The deadline for all applications through UCAS is 15 October each year. We cannot consider late applications under any circumstances.
Please note, we are unable to accept international fee-paying applicants. We also cannot accept requests to transfer from other degree courses, or applications to enter our MBChB Medicine course at any level from students who have already commenced study of medicine, dentistry, or veterinary science elsewhere.
Application timescales
| Time | Stages |
|---|---|
| September – November | Phase 1 – Academic Screen: All applications are checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic requirements |
| 15 October | UCAS application deadline |
| November – December | Phase 2 – Shortlisting: Shortlisting for interview |
| December – January | Phase 3 – Interview: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) |
| February | Offers issued |
Academic qualification requirements
We're unable to accept applicants who do not hold the A Levels and GCSEs required below. We cannot accept equivalent qualifications.
Graduate entry
We do consider applicants onto our standard five-year MBChB Medicine course who already hold an existing UK degree qualification, or are in their final year of study and will graduate in the year of entry. Our requirements are:
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| Degree | We require a minimum of a 2:1 in any subject. Master's degrees/doctorates are not accepted in compensation for bachelor's degree below 2:1 (we are interested in ability to succeed at undergraduate study). You'll have completed your degree within five years of application and gained it at point of entry onto the course. |
| A Level | We require a minimum of BBB in required A Levels (Biology or Chemistry plus another designated science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths/Further Maths/Statistics) and a third academic subject). Grade compensation is not permitted. Your A Level grades must have been achieved in one sitting and meet our resit requirements (see 'A Level resits'). |
| Scottish Advanced Highers | We require a minimum of two Advanced Highers BB (both sciences). |
| GCSE | Maths, English Language, and Sciences – double-award/triple-award/combined (trilogy) or three separate – at a minimum of grade B/6. Reformed English language GCSE in England must include pass in speaking and listening endorsement. |
| UCAT | Must be within top 8 deciles of the cohort. situational judgement test must be within bands 1-3. |
| GAMSAT | If you don't meet the minimum requirements in A-level subjects or grades or have the relevant science GCSEs, we may consider you for Medicine if you have taken the GAMSAT(opens in new tab) prior to application. GAMSAT is offered twice a year, in March and September. GAMSAT results obtained from different sittings are directly comparable and can be used when applying to universities for up to two consecutive years. Our minimum requirement is either: a) 55 overall with a minimum of 58 in section III or b) 58 overall with a minimum of 55 in section III. No section score below 50 will be accepted. GAMSAT can only be used to compensate for either the GCSE Science requirement or the A Level requirements (grades or subjects) not both. |
GAMSAT Calculator
Do you already hold a 2:1 degree? (Must have been completed within the last 5 years)
Do you hold A Levels in at least two science subjects? (Biology or Chemistry plus another designated science subject such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths/Further Maths/Statistics)
Do you have a minimum of BBB at A Level? (Including science and non-science subjects)
Do you hold GCSE English and Maths at grade B/6 or above?
Do you hold GCSE Sciences at grade B/6 or above?
If you are unsure whether you need GAMSAT or want further clarification on your GAMSAT results, please contact: medicineapplications@sunderland.ac.uk.
UCAT
You must take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)(opens in new tab) during the year in which you apply. Scores must be within top 8 deciles of the cohort, and situational judgement test (SJT) must be within bands 1-3. The adjusted UCAT scores for the past five years, based on the removal of abstract reasoning, are:
| Year | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
| Minimum score | 1670 | 1680 | 1650 | 1670 | 1690 |
Work experience
We expect applicants applying for our MBChB Medicine course to have work experience. This is in-line with the Medical Schools’ Council Work Experience Guidelines who expect applicants to:
- Have had some experience of engaging with a wide range of people and understand the realities of a caring profession.
- Display some of the skills and attributes essential to be a successful doctor. These include teamwork, leadership, good communication skills, resilience, and empathy.
We currently use your work experience in two ways:
- To help us select for interview.
- During the interview process. We'll ask you about work experience and some stations will assess skills that you'll have developed as a result of your work experience.
We class work experience as being hands-on and public facing. We also include significant caring responsibilities. Significant means taking responsibility for the welfare/care of an individual on a continuing basis. We do include the work experience element of the Duke of Edinburgh awards.
We don't include:
- Clinical shadowing
- School-based events or experiences
- Short events abroad that have been organised for you
The Medical Schools Council(opens in new tab) sets out some useful work experience guidelines for prospective applicants to medicine.
Interview selection tool
If you meet our entry requirements, we'll send you the interview selection tool once all academic shortlisting is complete.
The tool is a survey used as part of the shortlisting process for selection for interview. We encourage you to write about and reflect on work experiences you have had which you believe have enabled you to develop the skills and attributes you may need for a future career in medicine. Here are some tips to help you complete the survey:
- This is a survey about your work or care giving experience over the past two years only (if your work experience is still ongoing and commenced more than two years ago that can be included).
- We class ‘work experience’ as hands-on work in a public facing role. This can be either voluntary or paid. Significant caring responsibilities for the family can also be included as work experience. This will typically be caring for an unwell or disabled family member.
- We don't accept school or college organised programmes as work experience, unless you have helped to develop these yourself.
- Shadowing staff in clinical environments should not be included in this survey, but is useful in preparing you for interview.
- You can list up to four work experiences. However, please note it's not the number of work experiences we look at but the total commitment you have shown with your experience(s).
- You must supply contact details for your most significant work experience provider (employer/provider) or give contact information of a teacher who knows your family situation.
- You'll also be asked to provide brief written responses to questions relating to your work or caregiving experience. These responses will help assess the key values, attributes, and qualities you've gained, which are essential for success as a medical student and for a future career in medicine.
Interviews
Shortlisting for interview is based on our interview selection tool, academic requirements, and UCAT score.
Interviews take place face-to-face in the School of Medicine, Murray Health building, during December and early January.
You need to be available throughout the interview period. If you're unable to attend on the date requested, you must contact the Medical Admissions Office immediately: medicineapplications@sunderland.ac.uk. Interview slots are limited – we'll only consider rescheduling your interview under extenuating circumstances, for which you'll need to provide supporting evidence. We're unable to offer interviews outside of the interview period. If you're unable to attend during that period, we will deem your application unsuccessful.
Multiple mini-interviews (MMIs)
Our interviews take the form of multiple mini-interviews (MMIs).
You'll undertake a series of short interview stations. The stations will examine a range of skills and aptitudes. Stations may vary from a one-to-one traditional interview, through to role-play, and data analysis. The MMI assesses a range of attributes, including:
- Motivation/experiences informing your decision to pursue a medicine
- Empathy and insight
- Responsibilities and challenges of being a doctor
- Awareness of ethical issues in health and society
- Resilience
- Comprehension
- Communication
After your interview
We'll complete all interviews before we make any decisions about offers. As a result, we expect to inform you of the outcome of your interview in February. Offers for a place on our MBChB Medicine course are based on your position in the ranking.
If you're successful, we'll send you an email confirming your offer of a place. You may be subject to additional compliance requirements.
We host an Offer Holder Day in March. This event provides you with an opportunity to explore the University facilities, and talk to staff and students before making a final decision on UCAS.