Applying to Medical School

Positions to study at medical school in the UK are highly competitive, by domestic and also international students and necessitate a great degree of dedication from prospective applicants. It is very important to understand the requirements of medical school and can assist you in understanding whether it is right for you and ensuring optimal chances of securing a position at the school of your preference.

What are the best Universities for Medicine in the UK?

There are various methods to rank courses at different universities: including student satisfaction, research, facilities, reputation, and teaching scores. An ideal place to start is the Complete University Guide’s rankings of medical schools, which in 2024 had the following top 10: 

1. University of Cambridge

2. University of Oxford

3. University College London (UCL)

4. Imperial College London

5. The University of Edinburgh

6. University of Bristol

7. University of Glasgow

8. Queen’s University Belfast

9. University of Dundee

10. University of St Andrews

University rankings are not resourceful in conveying whether the university and course in question will match your needs and expectations. It is important to research student testimonials and experiences and attending open days. It is advised you research as much as you can into personal shorts of universities in order to assist you to discover which of the many excellent medical schools in the UK are suitable for you.

Does it matter which Medical School you go to?

There are many factors to consider with this question.

One point of consideration is that the UK medical school you attend does not matter as they are all highly reputable and will all qualify you to pursue a career in medicine.

Another point of consideration is that there are a range of factors that will make different medical schools more or less of a good fit with you and your future career ambitions. Medical schools teach medicine differently, ranging from the ‘conventional’ courses, which split into pre-clinical and clinical sections, through to ‘integrated’ courses where clinical work is part of the course from the beginning. There are also Case-Based Learning (CBL), and Problem-Based Learning courses (PBL).

You may find some of these different approaches more engaging and likely to suit your learning needs than others, so understanding which medical schools use which approach is an important step. 

How hard is it to get into Medical School in the UK?

It is considered very hard!

Medicinal schools receive just under 27,000 applications for places to study in the UK in 2023. For better understanding, there are approximately 6,700 places available at medical schools in the UK, guaranteeing a high level of competition from very well qualified candidates for every place.  

What are the GCSE and A Level requirements to study medicine?

There is a requirement for GCSE English and Maths, as well as Science subjects including Biology, Chemistry and Physics. At A Level, the subjects which are required vary between Medical Schools, but often medical schools stipulate the requirement of Biology and Chemistry with Physics, Maths, and Further Maths also necessary for many Schools. In addition, the grades required for these subjects are the minimum requirements are usually extremely high, with A grades or equivalent being the typical benchmark.

How do I choose a Medical School?

As mentioned previously, open days, online research and student testimonials and experiences are great indicators to shortlist medical schools that align to your requirements. As Medical Schools are highly competitive, it is advisable to not set your expectations on one School. Therefore, it is important to decide to shortlist of four Schools which suit your needs. The choice of four schools is the maximum number of medical schools you are allowed to apply to via UCAS.

How do I prepare an effective personal statement? 

Your personal statement is an essential method for indicating your commitment to and suitability for a place at a UK medical school.

You are advised to ideally look to draw on a broad range of work experience undertaken in advance of applying, to portray what you have learned about the medical profession and your own enthusiasms for wanting to enter it.

A personal statement is a good chance to differentiate yourself in advance of what will be a challenging application interview. As discussing interviews, remember that these can vary enormously between medical schools, with some involving multiple interviews or group interviews. Therefore, you must use your personal statement to give your interviewers some indicators on the questions they may wish to ask to fully understand your personality, experience and potential.  

You are only able to submit the same personal statement for all of your five allocated applications via UCAS, of which only four can be to medical schools. Thus, your personal statement should also be suitable for whichever course you select for your fifth application (for courses such as Biomedical Sciences, biochemistry, pharmacy, psychology, chemistry, biology or an allied health profession course).

However, it is important to note that UCAS will be changing their requirements for personal statements to answering three questions which will be introduced in 2025 but take effect for 2026 applicants.

Do I have to sit an entrance exam to study medicine in the UK?

Applicants applying to medical and dental degree programmes will in 2024 are required to sit the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test).

It is important to note that BMAT has been scrapped.

What is the UCAT?

The UCAT is a computer-based test, sat at a Pearson VUE Test Centre in the UK (also available worldwide). You can check whether your choice of university and course requires the UCAT.

You will get your UCAT results immediately on the day of your test!

When can I register to sit the UCAT?

There are a few logistical points to consider when booking your UCAT and a summary of the main things can be found here.

In 2024, you can create a UCAT account from 14 May until 12 noon (BST) on 19 September and book your test from 18 June. There is a fee to sit the test. Bursary is accepted as form of payment, however you are advised to check the details on the website: UCAT Bursary make sure you do this before booking and use your voucher code to pay.

How can I prepare for the UCAT?

The UCAT has sections on Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, and Situational Judgment, all of which are devised to assess the aptitude of a candidate to succeed in studying Medicine or Dentistry, rather than their academic capabilities. 

There is much helpful advice on the relevant UCAT provider pages, from how to put together a preparation plan, to a tour of the test tutorial, and the all-important UCAT question banks. 

A Star Learning has a range of specialist tutors who can assist students approaching university aptitude tests for medical school and help you prepare for the UCAT via online or in-person tuition. 

How important is work experience? 

Work experience is an essential part of demonstrating your suitability to study Medicine. It’s proof of your commitment to and enthusiasm for the subject, as well as being evidence that you have an understanding of the challenges involved in putting medical knowledge into practice. The understanding you gain from your work experience helps to differentiate you from other, equally well-qualified students. 

There are plenty of different options available for gaining work experience, and you should look to undertake a wide range of placements to help ensure you gain a broad understanding of medicine in different contexts. You could shadow a General Practitioner, Pharmacist, or another medical professional – but there are also other ways to gain valuable experience. You could work in a retirement home or hospice and see what medical care is like for older or terminally ill patients and portraying your ability to work with a range of potential patients.

Medical School interviews 

Medical school interviews vary a great deal from different schools.

In general, there are three types of interviews: 

1. ‘Traditional’ interviews: this consists of a single interviewer or panel who will assess your suitability.
2. Group interviews: this consists of an interview with a group of fellow applicants where in addition to the ‘traditional’ interview above, you will be asked to discuss a specific topic.
3. Multiple short interviews: this consists of series of shorter interviews or scenarios assessing you on a particular quality or attribute.   

It’s crucial to research on the approach taken by the schools of your choosing, and to prepare accordingly! 

If you’d like further information about applying to Medical School, do contact A Star Learning. We work with a range of tutors who have experience preparing students for the UCAT and UCAS applications.