How to get into Medicine in the UK | A step-by-step guide for students

11th June 2025 by Anita Naik

Nearly 25,000 students applied to enter Medicine this year. If you're considering a degree in Medicine for 2026/27, here are the entry requirements and insider tips you need.

Like many sought-after careers, Medicine and securing a spot in a medical degree program are highly competitive. According to data from UCAS 2025, around 24,150 students applied this year, but with only 7,500 places available, places were offered to only around one in three applicants.

However, don't let that put you off because while it may be tough with the right strategy, it's possible to gain a place. Here's what you need to know.

Step 1: Understand the entry requirements

According to the Medical Schools Council, there are three ways to enter Medicine in the UK.

1. The Standard Entry Medicine Program is usually five years long, but in some institutions, it is six years. It can have different abbreviations, such as MBBS or MBChB, but all result in the same degree: a bachelor's degree in medicine.

2. Graduate Entry Medicine. This opportunity is open to applications from individuals who already hold a degree in any subject. It is a four-year degree also known as the Graduate Entry Programme.

3. Medicine with a Preliminary Year. This course takes the form of a five-year Standard Entry Medicine program with an additional year at the start, resulting in a six-year course. This course is designed for those who have achieved highly at A-level or equivalent but did not take the required science subjects.

What grades do I need at A-Level?

1. Grades: AAA-A*AA at A-Level (typically Chemistry + Biology/Maths/Physics).

2. GCSEs: Grades 6 or above (especially Sciences, Maths, English).

3. International Students: Equivalent qualifications (e.g., IB 38+).

Step 2: Choose the right subjects for Medicine

As getting into Medicine is so competitive, ensure that you choose the right subjects at A-Level.

1. Essential: Chemistry (required by 99% of unis).

2. Recommended: Biology, Maths, Physics.

3. Chemistry, Biology and either Maths or Physics (or both) will keep all the medical schools open to you.

If you don't take maths or physics but do take chemistry and biology, it will keep the vast majority of courses open to you.

If you don't take biology but do take chemistry and one from maths or physics, fewer medical schools will accept you.

Step 3: How to pass the admissions tests

All universities use an admissions test as part of their entry requirements for Medicine.

The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)

All applicants must register for the UCAT between May and late September. After the UCAS deadline for Medicine (October 15th), results will be sent to the medical schools to which the applicant has applied.

UCAT also administers the Situational Judgement Test for Admission to Clinical Education (SJTace), which is an admissions test used for entry to the Scottish Graduate Entry Medical Programme.

Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial and UCL switched to the UCAT in 2025. The BMAT has been discontinued.

The Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT)

This test is used for several Graduate Entry Medicine courses. The applicant must register for and sit the GAMSAT before submitting the UCAS application.

To pass the medical admissions tests, you have to get to know the exam format, practice under timed conditions, and develop strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The UCAT evaluates your cognitive abilities, professional attitude, and qualities essential for success in medical or dental careers. Universities use this assessment to distinguish between highly skilled candidates.

The exam consists of five timed sections, each featuring multiple-choice questions designed to measure different skills:

1. Verbal Reasoning (44 questions) - Tests your ability to analyse and draw conclusions from written information.

2. Decision Making (29 questions) - Measures how well you interpret complex data to make sound judgements.

3. Quantitative Reasoning (36 questions) - Assesses numerical problem-solving skills using graphs, charts, and statistics.

4. Abstract Reasoning (50 questions) - Evaluates lateral thinking and pattern recognition in abstract scenarios.

5. Situational Judgement (69 questions) - Gauges your responses to real-world ethical and professional dilemmas.

The computer-based test runs for two hours, with strict time limits for each section.

Fees:

1. UK test-takers: £70

2. International test-takers: £115

To gain an understanding of what's needed, talk to your teachers and consider a tutor who specialises in the UCAT, as this can give you an advantage when applying to medical and dental schools.

Step 4: Gain work experience

This is particularly relevant for your UCAS personal statement and interviews. The personal statement has been revised from a single, longer piece of text to three separate questions as of this year.

The three questions will help you ensure that you include exactly what universities and colleges want to see, so you succeed in your applications. This means reflecting on what you learned from your work experience with insight and understanding.

Work experience that shows admissions tutors you are serious about Medicine includes:

1. Shadowing GPs.

2. Work experience in pharmacies.

3. Hospital volunteering.

4. Work/volunteering in care homes.

5. Medical research volunteering.

Step 5: Prepare for interviews

MMI (Multiple Mini Interviews)

Focus: Ethics, communication, problem-solving, and role-play stations (typically 5-10 stations, 5-8 minutes each).

Practice everyday ethics scenarios, such as whether organ donation should be compulsory or voluntary. How would you allocate limited ICU beds? Is it ethical to treat non-vaccinated patients first? Should childhood vaccinations be mandatory?

Use the four pillars of medical ethics (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice) as the basis for your answers.

1. Role-play with peers and tutors:

2. Breaking bad news, or explaining a procedure.

3. Demonstrate active listening and provide clear, structured explanations (e.g., "I understand this is difficult...").

4. Be ready to discuss NHS challenges (waiting lists, doctor strikes, AI in healthcare).

Panel interviews

Focus: Personal motivation, work experience reflection, and academic curiosity.

Mock interviews: Practice with teachers or career advisors using common questions, such as "Why medicine?" "Tell us about a challenging work experience moment." "What qualities make a good doctor?"

Be sure to reflect on work experience: Describe a situation, an action you took, and the result. For example, "When I volunteered in a care home, I saw how dementia affects families (Situation). I helped calm a distressed resident and their family (Action), which taught me patience and the need for empathy with patients and families going through difficult circumstances (Result)."

Use the resources from the Medical Schools Council interview guidance.

Step 6: What to do if I don't get in

As we mentioned earlier, only one in three applicants gets into Medicine, but there are other routes if you don't initially get in.

1. Reapply for medical school:

Many people reapply after being initially rejected, strengthening their applications with additional experience or higher grades.

2. Graduate entry medicine:

You can pursue a degree in a related field and then apply for graduate entry programs in Medicine.

3. Take a gap year:

Use a gap year to gain relevant work or volunteer experience in healthcare, which can enhance your application and help you reflect on your career goals.