Your Essential Guide to UK Medical School Applications: UCAT, UCAS, Interviews & Beyond

Welcome to the Blue Peanut Medical School Blog—your trusted resource for navigating the challenging and competitive journey into medicine. Whether you're in sixth form preparing your UCAS personal statement, studying for the UCAT, or gearing up for interviews such as MMIs or panel formats, our blog provides expert guidance at every stage.

Created by practising NHS General Practitioners and experienced medical educators, each article distils practical strategies, up-to-date insights, and insider knowledge to help you achieve your dream of securing a place at a UK medical school.

Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Oxford vs Cambridge for Medicine – How to Choose the Right Medical School

Choosing between Oxford and Cambridge for Medicine is a big decision for any sixth form student. This comprehensive guide breaks down the key differences – from course structure and entry requirements to acceptance rates and student life – to help you decide which university is the better fit for your medical studies. We also discuss considerations for international students, and answer common questions in an FAQ section.

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Oxford Medical School Admissions Statistics and How to Succeed in Your Application

How hard is it to get into Oxford Medicine? We break down Oxford’s latest admission stats – from acceptance rates to average UCAT scores – and share advice to help sixth formers maximize their chances of securing a place at Oxford’s prestigious Medical School. (Includes a comparison with Cambridge and tips on acing your interviews.)

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

UCAT 2025 Results – How Do They Compare to 2024?

The UCAT 2025 results have just been released, revealing how this year’s candidates performed in the admissions test. In this comprehensive breakdown, we compare the 2025 average scores and percentile ranks to 2024’s statistics, highlighting key differences and trends. Read on to find out if UCAT scores are on the rise and what this means for your 2026 medical or dental school applications – including advice for applicants with high or low UCAT scores and how universities might use these results.

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

UCAT 2025 Scoring Explained – What’s a Good UCAT Score for 2026 Entry?

The UCAT exam is evolving for 2025, and if you’re applying to medical school in 2026, it’s crucial to understand how the new scoring works. In this comprehensive guide, we explain how UCAT 2025 is scored under the latest format (with one less subtest), when UCAT results come out, and how to interpret your score. We’ll break down what is considered a low, average, or high UCAT score in 2025, discuss the final UCAT results from 2024, and explore what score you might need for a medicine offer. Along the way, we’ll share strategies for choosing medical schools based on your UCAT and how to prepare for the next stage – your interviews.

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Dentistry School Interview Questions (UK): 120+ Practice Questions Mapped to Each Dental School

Prepare smarter with 120+ original, two‑part dentistry interview prompts tailored for sixth‑formers. Organised by topic (ethics, empathy, teamwork, dexterity, NHS values and more) and mapped to UK dental schools that assess them—using the schools’ own webpages as sources.

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

A Guide to Medicine Through UCAS Clearing 2025

Entering medical school is highly competitive, and many qualified students find themselves without an offer after the main UCAS application cycle. UCAS Clearing provides a final opportunity to find a university place for the upcoming academic year. This guide will walk you through how UCAS Clearing works for medicine, why medical school places via Clearing are so rare, and what you can do to maximise your chances of success on results day 2025.

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Applying to Medicine : How to choose a fifth UCAS choice

When applying to medical school in the UK, you’re allowed four Medicine choices on UCAS – but what about the fifth option? This comprehensive guide helps you decide how to use your fifth UCAS choice strategically as a backup plan without jeopardising your medical ambitions. We cover why you should always fill your fifth choice, popular alternative courses (and why Dentistry might not be ideal), 2026 application updates, and tips to keep your dream of becoming a doctor on track. Read on to make an informed decision that maximises your chances of success in Medicine.

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

How to Prepare for Medical School: A Timeline for Aspiring Doctors

Aspiring to become a doctor in the UK is an exciting journey that starts as early as your GCSEs. This guide provides a step-by-step timeline – from selecting the right subjects and gaining work experience to excelling in entrance exams and mastering the interview – to help you prepare for medical school. It’s an engaging yet formal roadmap tailored for sixth-form students who dream of a career in medicine.

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying to Medical School

Applying to medical school in the UK is highly competitive – only a small number of applicants secure a place. Even strong students can make simple errors, such as missing the early UCAS deadline or submitting a generic personal statement. In this guide, we highlight common mistakes aspiring medics make – and how you can avoid them – so that your application stands out for the right reasons.

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Top 10 Medical Schools in the UK: Rankings, UCAT Requirements, and Admission Guide for 2026 Entry

Embarking on a journey to become a doctor is both exciting and challenging. With numerous medical schools across the UK, selecting the right one is crucial. This guide delves into the top 10 medical schools for the 2026 entry, highlighting their rankings, admission requirements, and tips to bolster your application.

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Best UK Medical Schools to Apply with a High UCAT Score – 2026 Entry Guide

Scoring highly on the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) can open opportunities at many UK medical schools. A high UCAT score—defined here as 2800 or above on the 2024 scale—places you roughly in the top decile of applicants. This indicates you performed exceptionally well across the UCAT’s cognitive subtests, which can significantly improve your chances of securing an interview at most medical schools

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

UCAS Medicine Personal Statement: 2026 Entry Guide and Top Tips

Applying to medical school in the UK is exciting but also challenging – especially when it comes to writing your UCAS personal statement. As a sixth-form student aiming to study medicine, you’ll need to craft a personal statement that highlights your passion, experience, and suitability for a career in medicine.

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

What to Include in Your UCAS Medicine Personal Statement

So, what exactly do you think you should write about in your UCAS personal statement? Over the years, medical schools have developed a more unified understanding of what they want applicants to demonstrate in their personal statements. Here is a list of key points that almost all UK medical schools expect you to cover in a medicine personal statement

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

What Qualities Do Medical Schools Look for in a UCAS Personal Statement?

It’s not only what you’ve done that matters, but also the personal qualities you have developed. The Medical Schools Council (which represents all UK medical schools) has outlined a set of core qualities and abilities it expects in applicants.

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

UCAS Medicine Personal Statement Guide 2026: Tips & Advice

The writing style and structure significantly impact the effectiveness and engagement of your UCAS personal statement. Here are some top tips to ensure your medicine personal statement reads well and captures the reader’s attention – these tips come from experienced medical school tutors and official advice

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

How Medical Schools Use Your Personal Statement in Selection

You might be wondering, after all this effort writing the personal statement, how exactly do medical schools use it? The answer is that it varies by university – each medical school has its own admissions process. However, there are some general patterns.

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Where to Apply to Dentistry with a Low UCAT Score (UK 2026 Entry)

Struggling with a low UCAT score? Discover which UK dental schools (2026 entry) accept lower UCAT results – from holistic undergraduate programs to graduate-entry courses – and get tips to boost your application.

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Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB Dr Imran Khan, MBChB, and Dr Abdul Mannan, MBChB

Best UK Medical Schools to Apply with a Low UCAT Score – 2026 Entry Guide

Applying to medical school with a low UCAT score (around the 5th decile, ~2440) for 2026 entry? This comprehensive guide outlines which UK medical schools are more lenient on UCAT, how they use your score in selection, and strategies for home (UK) applicants – with notes on international and graduate entry. Learn about universities that emphasize academics, personal statements, or other criteria over UCAT, and get tips to optimize your application for a successful outcome.

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