Complete List of UK Medical Schools and Their Entry Requirements (2025–2026 Guide)
Choosing where to apply is one of the most important decisions in the medical school admissions process. Each university has its own teaching style, entry requirements, and selection methods. While all applicants apply through UCAS, the criteria used by individual universities can vary significantly.
Some schools place strong emphasis on the UCAT. Others combine admissions test performance with GCSE results, contextual criteria, or structured portfolio assessments. A small number also offer gateway or foundation programmes designed to widen participation.
Understanding the differences between medical schools helps applicants build a balanced application strategy, rather than applying randomly based on reputation alone.
Below is a comprehensive overview of UK medical schools offering undergraduate medicine programmes, along with their typical admissions requirements and selection characteristics.
How Many Medical Schools Are There in the UK?
As of the 2025–2026 admissions cycle, there are over 40 medical schools in the United Kingdom offering undergraduate medicine programmes.
These include long-established institutions with centuries of history as well as several newer schools created in recent years to address workforce shortages within the NHS.
Medical schools are distributed across:
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
Many universities offer multiple entry routes, including:
- Standard five-year MBBS or MBChB programmes
- Six-year foundation or gateway programmes
- Graduate-entry medicine for degree holders
UK Medical Schools (Alphabetical List)
The following universities currently offer undergraduate medicine programmes.
England
- Anglia Ruskin University
- Aston University
- University of Birmingham
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School
- University of Bristol
- University of Buckingham
- University of Cambridge
- Edge Hill University
- Hull York Medical School
- Imperial College London
- Keele University
- Kent and Medway Medical School
- Lancaster University
- University of Leeds
- University of Leicester
- University of Liverpool
- University of Manchester
- Newcastle University
- University of Nottingham
- University of Oxford
- University of Plymouth
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
- University of Sunderland
- St George’s University of London
- University College London
- University of Warwick
Scotland
- University of Aberdeen
- University of Dundee
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Glasgow
- University of St Andrews
Wales
- Cardiff University
- Swansea University
Northern Ireland
- Queen’s University Belfast
Typical Entry Requirements
Although specific criteria vary between institutions, most UK medical schools expect applicants to meet several common requirements.
A-Level Grades
Typical offers fall within the range of:
AAA – A*AA
Most universities require Chemistry and often Biology.
Admissions Tests
Most medical schools require the UCAT.
Historically, some universities required the BMAT, but many have now transitioned fully to UCAT-based selection.
GCSE Requirements
Many schools consider GCSE results when ranking applicants, particularly in subjects such as:
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Sciences
Some universities allocate additional points for applicants with strong GCSE profiles.
Interviews
After shortlisting, applicants are invited to interview. Many universities now use Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs), which assess communication skills, ethical reasoning, teamwork, and empathy.
Interview performance often plays a major role in final offer decisions.
| Medical School | Country | Admissions Test | Typical A-Level Offer | Approx. Places per Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglia Ruskin | England | UCAT | AAA | ~100 | One of the newer UK medical schools |
| Aston | England | UCAT | AAB–AAA | ~180 | Strong focus on community medicine |
| Birmingham | England | UCAT | A*AA | ~400 | GCSEs heavily weighted |
| Brighton & Sussex | England | UCAT | AAA | ~190 | Joint programme between Brighton and Sussex universities |
| Bristol | England | UCAT | AAA | ~230 | Uses UCAT ranking for interviews |
| Buckingham | England | UCAT | AAA | ~150 | Private medical school with accelerated courses |
| Cambridge | England | UCAT | AAA | ~260 | Highly academic selection process |
| Edge Hill | England | UCAT | AAA | ~80 | Newer programme with small cohort |
| Hull York | England | UCAT | AAA | ~150 | Uses points-based selection system |
| Imperial College London | England | UCAT | A*AA | ~330 | Research-focused curriculum |
| Keele | England | UCAT | A*AA | ~170 | Uses Roles & Responsibilities form |
| Kent & Medway | England | UCAT | AAA | ~100 | New medical school established in 2020 |
| Lancaster | England | UCAT | AAA | ~150 | Problem-based learning approach |
| Leeds | England | UCAT | AAA | ~250 | Large teaching hospitals network |
| Leicester | England | UCAT | AAA | ~280 | Combines UCAT with GCSE scoring |
| Liverpool | England | UCAT | AAA | ~300 | Strong clinical placement network |
| Manchester | England | UCAT | AAA | ~400 | One of the largest UK medical schools |
| Newcastle | England | UCAT | AAA | ~350 | UCAT heavily weighted |
| Nottingham | England | UCAT | AAA | ~350 | Uses scoring matrix with GCSEs |
| Oxford | England | UCAT | AAA | ~160 | Very selective admissions |
| Plymouth | England | UCAT | AAA | ~180 | Strong clinical training emphasis |
| Sheffield | England | UCAT | AAA | ~300 | Uses UCAT threshold |
| Southampton | England | UCAT | AAA | ~250 | Strong research environment |
| Sunderland | England | UCAT | AAB–AAA | ~100 | Focus on widening participation |
| St George’s London | England | UCAT | AAA | ~300 | Located within a major teaching hospital |
| University College London | England | UCAT | A*AA | ~330 | Highly competitive London programme |
| Warwick | England | UCAT | Graduate entry | ~190 | Graduate-entry medicine only |
| Aberdeen | Scotland | UCAT | AAA | ~170 | One of the oldest UK medical schools |
| Dundee | Scotland | UCAT | AAA | ~160 | Strong anatomy teaching reputation |
| Edinburgh | Scotland | UCAT | AAA | ~300 | Large international applicant pool |
| Glasgow | Scotland | UCAT | AAA | ~270 | High clinical exposure |
| St Andrews | Scotland | UCAT | AAA | ~180 | Pre-clinical focus with partner schools |
| Cardiff | Wales | UCAT | AAA | ~300 | Strong emphasis on GCSE performance |
| Swansea | Wales | UCAT | Graduate entry | ~90 | Graduate-entry programme |
| Queen’s Belfast | Northern Ireland | UCAT | AAA | ~280 | Major teaching hospital network |
Course Length
The standard undergraduate medical degree in the UK lasts five years.
Some programmes include an intercalated degree year, which allows students to complete an additional research or academic qualification.
Gateway and foundation courses may extend the programme to six years.
How to Choose the Right Medical Schools
When deciding where to apply, consider the following factors:
- UCAT competitiveness
- academic entry requirements
- teaching style (traditional vs problem-based learning)
- location and campus environment
- hospital placement opportunities
Applicants are allowed to choose four medical schools on their UCAS application, so selecting universities strategically is essential.
Final Thoughts
The UK offers a wide range of medical schools, each with distinct admissions processes and educational approaches.
Understanding these differences can help applicants choose institutions that align with their academic strengths, UCAT performance, and personal preferences.
