Top UK Medical Schools

Comparative Table of Top UK Medical Schools

UniversityA-levelsGCSEsUCAT WeightingSJT PolicyInterview FormatPlaces (approx.)Special Features
OxfordA*AA (Chem + Bio)High % 8–9s expectedUsed but not dominantBand 4 rejectedPanel150Traditional, academic focus
CambridgeA*AA (Chem + Bio)High % 8–9s expectedUsed but not dominantBand 4 rejectedPanel280Heavy science, academic interviews
Imperial College LondonAAA (Chem + Bio)Strong profileBMAT (until 2023), now UCAT moderateBand 4 rejectedPanel/MMI hybrid280Research focus, London-based
UCLA*AA (Chem + Bio)Strong profileUCAT moderateBand 4 rejectedPanel330Research emphasis, London location
King’s College London (KCL)AAA (Chem + Bio)Strong GCSEs preferredUCAT very importantBand 4 rejectedMMI400One of UK’s largest intakes
EdinburghAAA (Chem + Sci)6s/7s minUCAT very heavyBand 4 rejectedMMI200Highly UCAT-driven
GlasgowAAA (Chem + Sci)7s preferredUCAT very importantBand 4 rejectedMMI280Early patient contact
ManchesterAAA (Chem/Bio + Sci)7s preferredUCAT threshold set yearlyBand 4 rejectedMMI400PBL teaching, large intake
BristolAAA (Chem + Sci)6s+UCAT extremely heavyBand 4 rejectedMMI230Almost 100% UCAT-driven
LeedsAAA (Chem + Sci)Strong profileUCAT moderate + GCSEs weightedBand 4 rejectedMMI300Case-based learning
SheffieldAAA (Chem + Sci)6s minUCAT cut-off appliedBand 4 rejectedMMI290Transparent UCAT selection
BirminghamAAA (Chem + Bio)7s required45% UCAT + 30% GCSE + 25% contextualBand 4 rejectedMMI400Balanced scoring system
NewcastleAAA (Chem/Bio + Sci)6s minUCAT extremely heavyBand 4 rejectedMMI370Clear UCAT-driven selection
NottinghamAAA (Chem + Bio)7s preferredUCAT + GCSE points systemBand 4 rejectedMMI300BMedSci research year included
LiverpoolAAA (Chem + Bio)Strong 6s/7sUCAT + academics balancedBand 4 rejectedMMI300Early patient contact
CardiffAAA (Chem + Bio)Very importantUCAT supportive roleBand 4 rejectedMMI300Strong focus on GCSEs
ExeterAAA (Chem + Bio)6s/7s minUCAT extremely heavyBand 4 rejectedMMI180Rural & coastal placements
DundeeAAA (Chem + Sci)6s minUCAT + academics balancedBand 4 rejectedMMI160Small, high student satisfaction
QUB (Belfast)AAA (Chem + Bio)6s minUCAT + GCSE points systemBand 4 rejectedMMI270Strong clinical placements

Key Takeaways for Applicants

  • Best for very high UCAT scores: Edinburgh, Bristol, Newcastle, Exeter.
  • Best for strong academics + average UCAT: Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff.
  • Best for academic interview focus: Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial.
  • Best for smaller, supportive cohorts: Dundee, Exeter.
  • Largest intakes (more places): KCL, Manchester, Birmingham.

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