Jump to accessibility statement Skip to content

What are the entry requirements for studying MBChB Medicine?

Home / Help and advice / School of Medicine / MBChB Medicine entry requirements / Entry requirements

Subject: Medicine MBChB A100

Please note, we are unable to accept international applicants. We are also unable to accept applicants who do not hold the A Levels and GCSEs required below. Equivalent qualifications will not be accepted.

A Levels:

A Levels in three subjects at grades of AAA are required, including Biology or Chemistry plus another designated science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths/Further Maths/Statistics) and a third academic subject. Any science A Level (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) completed in England from 2017 must include a pass in the practical endorsement; without this the qualification will be judged to have been failed, regardless of the headline grade. Only one subject from a combination of Maths or Further Maths or Statistics will be considered within the three A Levels. A Level grades must be achieved in one sitting.

Your application will not be affected if you have taken A Level Maths a year early.

Subjects not included:

The following subjects are not accepted at A Level for A100: Citizenship Studies, Critical Thinking, General Studies, any AQA Applied A Level (Applied Art and Design, Applied Business, Applied ICT, Applied Leisure Studies, Applied Science, Applied Travel and Tourism, Science in Society, Use of Mathematics), any Edexcel Applied A Level (Applied Art and Design, Applied Business, Applied ICT, Engineering, Health and Social Care, Leisure Studies, Media; Performing Arts, Travel and Tourism), any OCR Applied A Level (Applied Art and Design, Applied Business, Applied Health and Social Care, Applied ICT, Applied Leisure Studies, Applied Performing Arts, Applied Science, Applied Travel and Tourism), any WJEC Applied A Level (Applied Business, Applied ICT, Applied Science). Key skills qualifications will not be taken into account in assessing academic ability.

Re-sits:

We accept A Level re-sits under certain circumstances:

  • Where an applicant has been awarded AAB, the applicant is only required to re-sit the B grade subject (one attempt only, in the same subject)

The primary admissions criteria which is being considered (e.g. A Levels) must have been completed within the past five years. 

Scottish Qualifications:

  • National 5: a minimum of 5 subjects at grade A with a minimum of grade B in Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics
  • Higher: minimum of AAAAB, including Chemistry/Biology plus a second science both at A, to be achieved by the end of S5 (i.e. before applying)
  • Advanced Higher: minimum of AB from two subjects (both sciences) sat in S6. Any additional subject sat at Higher level in S6 must be achieved at grade B or higher
  • Any science subject not being offered at Higher or Advanced Higher level must have been passed at Standard/National 5 grade B/2

Scottish Baccalaureate (Science):

Grades of AA are required in 2 Advanced Highers (including Chemistry or Biology) plus AA in an interdisciplinary project unit and 1 higher. Chemistry or Biology must be offered at Advanced Higher grade A. Standard Grade/National 5 requirements must also be met.

Welsh Baccalaureate:

We require an A grade Pass in the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma and two full science A Levels at grade A*A taken within a two year period. Chemistry or Biology is essential plus one subject from Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths/Further Maths/Statistics. GCSE requirements must also be met.

International Baccalaureate:

35 points including three grade 6 passes at IB Higher Level and grades of 6, 6, 5 at Standard Level are required. Higher Level subjects must include Chemistry or Biology, plus one from Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths and a third rigorous subject. Any science not taken at the Higher Level must be offered at Standard Level grade 5 or GCSE grade B (or equivalent). Points awarded for the Extended Essay or Theory of Knowledge are not taken into account but these components must have been completed. English Language (Language A) at Grade 6 is acceptable in lieu of GCSE English Language. Please see English Language Requirements under General Requirements if you do not have either of these.

Qualifications not accepted for Medicine:

  • BTEC qualifications
  • Foundation Medicine Courses or Access to Medicine Courses
  • Irish Leaving Certificate

GCSE requirements: 

5 subjects at grade A (7) with a minimum of grade B (6) in Maths, English Language, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. We do accept GCSE re-sits. 

Graduate entry:

If you already hold a degree, please see our entry requirements for graduate entry here

Student using notepad

UCAS

A maximum of four choices on the UCAS form may be made for courses that lead to a professional qualification in medicine, although you can use a fifth choice for a non-medical route. The deadline for applying through UCAS is the October preceding the year of entry.

UCAT

All applicants must take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) during the year in which they apply. Scores must be within top 8 deciles of the cohort and situational judgement test (SJT) must be within bands 1-3.

Interviews

Shortlisting for interview is based on our interview selection tool, academic requirements and UCAT score. Our interviews take the form of multiple mini-interviews (MMIs) and a numeracy test. Interviews will be face to face for the 2023/4 admissions cycle. We will issue the interview selection tool by email to applicants that meet our entry requirements, once all academic shortlisting is complete.

Published: 6 September 2023