UCAT Cut-Off Scores for UK Medical Schools: A Guide for 2026 Entry

UCAT Scores and Cut-Offs: How Medical Schools Use Your Score

How does your UCAT score affect your chances of getting into medical school? You're not alone. With many universities using the UCAT in various ways, it can be a daunting prospect. But don’t worry—understanding how each medical school uses the UCAT can make a big difference and help you choose the right four UCAS options strategically.

Some medical schools establish a UCAT cut-off score; if you score below this, you won’t be considered. Others rank applicants based on their UCAT performance and invite the highest scorers to interview.

Many universities also evaluate your academic grades, such as GCSEs or predicted A-levels, alongside your UCAT. This suggests that a strong, all-round application can still be competitive, even if your UCAT score is not perfect.

➡️ Always double-check each university’s own admissions page for how they’ll use the new 3-subtest UCAT (2025 test), as many won’t set exact thresholds until they see the year’s score distribution.

How to read this guide (and what “cut-off” actually means)

• Cut-off = the lowest UCAT score that actually received an interview invite in a given cycle. Some schools publish this number after the cycle ends.

• Threshold = a minimum to be considered (e.g., “you must score at least X to be eligible”).

• Many medical schools don’t use a fixed cut-off. Instead, they rank applicants by UCAT (often alongside GCSEs/contextual factors) and set the interview line after they’ve seen the year’s results.

For 2026 entry, you must sit the UCAT 2025 exam. The UCAT Consortium confirms this and lists all participating universities.

How do medical schools select students for an interview?

• Fixed Cut-Offs: Some universities publish a minimum UCAT score each year. Fall below this, and your application might not be considered.

• Post-Application Cut-Offs: Other schools determine their cut-off after reviewing all applicant scores, depending on the number of interviews they can offer.

• UCAT Ranking: Many universities rank all applicants by their total UCAT score and invite the top-scoring candidates to an interview.

• Combined Scoring Systems: Some medical schools assign points for UCAT, GCSEs, personal statements, and other factors, then sum them together.

• SJT Banding: Many universities won't accept applicants with a Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test, and some are cautious with Band 3. A few are more flexible with international students.

• Section Weighting: Certain universities put extra emphasis on the Verbal Reasoning section, so strong performance here can boost your chances.

• Changes After BMAT: Since the BMAT has been phased out, some former BMAT universities (including some top London and Oxbridge alternatives) now use the UCAT instead.

In the past, UCAT deciles were commonly used to assess applicants; however, most schools now prefer clear raw score thresholds, making it easier to know where you stand. Thankfully, universities are also becoming more transparent about how they use your UCAT score, though it’s always smart to check each one carefully.

Choosing medical schools based on how they use the UCAT can massively improve your chances of getting an interview—and ultimately an offer. So let’s break down what each UCAT university is looking for.

We've put together this UCAT Universities Guide to help you make smarter, more informed choices when it comes to applying to medical schools. While we’ve done our best to keep everything accurate and up to date for 2025 (2026 entry), you must double-check the latest details on each university’s official website before making any final decision.

Big change for the UCAT 2025 test (affecting 2026 entry)

UCAT is evolving in 2025, including the removal of Abstract Reasoning and a three-subtest format (plus SJT). Universities are warning that scores will not be directly comparable to previous years. Manchester, for example, mentions the change and tentatively expects a competitive interview score around 1800–1900 (with SJT Band 1–2), but emphasises this may shift once actual results are released.

Queen Mary (Barts) also flags the new three-subtest structure on its admissions statistics page.

How Do I Know If I Have a Good UCAT Score?

Understanding Your UCAT Score – What’s Good, What’s Not, and What It Means for You

After sitting the UCAT, one of the first questions you'll ask yourself is: Was my score good enough? But what exactly defines a good UCAT score?

The answer isn’t always straightforward. What’s regarded as a “good” UCAT score varies depending on how each medical or dental school utilises it in the selection process. In this guide, we’ll help you understand how your score compares to others and what it signifies for your university options.

What Makes a UCAT Score ‘Good’?

There are three main ways to assess your UCAT score:

1. Total Cognitive Score
   This is the sum of your marks in Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, and Quantitative Reasoning. The total ranges from 900 to 2700.

2. Average Score per Subtest
   Divide your total by 3 to get your average. For example:
   If you scored 610 (VR), 770 (DM), and 780 (QR), your total would be 2160, with an average of 720.

3. Decile or Percentile Rank
   This shows how your score compares to other candidates. For example, if you’re in the 8th decile, you’ve done better than 80% of test-takers.

Will every school publish a UCAT cut-off?

No. Many will only state process (e.g., “rank by deciles”) and may publish historic minimums later as part of transparency reports/statistics pages (e.g., Barts, Manchester).

UCAT 2025 Test Scores

The UCAT consortium will publish preliminary mean scores and deciles in mid-September. Final mean scores, deciles, and percentiles will be published shortly after testing concludes. We will update this page once we receive further information from the medical schools.

⚠️ Do you have a low UCAT score?

• Check out our blog on where to apply with a low UCAT score for Medicine.

• For aspiring dentists, you can see where to apply with a low UCAT score for Dentistry.

⚠️ Do you have a high UCAT score?

• Check out our blog on where to apply with a high UCAT score for Medicine.

⚖️ What About the Situational Judgement Test (SJT)?

Your SJT Band is assessed separately from your cognitive score, but it still matters.

• Most medical schools prefer Band 1 or Band 2.

• Band 3 may be accepted, but it can weaken your application slightly.

• Band 4 is typically not accepted by the majority of UCAT universities.

Are SJT bands used?

Often yes, but typically after shortlisting (e.g., used at interview/offer stage or as a tiebreak). Check each school’s policy page for how SJT is weighted (Birmingham explicitly uses SJT at the interview stage).

However, a few medical schools are more lenient:

• Bristol, Plymouth, and Dundee may still consider you with a strong cognitive score.

• Some universities may use your Band score as a tiebreaker between borderline applicants, even if there’s no official cut-off.

🎯 How to Use Your UCAT Score Strategically

Rather than focusing only on whether your UCAT score is “good” or “bad,” think about how many universities it allows you to apply to confidently. That’s the real power of your score.

Top Tips:

• Check each university’s most recent UCAT cut-offs and selection criteria on their official website.

• Aim to apply to at least two universities where your UCAT score is clearly above previous years’ thresholds.

• Consider applying to one “aspirational” choice and one “safer” option, based on how your score aligns with their criteria.

There’s no single “good” UCAT score that guarantees success. It’s all about context, strategy, and knowing where your strengths lie. Whether you scored above 2700 or below 1900, there’s always a smart way to shape your UCAS application.

UCAT notable published updates (2026 entry)

Some medical schools have updated their UCAT criteria for 2026 entry. Please check back here for updates, as we will provide more information as it becomes available (updated August 30, 2026).

• Edinburgh: Minimum 1650 (/2700) for 2026 entry before scoring

• Sheffield: Minimum 1800 (/2700) for 2026 entry (based on multi-year centiles).

• UCL: 2025 interview consideration at ≥3070 (/3600) Home, ≥3150 Overseas; 2026 cannot be predicted due to /2700 change.

• Bristol A100: 2910 (/3600) interview line in 2024; Gateway 2025 invited ≥2520.

• Glasgow 2024 (examples on /3600): Home 2880, RUK 2900, International 3010.

• Keele 2026: applications below 1700 (/2700) or SJT Band 4 not considered.

• St George’s: minimum 500 per subtest plus an overall cycle-specific cut-off published during the cycle. 

Final 2024 UCAT Exam Scores

Although the 2024 test included Abstract Reasoning, we have excluded this data from the page. In 2024, there were 37,913 UCAT test-takers, with a mean UCAT score of 2523. Omitting the average AR score would lead to a mean of 1870.

The mean scores for each subtest were:

• Verbal Reasoning – 601

• Decision Making – 620

• Quantitative Reasoning – 649

The final deciles for the 2024 UCAT were:

• 1st decile – 2140 (1610 without AR)

• 2nd decile – 2260 (1690 without AR)

• 3rd decile – 2360 (1760 without AR)

• 4th decile – 2440 (1820 without AR)

• 5th decile – 2520 (1880 without AR)

• 6th decile – 2590 (1930 without AR)

• 7th decile – 2680 (1980 without AR)

• 8th decile – 2780 (2050 without AR)

• 9th decile – 2920 (2110 without AR)

Among the 2024 test-takers, 13% achieved Band 1 in Situational Judgement. 36% scored in Band 2, 38% in Band 3, and 13% in Band 4.

Gain knowledge and skills in our Medical School Interview Course. Taught by doctors who teach at three UK medical schools 🏆 Turn interviews into offers with a historic 95-98% offer rate ⭐️

Assessment and Feedback with 4 Mock MMI Interviews: Learn where you went wrong and how to put things right. ✅ Fully updated for 2026 entry.

🚀 Next Steps

Understanding UCAT cut-offs is just one part of the journey. Here’s where to go next:

• ✍️ Begin shaping your application with our UCAS Personal Statement for Medicine guide, designed to help you write a statement that stands out.

• 🎤 Once your statement is ready, prepare for the next big hurdle with our Medical School Interviews: Guide to Panel and MMI, covering both traditional and MMI formats in detail.

• 💡 Have your UCAS Medicine Personal Statement checked by doctors 👉 Get My Statement Reviewed

• Keep scrolling for our list of UCAT Medical Schools and their selection criteria! ⬇️

Complete List of UK UCAT Medical Schools & Their Selection Criteria

Below is a comprehensive overview of how UK medical schools evaluate UCAT scores, including cut-off marks, interview requirements, and other selection criteria. We have provided historical data from previous years, which can be used for a well-rounded approach.

➡️ UCAT admissions policies are subject to change, so it is essential to check the official university websites for the latest information before submitting your application. Use your UCAT score wisely to improve your chances of gaining a place in medical school!

✅ University of Aberdeen

Summary: Aberdeen uses a combined scoring system where academic achievements and UCAT score are weighted (historically about 30% academics, 20% UCAT) to shortlist for interviews. There is no fixed UCAT cut-off announced pre-application; instead, the threshold is determined by applicant pool rankings. Aberdeen has a large intake favoring Scottish applicants, and lower UCAT scores may be considered for high academic achievers or contextual applicants. For 2024 entry, the UCAT cut-off for interview was 2160 for Scottish applicants and 2440 for RUK (Rest of UK) applicants. Offers are made based on interview performance plus UCAT/academics, and SJT Band 4 is not normally considered.

UCAT Details: Aberdeen awards points for UCAT (up to 20% of pre-interview score) and for academics (predicted/achieved grades, ~30%). In practice, this means a strong UCAT helps but won’t compensate for poor academics. In 2024 entry, lowest UCAT scores invited to interview were 2160 for Scottish school-leavers, 2440 for RUK, and 2390 for internationalst. The average UCAT of interviewed candidates was around 2560 (Scottish) and 2700 (RUK), indicating Aberdeen can consider mid-tier UCAT scores especially for Scottish applicants. SJT: The Situational Judgement Test is not scored, but Band 4 may result in rejection or be used as a tiebreaker.

Academic Requirements & Contextual: Aberdeen requires AAA at A-Level (including Chemistry and one other science) or equivalent. GCSEs are not scored, focusing instead on achieved/predicted grades and potential (contextual data). Contextual/widening access applicants (e.g. through the Reach Aberdeen program) may get slight relaxation in academic requirements or adjustments in scoring. For instance, academic score weightings may be adjusted for those from underrepresented schools. Aberdeen also offers a Gateway 2 Medicine (G2M) foundation year for widening access, with lower grade requirements; UCAT is required but such applicants compete in a separate pool.

Interview and Offers: Interviews are panel/MMI hybrid and scored 50% of the final ranking. Post-interview, the academic/UCAT score (50%) is combined with interview score (50%) to decide offers. In recent cycles, roughly half of RUK interviewees received offers. Interview preparation tip: Aberdeen often asks about personal qualities and motivation for medicine – practicing via an MMI workshop can be beneficial.

Places: Aberdeen has one of the largest intakes. For 2024 entry, there were ~298 places: approximately 254 for Scottish/EU students, 25 for RUK students, and 19 for international students (Scottish Government caps result in most seats allocated to Scotland-domiciled applicants). This quota system means RUK applicants face higher competition (fewer places), which is reflected in the higher UCAT cut-off for RUK. International applicants are also ranked separately.

✅ Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)

Summary: ARU does not set a fixed UCAT cut-off pre-application; instead, all applicants who meet minimum academic requirements are ranked by UCAT score and the top segment are invited to interview. The threshold UCAT score therefore varies each year based on the applicant pool. In recent cycles ARU’s cut-off has been around the national average. For example, the UCAT cut-off for interview was about 2640 for 2023 entry and dropped to roughly 2440 for 2024 entry (Home applicants). ARU also gives special consideration (extra points) to applicants from the East of England region, especially those in Essex, resulting in slightly lower UCAT thresholds for local candidates. SJT Band 4 = automatic rejection.

UCAT and Selection: After ensuring applicants meet the AAA A-level (including Biology or Chemistry) requirement, ARU ranks by UCAT. There is no minimum score announced, but effectively a threshold emerges. In 2024 entry, ARU implemented a tiered system for locals: candidates from Essex and the East of England needed lower UCAT scores than others. That year, the lowest UCAT scores invited to interview were 2480 for Essex applicants, 2600 for East of England, and 2660 for other UK applicants. (In 2023 it was ~2640 for most and ~2570 for local). ARU explicitly awards shortlisting points for being from the East of England (with additional points if from Essex). Applicants meeting certain widening access criteria (e.g. Free School Meals or care leavers) are even guaranteed an interview regardless of UCAT, so long as UCAT SJT is Band 1–3 and academic requirements are met. This policy significantly lowers the barrier for eligible WP applicants.

Situational Judgement: ARU does not score SJT for interview selection aside from the requirement that Band 4 will not be invited. SJT might be considered at offer stage or as a minor component, but primarily it’s used as a cut-off (Band 1–3 only).

Academic Requirements: Standard offer is AAA at A-level including Chemistry or Biology, and one of Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics. ARU also has a foundation year (Widening Access to Medicine) for applicants from certain underrepresented backgrounds; these students need slightly lower grades (e.g. ABB) and still take UCAT. The selection for the foundation program also considers UCAT, but generally the UCAT threshold for foundation may be lower since those applicants are flagged for widening participation.

Interview: ARU uses MMIs. Each year ~500 candidates are interviewed for about 128 seats. Interviews typically assess personal qualities, communication, and motivation. (ARU’s interview to offer rate is roughly 50%). Given ARU’s emphasis on region and UCAT, if your score is borderline, a strong interview performance becomes critical – practicing via mock MMIs (Blue Peanut’s MMI course) can help secure an offer.

Places: ARU has 128 places each year for medicine. A majority are for Home students; ARU is relatively new and focuses on training doctors for the East of England, so international places (if any) are very limited. Check the latest prospectus for exact Home/International split (it tends to be on the order of ~5-10 international seats).

✅ Aston University

Summary: Aston uses a points-based system, combining academic achievements and UCAT. There is no strict UCAT cut-off; instead, applicants are scored out of 36 points: up to 24 points for academics (GCSEs and predicted A-levels) and up to 12 points for UCAT. Aston will invite to interview those above a certain total score (which varies by year). This approach means a slightly below-average UCAT can be offset by excellent academics. For example, in 2023 entry the threshold for interview was around 31.5/36 for standard (non-WP) applicants. SJT: Aston accepts all SJT bands 1–4 (Band 4 is not an automatic rejection) although SJT is not heavily weighted in shortlisting.

UCAT Scoring: Aston converts your UCAT total into a score out of 12. The scale (when UCAT was out of 3600) gave 12 points for 3500+, 11 for ~3400, down to 7 points for 2500, and so on, with half-point increments for each band. For example, ~2800 corresponds to 8.5 points, ~2600 to 7.5 points. (This scoring will likely be adjusted for the new UCAT scoring out of 2700.) In practice, applicants interviewed at Aston often have mid-range UCAT scores: the average UCAT among Aston interviewees in recent years was ~2630–2790. Indeed, Aston has interviewed candidates with UCAT in the mid-2500s if their academics were strong. For 2024 entry, the lowest UCAT score invited was 2600 for Home (non-WP) and 2530 for Internationalt. (Previous cycles: 2023 lowest non-WP 2610, and Aston has occasionally interviewed WP students with even ~2380 UCAT).

Academic Requirements: Aston requires at least AAA at A-level (including Chemistry or Biology and one other science). They heavily score GCSEs: 6 best GCSEs are scored (A*/9/8 = 4 points, A/7 = 3 points, etc.) for a max of 24. Most successful applicants have strong GCSE profiles (historically average academic score ~23/24). Contextual applicants (WP flags) are considered with slightly adjusted criteria and may have a lower total score threshold; for instance, 2022 entry saw WP interviewees with lower UCAT but strong academics.

SJT Usage: Aston does not automatically exclude Band 4 at application. SJT might be used in the post-interview stage or not heavily at all. In shortlisting, SJT is not a major factor; they care more about the total UCAT cognitive score.

Interview: Aston runs MMI interviews on-campus. Your interview performance will be the key determinant for an offer, but note that Aston may incorporate SJT band into interview score or tie-breaks minimally (not confirmed publicly). Historically, a significant proportion of those interviewed get offers (around 50% offer rate). Focus on typical MMI topics (ethical scenarios, motivation, etc.) – practice makes perfect here.

Places: Aston’s annual intake is around 100–150 students. Being a newer medical school (est. 2018), it has a mix of Home and a small number of International places. The precise split isn’t published for 2026, but for reference, in 2024 entry Aston had ~138 UK places and ~12 international. International applicants often needed a similar or slightly higher total score (Aston’s lowest international UCAT for 2024 was 2530 vs 2600 Home).

✅ Bangor University (North Wales Medical School)

Summary: Bangor is a new medical school in Wales (first intake in 2024). It requires the UCAT but does not have a predetermined cut-off in these early years. Instead, Bangor uses UCAT as one component in a holistic selection process alongside academics and the personal statement. With no historical data prior to 2024, applicants should aim for a competitive UCAT (likely around average or above) but note that Bangor’s focus is on training doctors for Wales, and they may be relatively flexible on UCAT if other aspects are strong. SJT: No specific policy published yet; presumably Band 4 might be viewed negatively but not explicitly stated.

UCAT Usage: As of 2025 entry, no minimum threshold was set. Bangor likely ranked candidates by UCAT after an initial academic screen. Early indications suggest Bangor did not require extremely high UCAT scores in its inaugural cycle – they were aiming to attract a broad range of students. In absence of exact numbers, if you had a UCAT around or slightly below national average, Bangor may still consider you, especially if your academic record and personal statement are solid.

Academics & Contextual: Bangor’s entry requirements are typically AAA at A-level (including Chemistry and Biology). They place weight on the personal statement and reference during selection, more so than many other schools. Being a new program, they emphasise qualities like commitment to serving in Wales/NHS and look at applicants holistically. Contextual data (e.g. coming from North Wales or underrepresented backgrounds) may advantage an applicant since Bangor, like other Welsh schools, has a mission to improve local recruitment.

Interview: Bangor conducts interviews (likely MMI format). Given the small cohort, interviews may also consider your fit with a new program and community focus. All applicants meeting minimum criteria (academics and UCAT taken) are considered for interview. Tip: Highlight any Welsh connection or commitment to practicing in rural areas if applicable, as this aligns with Bangor’s values.

Places: For 2024, Bangor had a very limited intake (being new, possibly ~20–40 places). It’s expected to grow over time. Initially, they likely reserved most places for Home (UK) students, particularly Welsh domiciled. If you’re a Welsh applicant or have Welsh language skills, that could be a plus (Bangor’s curriculum likely involves bilingual healthcare settings).

✅ Barts and The London (Queen Mary University of London)

Summary: Barts (QMUL) is known for a high emphasis on UCAT and academic tariff. They use a 50:50 weighting between UCAT score and UCAS Tariff points (e.g. A-level grades, additional qualifications) to rank applicants for interview. This means a strong UCAT can compensate for a slightly lower Tariff and vice versa. Typically, Barts sets an informal UCAT cutoff around the 4th decile – applicants below the 40th percentile UCAT are not usually interviewed. In recent cycles, a “high” UCAT was needed: for 2024 entry the lowest UCAT invited to interview was 2620 for Home applicants (which was around the 50th percentile) and 2950 for internationals. Barts also does not score GCSEs in shortlisting at all. SJT: Band 4 = rejection, and SJT score is actively used after interviews (as a tiebreaker by adding points to interview score).

UCAT & Tariff: Barts’ selection algorithm creates a weighted score combining UCAT and Tariff. For example, UCAT (out of 3600) might be scaled to 50 points and Tariff to 50 points to make a total out of 100. Applicants are then ranked. UCAT thresholds: The lowest UCAT for an interview in 2023 was 2720 (Home). For 2024, it dropped to 2620 Home. Note that Barts has a relatively high academic requirement too – successful applicants often have very high UCAS Tariff (e.g. AAA or equivalent plus additional qualifications). A candidate with fewer tariff points (say just three A-levels) would need a correspondingly higher UCAT to compensate. On the other hand, graduate applicants or those with extensive extra qualifications could offset a slightly lower UCAT. Barts explicitly requires UCAT to be above the 4th decile (below that, you won’t be considered regardless of grades).

Academics: Typical offer is A*A*A at A-level. Barts uniquely factors in UCAS Tariff (points for A-level grades, EPQ, etc.). For school-leavers with only 3 A-levels, A*AA gives a tariff around 152. Many Barts entrants have additional A-levels or qualifications (music grades, etc.) boosting Tariff. GCSEs are not scored at all in selection– as long as minimum C/4 in English and Maths is met. Therefore, mediocre GCSEs won’t hurt you here; focus on A-level performance and any additional certifications to maximise Tariff.

Situational Judgement: Barts uses SJT in offer decisions. They add points for SJT band to the interview score: Band 1 earns +2 points, Band 2 +1, Bands 3–4 get 0. Also, if two candidates have similar interview scores, SJT can be a differentiator. Importantly, an SJT Band 4 = automatic rejection (you won’t be interviewed).

Interview: Barts conducts panel interviews (traditionally) or structured MMIs focusing on your personal statement, motivation, and ethical scenarios. Once at interview, performance at interview is the primary factor for offers. In 2023-24, they combined interview scores with SJT points to rank for offers. Approximately 57% of interviewed home applicants received offers.

Places: Barts has a large intake (~300 seats). Roughly 270–280 are Home (UK/EU) and about 20–30 for overseas. (Their quota for international is limited by government caps.) Barts also runs a five-year program only (no separate graduate entry program; graduates apply to A100). Notably, Barts has a separate cut-off for international applicants – as seen, internationals needed a much higher UCAT (~2950) to get an interview for 2024, due to intense competition for the small number of places.

✅ University of Birmingham

Summary: Birmingham uses a pre-interview scoring system where academics and UCAT are combined into an application score. Specifically, for home students Birmingham weights GCSE performance ~45%, UCAT 40%, and contextual factors 15% There is no absolute UCAT cut-off, but effectively a high UCAT is needed because it’s 40% of the score. In 2024 entry, the lowest UCAT score that still got an interview (for a standard applicant) was around 2700– which was roughly the 70th percentile. Contextual (widening participation) applicants had lower UCAT thresholds (~2450) due to extra points from contextual flags. International candidates are assessed separately with UCAT ranking among themselves (2024 int cutoff ~2860). SJT: Birmingham does use SJT at interview stage by converting it to a small number of points (Band 1 = 3, Band 2 = 2, etc.), and Band 4 likely results in zero points (not an automatic rejection at application, but a disadvantage later).

UCAT and Academic Scoring: Birmingham assigns each applicant an “application score” out of 10 (in practice out of ~8.5 or 10 depending on year). For 2024 entry, they published that breakdown as 8.31 was the mean total for standard applicants invited. GCSEs are scored: e.g. 4 points for 9/A*, etc., looking at your best 6 GCSEs (or 7? They mention 27 points scale elsewhere). UCAT is scored by deciles among applicants – top decile gets full points (typically ~3.6/4 in their old system). For reference, 2024 cycle: the minimum total application score interviewed was 7.24 (out of 10) for non-contextual, which corresponded to roughly UCAT 2700 with strong GCSEs They noted the lowest UCAT invited in 2024 was 2700 for standard and 2450 for contextual. (In 2023, lowest was 2510 for Homet, but Birmingham has since raised thresholds.) Contextual applicants receive a 1.08× multiplier to their score or other adjustments, which is why they could be interviewed with a 2450 UCAT.

Contextual Criteria: Birmingham is generous with contextual points. Applicants who meet WP criteria (based on secondary school performance, POLAR, etc.) get up to 0.6 points added to their score and are compared in a separate band. They also have a reduced grade offer (ABB) for some eligible students. For 2024, the median total score for contextual interviewees was actually higher than for non-contextual (because many contextual had stellar UCAT), but the minimum was slightly lower.

SJT: While SJT band does not eliminate you at Birmingham, it does contribute to your post-interview score. During the interview scoring, SJT Band 1 = +3 points, Band 2 = +2, Band 3 = +1, Band 4 = 0 added. So a better SJT band can strengthen your chance of an offer after the interview. Birmingham does explicitly say they will not normally consider Band 4 (implying those with Band 4 usually do not progress).

Interview: Birmingham invites candidates to MMI interviews based on the ranked application score. The interview itself (MMI stations) then forms 50% of the final decision. Birmingham’s MMIs typically include stations on motivation, personal insight, ethical reasoning, and data interpretation. Because your pre-interview score is effectively “carried” into only 50% of the decision, doing well in the interview can still secure an offer even if you barely made the cut-off.

Places: Birmingham has a large class (~410). For 2024, roughly 347 Home places and about 63 International were available (international capped at ~14-15% of total). International applicants are ranked separately by UCAT and academics; Birmingham disclosed that international interview selection in 2024 required a predicted A*AA and a high UCAT (~2860). Home applicants from the West Midlands may have some advantage via contextual schemes like Pathways to Birmingham.

✅ Brighton & Sussex Medical School (BSMS)

Summary: BSMS historically used the BMAT, but for 2025 entry onward Brighton & Sussex require the UCAT. Because 2025 is their first UCAT cycle, no official cut-off is yet known. BSMS has indicated they will likely set a threshold after seeing the scores, potentially around the top 30% of UCAT scores given BSMS’s popularity. It’s expected that a high UCAT will be advantageous for BSMS, though they also consider academics strongly. Notably, BSMS has a Guaranteed Interview scheme for some widening participation (WP) applicants (e.g., through their “BrightMed” or “WPmed” programs) – in 2024, 17 WP applicants all received interviews regardless of UCAT SJT: BSMS has stated that SJT Band 4 will not be interviewed, aligning with many schools.

UCAT Usage: Without past data, one can infer from BSMS’s competitive nature (it’s a small-med sized school with many applicants) that the UCAT cut-off will be relatively high. BMAT was previously used with a strict cut-off (~top 25% of BMAT scores). For UCAT, Medic Portal suggests “slightly higher than average” UCAT will be needed A reasonable guess is a UCAT in the mid-2700s (old scale) might be needed for interview – but this will be confirmed after their first UCAT cycle. BSMS also mentioned they may use UCAT as a final discriminator after interviews if needed.

Academics: Typical offer AAA at A-level including Biology and Chemistry. BSMS values academics; they historically scored GCSEs for shortlisting with BMAT. It’s unclear if they will incorporate GCSE scoring now – likely they will still require strong GCSE (mostly 8s/9s) as a baseline, and use UCAT ranking for the rest. For WP route (BMBS with Foundation Year or guaranteed interview schemes), lower grades and UCAT might be accepted; indeed BSMS had a “Contextual Guaranteed Interview” for eligible students in 2024 (all 17 applicants meeting WP criteria got interviews regardless of UCAT).

SJT: Confirmed policy that Band 4 = rejection (no interview). Bands 1–3 presumably don’t influence shortlisting, but BSMS might use SJT in offer decisions, similar to how many med schools do (details TBC).

Interview: BSMS uses panel interviews (in the past) or structured MMIs of around 4–5 stations. They typically interview relatively few candidates (since they have about 150 places, they might interview ~300-400). The post-interview offer rate is often high; in 2024, 56% of home interviewees and 31% of international interviewees received offers. This underscores that if you make it to interview, you have a good chance, so focus on interview prep just as much as UCAT prep.

Places: BSMS usually has around 150 Home places and 10–20 International places. (They had 157 total entrants in 2023). The school is a partnership of University of Brighton and Sussex University, and it remains a popular choice in the south. International competition is intense; BSMS shared that in 2023 there were 313 international applicants for ~10 offers

✅ University of Bristol

Summary: Bristol places 100% weighting on UCAT for interview selection once minimum academics are met. In other words, as long as you have the required A-level/GCSE grades, your UCAT alone determines whether you get an interview. Consequently, Bristol’s UCAT cut-offs are among the highest. For 2024 entry, the UCAT threshold for interview was 2940 (Home students)– around the top 10% nationally. (International threshold was ~2960.) Contextual applicants with eligible flags could be interviewed with lower scores (e.g. ~1890 in 2023 for some Access applicants), but typically even WP candidates needed above average UCAT. Bristol does not formally consider SJT in deciding interviews or offers (Band 4 is not an automatic exclusion in their policy, but a good band can be helpful at offer stage).

UCAT Cut-Offs: Bristol publishes their UCAT cut-off each year after the cycle. These have been extremely high for the standard cohort: 2023 entry cutoff was ~2910 for Home, 2022 was 2870, and it climbed to 2940 in 2024 International cut-offs have hovered ~2910–2960. Bristol’s approach means no holistic scoring of academics – everyone above the minimum (AAA at A-level) is ranked purely by UCAT. Therefore, if your UCAT is not in at least the top 20% nationally, Bristol is typically not a viable choice (for standard applicants). One exception: Bristol runs a pre-interview guarantee for some specific widening participation programs (e.g. those who completed Bristol’s Foundation Year or specific outreach) – but for most WP, it just gives a reduced academic offer, not a lower UCAT threshold. However, in the statistics, we see some very low “contextual” UCAT scores got interviews (e.g. 1890 in 2023) – likely those were applicants with an automatic interview via a feeder scheme.

Academics: Required A-levels: AAA including Chemistry and one of Biology/Physics/Maths. GCSE: grade 7(A) in Maths and English. But beyond meeting these, grades aren’t scored. The vast majority of applicants meet the minimum, so UCAT is the discriminator. Bristol does require a strong academic profile for enrollment (their offer holders often have AAA), but they won’t give extra credit for having A grades in the shortlisting.

SJT: Bristol has stated that while they don’t use SJT to shortlist, they may use SJT as a tiebreaker when finalizing offers if needed. Importantly, Bristol has not explicitly said Band 4 is auto-reject, and indeed candidates with Band 4 can still be interviewed if their UCAT is stellar (though at offer stage, a Band 4 could put one at slight disadvantage if competing against similarly-scoring Band 1–3 candidates). In practice, aim for Band 1–3 to be safe.

Interview and Offers: Bristol conducts MMI interviews. Once at the interview, only interview performance matters for offer decisions. They do not reconsider UCAT or academics in ranking post-interview – it’s purely based on how you score in the MMIs. Historically, Bristol has a high offer rate post-interview (~70% in 2023)t This means they tend to invite only those they feel are strong, and then most who perform decently at interview get offers. The takeaway: if you clear the high UCAT hurdle, focus intensively on interview prep. Many Bristol interview questions are scenario-based and values-based; practicing with mock MMIs would be highly beneficial.

Places: Bristol has about 284 Home places and 19 International places (approximate for 2026 entry). It’s a big medical school. The competition for international slots is fierce – note the ~2960 UCAT cut-off for internationals in 2024. Home applicants also face steep competition due to Bristol’s popularity; in 2023, ~1215 home applicants were interviewed for ~595 offers. Bristol also offers a separate Medicine with Foundation Year (for WP students), which has its own selection criteria.

✅ Brunel University (London)

Summary: Brunel is a new private medical school (opened 2022) that primarily caters to international students, with a small number of UK places. Brunel requires UCAT (or GAMSAT) and ranks applicants by UCAT score after ensuring academic criteria and reviewing personal statements. There is no fixed UCAT cut-offannounced; they interview until slots are filled based on highest UCAT. Given Brunel’s cohort is mostly international, a competitive UCAT for Brunel is still important but historically Brunel’s offers have gone out to a wide range of UCAT scores (since they aim to fill seats). In 2023, for example, Brunel made a “high number of offers for international applicants (~240 offers) to fill ~60 places”. SJT: Band 4 leads to rejection at Brunel.

UCAT Usage: Brunel’s selection panel reviews academics, personal statement, and references to ensure minimum criteria, then primarily ranks by UCAT for interview invites. If two candidates have similar profiles, personal statement and reference become important, but UCAT is the main differentiator. Since Brunel is not as oversubscribed as established public schools, the effective UCAT requirement has been more moderate. We don’t have an official cut-off, but anecdotal evidence suggests that UCAT scores in the mid-2500s could secure interviews at Brunel (especially for international).

Brunel even states that if interview slots remain, they might consider applicants who didn’t take UCAT at all, evaluating them on academics/PSt– highlighting that UCAT is a major criterion but they can be flexible to fill places. Still, to be safe, aim for a UCAT above ~2500 if applying to Brunel.

Academics: Brunel requires A-Levels AAA (including Chemistry and Biology). They also accept graduates and other qualifications. Being private, they also have an IELTS requirement for non-native speakers (7.0 overall). Personal statements are actually read and scored by Brunel’s panel (unlike many other schools), so a well-crafted personal statement can boost your chances if UCAT is borderline.

SJT: As mentioned, Band 4 is an automatic disqualifier at Brunel Bands 1–3 are acceptable, though Brunel hasn’t detailed further usage of SJT in selection – likely it’s not formally scored except to exclude Band 4.

Interview: Brunel conducts panel interviews or MMIs (they mention an MMI at Brunel cannot be repeated – if you applied before and had an MMI, they won’t consider a repeat attempt). They also emphasize that interview timing (early or late in the cycle) doesn’t advantage/disadvantage you – they rank all interviewed candidates for offers equally. Brunel’s large number of offers to internationals (around 240 for ~60 spots) suggests they ensure many candidates have Brunel as an option, so be prepared to accept quickly if you prefer Brunel.

Places: Brunel’s program is five years but not funded by the NHS for UK students (tuition is paid by students, ~£40k/year). They have 50 UK (Home) places and around ~60 international places per year. The Home places are still subject to tuition fees (though perhaps eligible for loans). Brunel heavily markets to international students, so international applicants have a higher chance here relative to other UK schools.

✅ University of Cambridge

Summary: Cambridge has switched from BMAT to UCAT for 2026 entry, making 2025 the first cycle with UCAT. Cambridge does not set a strict UCAT cut-off, but given its highly competitive nature, very strong UCAT scores will be expected. Cambridge historically interviews a large proportion of applicants (~75–80%)– they prefer to assess many via interview and then make decisions. We anticipate Cambridge will use UCAT as part of shortlisting, likely alongside academic scores (which remain paramount at Cambridge). SJT: Cambridge announced SJT will not be used in the assessment for 2025 entry– interviewers will not see it, and it won’t factor into scoring (individual colleges could decide to ignore SJT altogether). So only the UCAT cognitive total matters for Cambridge.

UCAT in Selection: As this is new, Cambridge hasn’t published exact criteria. We infer that Cambridge will likely rank applicants by UCAT to some extent, but also heavily factor in academic achievement (A-level grades, GCSEs, reference, possibly the Cambridge SAQ additional info). Cambridge might for example set an informal UCAT threshold around a certain decile – but since they interview many, even a mid-range UCAT might still get an interview if academics are stellar. That said, an above-average UCAT score is recommended for Cambridge because most applicants will be strong academically and many will have high UCATs. Cambridge colleges previously used BMAT scores to differentiate candidates; now UCAT will play that role. Without concrete data: if you’re in, say, the top 20% UCAT and have straight A*/As, you stand a good chance of an interview at Cambridge.

Academic Requirements: Cambridge’s academic bar is extremely high. Standard A-level offer is A*AA. Applicants need A Levels in Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics, Maths. GCSEs aren’t scored point-wise, but successful applicants typically have majority 9/8 grades. Cambridge weighs academic records very heavily in shortlisting – they look at UMS scores (if available), GCSE context, and predictions. The UCAT will complement these: e.g., an applicant with perfect grades and a decent UCAT may still be interviewed over one with slightly weaker grades and a higher UCAT. Also, Cambridge continues to use the Extenuating Circumstances Form and other contextual flags (like state school background) in selection.

College-specific Notes: Each Cambridge college can have slight nuances in admissions. Some might emphasize particular qualities. But all must use UCAT from 2025. We expect no college will admit a candidate with a very low UCAT unless there are exceptional mitigating circumstances, because there will be plenty of high scorers. Conversely, a sky-high UCAT won’t guarantee an interview if your academic profile is not in Cambridge’s typical range.

SJT: As stated, Cambridge is not using SJT Band in 2025 cycle. Interviewers won’t know your SJT, and it won’t count for offer decisions. So Band 4 at Cambridge is not the automatic kiss-of-death it is elsewhere – you could technically still be considered. However, demonstrating good judgement in your application and interviews is still key!

Interviews: Cambridge will continue with traditional panel interviews (usually two interviews at your chosen college, each with faculty). These are academic in nature – testing your scientific thinking and motivation. Cambridge interviews many candidates (they might interview around 75% of applicants, then only ~20% get offers). Historically, Cambridge tends to “over-interview” and then be very selective post-interview – only ~15-20% of interviewees are offered. Indeed, the post-interview offer rate is ~15–20%. This means your interview performance is critical. If invited, you should engage in intensive preparation: practice articulating problem-solving and discussing scientific concepts (in addition to typical motivation questions).

Places: Cambridge has about 280–290 places across its colleges for Home students, and typically 21 international places (a quota set by the government). Each of the 29 undergraduate colleges admits around 4–10 medicine students. Cambridge often divides these into about 21 overseas and ~268 Home/EU (as of recent intakes). With the removal of BMAT, Cambridge might adjust how they allocate interviews among colleges, but overall numbers remain the same.

✅ Cardiff University

Summary: Cardiff heavily emphasizes academic achievement (especially GCSEs) in shortlisting and uses UCAT as a secondary filter only if needed when too many applicants have top academics. In fact, Cardiff does not have a set UCAT cut-off – many applicants are selected for interview purely on academic score. However, when required, they will rank by UCAT among those tied on academics. In 2024, Cardiff revealed that because so many applicants had maximum academic scores, they had to use UCAT to differentiate: the UCAT cut-off for interview for those with perfect academics was 2690. In other recent cycles, Cardiff’s effective UCAT threshold was much lower (around 1980–2100) for those with slightly lower academics– reflecting that an applicant with all A*s at GCSE could get an interview even with a low UCAT. Welsh-domiciled and contextual applicants get additional consideration and may be interviewed with lower scores. SJT: Cardiff does not use SJT at all in selection– they explicitly ignore the SJT component of UCAT.

Academics First: Cardiff scores your top 9 GCSEs (must include English Language, Maths, and the sciences) on a 27-point scale (A*/9/8 = 3 points, A/7 = 2, B/6 = 1). An additional 3 points are available for achieved A-levels (if already attained). So the maximum academic score is 30. Typically, Cardiff invites to interview those who score very high (historically, often all 27/27 at GCSE). For 2022 entry, the minimum GCSE scorefor interview was 27 (i.e. straight A*/9s). If too many applicants have 27, they use AS levels or achieved A-levels, and then UCAT as a tiebreaker. That’s why in 2024, only those with 27 points and UCAT ≥2690 got interviews.

For applicants with slightly lower GCSE scores (say 26/27), Cardiff might still consider them if UCAT is high or if they are Welsh/contextual. In past cycles, Cardiff reportedly interviewed some with GCSE score 26 + high UCAT. But clearly, stellar GCSEs are the main route to an interview at Cardiff (especially for non-Welsh applicants).

UCAT Role: If needed, UCAT can make the difference. The example from 2024: everyone with full academic points needed UCAT 2690+. But note in 2023, Cardiff’s lowest invited UCAT was only 1980 – because presumably they had space to interview those with lower UCAT as long as their academics were max or near-max. So UCAT requirements fluctuate widely at Cardiff depending on the cohort. Importantly, if you don’t have top academics, an extremely high UCAT won’t save you; e.g. someone with GCSE score 24 and UCAT 3000 might still not get an interview if enough others have 27 points. Conversely, if you have 27 points, even a below-average UCAT (say 2200) could get you in some years (2020–2022 saw low UCATs accepted)

Welsh and Contextual Advantage: Cardiff gives extra consideration to Welsh-domiciled and certain WP applicants. They don’t publicly lower the grade requirements, but they will aim to “interview as many well-qualified Welsh applicants as possible.” In practice, if a Welsh applicant and an English applicant have identical scores, the Welsh might be prioritized for interview. Additionally, Cardiff has a separate program (the C21North Wales cohort and a new MBBCh with Preliminary Year); for those, criteria may differ slightly and UCAT might be less emphasized.

SJT: As mentioned, Cardiff does not use SJT at all. A Band 4 won’t hurt you here (Cardiff’s focus is academics + cognitive UCAT only if needed).

Interview: Cardiff runs panel interviews (often structured questions). Once at interview, candidates are scored on performance alone. Historically, Cardiff’s interview-to-offer rate is moderate (~45% for RUK in 2023) They tend to interview more people than they have places (about 2.2 interviews per offer in 2023 for RUK). So you still need to perform well in the interview; nothing is guaranteed even if you had full points before.

Places: Cardiff has around 295 Home places and 25–30 International places. Notably, the Welsh Government supports many Welsh students – majority of Cardiff’s intake comes from Wales or have some contextual flag. For example, of 587 RUK interviews in 2023, only 265 offers were made– indicating many RUK applicants were weeded out at interview. If you’re a Welsh applicant with strong academics, Cardiff is very advantageous; if you’re RUK with strong academics, it’s still good but you’ll face more competition.

✅ University of Chester

Summary: Chester’s medical program is very new and somewhat unique. It offers a Graduate-Entry MBChB (4-year program) in collaboration with Welsh universities. For 2024 and 2025 entry, Chester’s A100 course is available only to graduates, and they accepted multiple admissions tests: UCAT, GAMSAT, or MCAT. Applicants must meet a minimum threshold in one of these tests (which hasn’t been specified publicly) to get to the selection centre. Chester has not published any UCAT cut-off data yet, but being graduate-only, they likely expect at least average or slightly above-average UCAT if using UCAT. SJT: Not mentioned; likely not a major factor given the focus on overall score or GAMSAT.

UCAT Usage: Since Chester is accepting GAMSAT/MCAT as alternatives, UCAT is just one option. If you took UCAT, they’ll consider your score. For 2026 entry, an FOI suggests the selection is out of 45 points (36 academic + 9 test) similar to QUB’s method, but that might be misinterpreting a different policy. Without clarity, we can assume Chester might operate somewhat like Warwick or QUB for grads: e.g., needing at least around the mean UCAT and a decent VR score. The mention in Chester’s info: “total score required to secure a place at Selection Centre varies year to year and depends on applicant performance”, and they specifically say it includes a requirement that VR (Verbal Reasoning) is at or above the mean for the cohort. This is reminiscent of Warwick’s requirement of VR ≥ mean. So if applying with UCAT, ensure your VR is strong.

Academic & Selection: Chester requires a 2:1 degree (any discipline, but sciences preferred) for entry. A-levels must be at least AAB (with A in chem or bio). The selection for interview (they call it selection centre) likely scores your academics (degree class, maybe A-levels) and your admissions test. The FOI snippet suggests 45 total points with 9 from UCAT for 2026. Possibly, 9 points comes from UCAT where they might give, say, 9 for top decile, 8 for 9th decile, etc. Chester also emphasizes personal qualities – personal statements and references might still matter for them more than for larger programs.

SJT: Chester hasn’t specified, but given their flexible approach (allowing multiple tests), SJT likely isn’t a deciding factor. Still, as with most grad programs, Band 4 could be frowned upon.

Interview: Chester’s selection center probably mirrors Warwick’s or other grad-entry programs – expect group tasks or MMI circuits evaluating teamwork, ethical reasoning, etc. Being a new program, they might have relatively small interview pools.

Places: Chester’s program is limited. It partners with Bangor for clinical placements. For 2024, they only offered the course to graduates and likely had a small cohort (maybe 20–30 students). If it expands by 2026, there might be more slots. As it’s a graduate entry partially funded by Welsh initiatives, they might prioritize local applicants. Chester’s med school path is still evolving, so applicants should keep an eye on their official updates.

✅ University of Dundee

Summary: Dundee uses a balanced approach, combining academic achievement and UCAT to score applicants for interview. There is no fixed UCAT cut-off announced, but Dundee assigns a pre-interview score where academics (particularly grades) count for 60% and UCAT 40% for school-leavers. As a result, Dundee can invite some candidates with modest UCAT scores if their academics are excellent (and vice versa for grads). For 2023 entry, the lowest UCAT scores interviewed were 1940 for Scottish applicants, 2460 for RUK, 2110 for international– indicating a much lower UCAT tolerance for local applicants. The average UCAT of interviewed RUK students was ~2794 Dundee does not consider SJT band in its scoring at all, and Band 4 is not an automatic reject (though a very low UCAT overall would hurt).

Scoring System: Dundee scores academics (A-levels or equivalent) and UCAT in deciles. For school-leavers, academics = 60% (which includes GCSEs and predicted grades) and UCAT = 40%. They place applicants into UCAT deciles and award points accordingly. For graduates, the weightings flip: 40% academics (undergrad performance) and 60% UCAT Contextual applicants or certain programs may adjust weighting slightly, but Dundee primarily adjusts by fee status: Scottish vs RUK vs International are ranked separately with different thresholds, as seen in the varying cut-offs.

In 2023, Scottish school-leavers with UCAT as low as 1940 were interviewed because their academic score likely carried them (and maybe fewer Scots applied, so a lower UCAT still made top ranks among Scots). RUK applicants faced a higher bar: 2460 was the lowest UCAT for RUK interviewst. International lowest was 2110 that yeart. So Dundee clearly differentiates by domicile. Their scoring ensures most applicants interviewed have a balanced profile: e.g., the average UCAT for offers (RUK) was around 2786, and average for Scottish was similar ~2773, showing that high UCAT isn’t the sole path.

Academics: Dundee requires AAA at A-level (including Chemistry and another science). They consider actual and predicted grades. They also look at application context – e.g., whether you come from a less advantaged background could be considered. High grades definitely bolster your score: straight A* at GCSE (or Highers in Scotland) and strong predictions maximise the academic 60%. Dundee also has a policy of guaranteeing interviews to some top academic performers within certain widening access categories.

SJT: Not used in the selection process. SJT Band 4 won’t automatically exclude you. Dundee might consider SJT in borderline offer decisions or not at all – but primary info is they don’t score it for interview selection.

Interview: Dundee uses MMI. The pre-interview combined score (academics+UCAT) determines interview invites. Once at interview, Dundee assesses personal qualities, communication, etc. Post-interview, offers are given roughly to the top half of interviewees (about 42% offer rate in 2023). If you had a lower UCAT but got an interview, you presumably excelled in academics; performing well in MMI can still secure your place.

Places: Dundee has ~155 places (approximate) for the five-year course. A large portion (~110) are for Scottish/EU students, ~20-25 for RUK, and ~15-20 for international (numbers vary annually). This quota explains why RUK applicants face tougher UCAT competition – only ~20-25 RUK seats. Similarly, Dundee favors Scottish applicants in initial selection (reflected by the much lower UCAT needed). So RUK applicants should only apply if both academics and UCAT are strong (or if you have Scottish roots/status which might count as “home” for them).

Foundation/WP: Dundee also offers a 6-year Gateway to Medicine (A104) for Scottish widening access students. That has lower grade requirements and likely a lower UCAT threshold (historically they accepted UCAT ~ in low 2000s for that program). If eligible, that’s worth exploring.

✅ Edge Hill University

Summary: Edge Hill is a newer medical school (in Lancashire) that ranks applicants by UCAT once academic criteria are met. They do not announce a fixed cut-off before application; instead, they set a UCAT threshold after scoring applicants each cycle. In practice, Edge Hill’s UCAT requirements have been around the national average. For 2023 entry, the lowest UCAT invited to interview was 2610. (2022 was 2600; 2021 was 2440). The average UCAT of those interviewed in 2023 was 2748. Edge Hill excludes SJT Band 4 and gives slight concessions for WP (the UCAT threshold is lowered for those who meet certain widening participation criteria or completed their Pathways to Medicine program). They also have a separate Foundation Year program; in 2023 its UCAT cut-off was 2350

Selection Process: Edge Hill uses a 3-stage process:

• Stage 1: Academic screening – applicants must meet minimum academic requirements (normally AAA at A-level including Chemistry and Biology). Those who don’t are out.

• Stage 2: UCAT ranking – all who pass Stage 1 are ranked by UCAT score. They then set a UCAT threshold based on number of interviews available. For example, if they have 200 interview slots, they’ll invite the top 200 UCAT scorers (with some adjustments for WP). In 2023, this threshold was 2610. Note: Edge Hill explicitly says this threshold can vary year to year depending on applicant scores.

• (WP Adjustment): Candidates who meet specific WP criteria or completed Edge Hill’s “Widening Access to Medicine” program get an extended threshold – meaning if they score just below the main cut-off, they might still get an interview.

• Stage 3: Interview – all who pass Stage 2 attend an MMI (which Edge Hill has conducted virtually via Teams recently). Offers are then based on interview performance alone.

UCAT Stats: As noted, 2610 was the 2023 cut-off. The median UCAT invited 2023 was 2720. These suggest Edge Hill’s threshold was around the 50th percentile that year. If the applicant pool’s scores rise, the cut-off rises accordingly. Importantly, Band 4 SJT = automatic rejection at Stage 2. Bands 1–3 are fine; SJT isn’t otherwise scored pre-interview.

Foundation Year (A110): Edge Hill offers a 6-year Medicine with Foundation Year for eligible applicants (typically those from the local area or WP backgrounds). In 2023, they gave data: 129 applied, 39 interviewed, 24 offers, with UCAT cut-off 2350 for that foundation cohort. So foundation applicants needed a lower UCAT (~2350) compared to standard ~2610, reflecting the extra consideration for WP.

Academics: Aside from A-level AAA (including Bio & Chem), Edge Hill expects GCSE grade B/6 in English, Maths, and Science. They don’t formally score GCSEs beyond minimum, but obviously most applicants have strong grades. They also have a preference for local applicants – they give shortlisting points for applicants who have lived or studied in the North West of England. While not explicitly stated, their mission is to train doctors for the region, similar to other newer schools.

Interview: Edge Hill’s MMIs assess typical domains (communication, motivation, ethical reasoning). Their post-interview offer rate in 2023 was ~28%, indicating they interview more than 3 times the number of offers. So performing well at interview is crucial. They do not appear to re-factor UCAT at the offer stage (offers are based on interview score alone). However, they mention they may review SJT as part of tie-breaking if needed, but primarily interview score rules.

Places: Edge Hill has about 30–35 Home places and a handful of International places (if any – some sources suggest Edge Hill initially did not take international students, focusing on UK only). Typically, new med schools have 30-50 per year. Edge Hill’s small intake means each seat is competitive, but the advantage is if you have a solid-but-not-stellar UCAT (~2650) and good academics, you have a shot here especially if you’re from a WP background or the region.

✅ University of Edinburgh

Summary: Edinburgh employs a point-based scoring system for selection: 50% academic (including a detailed GCSE scoring) and 50% combined UCAT+SJT. Edinburgh does set a minimum UCAT cut-off each year; for 2024 entry this was 2470 (which they set as the 8th decile of test-takers). Applicants below that were automatically rejected. Above the cut-off, Edinburgh uses a decile ranking of UCAT (17.5% weight) and SJT band (7.5% weight) to add to the academic scoret. In practice, Edinburgh heavily favors those with excellent academics and high UCAT. For 2023 entry, the average UCAT of interviewed RUK candidates was very high (~2990) reflecting that RUK applicants need to be top-notch (Scottish averages were a bit lower ~2800). SJT: They award points for SJT (Band 1 = full points, Band 4 = zero) and will not consider Band 4 at all(Band 4 = rejection).

UCAT Cut-off and Scoring: Edinburgh’s UCAT cut-off for 2026 entry is published as 1650(since 2025 test is out of 2700, they lowered the absolute number, likely targeting a similar percentile – 1650 might correspond to ~40th percentile). For 2024 (old format), it was 2470. They use historical data to set this minimal threshold. Applicants who meet or exceed it then get their UCAT score converted into a decile score (out of 8.75 points, since 17.5% of total 50 points). Additionally, SJT Bands are scored (Band 1 = 2.5 points, Band 2 = ~1.66, Band 3 = ~0.83, Band 4 = 0) – contributing 7.5%. These points plus academic points (up to 40/50) form a total out of 50 that is used to rank for interview.

Because of this method, typically only candidates with near-max academic points and strong UCAT make the cut. For Scottish applicants, the bar is a bit lower due to separate ranking pools (they compete among themselves for a fixed quota). For RUK applicants, recent data: the lowest RUK UCAT interviewed in recent years was around 2690 (approx top 30%) – Edinburgh reported ~top 500 RUK UCAT gets interview, lowest ~2400s historically, but that was before they raised cut-off to 2470.

The provided FOI stats: 2023 entry lowest interviewed UCAT: 2130 for an International (likely a graduate or special case), which they caution to use with caution (likely anomaly). Generally, RUK needed much higher (Edinburgh implies only very high UCAT RUK get in). Average UCAT among offers (RUK) was 3100 in 2023 – extremely high, showing the competitiveness.

Academics: Edinburgh gives each applicant an academic score out of 30 (doubled to 60% earlier but now 25% weight out of 50 points after doubling to 20)– specifically, they score your best 8 GCSEs (or Nat5s), with 7/A = 2 points, 8/9 = 3 points, etc., then double to 20 points; and your achieved/predicted A-levels out of 10 points. In practice, an applicant with straight A* at GCSE and AAA predicted might get full 20 + near-full UCAT points. Cambridge note: They require min GCSEs in sciences at A. If you don’t meet minimum AAA predictions, you’re out.

Contextual: Edinburgh has a Plus Flag system – those with certain WP flags can bypass the UCAT cut-off (they said except Plus Flag applicants, none below cut-off considered). Plus Flag applicants (e.g., from very disadvantaged backgrounds) might be exempt from the UCAT cutoff and scored among themselves.

SJT: We reiterate, Band 4 = rejection at application stage. Band 3 is technically accepted but given only ~0.83/2.5 points, which could hurt your ranking.

Interview: Edinburgh switched to an Assessment Day format: a combination of MMIs and group tasks. They only interview the top-ranked by the above system, roughly 2-3 applicants per place. For 2023, around 850 interviews were done across all fee categories. Post-interview, offers are given 50% based on interview performance (which includes some station scores) added to the 50% pre-interview score. So Edinburgh uniquely carries forward your pre-interview score into the final ranking for offers. That means doing extremely well in interview could rescue a slightly lower pre-score, but in practice those invited already had high pre-scores. In 2023, ~75% of those interviewed (home) got offers – a high rate, because Edinburgh had already filtered intensively. International offer rate was lower (about 40%).

Places: Edinburgh has ~190 places for Scottish/EU (though post-Brexit EU counts as international now), ~20 places for RUK (they strictly limit RUK to ~10% of class due to Scottish funding), and ~17-18 international. This extremely low RUK quota explains why RUK applicants need such top scores. If you’re RUK, Edinburgh is arguably the most competitive med school: perfect academics and top UCAT are almost required. Scottish applicants have more slots and thus slightly lower thresholds (lowest Scottish UCAT interviewed in 2023 was ~2800 average, lowest maybe mid-2000s if academics maxed).

✅ University of Exeter

Summary: Exeter shortlists by a combined score where academic achievement (predicted/achieved grades) is weighted 75% and UCAT 25% They do not use a hard UCAT cut-off; instead, they calculate a score (often called an “Exeter score”) for each applicant, rank them, and invite the top segment to interview. In recent cycles, Exeter effectively prioritized those with A* predictions – for example, a candidate predicted 3 As at A-level could get an automatic interview with even an average UCAT. In 2022 entry, Exeter’s system meant the lowest UCAT invited (non-WP) was 1820 because that applicant likely had 3 As (full academic points). However, if you had lower predicted grades, you needed a higher UCAT. Exeter historically published a “points” cut-off (~94 points) equating to 3 A* and a top 3 decile UCAT. SJT: Exeter’s selection criteria do not mention SJT, implying SJT is not used in shortlisting (and Band 4 is not an automatic exclusion).

Academic-UCAT Scoring: Exeter gives each applicant a score out of (perhaps) 100 or similar. The weightings 75% academic vs 25% UCAT mean academics dominate. Predicted A-levels are crucial: Exeter used to effectively guarantee interviews to those predicted AAA* (or equivalent 42 IB points) regardless of UCAT, because that yields a high total score. For example, in a past cycle they said the “cut-off score” corresponded to 3 A* predictions + a UCAT around the 70th percentile. If you had only AAA predicted, you’d need a much higher UCAT to compensate.

In 2022, Exeter’s cutoff “94 points” presumably meant something like: A* A* A* = 100 points, A* A* A = 95, etc. So 94 might equate to AAA predicted with a slightly above average UCAT. The extremely low “lowest UCAT 1820” likely belonged to someone with stellar academics. Conversely, someone with predictions of AAA may have needed ~2700+ UCAT that year to reach the interview threshold. Exeter does adjust for achieved vs predicted differently, and also had a change for 2023 where they reduced reliance on predicted grades slightly after over-inviting in previous years.

Contextual: Exeter has a contextual offer scheme where eligible applicants get a reduced offer (AAB). They may also get a small boost in the shortlisting score, although Exeter mostly focuses on predictions and UCAT for initial ranking. It’s possible that contextual applicants with AAB predictions are given some equivalent scoring to AAA to not disadvantage them.

UCAT Guidance: Exeter doesn’t post a strict UCAT cut-off, but from FOI and guidance: likely if you have AAA predicted, a UCAT in top ~30% (which on old scale ~2650-2700) was sufficient for interview. If you have lower predictions, aim for top 10% UCAT. Exeter also had cases of guaranteed interview for achieved grades: if you already have A*AA or higher achieved, you stood a great chance.

For 2023-2024, competition increased, so even some with 3 A* had to have a decent UCAT. It’s wise to have at least ~640 average (1920/2700 new) if you’ve got top predictions, more if not. Notably, Exeter often fills a lot of interview slots with those having top grades early in the cycle.

SJT: Not explicitly used. Band 4 doesn’t automatically disqualify, but some sources say Exeter might consider SJT in offer decisions if needed (not confirmed). Primarily, cognitive UCAT counts for shortlisting.

Interview: Exeter invites perhaps ~3-4 applicants per place to interview. Interviews are MMI format. Historically, Exeter has had a relatively high offer rate post-interview (in 2023 about 68% of interviewed got offers), meaning if you get an interview, odds are decent as long as you perform solidly. The reason is their heavy pre-filtering by academics/UCAT yields a self-selected strong cohort.

Places: Exeter has around 130 Home places and up to 14 International places (approx). They also have a small number of reserved places for their “BMBS Medicine with Foundation” (which itself takes maybe 10 students). Exeter’s emphasis on academic excellence is in line with their strategy of recruiting students likely to do very well academically.

✅ University of Glasgow

Summary: Glasgow selects for interview by first ensuring academic criteria, then ranking by UCAT (similar to many). They have separate quotas for Scottish, RUK, and international applicants, which leads to different effective UCAT thresholds for each group. Generally, Glasgow’s required UCAT for interview is around the 60th–70th percentile. For 2025 entry, the lowest UCAT interviewed was 2450 for Scottish, 2500 for RUK, 2800 for International. In 2023, the RUK cutoff was higher (~2690) and international 2800. SJT: Glasgow explicitly does not consider SJT band in selecting for A100 – they ignore SJT for shortlisting and offers (Band 4 is not an automatic rejection in itself).

UCAT and Academics: Glasgow requires AAA at A-level (Chemistry plus one of Biology/Physics/Maths). They don’t formally score GCSEs, but you must have e.g. at least 6s/Bs in English, Maths, Sciences. Provided you meet minimum academics, UCAT is king in shortlisting. However, one must meet a technical minimum: RUK applicants need predicted AAA to even be considered(Scottish Highers requirements are similarly strict).

Glasgow tends to set their UCAT cutoffs post-application. For example:

• 2024 entry: Home (Scot) cutoff 2450, RUK 2500t international 2800.

• 2023 entry: RUK cutoff 2690.

• 2021 entry: Scot ~2690, RUK 2830, Int 2700.
  So it fluctuates. Scottish applicants often have a slightly lower threshold due to many places reserved (~75% places for Scotland). RUK threshold, while often ~2500-2700, can spike in some years if many strong RUK apply (2022 it was ~2680). International usually requires a high UCAT (in 2024 it shot to 2800, likely due to limited ~22 places).

Notably, Glasgow had published average invited UCAT for RUK: ~2900 in recent years. But that seems high; perhaps that was average of those they invited, not cut-off.

Glasgow also gives “uplifts” for certain applicants (e.g., those from widening access backgrounds can get a few extra points equivalent on UCAT). They said some offers included “uplifted” scores in analysis Essentially, WP applicants might get a boost that effectively lowers their needed UCAT by ~30–60 points in final scoring.

SJT: Not used at all for A100. A Band 4 won’t disqualify you pre-interview. It might be glanced at during interview or offer decisions, but officially they say it’s not considered for entry.

Interview: Glasgow’s interviews are MMI format. They have historically done both in-person and online MMIs. They usually interview around 700–800 applicants. The “Application Statistics” indicate, for example, for 2024 RUK: 275 applied, 218 interviewed, 128 offers, with 40-50 places available to RUK – an exceptionally high interview rate but note few RUK apply (because of small RUK quota). International: 533 applied for 22 places, 164 interviewed, 95 offers. So post-interview offer rates were about 59% for RUK and also ~58% for international in that cycle. Glasgow tends to give more offers than places (some insurance/firm and drop-offs).

One unique aspect: Glasgow uses Assessment Day style including group tasks possibly. But mostly standard MMI. After interview, they consider interview score primarily for offers. Pre-interview UCAT isn’t reconsidered except if there’s a tie.

Places: Glasgow’s intake is ~290 Home (Scottish), ~20 RUK, 22 international for A100. This strict quota (mandated by Scot Gov) means RUK applicants face steep odds – only ~20 get in from RUK out of maybe ~200-300 RUK applicants. That’s why RUK cut-offs can be high some years and why average invited UCAT for RUK can appear high. Scottish applicants have most seats; they still need good UCAT but many more are taken. If you are RUK with a decent UCAT (say 2600+) and strong academics, you could be in that ~20 selection, but note the heavy competition.

✅ Hull York Medical School (HYMS)

Summary: HYMS uses a points system that scores UCAT out of 40 points and academics (primarily GCSEs) out of 30 points, plus up to 15 points for SJT band They do not have a simple UCAT cut-off; instead, your total score (out of 85) is used to rank for interviews. However, they do require a minimum SJT of Band 1–3 (Band 4 not considered)t. In essence, a high UCAT can compensate for weaker academics and vice versa. Historically, HYMS interview thresholds for total score have translated roughly to needing a UCAT around the top 40-50% if academics are strong. For example, a candidate with all A*s at GCSE could get an interview with a slightly below-average UCAT, whereas someone with average GCSEs would need an above-average UCAT. SJT is actually given significant weight – 15 out of 85 points, which is unique in that a Band 1 is a big boost.

Scoring Breakdown:

• UCAT: HYMS converts your UCAT decile among applicants to a 0–40 score. They specifically double weight Verbal Reasoning (as many medicine programs value VR) – in older schemes, VR contributed as much as the other three subtests combined in their scoring. For example, previously they’d assign points for each subtest and double VR. Exact scoring for 2026 may change due to UCAT format change, but the idea stands: UCAT = 40 points possible.

• Academics: They score up to 30 points for academics. This usually means GCSEs – typically your top 6–8 GCSEs with 8/9 = 4 points, etc., summing to 30. (If you have A-levels achieved or are a graduate, there are different scoring tables, but most school-leavers get scored on GCSEs.)

• SJT: Band 1 = 15 points, Band 2 ~10 points, Band 3 ~5 points, Band 4 = 0 (and Band 4 is an outright reject).

With 85 as a perfect score, cut-offs for interview might be around e.g. 50-60 points. Let’s illustrate: If you had average GCSEs (say 20/30) and UCAT around 70th percentile (maybe ~28/40), and SJT Band 2 (10/15), your total ~58/85 might suffice for interview in many years. Conversely, someone with stellar GCSEs 30/30 and UCAT only 40th percentile (~16/40) and Band 1 (15) gets ~61, likely also enough.

UCAT Perspective: Historically, HYMS has been friendlier to mid-tier UCATs. FOI data for 2024 entry indicated the minimum UCAT interviewed was ~2190. That presumably was someone with very strong academics and Band 1 SJT. We’d estimate a UCAT around the 5th decile (2500s) plus good grades would usually meet threshold. The Medic Portal notes “a low score does not disqualify; a high score is advantageous” for HYMS So strategy: if your UCAT is average but you have great GCSEs and Band 1–2 SJT, HYMS is a good choice.

SJT Emphasis: Uniquely, HYMS values SJT enough to allocate up to 15 points (~18% of total). This can make a big difference. A Band 1 applicant gets full 15 points; Band 2 gets 10 (losing 5 points); Band 3 gets 5 (losing 10 points). Those points could be equivalent to hundreds of UCAT points. So being Band 1 or 2 significantly boosts your ranking at HYMS. Band 4 is not considered at all (application rejected).

Academics/Contextual: Standard offer is AAA (including Bio and Chem). GCSEs – at least 6/B in English Lang and Maths. Contextual applicants (meeting certain criteria like attending lower-performing schools) may get a few points added or lower offer. HYMS does allow an alternative offer (like AAB + EPQ) for some. Graduates are scored differently (they look at degree class instead of GCSE, etc.) and need a 1st or 2:1.

Interview: HYMS uses MMI. They typically interview quite a lot (since they score and rank everyone). Their interview to offer rate is moderate (~50%). Post-interview, HYMS might also consider SJT (some schools include SJT in final scoring as well, HYMS historically might have included it in both pre and post). Once interviews are done, offers are based largely on interview scores (plus possibly SJT carryover).

Places: HYMS has about 120-130 places in total. Roughly 105 Home, 15-25 International. It’s a joint school between University of Hull and University of York – students can be placed at either campus in pre-clinical years. They strive for geographic diversity too. If you have a Very High UCAT (top 10%), note that HYMS would still give you full UCAT points but you might choose even more competitive schools; HYMS tends to be a strategic pick for those balancing good academics and decent UCAT.

✅ Imperial College London

Summary: Imperial traditionally used BMAT, but starting with 2025–26 admissions cycle, Imperial requires the UCAT. Being new to UCAT, Imperial has not published formal cut-offs. However, early reports from 2025 entry suggest Imperial set a very high UCAT threshold (~3020) for interviews (non-contextual) Imperial is extremely competitive; they have ~345 places (mostly home) and receive thousands of applications. It’s likely they will use UCAT in a heavy-handed way (possibly similar to Bristol): meeting minimum academic requirements then ranking by UCAT. They also consider academics strongly (Imperial’s typical offer is A*AA and most entrants have stellar grades). SJT: Imperial hasn’t stated policy yet, but likely they won’t give much weight to SJT in shortlisting beyond maybe excluding Band 4 (which many schools do).

How Imperial Might Use UCAT: According to an FOI, for 2025 entry (first UCAT cycle), “UCAT cut off for Imperial was 3020”. That implies they only interviewed candidates above 3020 (which is top ~10%). Contextual applicants had a lower threshold (~2830). If true, that is an extremely high bar – comparable to or exceeding Bristol. This likely reflects that Imperial received a very strong cohort of applicants (many ex-BMAT applicants with high UCATs) and limited interview slots.

Imperial’s admissions website mentions they will use UCAT as part of the process from 2026 entry onward, and it doesn’t seem they’ll score things like personal statement (Imperial historically valued BMAT heavily and did not score PS for shortlisting). So, anticipate UCAT ranking and academic cut-offs will be the main filter.

Academic Requirements: Minimum AAA* at A-level (Chemistry and Biology required). Imperial also looks for good GCSEs (no formal scoring, but successful candidates usually have mostly 8/9s). If many applicants exceed the minimum, they might also consider things like number of As at GCSE as a second-order criterion (as was done in some BMAT tie-breaks).

Contextual Consideration: Imperial is part of the UCAT consortium’s contextual schemes now, so likely they will apply a contextual “overlay” – e.g., reduced grade offer or a slight relaxation in UCAT threshold for those flagged. The rumored 2830 cutoff might have been for contextual, as above.

SJT: Imperial hasn’t explicitly said, but many top schools either ignore SJT in initial filter or use it as a tiebreaker post-interview. We do know they will not consider Band 4 (as virtually all avoid Band 4). We’ll assume Band 1–3 are fine, and perhaps SJT could come into play when deciding borderline cases for offers.

Interview: Imperial uses panel interviews (often 3 station panel including a science question) historically, or sometimes MMI-style stations. They normally interview around 600-700 applicants for ~345 places. With UCAT in play, likely those interviews will mostly consist of high-UCAT individuals. Once at interview, offers are based on interview performance (in the BMAT days, Imperial used BMAT + interview combined to decide offers, but now it might be just interview plus maybe UCAT in a small way). The early word from current applicants suggests Imperial might heavily weight interview now that BMAT is gone.

Places: Imperial’s intake ~345 Home and 24 International (as per 2024 data). They had an additional ~5-10 places from government uplift in some years. Imperial’s international quota is small, so international UCAT cut-off might be even higher than home (for 2025 reportedly ~3060). Home applicants around 3000+. In short, treat Imperial like one of the most selective UCAT schools now.

Advice: If you have a UCAT in the top decile and strong academics, Imperial is a target. If your UCAT is below ~90th percentile, Imperial might be risky unless contextual.

✅ Keele University

Summary: Keele historically put less emphasis on UCAT by using a unique Roles & Responsibilities (R&R) form to select candidates. However, for 2024 entry onward, Keele changed its process: the R&R form was dropped and now they assess a combination of UCAT and Personal Statement for shortlisting. Keele does not have a strict UCAT cut-off aside from excluding very low scores: they have said a total UCAT below 1720 or SJT Band 4 will not be considered. After that, Keele uses UCAT deciles for part of a score and also reads the personal statement against a criteria (effectively replacing the old R&R form). In 2022, Keele’s average UCAT of interviewees was ~2630, indicating they often accept mid-tier UCATs especially if the rest of the application is strong. SJT: Band 4 = rejection; Bands 1–3 are accepted (Keele in the past didn’t heavily weigh SJT beyond that).

Shortlisting Process (2024 onwards): Keele now gives a score out of 100 (likely) where:

• UCAT decile ranking contributes about one-third (they mentioned UCAT ~33% weight).

• Academics form some portion (though Keele doesn’t heavily differentiate academics beyond requiring minimum A-levels; they might award a point or two for higher achieved grades).

• Personal Statement is actually scored by assessors against a “person specification” (max 15 points). They look for evidence of commitment, empathy, teamworking, etc. in the PS.

• Contextual factors: likely a point or two for attending a local/regional school or WP flags (Keele might give a point for being in Keele region school).

We don’t have the exact formula (Keele hasn’t fully published it), but an example: UCAT is scored 0–? points (they used to do 0–4 for each decile perhaps), PS 0–15, academics (GCSE/A-level profile) maybe 0–? points. Bottom two UCAT deciles are basically out (since <1720 not considered). They also explicitly value a “good personal statement” as critical.

UCAT Data: Historically, Keele didn’t rely on UCAT except as a threshold; hence past cut-offs were low: in 2022 and prior, any UCAT above ~1800 could be considered if R&R was great. Now with R&R gone, UCAT matters a bit more. Still, Keele states they don’t automatically shortlist just by highest UCAT – they want well-rounded candidates. So a moderate UCAT (e.g. 2400-2600) with an excellent PS could earn an interview. For 2023 entry, some sources say Keele interviewed candidates with UCAT mid-2500s especially if strong background. Indeed, Keele’s reputation is that strong volunteering and caring experience (now evidenced in PS) can compensate for a lower UCAT.

SJT: They haven’t indicated giving extra points for Band 1/2, but SJT might be used as a tiebreak or part of interview scoring. Certainly, Band 4 is rejected.

Academics: Keele requires A-level AAA including Chemistry or Biology, plus another science or maths. They don’t score GCSEs; the only academic scoring mention is if a student already has achieved A-levels, possibly more points. Welsh students’ AS results are considered, etc., but generally beyond minimum, academics are not a big differentiator at Keele (most applicants meet AAA predictions).

Contextual and Local: Keele is known to favor applicants with relevant healthcare experience and those from the local area or WP backgrounds. They used to give interview guarantees for some WP linked schemes. It’s likely they still tilt in favor of students from Stoke/Staffordshire etc. (maybe in giving a point for schooling in Keele region).

Interview: Keele uses panel interviews (often 2 interviewers) or structured panels. They assess motivation, communication, ethical scenarios, etc. In previous years, interview selection heavily depended on the R&R form. Now it will depend on PS and UCAT. So expect interviewees to have proven dedication (volunteering, caregiving experiences). Keele’s offer rate post-interview is variable, but often ~50%. They usually interview around 400 for ~150 places.

Places: Keele has about 140-150 Home places and 10-15 International places. They also have a separate route (A104 Health Foundation Year) for some WP students – those would have reduced grades and likely separate shortlisting.

In summary, Keele is ideal for applicants with a decent UCAT but outstanding personal statement showcasing extensive caring roles or relevant work experience. A highly strategic move: mention all caregiving/volunteering in your PS and align with Keele’s values – that’s how you stand out at Keele.

✅ Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS)

Summary: KMMS (opened 2020) takes a contextual holistic approach. They do have a UCAT threshold each year (to ensure a baseline aptitude), but it’s relatively low; for 2024 entry the cut-off was 2470 (44th percentile) with SJT Band 3 or above required. Once past that, KMMS ranks applicants by a weighted score combining UCAT and contextualized academic performance. They do not use predicted A-levels in scoring – instead, they contextualiSe your achieved GCSEs against your school’s performance and your A-level predicted just needs to meet minimum (though offer is AAA). Essentially, KMMS tries to identify students who perform strongly relative to their educational background. SJT: Band 4 is not accepted (must have Band 1–3)t but beyond that, SJT doesn’t play a large role except possibly in tie-breaks.

UCAT Cut-offs: KMMS has published that for 2022 entry they required UCAT ≥2470 (44th percentile) and SJT ≤ Band 3. For 2023 entry, the lowest UCAT interviewed was also 2470 (for both Home and International). Earlier (2021, 2020) they had lower thresholds (2160-2200) for some, but as the school matured, they standardized around mid-2400s. So while they don’t need stellar UCATs, you must beat roughly the bottom third of test takers.

Holistic Scoring: KMMS does something unusual – they don’t heavily weight raw grades but rather “contextualize” them. For example, an applicant with average GCSEs from a low-performing school might be scored similarly to one with top GCSEs from an elite school. They give an academic score (36 points) based on GCSEs achieved relative to opportunity, and a UCAT score (9 points) for the total UCAT. According to an FOI, for 2026 entry they’ve adjusted to a total of 45 points (36 academic + 9 UCAT). That means UCAT is 20% of shortlisting score, academics 80%, roughly. So academic performance (contextualised) dominates, but UCAT still matters. In practice: A high UCAT won’t guarantee an interview if your academics were poor for your context, and a lower UCAT can be offset by very strong academics.

Contextual Data: KMMS was founded to widen participation in Kent and Medway. They therefore give additional consideration to “Plus Flag” applicants (similar concept to Edinburgh’s, e.g. care leavers, those with significant disadvantages). They also do not use predicted A-levels in selection (so AAA vs AAB predicted doesn’t matter as long as you meet minimum BBB predicted). This reduces teacher-prediction bias. They rely on actual achieved qualifications (GCSEs) and UCAT to decide interviews.

SJT: Must be Band 1–3. They haven’t said if Band 1 gets any extra favor in selection – likely not explicitly, but might be considered qualitatively later.

Interview: KMMS uses multiple mini-interviews. They often interview a high proportion of applicants, especially locally. For 2023, they invited a little over 400 applicants (Home and international). They give offers based on interview performance primarily. Their offer rate post-interview is around 50%. Interestingly, they list “Post-interview offer % ~51%”, meaning about half of those interviewed got offers.

Places: KMMS has 100 Home places and up to 8-10 International places (approx). They heavily favor local/regional applicants; their mission is to produce doctors for Kent/Medway. So if you are from that area or have WP flags, your chances improve. They also have some partnership with Canterbury Christ Church and University of Kent, thus may aim for geographic diversity within Kent too.

Foundation & WP: They may consider slightly lower UCAT for WP (though 2470 is already not high). In 2022, lowest UCAT offer for Home was 2470. They treat Home and International similarly for cut-off, though in one year an international got in with 2480 UCAT.

In summary, KMMS is good for strong GCSE performers (or those who outperformed their school average) with at least a mid-range UCAT. If you have a low UCAT but also only average academics relative to peers, it’s risky. If you have a low UCAT but outstanding academics from a poor-performing school, KMMS could still be a solid choice.

✅ King’s College London (KCL)

Summary: KCL takes a holistic but UCAT-heavy approach. All applicants who meet minimum academics are given a ranked score by an algorithm combining: UCAT (major component, often averaged across subtests), SJT, GCSEs, and contextual flags. KCL doesn’t publish a fixed UCAT cut-off; however, given their popularity, the effective UCAT threshold is high. For 2023 entry, the lowest UCAT invited for interview was 2520 for Home (non-WP). Contextual and WP applicants had slightly lower thresholds (e.g., ~2380). KCL generally expects UCAT in top ~30% (the 2023 cutoff ~2520 corresponds ~60th percentile). KCL also values SJT: Band 1 gets full 10 points, Band 2 gets 5, Band 3/4 get 0 in their ranking scheme. SJT Band 4 is effectively not considered (zero points and likely filtered out).

Selection Scoring: King’s historically scored applicants out of 170:

• UCAT was scored out of 100 (they take your UCAT percentile among King’s applicants and multiply by 100). Essentially, your UCAT decile relative to the KCL pool is critical. A higher UCAT can make up for lesser academics.

• GCSEs out of 40 (they give points for number of A*/8/9: e.g., 8+ A* = 40, 7 A* = 30, etc., adjusted for school performance).

• SJT out of 10 (Band 1 = 10, Band 2 = 5, Band 3/4 = 0).

• Contextual out of 20 (if you’re WP, they add up to 20 points).

All these add to 170. They rank applicants by this score and invite top ones to interview until slots fill.

Implications: If you had, say, all 9s at GCSE from a solid school (40 points) and a UCAT at the 80th percentile (let’s say ~2800, which might be ~85/100 points) and Band 1 SJT (10) with no WP (0), your score ~135. Another applicant with fewer As (say 5 A ~20 points, but UCAT 99th percentile ~100 points, Band 1 = 10, WP 0) gets ~130 – pretty close. KCL thus can favor either stellar academics or stellar UCAT or a mix. But typically, those who get interviews have both strong academics and high UCAT.

2023 Data: They stated lowest UCAT interviewed (Home non-WP) was 2520. For WP it was ~2360, for international ~2710 (since international often need higher). The average UCAT of interviewed Home was ~2997 – very high, implying many KCL interviewees had UCAT in the top 10%. KCL gets many high achievers, so competition is fierce.

Academics: AAA* at A-level required (King’s often expects many A at GCSE too). They do not automatically reject for lower GCSE count, but fewer As will lower your score unless contextual factors raise it. They also adjust GCSE scores by school performance (so an applicant from a low-performing school with 5 A might score similarly to one from a top school with 8 A*). For international qualifications, they try to convert equivalently.

Contextual: King’s has a program (King’s Advance, etc.) – if you’re eligible, you get up to 20 extra points in ranking which is significant (equivalent to boosting UCAT by ~20 percentile points or adding a few GCSE A*s). They also may give lower offers to WP. So WP applicants with moderately lower UCAT/GCS E can still get in.

SJT: Band 4 will put you at a serious disadvantage (zero points out of 10). King’s does not explicitly say they refuse Band 4, but realistically, given their volume, a Band 4 applicant would rank much lower and likely not be interviewed. Band 1 clearly helps (full 10 points, which can be decisive).

Interview: King’s uses panel-style interviews or traditional panel (recently they’ve used MMIs as well due to COVID changes). They interview a lot of people (~1100 interviews for ~400 offers). The post-interview offer rate is about ~35-40%. King’s does factor your SJT again in final decision: they often add SJT points to interview score to rank for offers(as noted in Barts which likely similar across King’s admissions policy). So doing well in SJT and interview is crucial for an offer.

Places: King’s has one of the largest intakes: 400+ Home places and around 25 International. They have both standard 5-year and an extended medical degree program (EMDP) for WP which is 6-year (with lower grades AAB, but same UCAT process). The stat above “3433 applications, 1115 interviews”indicates how selective pre-interview is (~1 in 3 got an interview). To be one of those, you need a high combined score as described.

✅ Lancaster University

Summary: Lancaster used to require BMAT, but starting 2025 entry they too switched to UCAT. Data is scarce as the first UCAT cycle is underway. Lancaster likely will adopt a similar approach to other medium-size med schools: ensure minimum academic requirements then rank by UCAT (possibly with some weighting on academics or personal statement, as they historically considered the personal statement heavily). As of now, Lancaster hasn’t published cut-offs. However, given Lancaster’s competitiveness is similar to Liverpool/Leeds, one can expect the UCAT needed to be around or slightly below average. For context, when Lancaster used BMAT, their cut-offs were moderate. Now with UCAT, they might benchmark against partner school Liverpool or others. SJT: Lancaster hasn’t disclosed, but they probably will accept Band 1-3 and caution Band 4.

What to Expect: Lancaster might use a scoring system akin to Liverpool’s old one or Cardiff’s style. Possibly they’ll score UCAT out of a certain number of points and add academic points. Or they could rank purely by UCAT for shortlisting. Without official info, we surmise:

• They value academic performance: typical offer AAB (slightly lower than others) or AAA? Actually, Lancaster’s typical offer was AAB in past, which indicates they might not get as oversubscribed as say Bristol.

• If so, their UCAT threshold might not be extremely high; maybe around the national average.

Lancaster did note on their site (for 2025 entry) that they will consider “whole application” including personal statement, reference, academics, and UCAT in shortlisting (which was their BMAT-era practice too). So perhaps no strict cut-off.

Interim Cycle Info: The Medic Portal said Lancaster is using UCAT from 2025 and no data yet. BluePeanut’s text had no specific numbers either, just confirming the switch. So at present:

• If you have a decent UCAT (say 2500+) and good academics, you likely have a shot at Lancaster.

• Personal statement should be strong too, as they might read it (Lancaster historically read personal statements and scored them unlike many schools).

Academic Requirements: Lancaster asks for AAA (including Chem and one of Bio/Maths/Phys) or AAB with EPQ (they sometimes give an alternative offer if you have an EPQ). They’ll likely screen out those who don’t meet minimum like GCSE 6/B in core subjects.

Contextual: Lancaster is not known for heavy contextual adjustments, but as part of widening access they might consider slightly lower offers for WP.

SJT: Likely they will not favor Band 4. Perhaps they’ll use SJT as part of interview scoring or tie-break.

Interview: Lancaster uses Multiple Mini Interviews. Historically, they invited around 3 applicants per place when using BMAT. We might anticipate ~400 interviews for ~135 places. They often include an online group task as part of selection as well.

Places: Lancaster has about 130 Home places and 5-10 International places. It’s one of the smaller schools, though it has grown since splitting from Liverpool’s program. Being a smaller, more rural school, it may attract fewer applicants than London schools, which could moderate the UCAT required.

In summary, Lancaster’s advice: focus on a well-rounded application – ensure your personal statement reflects commitment to medicine and teamwork, and aim for at least a median UCAT. Keep an eye out for any 2025 cycle feedback for more precise numbers.

✅ University of Leeds

Summary: Leeds, a former BMAT school, adopted the UCAT from 2024 entry. Leeds uses a points-based system for shortlisting: they score GCSEs, UCAT, and other factors to rank applicants. For 2025 entry, Leeds stated their UCAT “cut-off” score for interview was 2570 (Home non-WP) and 2450 (WP). This suggests they converted UCAT to points and set a threshold. Indeed, Leeds said “the UCAT Cut off Score for 2025 entry was 2570”. Thus, applicants needed at least around 2570 (which is about the 60th percentile) if not contextual. Leeds still heavily weighs academics – they give points for GCSEs (top 9 subjects) and possibly for A-level predictions. No applicant is guaranteed by scores alone (they combine everything), but a high academic score can compensate for a slightly lower UCAT and vice versa. SJT: Not much mentioned; likely Band 4 is not accepted, but Bands 1–3 are okay and SJT isn’t explicitly scored for shortlisting.

Scoring System: Under their old BMAT scoring, Leeds had 27 points for academics, 5 for contextual, etc. With UCAT:

• They likely score top 8 or 9 GCSEs (like Cardiff’s method) out of 27 points. Indeed, in 2024 they described GCSE scoring out of 27.

• They probably then converted UCAT to a similar scale or ranking. For 2025, lowest UCAT invited 2570 (non-WP) suggests they possibly sorted by a combined score and 2570 was the cutoff of the last invited.

• They explicitly said they assess academics (achieved/predicted) and UCAT together, no predetermined cut-off, but retrospectively 2570 was the lowest interviewed.

• Contextual applicants had a lower UCAT threshold (2450), presumably due to extra points given to contextual flags.

Leeds’ data:
For 2024 entry, the lowest UCAT interviewed was 2610 (non-WP) and 2470 (WP). For 2025, it dropped slightly to 2570/2450. International threshold ~2750. So Leeds demands around 2600 UCAT for most, but will dip to mid-2400s for those with context flags.

Academics: Standard offer A*AA (including Chemistry plus Bio/Phys/Maths). GCSE: Leeds expects strong GCSEs; historically they required mostly A/As. Now they score them: e.g., 8/9 = 3 points, 7 = 2, etc. If you have all 9s (27/27), that gives a huge boost. Many Leeds interviewees likely have 7+ A*/9 at GCSE.

Contextual: Leeds is generous with contextual points, hence WP could get in with 2450 UCAT, whereas non-WP needed 2570. They also may have slightly lower A-level offer for Access to Leeds students (e.g., AAB).

SJT: Not specifically addressed; likely they don’t use it for shortlisting except that Band 4 might disqualify (most schools avoid Band 4). We’ll assume Leeds won’t count SJT in interview selection, focusing on cognitive UCAT.

Interview: Leeds uses MMI. They will calculate a post-interview score (usually just interview performance). For 2024, about 32 international were interviewed for 12 offers, and for home they had ~339 interviews for maybe ~280 offers (they gave more offers than seats). Offer rate was quite high for home (83% according to given stats in 2024 – 265 offers out of 319 interviews) – which suggests by the time of interview, they’ve already filtered strongly by academics/UCAT. So if you get an interview at Leeds, chances are excellent (80%+) you’ll get an offer as long as you don’t bomb the MMI.

Places: Leeds has ~278 Home places and ~18 International. They also have a small number of transfers from their prelim year or dentistry, etc. Leeds historically had one of the largest applicant pools (because many applied with both BMAT and also it’s a Russell Group popular uni). Now with UCAT, competition remains high but they at least transparently show cut-offs.

✅ University of Leicester

Summary: Leicester employs a scoring system out of 64 to shortlist for interviews, giving equal weight (50:50) to academic achievement and UCAT. They explicitly state the bottom two UCAT deciles are normally not considered (so essentially UCAT must be above ~2420 on old scale). For 2024 entry, Leicester’s UCAT cut-off for interview was 2300 for Home applicantst – notably low, because those candidates likely had full academic points. (It was 2510 the year before.) International threshold was 2550 in 2024. Leicester’s scoring formula: 32 points from academics (GCSE or achieved A-level) and 32 from UCAT decile rankingt. They then set an interview cutoff score (in 2024 it was 52.5/64 for school-leavers). SJT: Band 4 = rejection (they won’t consider Band 4). Bands 1–3 aren’t used in shortlisting, but Leicester uses SJT in offer decisions (giving a slight edge to better bands post-interview).

Scoring Details: Leicester scores your best 8 GCSEs (or equivalent) – 8 Grade 9s = 32 points, descending from there. If you have achieved A-levels, they score those (e.g., A*AA = 32, AAA = 30, etc.). UCAT is scored by national deciles: top decile ~32, next ~30, etc., down to bottom decile ~16 (they said they’ll consider bottom decile case-by-case but usually exclude). They then sum academic + UCAT. For example, an applicant with all 8s/9s and UCAT in 5th decile (~25 points) gets ~57 points.

2024 cycle numbers: The interview cut-off score for school-leavers was 52.5 out of 64. Depending on deciles that year, that could be like GCSE score 28 + UCAT score 24. In real terms, one way to get ~52.5: maybe 6 A* (24 points) + UCAT ~28 points (~80th percentile, UCAT ~2700). Or someone with full 32 academic could have as low as ~20 UCAT points (maybe UCAT ~2400) to reach ~52. This explains how 2300 UCAT (very low) got an interview – that person likely had 32 academic + 20 UCAT = 52, just about threshold. So Leicester truly allows very low UCAT if you have top academics.

For 2023 entry, lowest interviewed UCAT was 2510 (home). In 2024 it dropped to 2300 (perhaps a fluke of decile shifts and many high academic scorers). Average UCAT of interviewed home was ~2745.

Contextual: Leicester gives a guaranteed interview to those who meet certain WP criteria and have a slightly lower score threshold. They also allow “mitigating circumstances” to boost borderline applications. But primarily, their scoring is objective. If you’re contextual, you might have fewer GCSEs considered or a lower cut-off (they might effectively raise your score or lower threshold).

SJT: They do not consider SJT for shortlisting. However, post-interview, Leicester adds SJT points to the interview score: Band 1 = +3, Band 2 = +2, Band 3 = +1, Band 4 = 0. Also, if you’re borderline at selection stage, Band 4 would likely count against you (they say they “will not normally consider Band 4” which implies it’s essentially a rejection in practice).

Interview: Leicester uses traditional panel or semi-structured interviews (recently MMIs). They invite about 1000 candidates and make roughly 850 offers to fill ~400 places (they “over-offer”). For example, in 2024, 2745 applications led to ~757 interviews, 531 offers, for 374 entrants. Post-interview scoring: interview score (out of e.g. 120) plus SJT points decide ranking. Historically, Leicester’s offer rate post-interview is around 70%. That means if you get an interview, your chances are quite good as long as you perform decently and aren’t Band 3/4.

Places: Leicester has about 290 Home places and 20-30 International. They also have a separate Foundation Year (A199) ~25 places for WP, which has its own scoring (similar but separate threshold). Data provided includes grads (they have a slightly different threshold scoring table). For 2024, lowest interviewed grads had UCAT 2430 if first-class, etc. But for school leavers the formula above applies.

In sum, Leicester is great if you have strong academics (especially GCSEs) even if your UCAT is average or slightly below. They explicitly aim to not miss out on academically gifted students due to UCAT. If your UCAT is very low (bottom 20%), Leicester might still consider you only if you literally max academic points and possibly have mitigating circumstances. Otherwise, aim for UCAT above ~2420 (since bottom 2 deciles are usually cut off). Conversely, if your academics are weaker (few top GCSEs), you’ll need a higher UCAT to compensate.

✅ University of Liverpool

Summary: Liverpool uses a threshold UCAT cut-off approach combined with academic screening. They set a minimum UCAT each year for interview selection, which historically has been around the national average or slightly below. For 2024 entry, the UCAT cut-off was 2300 for non-contextual Home and 2310 for contextual. (It appears practically identical, meaning essentially 2300 for all Home). International cut-off was higher (~2810). Liverpool doesn’t score GCSEs or A-levels beyond checking minimum requirements; instead, once you meet the academic criteria (AAA etc.), you must meet or exceed the UCAT cut-off to get an interview. They also incorporate SJT in decision-making: Band 4 is not accepted, and they used SJT in tie-breaks and perhaps post-interview scoring. SJT: Band 4 = reject; Bands 1–3 are fine, though not formally scored pre-interview.

UCAT Cut-Offs: Liverpool publishes these after each cycle. For 2023 entry, cut-offs were similar (~2280-2400 range based on WP). In 2024, clearly:

• 2300 was lowest for Home (which is around 20th percentile – quite low).

• This suggests Liverpool aimed to interview a broad range (and indeed they interviewed over 1800 applicants in 2024).

• Contextual got basically no advantage (2310 vs 2300 is negligible difference; perhaps they initially targeted a slightly higher threshold for WP but ended up equalizing).

• International was high at 2810 – typical, since few seats for many international applicants.

Liverpool is known not to assign points to GCSEs (they used to, but stopped some years ago). So someone with AAA predictions and UCAT 2350 would be interviewed in 2024 scenario, regardless of whether they had 10 A*s or 10 Bs at GCSE, as long as minimum C in English and Maths was met. They do, however, rank graduates and undergraduates separately with different cut-offs sometimes. Graduates need 2:1 and GAMSAT (or UCAT now if applying to undergrad? Actually, Liverpool’s graduate program might use GAMSAT separate; not relevant to A100).

Academics: Minimum AAA including Chemistry plus Biology/Physics/Maths. GCSE minimum C/4 in English, Maths, Science. They don’t score beyond that – which means someone just scraping these with AAA predicted has the same chance as someone with far higher grades, so long as UCAT is above cut-off. Therefore, Liverpool is attractive to candidates with decent but not stellar academics and a modest UCAT – as long as UCAT passes threshold, academics won’t further weigh you down.

Contextual: While not explicitly giving lower UCAT requirement in 2024 (only 10 points difference), in previous cycles they did have somewhat lower threshold for WP. Also, “Liverpool Scholars” or those in certain outreach might get automatic interviews. They do factor contextual flags lightly in borderline cases and maybe give lower offers (ABB) to some WP students after interview.

SJT: Liverpool didn’t use SJT in shortlisting (except excluding Band 4). But notably, in 2023 they changed to incorporate SJT in deciding offers alongside interview performance. For example, a Band 1 might give you an edge after interviews. Indeed, they mention looking at SJT with interview scores when ranking for offers. So try for Band 1–2 for an advantage.

Interview: Liverpool invites a lot of candidates: e.g., 1867 interviews for 391 offers in 2024. That’s an interview-to-offer rate of only ~21%. So getting an interview is relatively easier (due to low UCAT cut-off), but converting it to an offer is competitive because many are interviewed. Liverpool uses panel or MMI interviews (recently MMIs with ~7 stations). So once at interview, really focus on standing out. They explicitly note how many they interview and how many offers – 391 offers for 279 spaces (over-offering ~1.4x), meaning about 279/1867 ~ 15% of interviewees ultimately enrolled. Perform exceptionally in MMI to be in that top quarter or so who get offers.

Places: Liverpool has around 279 Home places and 30 International (approx). They also have a separate track for 20-ish Foundation Year students. They historically had one of the larger intakes (300+) before caps; now it’s trimmed to around 279 home.

Conclusion: Liverpool’s strategy is to cast a wide net with a low UCAT cut-off, then use the interview to pick the best. So if you’re confident in your interview skills but your UCAT is only average, Liverpool is a smart choice. For example, UCAT 2400 can get you in the door, then it’s up to you to nail the interview (and having Band 1–2 SJT helps in final ranking).

✅ University of Manchester

Summary: Manchester sets a UCAT threshold each year to invite to interview. Traditionally, they’ve aimed around the 70th percentile as a cutoff. For 2025 entry (new UCAT format), they anticipated a threshold around 1800–1900 out of 2700 (which is ~67-70th percentile) for interview, with SJT Band 1–2 requirement. Indeed, for 2025 they announced a required overall UCAT in top 3 deciles and SJT Band ≤2 to “likely be invited”. In 2024 (old scoring), the threshold was 2710. For 2023 it was 2640 for RUK (and lower for WP). Manchester also gives automatic interviews to certain groups (e.g., WP scholars) who meet a slightly lower UCAT (or just Band 1/2 requirement). SJT: They explicitly require Band 1 or 2 for standard applicants (Band 3 can be considered for WP, Band 4 is rejection).

UCAT Thresholds:

• 2024 entry: UCAT threshold 2710 (on 3600 scale) with Band 1–2 needed. This was high (~75th percentile).

• 2023 entry: threshold ~2640 (for RUK non-WP), which was about 70th percentile. WP threshold lower (~2500) as gleaned from MedicHut.

• 2025 entry: with exam changes, Manchester pegged ~1800-1900/2700 as expected threshold which is consistent with that percentile range.
  In short, Manchester likes top 30% UCAT scorers by default.

However, they do operate an ‘holistic route’ for some borderline cases: if an applicant has slightly below threshold UCAT but an otherwise strong application (maybe strong academics or WP flags), they might still consider them after initial cutoff to fill interview slots. But generally, if you miss the threshold by much, you won’t be interviewed.

Academics: AAA required (A*AA often achieved by entrants). Manchester doesn’t score GCSEs formally for interview selection (they used to long ago, but in recent years just ensure minimum B/6 in English Language and Maths). They primarily use UCAT for cut-off. If you meet the UCAT and Band criteria, you’re in the interview pile. They do have a holistic consideration of the personal statement and reference after the UCAT threshold – basically to confirm your commitment and that nothing concerning appears.

Contextual/WP: Manchester has the Manchester Access Program (MAP) and other contextual schemes. WP applicants may be given a bit of leeway: possibly invited with Band 3 SJT or a UCAT slightly below main cutoff, as they consider them under “holistic assessment”. Also, they often reduce the A-level offer to AAB for MAP students. For example, in some cycle they mentioned graduates or WP could be considered with Band 3 if they had high overall scores otherwise.

SJT: Must be Band 1 or 2 for standard applicants. Band 3 might be considered for flagged applicants. Band 4 is an automatic rejection, no matter how high the UCAT is (Manchester is clear on not accepting Band 4).

Interview: Manchester conducts many interviews (they have a big class). They use MMI style. Once at interview, they say all interviewed are scored on performance alone for offers. Historically, Manchester’s offer rate post-interview is fairly high (~50-60%). For 2024, FOI might show out of ~1000 interviewed they gave ~600 offers. They also consider SJT again at offer stage as a small component or tie-break.

Places: Manchester is one of the largest UK med schools: home intake ~330-350, international ~30-40. They also have a separate pre-med (foundation) course for ~30 WP students, and a small number of overseas dentist transfers. Because of this volume, they rely on UCAT to trim the applicant pool significantly. E.g., for 2024, with threshold 2710, they likely eliminated thousands of applicants below that in one swoop.

Special Note: Manchester in 2025 acknowledges the UCAT scoring change, so they’re cautious with threshold. They openly communicated their expected cut-off, which is helpful for applicants. They’ll adjust once actual deciles are out.

For a prospective applicant: if your UCAT is in the top third and SJT Band ≤2, Manchester is a strong option, especially if you want a big city uni with lots of placements. If your UCAT is below ~60th percentile or SJT Band 3/4, consider other choices unless you have special WP status.

✅ Newcastle University

Summary: Newcastle is known for focusing almost exclusively on UCAT for interview selection. They have a strict UCAT cut-off each year, which is usually very high (often top 20% of scores). For 2023 entry, Newcastle’s cut-off was 2820 for Home applicants, which is around the 90th percentile. For 2024 entry, due to UCAT distribution, it likely remained in high 2700s/2800s. Newcastle essentially ranks all applicants by UCAT and takes the top X until interview slots are filled. They do not formally score GCSEs or A-levels (beyond meeting AAA minimum). However, for 2024 they introduced some nuance like guaranteeing interviews to WP students above a certain lower threshold. SJT: Historically, Newcastle didn’t heavily use SJT in shortlisting; they would accept up to Band 3 (only Band 4 was rejected). Starting 2024, they indicated they wouldn’t consider Band 4, and SJT might only come into play at offer stage if needed.

UCAT Cut-Off Trend:

• 2022 entry: cut-off was 2850 for A100 (Home) – extremely high.

• 2023 entry: 2820 (Home), with WP applicants needing slightly lower (some sources suggest ~2710 for Partners program).

• 2024 entry: Not explicitly published yet, but student chatter indicates ~2780 (since deciles shifted a bit lower).

• International: often a tad lower as fewer int’l apply – ironically, FOI snippet suggests International threshold 2600 in 2023 (maybe because they have a fixed number and not all overseas applicants had super high scores).

• Partners (WP scheme): Newcastle’s Partners program candidates often have a lower UCAT requirement by about 70–80 points or so.

So if you’re a standard applicant, you typically need a UCAT around 85th-90th percentile for Newcastle. They love high UCAT scorers.

Academics: Required A-levels AAA (including Chem and/or Bio). GCSE requirements: A/7 in sciences, B/6 in Maths & Eng. But after that, they don’t score your grades. Nearly everyone who applies meets these, so UCAT does all the heavy lifting. For example, an applicant with straight 9s and AAA predicted but UCAT 2700 likely got rejected, whereas someone with minimum Bs at GCSE but UCAT 2900 got interviewed.

WP Consideration: Newcastle’s Partners (supported entry) applicants have a reduced UCAT threshold and a lower offer (typically ABB). For instance, for 2023 entry Partners threshold was reportedly around 2510 (somewhat conjecture). They also can accept SJT Band 3 for Partners (Band 4 still not allowed). So WP applicants do have a better chance.

SJT: Up to Band 3 accepted without issue, Band 4 = auto-rejection. Newcastle doesn’t use SJT for shortlisting beyond that. In final offer decisions, if two candidates perform equally at interview, they might use SJT as a tiebreak (Band 1 could be favored). But primary selection is by UCAT for interview and then interview score for offers.

Interview: Newcastle invites roughly 1000+ candidates for interview (given they have ~370 seats). They use MMI format (7 stations etc.). After interviews, offers are given purely based on interview score (they start fresh – UCAT isn’t counted in offer ranking, except possibly to differentiate ties). The interview-to-offer rate is moderately high ~50%. But note: because the invite pool is comprised of top UCAT scorers, often those candidates also interview decently well on average; still you must prepare well to be in the top half.

Places: Newcastle has about ~340 Home places (including some for their accelerated program) and 26 International. They also run a campus in Malaysia (NUMed) which has separate admissions.

Key advice: Only apply to Newcastle if you expect a UCAT in the top quintile. They are very numbers-driven at the shortlisting stage. If you have that stellar UCAT and want to maximize your chances, Newcastle is great because beyond UCAT they won’t trip you up with academic scoring or PS scrutiny. But borderline UCAT scorers should be cautious – every year many 2700-range applicants waste a choice on Newcastle not realizing cut-off is ~2800+.

✅ Norwich Medical School (University of East Anglia - UEA)

Summary: UEA (Norwich) takes a more holistic view but still relies on UCAT to rank applicants for interview. They do not set a public cut-off; instead, they say “a high UCAT is advantageous; a low score does not disqualify”. In practice, UEA assigns a score to UCAT (likely by deciles) and adds it to scores for academics. Historically, UEA’s minimum UCAT invited for interview has been around the mid-2000s. For 2024 entry, it was reported as 2190 (the lowest UCAT interviewed) which is quite low, meaning UEA did interview some with below-average UCAT who presumably had excellent academics or contextual flags. UEA scores SJT separately and actually uses it after interview (they incorporate SJT into final scoring). SJT: They require at least Band 3 (Band 4 usually rejected) and allocate up to 15 points for SJT in the post-interview ranking.

Selection Process:

• Stage 1: Academic screening – must meet minimum A-level (typically AAA including Biology/Sci and one other science) and GCSE requirements (at least 6/B in English, Maths, Science). UEA doesn’t heavily differentiate beyond that, though they might award slight extra for A* predictions.

• Stage 2: They give applicants a score out of 100: 40 from UCAT, 40 from academics, 20 from possibly other factors (like contextual or SJT? Actually SJT they use later).

  • TheMedicPortal indicates UEA scores UCAT out of 40 and GCSEs out of 30 (maybe 1 point per A* up to 8, plus up to 2 for A-level predictions?) and SJT 15 separately. Possibly like: UCAT deciles -> score, top 9 GCSEs -> score.

  • That matches: "scored out of 40 for UCAT, out of 30 for GCSEs, up to 15 for SJT". If that sums more than 75, maybe personal statement could be the rest (but likely not; they often state PS is not formally scored but read).

• They then rank by total score and invite the top group to interview.

UCAT influence: Because they cap UCAT at 40 points, someone with a modest UCAT can still rank well if they have full academic points. For example, an applicant with UCAT in 5th decile (~20/40) but 10 A*/9s at GCSE (30/30) gets 50 plus any SJT after interview. Another with UCAT top decile (40/40) but average GCSE (say 20/30) also has 60. So both could be interviewed. This explains why a UCAT as low as 2190 could get an interview: that person likely had near-max academic points.

Academics: UEA values academic strength: the majority of entrants have A*AA or A*A*A. They score your achieved/predicted grades and GCSE count of As. So high academic achievers with decent UCAT have a good shot. They do not ignore UCAT though – historically their average interviewee UCAT might be around 2500-2600, with some outliers lower or higher.

Contextual: UEA participates in contextual schemes (e.g., those from local region or low-performing schools might get an extra point or two). They also run a Medicine with Foundation Year for contextual applicants. But for standard A100, contextual advantage is subtle in scoring.

SJT: Band 4 is typically rejected (they said low score doesn’t disqualify except SJT Band 4 likely will). SJT is not used for shortlisting but at offer stage, they incorporate it. They have said SJT is “looked at after interview” – presumably they add points: Band 1 = full 15, Band 2 ~10, Band 3 ~5, Band 4 = 0. This can swing who gets an offer if interview scores are tied.

Interview: UEA uses MMI. They often have more interview slots relative to places (for 2023 they had ~580 interviews for ~190 offers). So about 1 in 3 interviewed gets an offer. They weigh interview performance heavily (which is common) but then add SJT points to it to rank for offers. So if you have Band 1, you might leapfrog someone with equal interview score but Band 3.

Places: UEA has around 156 Home places and 19 International (approx 175 total intake). They serve East Anglia largely, but no strong bias to locals in selection. They do have the aspiration to recruit locally but no evidence of separate criteria for locals beyond normal contextual flags.

Insight: UEA is a balanced choice – not as UCAT-heavy as Newcastle, not as purely academic as Cardiff. If you have strong grades and an okay UCAT (say 2300-2600), UEA is worth considering. If you have both strong UCAT and academics, UEA should be safe. If one is weak, the other needs to be strong to compensate.

✅ University of Oxford

Summary: Oxford, like Cambridge, has moved to UCAT for 2026 entry after BMAT’s discontinuation. Oxford will likely use a combination of UCAT and GCSE score to shortlist for interviews (reminiscent of how they used GCSE and BMAT before). No official cut-off exists yet, but expect that Oxford will demand very high UCAT scores (top deciles) given their applicant pool. However, Oxford interviews a large proportion of applicants (~2.5 applicants per place typically), so they will consider slightly lower UCAT if academics are stellar. For 2025 entry (first UCAT year), Oxford had no published threshold, but internal guidance suggests they needed top scores. SJT: Oxford confirmed they will not use SJT band in shortlisting or interviews for at least 2025 entry – and likely beyond. So Band 4 is not an automatic bar at application (though a poor SJT might reflect in interview performance indirectly).

Selection Approach: Historically, Oxford scored GCSEs heavily (they calculate a GCSE score relative to cohort) and BMAT provided another score. Now, presumably:

• They might calculate a GCSE percentage A* (8/9) metric for each applicant and a UCAT percentile.

• Shortlisting may involve an algorithm like: rank by combined UCAT+GCSE score. In the BMAT days, Oxford had an explicit formula: e.g., add GCSE points (A* count) to BMAT score to rank. It stands to reason something similar may happen: perhaps UCAT (normalised) + GCSE (normalised) yields a shortlist ranking.

Oxford also values context: they compare GCSE performance to school averages. So if you came from a lower-performing school, slightly fewer A*s might be needed.

UCAT Expectation: Given Oxford’s academic standard, likely the majority of shortlisted applicants will have UCAT in top ~20%. They might not call it a cut-off, but practically, if you have UCAT, say, below 80th percentile, your chances drop unless you have perfect academics. For BMAT, Oxford often shortlisted those in top ~30% BMAT if GCSEs were top-notch. Possibly for UCAT, similar or slightly stricter.

Academics: Oxford requires A*A*A at A-level (with A* in Chem or Math or Bio, depending on course). The average offer holder has 2-3 A* at A-level. GCSEs have historically been a big factor: the average successful candidate had 10+ A*s. Oxford will still lean on GCSEs because they believe it correlates with performance. So those with near-perfect GCSE profiles have a big advantage.

Contextual: Oxford’s algorithm has adjustments for applicants from less advantaged backgrounds (flagged applicants may get an interview even if slightly below the normal cutoff metrics).

SJT: For interview selection, Oxford explicitly is ignoring SJT They also ensure interviewers do not know your UCAT scores at all, focusing on academic and personal qualities at interview. SJT might be considered after interviews if they need an additional data point, but likely not.

Interview: Oxford interviews around 425-450 applicants for ~155 offers. Two interviews per shortlisted candidate at two different colleges typically. So about 3 applicants per place are interviewed. Because they interview a relatively larger fraction than schools like Imperial, if you make the UCAT/GPA cut, you have roughly a 1 in 3 chance at an offer based on interview performance. They then choose based on tutors’ scoring of interviews (which test scientific thinking, problem-solving, motivation, etc.). Pre-interview metrics (UCAT, GCSE) aren't formally used in final decisions aside from being proxies in borderline cases.

Places: Oxford has ~155 Home places and ~14 International (roughly 10% overseas). They typically invite about 2.8 candidates per place (so ~430 interviews, with some direct offers and some pool offers across colleges).

Summing up: Oxford demands excellence in both academics and now presumably UCAT. If you have 10 A*s at GCSE and a UCAT at 90th percentile, you will likely be in a strong position for shortlisting. If one of these is weaker, the other needs to be exceptional. And after that, you still must perform brilliantly in their rigorous academic interviews. It’s a high-risk, high-reward choice for top applicants.

✅ Plymouth University

Summary: Plymouth uses a clear UCAT cut-off each year alongside academic screening. They consider GCSEs and A-levels to ensure you meet minimum requirements, but do not rank by academics. The UCAT threshold has recently been on the lower side compared to many schools. For 2024 entry, Plymouth’s cut-offs were 2210 for Home and 2600 for International, and 2210 for WP as well. That’s roughly the 30th percentile for home – quite accessible. In 2023, Home cut-off was 2680 (which was unusually high that year), and prior years ~2400-2500. Plymouth seems to adjust based on applicant pool; 2024 saw it drop to 2210, possibly due to fewer high scorers applying. SJT: Plymouth historically hasn’t heavily weighed SJT in shortlisting (just requiring not Band 4 likely). They mostly care about the overall UCAT score.

Selection:

1. Academics: Minimum AAA at A-level (Chemistry required, Biology preferred). GCSE: 5 subjects at 7/A (including science, Maths, English). If you don’t have that, you’re out. But beyond that, they don’t score academic quality – just a yes/no check.

2. UCAT ranking: All who pass academics are ranked by UCAT. They take the top X to interview. Because Plymouth isn’t as oversubscribed as some, this cut-off often ends up around average or below average UCAT.

   • E.g., 2024: 2210 (very low, ~20-30th percentile).

   • 2023: 2680 (mid-high, ~70th percentile – likely that year had more applicants).

   • 2022: something like 2400 (estimated from trends).

   • They also have separate group for WP (or South West local?) with possibly a slightly different threshold; however, in 2024 they show WP had same cut-off 2210.

Given they explicitly listed 2210 for WP as well, perhaps they treat WP equally in shortlisting but might give lower offers or extra consideration if borderline.

WP and Local Applicants: Plymouth does aim to recruit from the South West. They might give slight preference (like interview more locals if similarly scoring). They also have a quota for their BCP (widening participation) route. In the data snippet, they mention East of England points etc., but that was ARU. For Plymouth specifically, an FOI shows they consider “holistic view if cut-off shape of curve etc.” – apparently, they stated cut-off depends on shape of UCAT score distribution in the applicant pool.

SJT: They haven’t explicitly said, but likely Band 4 is rejected. Band 1–3 all accepted for interview. For offers, they might use SJT as a minor factor or tie-break but no evidence of heavy use.

Interview: Plymouth invites roughly twice the number of offers. For example, 591 interviews, 281 offers for 2023 entry. So about 47% chance post-interview. They use a selection day MMI format focusing on typical attributes. They do consider UCAT again alongside interview performance for final offers (they mention “UCAT score is reviewed again alongside Selection Day performance to decide offers”). So if you just barely made the cut-off, you might need a stronger interview to secure an offer versus someone with a much higher UCAT might get benefit of doubt if interview was equal.

Places: Plymouth has around 120 Home places and up to 8-10 International. They historically had difficulty filling all international spots (hence int’l cut-off can vary widely, e.g., 2600 in 2024 which is higher than home because maybe many int’l with >2600 applied but in 2022 maybe it was similar to home).

Bottom Line: Plymouth is one of the more “UCAT friendly” schools for mid-range scorers in many cycles. If your UCAT is at or slightly below average (~2300-2500) and you meet academics, Plymouth is a good pick, as evidenced by their low 2024 cut-off. Just be aware the cut-off can fluctuate – one year it spiked to 2680. But overall, Plymouth tends to have a threshold well below top tier schools due to fewer applicants and their desire to fill seats. It’s a solid choice for someone with strong academics and a decent (not outstanding) UCAT.

✅ Queen’s University Belfast (QUB)

Summary: QUB uses a points system heavily weighted to GCSEs (up to 36 points) and moderately to UCAT (up to 9 points). They essentially rank applicants by the sum of GCSE score + UCAT score. Historically, this meant applicants with near-perfect GCSEs could get interviews with lower UCATs. QUB publishes the cut-off in points each year. For 2026 entry, they changed scoring to 45 total points (36 academic + 9 UCAT). In past cycles (out of 42), the cut-off was around 37-38 points for school leavers – equating to 8-9 A*s at GCSE plus a decent UCAT. QUB’s emphasis: 87.5% academics, 12.5% UCAT in scoring. So a “low” UCAT can be offset by excellent academics. SJT: QUB doesn’t consider SJT for shortlisting; they only consider it as a tiebreaker in final offers if needed. Band 4 is not explicitly banned, but since they care about total UCAT score primarily, band doesn’t factor except perhaps if scores are tied.

Scoring Breakdown:

• GCSEs: Best 9 GCSEs scored: A* (Grade 9) = 4 points, A (7/8) = 3 points, B (6) = 2 points. Max 36 points for 9 As. Note: In NI, they still consider A vs A etc. Typically, an applicant with 9A* = 36, 8A*+1A = 35, etc.

• UCAT: Scaled to 9 points. Previously, they used total UCAT/UCAT deciles to assign up to 6 points (when total was 42). Now it’s up to 9 points out of 45. Likely scheme: top decile ~9, 9th decile ~8, ... down to lowest decile ~0 or some minimum ~3 points if above their absolute cutoff ~.

• They require a minimum UCAT too: previously ~1880 was absolute min; now with new scoring maybe 1650 (as they mention plus-flag exemption).

Cut-off in recent years:
For 2023 entry, they reported cut-off score 38/42 for RUK (maybe lower for NI). That typically meant, e.g., 7A*+2A (34 points) and UCAT ~4 points (which might be ~2400) – total 38. Or 9A* (36) and UCAT 2 points (~2200).
For 2024, cut-off was unusual because of grading changes – one source says they initially had something like 37 or 38 points needed (maybe around same).
For 2025, they mention a big drop to 30/45 (due to teacher-assessed grade inflation normalizing?). Actually, snippet shows for 2025 entry, they said cut-off was “30 points” on new scale which is unclear because out of 45 total. Possibly a misinterpretation, as 30/45 seems low (maybe because they had fewer high GCSE with actual grades normalizing?).
Anyway, typically NI applicants have an advantage because many take a mix of GCSE and AS levels that score differently and QUB also reserved 2/3 of seats for NI/EU historically. RUK needed slightly higher points historically.

Contextual (“Plus Flags”): QUB gives slight adjustments: they mention if you’re a care leaver or refugee, you get 20 UCAT points reduction in VR and 60 uplift in total UCAT for scoring. But generally, aside from those extreme circumstances, scoring is same for all. They do permit a reduced threshold for WP “Route B” (the old system gave some guaranteed interview to top WP in each school) – but in general, points are king.

Band 4 SJT: While not explicitly stated, Band 4 likely wouldn’t kill your application because it doesn’t factor in points. But QUB might consider it in tie-breaks or may not consider band 4 for offers (some med schools say band 4 not considered at offer stage; QUB hasn’t said that though). Officially, SJT doesn’t enter their formula for interviews.

Interview: QUB selects for interview based purely on points. They invite a large number (maybe ~700 for ~300 places). They then give 25% weight to interview and 75% to pre-interview score for final ranking. Actually, reading the QUB admissions policy: after interviews, they still consider that initial score in final ranking 50%** (as with Edinburgh style). That means doing well academically/UCAT still matters for an offer. So if you squeaked in with minimum points, you’d need to smash the interview to get an offer over someone who came in with max points.

Places: QUB has ~236 NI/UK places and historically some ~30 for EU (pre-Brexit) which now likely converted to NI or RUK numbers, plus ~26 international. They heavily favor NI applicants (in practice >50% of places go to NI due to points advantage: NI students often have more A*s by taking more GCSEs).

Summary: QUB is great if you have lots of A* at GCSE but maybe a mid UCAT. For example, someone with 9 A* and UCAT 2400 will likely interview, whereas at many schools 2400 might not suffice. On the other hand, if you have fewer As, even a high UCAT might not save you: e.g., 3 A (12 points) + UCAT 9 (max) = 21, far from cut-off ~37-38 historically. So QUB is not for those who did mediocre at GCSE. But it’s a top choice for academically strong students even if UCAT is average.

Practical UCAT strategy for 2026 applicants

1. Know the new test format. Don’t rely on 2024 totals — the scale is different. Start with UCAT’s official guidance.

2. Shortlist sensibly. If your practice scores are around Manchester’s indicative 1800–1900, include at least one school that blends academics + UCAT (e.g., Birmingham, Leicester).

3. Watch for updates. Universities update policy pages across August–October. Re-check before you submit in October 2025 (for 2026 entry).

4. Look at historic transparency tables (e.g., Barts, Manchester) to see the range of scores that received interviews in the last cycle.

Final word

Applying to medicine requires a strategic understanding of each school’s selection criteria. We’ve outlined how each UK medical school uses UCAT scores for 2026 entry – from those with fixed high cut-offs to those taking a balanced or contextual approach. It’s crucial to align your application choices with your strengths (be it UCAT, academics, or experiences).

After completing the UCAT and submitting your application, remember that interviews ultimately determine the outcome. Most schools here use MMI interviews, which assess your communication, ethical reasoning, and problem-solving skills in scenarios. No matter how high your UCAT score, you must prepare thoroughly for interviews to secure an offer. Consider enrolling in our Medical School Interview Course and taking part in our MMI mock circuits for professional guidance. These can offer tailored practice and feedback to boost your confidence and performance.

Finally, always verify the latest details on each university’s official website when applying, as policies may change (especially with the new UCAT format). But with this comprehensive guide, you have a solid starting point to develop a smart application strategy for 2026 entry. Good luck!

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is a “good” UCAT score for 2026 entry?

In the new UCAT scoring system (maximum 2700), a “good” score generally hovers around >1800. This usually corresponds to roughly the 70th-80th percentile based on historical data. Top universities may expect even higher scores (e.g., 1900+). For context, the 2024 UCAT average was about 2523 (which would be approximately 1880 on the new scale without Abstract Reasoning). So, if you’re scoring, say, 1900/2700, that’s a strong result. A very high score might be 2000+ (top 10% range). Ultimately, “good” is relative – it’s “good enough” if it exceeds the recent cut-offs of the universities you aim for. Check the specific university breakdowns above to see where your score fits in. And remember, each subtest counts – some universities consider your average per section or even set a minimum for each section (for example, St George’s has a 500 per section rule). So, aim for balanced high performance across all sections.

Which medical schools have the highest UCAT cut-offs?

Historically, schools with the highest UCAT thresholds have included Newcastle, Glasgow (RUK category), Bristol, and occasionally King’s College London. These often require top 10% UCAT scores (old scale ~2800+). For example, Newcastle’s cut-off for 2023 was 2820, Bristol’s was 2940 for 2024, and King’s was around 2710 for 2024. Among new UCAT adopters, UCL and Imperial are also expected to demand very high scores (an initial indication was that UCL would focus on 3070+ in 2024). In summary, the London elites (KCL, UCL, Imperial), certain Scottish schools for RUK (Glasgow, Edinburgh, due to limited seats for RUK), and popular ones like Bristol and Newcastle top the list. If your UCAT score is in the top 5-10% nationally, you can target these schools; if not, you might consider schools with more moderate cut-offs.

I have a low UCAT score (bottom 30% or so). Do I still have a chance?

Yes, you do – but you need to approach it strategically. Some medical schools place less emphasis on UCAT or use it only as a minimum requirement. For example, Keele and Sunderland won’t consider you if you’re below the top 80% (they have a cutoff around the 20th percentile), but if you meet that, they focus on your experiences via an R&R form rather than your exact score. Cardiff heavily weights academics, so a low UCAT can be offset by stellar grades (they only use UCAT if they need to break ties among top academic students).

Buckingham (a private med school) and some international programmes might also be options, as they use different criteria—Buckingham has its own test. Also, consider foundation or gateway programmes, which may have lower UCAT expectations if you’re eligible. In short, if your UCAT score is low, look at Keele, Sunderland, Cardiff, and possibly Plymouth or ARU if your score is not too far off (their cut-offs have been lower than average). And definitely avoid places known for high cut-offs like Bristol, Newcastle, Glasgow, etc. Finally, put effort into the non-UCAT components – a compelling personal statement and excellent interview performance can secure offers at schools that do not solely rely on UCAT.

How have the 2025 UCAT changes (no Abstract Reasoning) affected cut-offs?

Removing Abstract Reasoning (AR) decreases the total UCAT score from 3600 to 2700. Medical schools are adjusting their cut-offs accordingly. Generally, expect cut-off scores to fall by about 25% since one section is removed. For example, a school that previously had a cut-off around 2640/3600 might now have it near 1980/2700. Some universities, like Edinburgh, have provided guidance, setting 1650 as the new minimum, which roughly aligns with their former requirement of about 2470. Overall, this indicates a proportional downward shift. Notably, the percentile ranking you need probably remains similar—if a university wanted the top 30% before, it still wants the top 30%, just represented by a different raw score. Practically, preparation remains unchanged: focus on doing your best in the three remaining cognitive subtests. The section weighting has shifted slightly, with Decision Making gaining more importance due to the increased number of questions. An advantage for candidates is that there is one less section to worry about, especially if AR was a weaker area. Please ensure that you check each university’s website for any specific new cut-off on the 2700 scale, as mentioned throughout this article, where available.

Do all UK medical schools now require the UCAT, now that the BMAT is no longer available?

Virtually yes – from 2024 onwards, all undergraduate UK medical schools use UCAT, except a few graduate-only programmes that use GAMSAT (such as Swansea GEM, which still uses GAMSAT). With the BMAT discontinued, schools that previously used it—such as Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial, Leeds, and Brighton & Sussex—have switched to UCAT. The UCAT Consortium now covers nearly all standard-entry medicine courses.

To list briefly: all medical schools in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland use UCAT for undergraduate entry. In Scotland, all five medical schools also use UCAT. The only partial exceptions are: Swansea’s 4-year GEM, which remains GAMSAT, and some programmes like Ulster’s Magee College new GEM (not certain if they have started, but likely to use GAMSAT if graduate-only). Additionally, Buckingham University (a private medical school) uses neither UCAT nor BMAT—they have their own exam and selection process. However, for most applicants, it’s safe to assume UCAT is needed. Always double-check if you encounter a unique programme, but generally, if you are applying to a standard 5-year medicine degree in the UK, you will be required to take the UCAT.

How do the number of applicants vs. places factor into cut-offs?

Generally, the more applications per place, the higher the cut-off, because the school has to be more selective. For example, a school like Bristol, with around 3,700 applicants for about 280 places, ends up with a high cut-off (in 2024, it was 3,940), as they only interview perhaps 1,000 of those. Conversely, a school like Plymouth, with around 1000 applicants for 150 places, had a cut-off around 2210, because they can interview a larger proportion of applicants. However, it’s not a straightforward relationship – it also depends on the quality of applicants. Some schools attract a self-selecting group of high scorers (for instance, Newcastle draws many UCAT top scorers, increasing its cut-off).

Meanwhile, a school seen as a “safety” might have a broader mix and a slightly lower cut-off. We include applicant numbers and place numbers above to give context. However, remember that cut-offs are ultimately determined by ranking – if a school has 100 interview slots, it will select the top 100 UCAT scores (or composite scores) from its applicant pool. Therefore, high demand (applications) relative to supply (places/interviews) means a higher score is needed to be in that top segment. This is why knowing how many they interview and how they score is helpful; for example, Warwick interviews around 450 candidates for 193 places – roughly the top 30% of UCAT scores, aligning with a 2580 cut-off. In summary: Use the ratio as a rough guide – more than 10 applicants per place often indicates a high cut-off; fewer than 4 per place usually suggests a more lenient standard. However, always combine this with an understanding of each school’s selection criteria, as detailed in this guide.

I have an excellent UCAT score. How should I choose where to apply?

Congratulations! With a high UCAT score, you have many options. You might choose one or two “reach” schools where your score provides a comfortable margin above their cut-off (e.g., if you scored 2900, you’re above the cut-offs for most, though perhaps not by much for Bristol or Newcastle). If you're set on a particular high-cut-off school (like Newcastle, Bristol, or King’s), your strong UCAT makes you a competitive candidate—go for it. Also, consider whether you want to leverage your UCAT score for an automatic interview. Places like Manchester (where a score above the threshold guarantees an interview) or Queen’s Belfast (where they’ll score you near the maximum) could be safer strategic bets. You can also explore scholarship opportunities, as some universities or external bodies offer awards to top UCAT scorers (although this is less common, it may sometimes be available).

Essentially, a top score means you don’t need to avoid any options; instead, focus on other factors such as location, course style, etc., because your UCAT isn’t restricting your choices. One caution: ensure you meet all different requirements (don’t apply somewhere if you don’t meet A-level or GCSE criteria just because of your UCAT score). And avoid applying to four similar choices—spread your options: perhaps two very competitive universities (where UCAT is crucial), one moderate, and one lower, to balance risks. Overall, make the most of your strength—schools that rank applicants by UCAT (like Newcastle, Sheffield, etc.) will almost certainly interview you, giving you a strong position. Lastly, prepare for interviews! High UCAT scores sometimes lead applicants to neglect interview prep—but offers are often made only after passing that stage.