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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Get the latest tips, strategies, and expert advice on how to prepare for the UCAT in 2025, taken for the 2026 entry. Learn how to excel in each section and boost your chances of success in medical school applications.

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

Discover how socio-economic background and access to finance impact medical students in the UK—from application and medical school to life as a junior doctor. Explore barriers, widening participation, and how poverty shapes a doctor's journey.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Entering the 2026 dentistry application cycle, competition remains intense, and the interview process continues to evolve. This fully updated guide outlines what to expect, from recent applicant statistics and interview formats at each dental school.

Explore how UK dental schools use UCAT scores for 2026 entry. Learn about UCAT cut-off scores, ranking systems, and how to strategically choose the best dental schools for your application to maximise your chances of an interview and offer.

Discover how UK medical schools use your UCAT score in 2025. Learn about UCAT cut-off scores, ranking systems, and how to choose the right universities to maximise your chances of getting a medicine interview and offer.

Wondering how to get work experience for medicine or dentistry? Whether you're shadowing a GP, volunteering in a care home, or trying virtual placements, this guide explains exactly what sixth form students need to know – and how to stand out on your application.

Curious about what kind of work experience you need for UK dental school? This comprehensive guide breaks down the requirements and recommendations for every UK university offering dentistry, helping you plan your application with clarity and confidence.