Free medicine guides
How to get into medicine: your complete UK guide
Applying to medical school? This hub walks you through every stage of the journey, from entry requirements and the UCAT to work experience, your personal statement and interviews, with clear, school-by-school guides for medicine applicants.
Free to read, written for the current cycle by NHS doctors who teach medical school admissions.
UK Junior Doctor Strikes and NHS Pay Dispute (2022–2025)
The UK has witnessed a series of junior doctor strikes from 2022 through 2025 due to an ongoing NHS pay dispute. This blog post provides a neutral, in-depth look at why junior doctors (qualified doctors in training roles) have been striking, the impact on patients and the National Health Service, how the government has responded, and what solutions might resolve the conflict. Key terms, such as the British Medical Association (BMA), consultant, pay restoration, and strike mandate, are explained. We also include example medical ethics interview questions to help sixth-form students prepare for medical school interviews on this timely topic.
Oxford vs Cambridge for Medicine – How to Choose the Right Medical School
Choosing between Oxford and Cambridge for Medicine is a big decision for any sixth form student. This comprehensive guide breaks down the key differences – from course structure and entry requirements to acceptance rates and student life – to help you decide which university is the better fit for your medical studies. We also discuss considerations for international students, and answer common questions in an FAQ section.
Oxford Medical School Admissions Statistics and How to Succeed in Your Application
How hard is it to get into Oxford Medicine? We break down Oxford’s latest admission stats – from acceptance rates to average UCAT scores – and share advice to help sixth formers maximize their chances of securing a place at Oxford’s prestigious Medical School. (Includes a comparison with Cambridge and tips on acing your interviews.)
Dentistry School Interview Questions (UK): 120+ Practice Questions Mapped to Each Dental School
Prepare smarter with 120+ original, two‑part dentistry interview prompts tailored for sixth‑formers. Organised by topic (ethics, empathy, teamwork, dexterity, NHS values and more) and mapped to UK dental schools that assess them—using the schools’ own webpages as sources.
Medicine Clearing 2026: Your Complete Guide to Finding a Last-Minute Medical School Place
Entering medical school is highly competitive, and many qualified students find themselves without an offer after the main UCAS application cycle. UCAS Clearing provides a final opportunity to find a university place for the upcoming academic year. This guide will walk you through how UCAS Clearing works for medicine, why medical school places via Clearing are so rare, and what you can do to maximise your chances of success on results day 2025.
How to Prepare for Medical School: A Timeline for Aspiring Doctors
Aspiring to become a doctor in the UK is an exciting journey that starts as early as your GCSEs. This guide provides a step-by-step timeline – from selecting the right subjects and gaining work experience to excelling in entrance exams and mastering the interview – to help you prepare for medical school. It’s an engaging yet formal roadmap tailored for sixth-form students who dream of a career in medicine.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying to Medical School
Applying to medical school in the UK is highly competitive – only a small number of applicants secure a place. Even strong students can make simple errors, such as missing the early UCAS deadline or submitting a generic personal statement. In this guide, we highlight common mistakes aspiring medics make – and how you can avoid them – so that your application stands out for the right reasons.
Top 10 Medical Schools in the UK: Rankings, UCAT Requirements, and Admission Guide for 2026 Entry
Embarking on a journey to become a doctor is both exciting and challenging. With numerous medical schools across the UK, selecting the right one is crucial. This guide delves into the top 10 medical schools for the 2026 entry, highlighting their rankings, admission requirements, and tips to bolster your application.
UCAT Preparation Guide: How to Achieve a High Score for Medicine (2026 Entry)
Get the latest tips, strategies, and expert advice on how to prepare for the UCAT in 2025, taken for the 2026 entry. Learn how to excel in each section and boost your chances of success in medical school applications.
How Background and Access to Finance Shape a Medical Student’s Journey in the UK
Discover how socio-economic background and access to finance impact medical students in the UK—from application and medical school to life as a junior doctor. Explore barriers, widening participation, and how poverty shapes a doctor's journey.
UCAS Medicine Personal Statement: 2026 Entry Guide and Top Tips
Applying to medical school in the UK is exciting but also challenging – especially when it comes to writing your UCAS personal statement. As a sixth-form student aiming to study medicine, you’ll need to craft a personal statement that highlights your passion, experience, and suitability for a career in medicine.
What to Include in Your UCAS Medicine Personal Statement
So, what exactly do you think you should write about in your UCAS personal statement? Over the years, medical schools have developed a more unified understanding of what they want applicants to demonstrate in their personal statements. Here is a list of key points that almost all UK medical schools expect you to cover in a medicine personal statement
What Qualities Do Medical Schools Look for in a UCAS Personal Statement?
It’s not only what you’ve done that matters, but also the personal qualities you have developed. The Medical Schools Council (which represents all UK medical schools) has outlined a set of core qualities and abilities it expects in applicants.
UCAS Medicine Personal Statement Guide 2026: Tips & Advice
The writing style and structure significantly impact the effectiveness and engagement of your UCAS personal statement. Here are some top tips to ensure your medicine personal statement reads well and captures the reader’s attention – these tips come from experienced medical school tutors and official advice
How Medical Schools Use Your Personal Statement in Selection
You might be wondering, after all this effort writing the personal statement, how exactly do medical schools use it? The answer is that it varies by university – each medical school has its own admissions process. However, there are some general patterns.
Where to Apply to Dentistry with a Low UCAT Score (UK 2026 Entry)
Struggling with a low UCAT score? Discover which UK dental schools (2026 entry) accept lower UCAT results – from holistic undergraduate programs to graduate-entry courses – and get tips to boost your application.
UK Dentistry Interviews 2026 – Complete Guide to MMI Questions, Formats & Tips
Entering the 2026 dentistry application cycle, competition remains intense, and the interview process continues to evolve. This fully updated guide outlines what to expect, from recent applicant statistics and interview formats at each dental school.
Your Complete Guide to Medical and Dental School Work Experience
Wondering how to get work experience for medicine or dentistry? Whether you're shadowing a GP, volunteering in a care home, or trying virtual placements, this guide explains exactly what sixth form students need to know – and how to stand out on your application.
UK Dental School Work Experience Requirements: A Guide for Future Dentists
Curious about what kind of work experience you need for UK dental school? This comprehensive guide breaks down the requirements and recommendations for every UK university offering dentistry, helping you plan your application with clarity and confidence.
UCAT Quantitative Reasoning: A Complete Introduction for Aspiring Medical and Dental Students
Quantitative Reasoning is one of the most high-pressure sections of the UCAT—and it’s all about speed, strategy, and smart maths. In this complete guide, we’ll break down the data formats, question styles, and mental maths skills you need to master. Whether you're aiming for medicine or dentistry, this student-friendly breakdown will help you maximise your score and approach QR with confidence.
From reading to ready
The guides tell you what to expect. Practice is what gets you the offer.
Knowing a medical school's format is the starting point, not the finish line. The applicants who perform on the day are the ones who have practised out loud, under pressure, with honest feedback, long before the real interview.
Read the guides
Understand the format, timing and topics for each of your chosen medical schools.
Practise properly
Rehearse real MMI and panel stations in small groups with NHS doctors, not just notes on a page.
Walk in ready
Turn preparation into performance, so nothing on the day catches you off guard.
Blue Peanut interview course
Give yourself the best shot at a medical school offer
The guides show you what to expect. Our interview course is where you practise it, taught in small groups by NHS doctors, with realistic MMI stations and feedback on every one. Add a mock MMI circuit to prepare under full exam conditions.
Questions first? Call 01706 491146 or email support@bluepeanut.co.uk