Angst Thread
Medicine A-Level subjects queries
Work Experience and Voluntary Work

2023 Applicants:
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2023 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2023 Entry
Medicine 2023 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2023 Entry
Medicine Interview discussion 2023 Entry
2023 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Index of Individual Medical School Applicants' threads 2023 Entry

2024 Applicants :
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2024 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2024 Entry
GAMSAT 2024 / 2025 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2024 Entry Discussions Megathread
Medicine 2024 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2024 Entry
Medicine Interview Discussion 2024 Entry
2024 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Medical Schools Index 2024 Entry

2025 Applicants :
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2025 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2025 Entry
GAMSAT 2025 / 2026 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2025 Entry Discussions Megathread


Other application years:
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2026 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2026 Entry

Useful Articles:
GCSE Requirements for Medicine
Everything you need to know about the BMAT
Work Experience as a Graduate or Mature student
Medicine Personal Statement Advice
Medicine Personal Statement Advice (Graduate Entry)
Interview Frequently Asked Questions
MMI Medicine Interview Tips
What to do after an unsuccessful first application
Funding medicine as a second degree

If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked above, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.

Reply 2

Original post by e.mmmm
Hi, I’m currently stuck on deciding whether it is worth applying to the 4-year graduate entry medicine programme at Cambridge (A101).
I’m entering my final year of my biomedical sciences programme at a good Russell group uni. Hopefully I can get predicted/achieve a 1st.
My main issue is that Cambridge appears to have changed their requirements to apply to the programme for 2025 entry. It used to be that you did not need to take the UCAT and that if you achieve a 1st, you could apply with 665 in your IB higher level subjects. However for 2025 entry they decided to change it so now you have to take the UCAT but along with scoring a 1st, you need 665 in your higher level subjects AND a total point count of minimum 38 points.
The issue is, I ended up scoring quite average in my IB, getting a total of 36 points, with 765 at higher level (5 in chemistry and a 6 in biology)…
Hence, I do meet the higher level requirements but I don’t meet the newly introduced total point count requirement of 38-40.
So in other words, would it be a lost cause to apply? I’m aware it’s extremely competitive and not meeting the minimum requirements puts me at risk of instant rejection.
Some other background info:
I used to hold a music scholarship at school (I’m a classically trained pianist). I speak multiple languages and have actually completed a short lab internship at the University of Cambridge last year. I have some older clinical work experience but it is a few years back from when I was at school so I am currently in the process of setting up volunteering in the NHS and hopefully do some separate clinical shadowing along with that. I also just completed an exchange year at a top university in Asia.
So putting that together, if I get predicted/achieve a 1st + score well in the UCAT + decent work experience + lab experience in Cambridge… would it be worth applying? Or would I just instantly get rejected for not meeting the IB point count?
I am very keen on this course and it feels a little frustrating because they just introduced these new requirements for the year I was planning on applying.
Sorry for the long post, but any advice would be highly appreciated!

Hey,
I am at a very similar position. Sometimes they do let people in based of other components. Like you said, this is the first year some unis are using UCAT, so we don't know how they will assess it. You will be applying to 4 med unis anyways so apply for Cambridge and the other 3 can be safety schools. Personally, I won't be applying to oxbridge anymore as I feel like with my grades, I'd be better suited for other medical schools. Though I'm a high achiever, like you, I got average grades.
(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 3

Original post by e.mmmm
Hi, I’m currently stuck on deciding whether it is worth applying to the 4-year graduate entry medicine programme at Cambridge (A101).
I’m entering my final year of my biomedical sciences programme at a good Russell group uni. Hopefully I can get predicted/achieve a 1st.
My main issue is that Cambridge appears to have changed their requirements to apply to the programme for 2025 entry. It used to be that you did not need to take the UCAT and that if you achieve a 1st, you could apply with 665 in your IB higher level subjects. However for 2025 entry they decided to change it so now you have to take the UCAT but along with scoring a 1st, you need 665 in your higher level subjects AND a total point count of minimum 38 points.
The issue is, I ended up scoring quite average in my IB, getting a total of 36 points, with 765 at higher level (5 in chemistry and a 6 in biology)…
Hence, I do meet the higher level requirements but I don’t meet the newly introduced total point count requirement of 38-40.
So in other words, would it be a lost cause to apply? I’m aware it’s extremely competitive and not meeting the minimum requirements puts me at risk of instant rejection.
Some other background info:
I used to hold a music scholarship at school (I’m a classically trained pianist). I speak multiple languages and have actually completed a short lab internship at the University of Cambridge last year. I have some older clinical work experience but it is a few years back from when I was at school so I am currently in the process of setting up volunteering in the NHS and hopefully do some separate clinical shadowing along with that. I also just completed an exchange year at a top university in Asia.
So putting that together, if I get predicted/achieve a 1st + score well in the UCAT + decent work experience + lab experience in Cambridge… would it be worth applying? Or would I just instantly get rejected for not meeting the IB point count?
I am very keen on this course and it feels a little frustrating because they just introduced these new requirements for the year I was planning on applying.
Sorry for the long post, but any advice would be highly appreciated!

If you don't meet minimum requirements, without extenuating circumstances, it would mean an almost certain rejection, as they are just that, minimum requirements

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