UK Medical School International Acceptance Rates – A Complete 2025 Guide
Entering a UK medical school as an international student is extremely competitive. Each year, thousands of overseas applicants compete for a limited number of places. UK government policy caps medical school intakes at roughly 9,500 total places per year, with strict limits on how many can be for overseas students. In practice, only about 500 seats across all UK medical programs are open to international fee-paying students, versus over 7,000 for UK (home) students. This imbalance means international acceptance rates are much lower than those for home applicants. In this guide, we’ll demystify the numbers and give you a school-by-school breakdown of international acceptance rates, along with insights and tips. 🎓
⚠️Please note that the data on this website is offered in good faith and obtained from authoritative sources. However, you must check directly with the medical schools before making an application to obtain the latest information.
Why Are International Acceptance Rates So Low?
Limited Quotas: Most public UK medical schools may only fill around 7.5% of their seats with international students due to government caps. For example, Cardiff’s medical program limits overseas students to roughly 25 places in a cohort of 337 (about 7.5%). Oxford and Cambridge historically take only a handful of internationals each (often under 10 per year), and other top schools like Imperial also have very few international spots. With so few places, even highly qualified international applicants face tough odds.
High Application Volume: The reputation of UK medical schools attracts large numbers of international candidates. It’s common for popular universities to see hundreds of overseas applications each cycle. For example, King’s College London received 970 international applications for a recent intake – but ultimately only 26 international students enrolled. That’s an effective acceptance rate of just ~2.7%! Similarly, Oxford had 260+ international applicants competing for 8 offers in one cycle (≈3% success). In short, there are far more international applicants than available places.
Strong Applicant Pool: UK med schools typically require international applicants to meet the same high entry standards (top grades, UCAT/BMAT scores, etc.) as home students, if not higher. Many overseas candidates have exceptional credentials, making competition within this small pool intense. It’s not that international students lack ability – it’s that even excellent students are competing for a tiny number of offers. As one expert noted, international candidates are often “competing for dramatically fewer places” and thus need a very strategic approach.
Yield and Offer Making: Medical schools know not all offered students will accept (some will choose other schools). However, for internationals, schools often “over-offer” cautiously. For instance, one school with ~6 international seats might issue 30 offers, expecting only a few to firmly accept (many candidates apply to 4 schools via UCAS and may have multiple offers). This can make offer rates appear slightly higher than the final enrolment rate. We cite both where possible.
The Numbers: Highest and Lowest International Acceptance Rates 📈🤔
Despite the overall challenge, your chances aren’t identical everywhere. Some medical schools are (relatively) more accessible for international applicants, while others are virtually out of reach. Here’s an overview:
More “Friendly” Choices: A few programs have had notably higher acceptance rates for internationals in recent data. According to one analysis, Queen’s University Belfast had about a 38.3% acceptance rate for its overseas applicants, and Brighton & Sussex Medical School (BSMS) about 37.7%, with Newcastle and East Anglia (UEA) around 30%+. These figures imply that roughly one in three international applicants to those schools might receive an offer – significantly better odds than elsewhere. Why? These schools tend to receive fewer international applications and actively encourage a “diverse international cohort,” which can translate into a higher offer ratio for those who do apply. For example, BSMS received 313 overseas applications and issued 31 offers for 2023 entry (an approximately 10% offer rate; more on interpreting this below). Queen’s Belfast typically aims for ~26 international students in a class of ~262 and doesn’t always fill all those spots due to limited overseas applicants, making its effective acceptance rate comparatively high.
Most Competitive: On the other end, the famous and large medical schools have single-digit international acceptance rates. 🏅 Oxford and Cambridge are notoriously competitive – in one recent cycle, Oxford’s international success rate was only ~3% (8 offers out of ~260+ applicants), and Cambridge’s is typically not much higher (perhaps ~4–5%, given ~20–25 int. offers in recent years). The London medical schools also see very low overseas acceptance rates. Imperial College London has been estimated at around 2–3%for international applicants. King’s College London (KCL), which receives one of the largest pools of international applications, had only 42 offers from 970 overseas applicants in a recent year – an offer rate of ~4.3%, with only 26 ultimately accepting their place (≈2.7% of applicants). University College London (UCL) and Edinburgh also fall into this very competitive bracket (generally in the low single digits).
Mid-Range Odds: Many other UK medical schools fall somewhere in between. For example, the University of Birmingham admits up to 28 international students per year and offers an admission rate of 5–6% . The University of Nottingham has reported that about 50% of its international applicants are interviewed, but only ~10% of those interviewed receive offers, yielding a roughly 5% overall acceptance rate. The University of Glasgow and Leeds might similarly see overall international offer rates of ~5–10% (exact figures vary year to year). Manchester, which has one of the largest med intakes, sometimes sees a high volume of international applicants but also offers a relatively large number of international places (e.g., ~30+), putting its offer rate perhaps in the ~5–8% range. Meanwhile, some newer or slightly less oversubscribed schools (such as Aston, Anglia Ruskin, Edge Hill, and Sunderland) may have moderate applicant numbers and fill their small international quotas, resulting in offer rates roughly in the 5–15% range.
Important: Be cautious with percentages – different sources define “acceptance rate” differently. Some quote offer rate (offers divided by applications) while others might mean enrolment rate (final matriculants divided by applications). An offer rate naturally is higher than the enrolment rate. For consistency, we’re mainly discussing offer rates unless stated otherwise. Even “higher” acceptance schools like QUB or BSMS still have many more applicants than seats, and percentages can fluctuate year by year. Always check the latest data and don’t bank on any single figure.
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Acceptance Rates by Medical School (UK) 📊
Below, we'd like to give you a look at approximate international acceptance rates and the context. We’ve grouped the schools by region for clarity. (For graduate-entry only programs, international opportunities may be limited or 0 – we note these cases.)
England (Medical Schools in England) 🇬🇧
University of Oxford – Extremely competitive. Capped at ~7–8 int. students per year. ~260–300 international applicants typically. Recent data: 33 internationals shortlisted, 8 offers for 2024 entry (≈3% offer rate) . Bottom line: Only about 1 in 30 international applicants is admitted to Oxford.
University of Cambridge – Extremely competitive. Larger intake than Oxford (~21–26 international places, in a ~320 cohort), but also many applicants. An estimated ≈4–6% acceptance rate for internationals (e.g. ~20 offers out of ~400+ apps in a cycle, varies yearly). Slightly less tough than Oxford in percentage terms, but still single digits.
Imperial College London – Very competitive. Takes ~15–20 internationals in a class of ~280. Receives hundreds of overseas apps. Approx. 2–3% acceptance for overseas (only ~1 in 40). One source pegs the success rate around 2.24%
King’s College London (KCL) – Very competitive. Large application pool (often 800–1000+ int. apps). ~25–30 international seats available. In one year, 26 international students accepted offers out of 970 apps. Offer rate was ~4%, enrolment ~2.7%. Similar low rates are expected each year.
University College London (UCL) – Very competitive. Historically had ~7.5% cap (~23 internationals of ~300 total). Also sees several hundred international applicants. Likely in the ~3–5% offer rate range (roughly comparable to KCL). (UCL’s exact recent figures are not public, but assume low single-digit percentages).
Queen Mary University of London (Barts and The London School of Medicine) – Competitive. Cap ~19 internationals in ~260 intake (7.5%). Fair number of overseas applicants (maybe 200+). The offer rate is roughly 8–10% in some years. (For 2024 entry, Barts' overall offer rate (all students) was ~25%, but for internationals it will be much lower.)
University of Manchester – Competitive but with a larger intake. Intake ~380; international cap ~30. International applications are possibly a few hundred. Estimated int. offer rate perhaps ~8% (not officially published). Notably, Manchester’s overall offer rate is high (41% for 2024 entry), but that’s largely due to home applicants – don’t assume the same for internationals. Still, as a big school, Manchester does tend to fill all ~30 international spots, so if (for example) 300 apply, ~30 get offers (≈10%).
University of Birmingham – Competitive. Allows 28 overseas students/year. In a recent cycle, ~22% of international applicants were interviewed, and ~5.5% ultimately gained admission. Expect an acceptance rate of 5%.
University of Nottingham – Competitive. Has a relatively high interview rate for internationals (~50% receive an interview), but a low conversion rate to offers. Roughly 5% of international applicants receive offers. (E.g. if 200 apply, ~100 interviewed, ~20 offers.) They had ~28 international places in 2024.
University of Leicester – Competitive. Capped ~18 overseas places (of ~240). Receives many international applications (likely 200+). Approx. 5% or less may get offers (Leicester doesn’t publish a breakdown, but the overall offer rate of ~27% suggests it will be far lower).
University of Sheffield – Moderate. Capped ~21 international places (of ~276). Interestingly, Sheffield’s overall offer rate is high (55% in 2024), and it attracts fewer overseas applicants than London schools. If, say, ~100 internationals apply, ~21 get spots (perhaps ~20% offer rate). One source listed Sheffield’s 2024 overall acceptance rate as 55.43%, and Sheffield had one of the lowest total applicant numbers, which may benefit well-informed international applicants. Estimated int acceptance: in the teens of per cent (better than many schools).
University of Leeds – Competitive. Cap ~18 overseas (of ~270). Very popular program; likely a few hundred int applicants. Offer rate probably under 10%. (Leeds’ overall offer rate ~16% in 2024, so expect internationals to be much lower.)
University of Liverpool – Moderate/Competitive. Cap ~23 overseas (of ~300). Not as many international applicants as some, but still competitive. In one cycle, the competitive UCAT for internationals was 2770 vs 2660 for home candidates, implying strong overseas candidates. Rough guess: maybe ~10% of overseas applicants gain admission.
Newcastle University – Data varies. Officially capped ~26 overseas (of ~342). Newcastle is sometimes cited as “international-friendly” – one guide claimed a 30%+ acceptance rate, but FOI data tells a different story. For 2024, Newcastle received 391 international applicants, interviewed 90, and made 56 offers. That’s a 14% offer rate and about 5.6% who actually enrolled (22 international freshers). So, realistically ~1 in 7 overseas applicants got an offer. Still, compared to ~3% at Oxbridge, Newcastle’s ~14% offer rate might be considered relatively favourable.
University of East Anglia (UEA/Norwich Medical School) – Moderately competitive. UEA (Norwich) is often mentioned alongside Newcastle for being welcoming to internationals. It has ~15 overseas spots per year and has seen offer rates around 30% in some analyses. This likely reflects a smaller pool of applicants. (If only ~50–60 apply and ~15 offers are given, that’s ~25–30%.) UEA doesn’t routinely publish stats, but anecdotal evidence suggests a higher chance here than at big-city schools.
Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) – Moderate, perhaps “friendly”. BSMS historically had only 10–15 international places, but not an overwhelming number of applicants. For 2023, BSMS had 313 overseas applicants, 57 interviews, 31 offers. That’s about a 10% offer rate. (However, only ~6 ultimately could take up places due to the cap, so enrollment was ~1.9%.) Some guidance lists BSMS’s acceptance ~37.7%, which seems overly optimistic – likely referring to an earlier year or misinterpreted stat. The truth is: BSMS welcomes international applicants, but it’s still competitive (roughly 1 in 10 gets an offer in recent cycles).
Queen Mary (Barts) – Malta Programme: Note, Barts (QMUL) offers an MBBS program taught in Malta, which does not have the same cap on international students. If you’re open to studying outside the UK, this can be an alternative route with a higher intake of overseas students (and thus a higher acceptance likelihood) – though tuition fees are high. (This is outside the UK quota system entirely.)
St. George’s, University of London (SGUL) – Competitive. Cap ~14 international (of ~185). Attracts many applicants due to its location in London. Likely under 10% acceptance for overseas. (Overall SGUL offer rate ~29%, but that includes home; expect far lower for int).
University of Southampton – Competitive. Cap ~21 overseas (of ~306). Many international applicants (being a Russell Group). Rough estimate: ~5–8% acceptance for int. (Southampton overall offers ~15–20% of applicants a place.)
University of Bristol – Very competitive for internationals. Cap ~19 overseas (of ~270). High overall offer rate(41% in 2024), but they received far fewer home applications that year. Internationally, Bristol had about 15% of overseas applicants interviewed and only ~2% ultimately gained admission. In other words, maybe ~600 overseas applied, ~90 were interviewed, and ~12 offers were given (illustrative). So, around 2 out of 100 international applicants are successful at Bristol.
University of Leeds – (See above under Leeds, included with England in list) – Highly competitive (~5% or less likely).
University of Exeter – Moderate. Cap ~14 overseas (of ~150). Exeter’s overall admission rate was ~28% in 2023, and it’s less in demand for international students than London/Oxford. If perhaps ~50–60 overseas apply, ~14 get offers (~25%). It could be a relatively approachable option. (Exact int figures not published, but likely double-digit percentage offer rate for overseas).
University of Keele – Competitive. Cap ~7 overseas (of ~150). A small number of int places means even if overseas interest isn’t huge, acceptance is limited. (~7 offers out of perhaps 50–80 applications? Possibly ~10% range). Note: Keele previously restricted overseas applicants to those with established UK residential status; ensure to check their current policy for international applicants.
University of Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS) – Competitive. Newer school (opened 2020). Cap ~7–8 overseas (of ~120). Unknown overseas application numbers (likely modest), but only a handful of places. Rough guess: ~10% acceptance if, say, ~70 apply. (KMMS overall selection emphasises contextual factors for home applicants; internationals need top academics and UCAT ~2470+ last cycle.)
Aston University Medical School – Moderate. Newer school (started 2018). Cap ~7–8 overseas (of ~100). Possibly fewer than 50 overseas applicants typically (Aston isn’t widely known abroad yet), meaning a decent chance if you do apply. For 2024 entry, Aston’s overall offer rate was ~15.7%. Internationals could have a slightly higher probability than that, depending on the applicant pool. (No official breakdown available yet.)
Anglia Ruskin University School of Medicine (ARU) – Moderate. Opened in 2018, intake ~100 with a few (maybe ~5–7) international spots. If ~30–40 overseas apply, a handful get in (possibly 10–15% offer rate). ARU’s focus is on local/regional students, but they do consider international students.
University of Buckingham Medical School (Private) – Unique case. Buckingham is a private medical school with no cap on international students (all students are self-funded, including UK students). The majority of its cohort is international (especially from North America, the Middle East, etc.). Acceptance is based on meeting entry criteria and interview – they don’t have the government quota constraints. This means if you are academically qualified and can pay the fees, your chances are much higher here than elsewhere. (Buckingham’s overall acceptance rate is ~7–8%, but that figure is misleading since many who meet the requirements do get offers; the lower percentage reflects self-selection and multiple application rounds.) Essentially, Buckingham could be considered an “easier” option for internationals, albeit very costly (tuition ~£38,000+ per year).
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) – Unconventional. UCLan initially offered its MBBS primarily to international students (when it opened in 2015, home students needed a specific NHS partnership placement). It still has a high proportion of international students. Like Buckingham, UCLan’s selection is less constrained by caps (it’s not fully publicly funded for UK places). If you meet their requirements, your chance is relatively good. (UCLan’s overall admission rate is ~16.7%, but for qualified international applicants, it could be higher since they actively recruit abroad.) UCLan might accept dozens of international students each year.
Brunel University Medical School (Private) – New. Brunel’s MBBS (launched 2022) is a private program aimed primarily at international students (UK students can only attend if self-funded). They have ~50–60 places per year and actively welcome overseas applicants. There’s no government cap since it’s unsubsidized. This makes Brunel another viable option if you have the finances – admissions still require good grades and a UCAT score, but your competition is mainly other international students. Brunel hasn’t published acceptance rates yet, but one can infer that they will accept a significant proportion of qualified applicants to fill their cohort.
Others (New Schools): Edge Hill University, University of Sunderland, University of Lincoln – These newer medical programs have small intakes (typically 30% of their seats are reserved for local/regional schemes). International places are very limited (for instance, Sunderland initially had 0 international places in its first year, and later possibly a handful). Edge Hill and Lincoln likewise focus on home students (Lincoln is a program linked to Nottingham). If they do take internationals, it might be just 5–10 per year or fewer. Check each school’s policy – it may vary year to year. Generally, because they are less well-known internationally, they get few overseas applicants. If a school only has, say, 2 overseas seats and 20 applicants, the odds might be ~10%.
Scotland (Medical Schools in Scotland) 🏴
University of Edinburgh – Very competitive. Capped at around 17 international students (of ~230). A huge number of overseas applications (Edinburgh is globally renowned). Similar to top English schools, expect a low single-digit acceptance rate. (~400+ overseas apps for ~17 spots, ~4% offer rate). Edinburgh heavily emphasises academic performance and the UCAT for selection.
University of Glasgow – Competitive. Cap ~19 internationals (of ~252). Many international applicants (possibly 300+). Offer rate likely in the ~5% range, but for overseas it will be much lower. Still, Glasgow is a popular second choice for many so that some offers may go to waste – if you rank it high and meet requirements, you have a shot.
University of Dundee – Moderate/Competitive. Intake ~168; cap ~13 overseas. Dundee doesn’t receive as many international applications as the big cities, but it still gets a solid number. Perhaps ~100–150 overseas apply for ~13 spots (so ~10% get offers). A strong UCAT (~85th percentile) and good grades are usually needed.
University of Aberdeen – Moderate. Intake ~189; cap ~14 overseas. Interestingly, Aberdeen had the **highest overall offer rate (58.9%), due in part to fewer applications (especially from outside Scotland). For international applicants, Aberdeen can be relatively welcoming. If, say, ~50 apply for those 14 places, acceptance could be ~28%. (Indeed, some sources suggest Scotland’s schools, except Edinburgh/Glasgow, have more favourable odds for international students.) Aberdeen values high UCAT but slightly lower grade requirements than some English schools, which may broaden the international pool quality.
University of St. Andrews – Moderate. Intake ~100; cap ~7–8 overseas. St. Andrews is smaller and a bit off the beaten path for some international students, which might mean fewer overseas applicants. If perhaps 40–50 apply, ~8 get in (~16%). St. Andrews’ overall offer rate in 2024 was likely much lower for internationals, but still possibly in the low double digits percentage-wise. Unique factor: St. Andrews only teaches the first 3 years in-house; clinical years are completed at partner medical schools in other cities. International students must transfer to partner sites for their final years, which is something to keep in mind.
ScotGEM (St. Andrews/Dundee Graduate Entry) – This is a graduate-entry MBChB in Scotland. It currently does not accept international students (reserved for Scottish/EU/home). So not applicable.
Wales and Northern Ireland 🏴 / 🇬🇧
Cardiff University (Wales) – Competitive. Intake ~300; strict **7.5% cap. Cardiff is very popular (nearly 4,000 total applications), including many internationals. The cap means no more than ~25 offers for overseas. If a few hundred apply (likely), acceptance might be around 5–8%. Cardiff uses a scoring system and rarely interviews internationals unless they rank highly. It’s a wonderful school, but significantly oversubscribed.
Swansea University (Wales) – Swansea offers only Graduate Entry Medicine (4-year), and it currently does not accept international students for medicine (home/EU only as of latest info). So, no undergraduate international intake to consider.
Queen’s University Belfast (Northern Ireland) – Moderate / “friendlier”. Intake ~262; aiming for ~26 international (10%). QUB’s international acceptance rate is relatively high: it doesn’t get an enormous number of overseas applicants compared to big English schools. By one report, QUB’s overseas offer rate was 44% in a recent cycle (though that may refer to offers per applicant). The student suggests that if roughly 60–70 overseas students apply, about 26 get offers, which is approximately 35–40% of applicants. This aligns with external data citing ~38, making QUB one of the most accessible UK med schools for internationals. Keep in mind, you’ll still need strong qualifications (Queen’s uses UCAT and academics to score applicants), but your odds here are markedly better than in London.
Trends and Tips for International Applicants 💡
Recent Trends: In the past few years, UK medical schools have seen a surge in applications, especially post-pandemic. However, the number of international seats remains fixed (except for private schools). This has generally driven acceptance rates downwards. One positive trend: the UK government plans to significantly expand the total number of medical school places by 2030. If this happens, it’s unclear if the international cap will change or if new schools will open – but more places could indirectly improve odds for all. For now, though, assume fierce competition. Historical data show acceptance rates fluctuating a bit (e.g., Oxford’s went from ~9% overall to 17% in one year), but overseas rates have consistently remained low. Always try to find the most up-to-date stats for the year you’re applying (many universities publish admissions statistics, or you can request them).
Tips to Boost Your Chances:
Target a Range of Schools: Given the variability, it’s wise to include some “safer” choices in your four UCAS options. Don’t apply only to Oxford, Imperial, UCL, and Edinburgh unless you’re comfortable with ~1–3% odds. Mix in a couple of schools known for higher international acceptance (e.g., QUB, Dundee/Aberdeen, BSMS, etc.), or the private routes. As one advisor puts it, smart university selection is crucial for international students.
Excel in Entrance Exams: Many UK schools weigh UCAT/BMAT heavily. As an international student, aim to exceed the average. For instance, Birmingham noted that their median UCAT for international students is higher than for home students. Achieving a top decile UCAT score can significantly improve your chances in places that rank by score. Some schools (Oxford, Cambridge) also look at BMAT (though most switch to UCAT by 2024). Strong exam performance can compensate if you come from a non-UK educational background that they’re less familiar with.
Meet Academic Criteria Rigorously: You must meet A-level (or equivalent) grade requirements – usually AAA at least, often A*AA. If you have international qualifications, ensure they are recognised and considered comparable. Many schools list which diplomas/exams they accept for international students. If in doubt, email admissions tutors to clarify your credentials. Demonstrating top grades (e.g. 42+ IB points, or >90% averages in your country’s exams) will keep you in contention.
Prepare for Interviews: Getting an interview is a huge hurdle – at some schools, only 10% of overseas applicants are interviewed. But once you’re at an interview, your chances improve (for example, Nottingham says ~10% of interviewed international students, which sounds low but is much better than 0% if you never interview!). Practice MMI scenarios, be ready to discuss your motivation genuinely, and be familiar with the NHS and UK medical ethics/current issues. Many international students underestimate interviews, but since interviews are often weighted heavily, a stellar performance can secure your place.
Alternative Pathways: Consider if graduate entry later or other routes could be options if undergrad entry is too tight. Also, remember that you can apply again if you are not accepted the first time. Some students take a gap year to strengthen their applications (through additional experience and improved scores) and reapply with greater success. The key is to improve any weak areas – whether UCAT, interview skills, or academics.
Backup Plans: Due to the low acceptance rates, it’s wise to have backups outside UCAS medicine. This might mean applying for biomedical science or another course in the UK (which you can later use for graduate entry medicine), or applying to medical schools in other countries as well. For example, some other European, Caribbean, or Australian schools have more international capacity. Within the UK, the private programs (Buckingham, Brunel) are backups if finances allow – they have higher acceptance but are expensive (and not eligible for UK student loans).
Final Thoughts: Getting into a UK medical school as an international student is challenging – there’s no sugar-coating it. But it is possible! Each year, around 500 overseas applicants succeed and embark on their journey to become doctors in the UK. To join them, do your homework on where your application will be most competitive, focus on acing the UCAT and put significant effort into your personal statement and interview prep (while those count less than academics, they can make a difference at the margins). Remember that “competitive” doesn’t mean “impossible” – if you’re passionate about studying in the UK, aim high but plan wisely. This guide should give you a clearer picture of the landscape. Good luck, and we’re rooting for you!
