Medicine without Biology A-level
Hi, I'm currently in year 11 and am wondering what a-levels to choose for a possible degree in medicine. Im pretty sure i want to do maths and chemistry cause i like them both a lot. However, im unsure about biology because I dont really like plants, ecology and that seems to make up quite a lot of biology alevel. I much rather do french. So, I was just wondering if not doing Biology would put me at a disadvantage in the admission process. For example unis like oxford dont require biology but maybe they strongly prefer it.
Reply 1
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Medicine Interview Discussion 2024 Entry
2024 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
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GAMSAT 2025 / 2026 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2025 Entry Discussions Megathread
Medicine 2025 entry for resit/ retake/ gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2025 Entry
Medicine Interview Discussion 2025 Entry
2025 entry A100/ A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Medical Schools Index 2025 Entry
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Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2026 entry
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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
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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.
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
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
Medicine 2025 entry for resit/ retake/ gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2025 Entry
Medicine Interview Discussion 2025 Entry
2025 entry A100/ A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Medical Schools Index 2025 Entry
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
For Community Feedback:
Medicine Community Feedback and Suggestions
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 lila200Hi, I'm currently in year 11 and am wondering what a-levels to choose for a possible degree in medicine. Im pretty sure i want to do maths and chemistry cause i like them both a lot. However, im unsure about biology because I dont really like plants, ecology and that seems to make up quite a lot of biology alevel. I much rather do french. So, I was just wondering if not doing Biology would put me at a disadvantage in the admission process. For example unis like oxford dont require biology but maybe they strongly prefer it.
It may be that you have some options taken away as you don't study the necessary subjects, you got to look at each university and research on the grade requirements and whether or not they require biology a level for their final offer. In terms of obtaining an interview, unis like Liverpool have a scoring system and they allocate points for GCSE grades so they use that to determine if you get an intv. Their final offer requires you to study Chemistry and then either bio, maths, or physics and another 3rd subject of your liking. Unis such as cardiff, they require you to study Chem and bio as said in their requirements. Once you get an intv, it should all be a level playing field again and it depends on your interview performance. Again you are going to have some university options taken away, just research and apply strategically. Best of Luck!!!
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