What A‑Levels Do I Need To Be a Doctor?
Introduction: A-Levels and Your Path to Medicine
Getting into medical school in the UK is highly competitive. The journey begins in sixth form, where the A-level subjects you choose – and the grades you achieve – play a pivotal role in medical school admissions. Almost all UK medical schools have strict A-level requirements because they want to ensure students have a strong foundation in science and the academic ability to handle an intensive medical curriculum. In this article, we’ll explore what A-level subjects and grades you typically need to become a doctor in the UK, provide the specific A-level requirements for each medical school, and discuss alternative routes (such as foundation year programs and graduate-entry medicine) if you don’t meet the standard criteria.
All information is drawn from authoritative sources, but remember that entry requirements can change – always double-check the latest details on official university websites. Let’s dive into what you should aim for in your A-levels to keep your medical career dreams on track. This
Typical A-Level Requirements for UK Medical Schools
Most UK medical schools require at least three A-levels with top grades (usually AAA) as the minimum to be considered for a standard entry medicine program. In practice, this means you should aim for A grades in your A-level exams – the majority of medical schools list AAA as their standard offer, and some highly competitive programs ask for an A* as well (for example, A*AA). The specific subjects are just as important as the grades: Chemistry and Biology are required or highly preferred by nearly all medical schools.
Chemistry is either compulsory or effectively required at most schools, because if Chemistry isn’t explicitly mandatory, you’ll typically need Biology and another science in its place. A few programs do make Chemistry optional if you have another science: for instance, Plymouth’s medical course requires Biology and one of Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology (meaning you could get in without Chemistry if you have Biology). However, such cases are the exception – taking Chemistry A-level is strongly advised since the vast majority of medical schools list it as required or at least one of the essential options.
Biology (or Human Biology) is the other commonly required subject. Many medical schools insist on both Chemistry and Biology at A-level. Some schools allow one or the other (e.g. some accept Chemistry plus Physics/Maths without Biology, or Biology plus another science without Chemistry), but not having Biology will significantly limit your options.
The third A-level subject can vary, and often there is more flexibility. Medical programs generally prefer it to be an academically rigorous subject. Mathematics or Physics are good choices (and usually one of these is required if you didn’t take Biology). Some schools, like Aston or Keele, accept a third A-level in a non-science subject (Aston allows any third subject except General Studies or Critical Thinking, and Keele allows a third subject of your choice as long as you have one science and one additional approved subject). General Studies and Critical Thinking are almost universally not accepted by medical schools as part of your three A-levels.
Required grades: As mentioned, AAA is the standard benchmark. A few universities set higher standard offers (AAA) for direct entry medicine, especially if they are very competitive or prestigious (for example, Cambridge typically asks for A*AA, and Imperial and Oxford also often have an A* in their standard offer range). On the other end, a small number of medical schools have a standard offer of AAB or lower – these tend to be part of certain newer programs or specific schemes. For example, Kent and Medway Medical School offers a standard entry requirement of AAB, and the University of Buckingham (a private medical school) requires ABB. However, note that a lower grade requirement doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easier to get in; those courses may receive a high volume of applications or have other expectations (like strong entrance exam scores or interview performance).
In summary, to keep all your options open, you should aim to take Chemistry and Biology at A-level and achieve grades AAA or better. A third A-level in Maths or Physics is a common choice, but other challenging subjects can be acceptable too (avoid General Studies or similar). If you do this, you’ll meet the basic A-level criteria for essentially every medical school in the UK. In the next section, we’ll list each UK medical school and their specific A-level requirements so that you can see the details and any slight differences or special conditions.
A-Level Requirements for Each UK Medical School
Every UK medical school publishes its own specific A-level entry requirements for the standard five-year Medicine degree (MBBS or MBChB). Below, we’ve compiled the A-level subject and grade requirements for each medical program in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. These are the typical standard offers for school-leaver applicants (2024–2025 entry), and assume you are taking three A-levels in one examination sitting. (Most schools expect the grades to be achieved in one sitting; where noted, some may allow an extra AS or EPQ to compensate for a slightly lower grade, etc.) Always verify details on the university’s official website, as policies can change.
University of Aberdeen (Scotland): AAA at A-level, including Chemistry and one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics (all achieved in the same exam sitting).
Anglia Ruskin University (England): AAA at A-level (to be achieved within two years of study), including Chemistry or Biology, and one other subject from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics.
Aston University (England): A*AA at A-level, including Chemistry and Biology. The practical endorsement in science subjects must be passed. The third subject can be any (excluding General Studies or Critical Thinking).
Bangor University (Wales): AAA at A-level, including Biology and one additional science (acceptable sciences include Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Maths/Further Maths or Statistics). Science A-levels must consist of a pass in the practical component. (Bangor is a new medical school in Wales, opening seats to home students; their focus is on science subjects similar to other schools.)
Barts and The London, Queen Mary University of London (England): A*AA at A-level. Required subjects include Chemistry or Biology, plus a second science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths). The third A-level can be any academic subject (but if your second subject is Maths, it won’t count as Further Maths).
University of Birmingham (England): The standard offer is A*AA at A-level, including Chemistry and Biology (Human Biology is accepted as Biology). Birmingham explicitly requires both Biology and Chemistry.
Brighton and Sussex Medical School (England): AAA at A-level, with Biology and Chemistry as mandatory subjects.
University of Bristol (England): AAA at A-level, including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics, Maths or Further Maths.
Brunel University (England): AAA at A-level, including Chemistry or Biology, plus a second science (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) or Maths, and any third subject (excluding General Studies).
University of Buckingham (England): ABB at A-level, including Chemistry or Biology. (Buckingham is a private medical school with a slightly lower grade requirement, but no government funding – applicants should note it has high tuition fees).
University of Cambridge (England): Typical offers are A*AA at A-level. You must have Chemistry, and at least one from Biology, Physics, or Mathematics (some Cambridge colleges require both Chemistry and one of those others). In practice, most successful applicants have Chemistry + Biology + one other science/maths at A-level.
Cardiff University (Wales): AAA at A-level, with Chemistry and Biology required.
University of Central Lancashire – UCLan (England): AAA at A-level, which must include at least two science subjects (one of which must be Chemistry).
University of Dundee (Scotland): AAA at A-level, including Chemistry and one other science from Biology, Physics or Mathematics. These grades must be achieved in one sitting.
Edge Hill University (England): AAA at A-level (however, Edge Hill will accept one A-level at grade B if you achieve an A* in either Biology or Chemistry). Required subjects are Biology and Chemistry.
University of Edinburgh (Scotland): A*AA at A-level, including Chemistry and one of Biology, Mathematics, or Physics
University of Exeter (England): A*AA at A-level, with Biology and Chemistry required.
University of Glasgow (Scotland): AAA at A-level, including Chemistry and one of Maths, Physics or Biology.
Hull York Medical School (England): AAA at A-level (to be achieved in the first sitting, no resits to meet grades), including Biology and Chemistry.
Imperial College London (England): Offer range is AAA to AAA at A-level (if AAA, the A* must be in either Biology or Chemistry). Required subjects are Biology, Chemistry, and any third subject (most applicants offer Maths or Physics as the third).
Keele University (England): A*AA at A-level. You must have at least one of Biology or Chemistry, a second subject from the following list – Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, Psychology or Statistics – and a third A-level in any other academic subject. (In short, one science is required and two other rigorous subjects.) All science A-levels must include a pass in the practical endorsement.
Kent and Medway Medical School (England): AAB at A-level. Subjects must include Chemistry or Biology, plus another from Chemistry, Biology, Maths, Psychology, Physics or Computer Science. Any science A-levels taken require a pass in the practical endorsement.
King’s College London (England): A*AA at A-level, with Chemistry and Biology required. (King’s also offers an extended medical program with lower grades – see the section on foundation and widening participation routes below.)
Lancaster University (England): Offers range from AAA to AAB at A-level. Lancaster’s typical offer is AAA in any two of Biology, Chemistry or Psychology – or they will consider AAB if you also have a strong fourth subject like an EPQ or a fourth AS/A-level at grade B. Essentially, you need at least two sciences (Chemistry and Biology are recommended) at grade A, but there is some flexibility with a third subject if you have an EPQ or similar.
University of Leeds (England): AAA at A-level, including Chemistry and Biology. Notably, Leeds does not accept specific subjects as counting toward this – for example, they explicitly exclude Human Biology (as distinct from Biology), Sports Science, Further Maths or Statistics as fulfilling the requirements. (In other words, you need Biology and Chemistry proper).
University of Leicester (England): A*AA at A-level (though they will consider AAA if you have an additional qualification like an EPQ at grade B, and your A-levels include Chemistry and Biology). Required subjects: Chemistry or Biology, plus one other science from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology. (If you only have one of Chemistry/Biology at A-level, the other must be one of those listed sciences.)
University of Liverpool (England): AAA at A-level. Liverpool will also consider applicants with AAB, provided the A and A are in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Maths (and the B is in a third academic subject). Required subjects: Chemistry, plus at least one of Biology, Physics or Maths, and a third subject which must be academic (general studies not accepted).
University of Manchester (England): AAA at A-level, including Chemistry or Biology, and a second subject from Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Psychology, Maths or Further Maths. (So you need at least one of Chem/Bio, and another science, effectively.) Human Biology is accepted as Biology. They require a pass in practical sciences and exclude General Studies, etc..
Newcastle University (England): AAA at A-level. Newcastle does not specify particular subjects in the summary above, but in practice, you are expected to have sciences. They do require that if you take Biology, Chemistry or Physics A-level, you must pass the practical component. They also state General Studies, Use of Maths, World Development, Communication & Culture, and Critical Thinking are not accepted A-levels. In short, to be safe, you should have Chemistry and/or Biology for Newcastle, even though their listing emphasises what they don’t accept rather than listing required subjects.
University of East Anglia (UEA Norwich Medical School) (England): AAA at A-level, including Biology or Chemistry. (UEA requires at least one of those two, and if you have both, that’s ideal. You also need to pass any science practical components.)
University of Nottingham (England): AAA at A-level, including Biology (or Human Biology) and Chemistry. They also require a pass in the practical assessments for science A-levels.
University of Lincoln (Medicine at Lincoln, in partnership with Nottingham) (England): AAA at A-level, including Biology (or Human Biology) and Chemistry, with passes in practical elements as well. (Lincoln’s medical program is essentially run by Nottingham, but with a different campus; the requirements mirror Nottingham’s.)
University of Oxford (England): A*AA at A-level (to be achieved in one sitting). Required subjects: Chemistry, plus at least one from Biology, Physics, Maths or Further Maths. (In practice, most Oxford applicants offer Chemistry and Biology.)
University of Plymouth (England): Offers range from A*AA to AAB at A-level. Plymouth requires Biology and one of Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology. (So you can apply with, say, Biology, Psychology, and one other; but if you don’t take Chemistry, you must have Biology. Conversely, if you don’t have Biology, you must have Chemistry. One of the two is needed.) They will consider AAB for some applicants, likely via contextual offers.
Queen’s University Belfast (Northern Ireland): A-level requirement can be satisfied in multiple ways: typically, they ask for AAA or AAA (they list a few equivalent combinations). For example, one option is AAA at A-level plus an A in a fourth AS-level (with Chemistry and one of Biology/Maths/Physics among those A-levels); or AAA including Chemistry and Biology; or AAA including Chemistry and either Maths or Physics plus AS-level Biology at grade B. In simpler terms, Belfast expects three As (with an A in some cases) and definitely wants Chemistry and Biology in your subject mix (the alternative combinations cover different scenarios for candidates who took four A-levels or an extra AS).
University of Sheffield (England): Offers range from AAA to AAB at A-level. Sheffield’s requirement can be met in two ways: (1) AAA including Chemistry or Biology, and another science (from Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics or Psychology); or (2) AAB provided you also have an A grade in an EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) – with the condition that in both cases you have at least grade A in either Chemistry or Biology. Essentially, Sheffield normally wants AAA with two sciences, but they give a bit of leeway if you did an EPQ by allowing AAB + EPQ (where Chemistry or Biology still needs to be an A).
University of Southampton (England): AAA at A-level, including Biology and one other science subject. They specifically mention that the science A-levels must include the practical endorsement pass (Southampton also has a separate “BM6” widening access course with lower grades – see below).
University of St Andrews (Scotland): Offers range from AAA to AAB at A-level. St Andrews requires Chemistry and one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics. (They may consider AAB for some applicants, likely via contextual criteria, but AAA is the standard.)
St George’s, University of London (England): A*AA to AAA at A-level (they require these grades in one sitting across no more than two years). Required subjects are Chemistry and Biology.
University of Sunderland (England): AAA at A-level (in one sitting) is required. You must have Chemistry or Biology, plus a second science subject (acceptable second sciences are Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths/Further Maths or Statistics). Any science A-level taken must include the practical endorsement pass.
University College London – UCL (England): A*AA at A-level, with Chemistry and Biology as the required subjects
As you can see, while the precise wording of requirements varies, there is a clear pattern: nearly every medical school expects top grades (mostly AAA) and a combination of Chemistry, Biology, and one other strong academic subject at A-level. If you ensure you have Chemistry and Biology in your A-level portfolio, you’ll cover the requirements for all schools except a rare few that might allow one or the other. Only a handful of programs accept AAB as a standard offer (and usually only under specific circumstances or for contextual applicants). So, if you’re in Year 12 or Year 13 aiming for medicine, choose your subjects wisely (Chemistry and Biology are safest, plus another rigorous subject) and work towards achieving at least AAA.
(Note: Scottish students typically take Highers and Advanced Highers instead of A-levels. As a rough equivalent, universities often expect Highers at AAAAB by S5 and Advanced Highers at AA or AB in Chemistry and Biology by S6 for medicine. International Baccalaureate students usually need scores around 36–38 with Higher Level Chemistry and Biology. Always check the specific alternative qualifications if you’re not doing A-levels.)
Medicine with a Foundation Year / Widening Participation Routes
If your predicted or achieved A-level grades or subject choices don’t meet the standard requirements, don’t despair – there are alternative pathways into medicine. Many medical schools offer a “Medicine with a Foundation Year”program (sometimes called a Gateway to Medicine or widening access program). These courses are aimed at students who have the potential to be great doctors but who haven’t had the same educational opportunities or who didn’t take the required science A-levels. They typically add an extra year before the standard medical curriculum, during which you’ll cover essential science content. Importantly, they have lower A-level grade requirements and/or accept different subject combinations, along with additional eligibility criteria (usually related to attending a less advantaged school, being a first-generation university student, or other widening participation factors).
For example, Nottingham’s Medicine with a Foundation Year ( six-year BMBS) asks for BBC at A-level, including at least a B in both Chemistry and Biology, and it’s only open to applicants who meet specific widening participation criteria. Another example is King’s College London’s Extended Medical Degree Programme (EMDP), a six-year course for students from eligible schools in Greater London, which has a grade requirement of ABB – applicants must have an A in either Biology or Chemistry and B in the other, instead of the A*AA required for King’s standard five-year MBBS Similarly, Southampton’s BM6 widening access program (a six-year medicine course) requires only BBB at A-level . It is designed for students from under-represented backgrounds. In fact, Southampton’s is noted as having the lowest A-level offer (BBB) among UK medical degrees.
Other universities with foundation or gateway year medicine programs include Edge Hill (A110), Cardiff (preliminary year), Manchester (widening participation route), Leicester, UCLan, Kent and Medway, Sheffield, Lincoln (Nottingham’s program), Bristol, Leeds, and more – each with their own slightly adjusted grade requirements (often around BBC to ABB) and eligibility conditions. For example, Bristol’s Gateway to Medicine requires BBC, Leeds’s Gateway Year requires BBC, and so on (these may vary year to year). Always check the specific program details if you think you might qualify for one of these schemes. The key point is that if you don’t meet the typical AAA offer, there may be a route that will consider lower grades, provided you fit the widening participation criteria. These courses are very competitive (usually a small number of spots), but they can be a fantastic opportunity for students who need additional academic preparation or support.
Also, note that some standard five-year medicine courses offer contextual offers to students from disadvantaged backgrounds or low-performing schools. A contextual offer means the university will accept slightly lower grades than the standard offer if you meet certain criteria. For instance, a medical school with a typical AAA requirement might make a contextual offer of AAB or ABB to an eligible applicant. This is another way universities are trying to widen access. If you think you might be eligible (based on your home postcode, school performance, or personal circumstances), look up each medical school’s contextual admissions policy. For example, some universities like Leeds and Birmingham have well-established contextual offer schemes for medicine.
In summary, Medicine with a Foundation Year and other widening participation routes allow entry with lower A-level achievements (ranging roughly from BBB to ABB in most cases). These routes require you to meet additional criteria and often involve an extra year of study, but they are excellent options if you fall short of the standard requirements or didn’t take a required subject. If you’re a sixth-form student worried about your grades or subject choices, research these programs early – they could keep your medical ambitions alive even if AAA chemistry/biology is out of reach.
Graduate Entry Medicine (For Those Who Already Have a Degree)
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is a pathway into medicine for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in another subject. These are typically four-year accelerated medical courses. You might be wondering: if I already have a degree, do my A-levels still matter? The good news is that A-level requirements are often more relaxed or even waived for graduate applicants, since universities focus on your university degree and other criteria instead. However, this doesn’t mean A-levels are entirely irrelevant in graduate entry – some programs do have certain A-level expectations for grads.
In most cases, graduate entry programs require at least a 2:1 undergraduate degree (often in a science or health-related field, though some schools accept any subject). Because you’ve pursued higher education, many medical schools acknowledge that your university performance and experiences are better indicators of your potential than your old school exams. As a result, several graduate-entry medicine courses either have lower A-level grade requirements or no formal A-level requirements at all. For example:
Cardiff (Graduate Entry Medicine) accepts applicants from specific “feeder” degree streams and asks for A-level grades around BBB/ABC, including Chemistry and Biology– notably lower than their school-leaver AAA requirement.
Bangor University (Graduate Entry Medicine) similarly looks for about BBB at A-level, including Biology and Chemistry, (alongside a relevant degree).
University of Chester’s new graduate-entry program states that A-levels are “not reviewed” at all – they focus entirely on your degree and other factors.
Imperial College London & University of Cumbria’s collaborative graduate course (Pears Cumbria) does not require A-levels either, only a science degree.
ScotGEM (Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine, run by St Andrews and Dundee) asks for a degree in any subject (2:1) but does expect you to have at least an A or B in A-level Chemistry from your school days. This is an example where a graduate program still needs a specific science A-level.
Cambridge Graduate Course in Medicine (a fast-track program) expects a strong science background, and it requires A-level Chemistry and one of Biology/Physics/Maths at grade AAA from its applicants, in addition to a degree. So Cambridge values those prior A-levels highly, even for graduates.
These examples show that while many graduate-entry courses are lenient on A-levels, a few still have subject requirements or look for solid A-level performance. Generally, though, if you’re a graduate applicant with a good university degree, medical schools recognise that “your previous academic achievements aren’t necessarily a reflection of your current ability”. The Medical Schools Council notes that some universities have lower A-level requirements for graduate entry medicine because they know people develop academically after school.
If you did not take the traditional science A-levels, one way to prepare for GEM is to take courses like the GAMSAT exam (a graduate medical school admission test), which can demonstrate your science aptitude. Some GEM programs require the GAMSAT or the UCAT instead of focusing on A-levels.
In conclusion, graduate entry medicine is an excellent Plan B (or even Plan A) for those who decide on medicine later or don’t get into undergraduate medicine. You’ll spend 3+ years on another degree first, but the four-year medicine programs can then get you to the same destination. And crucially, not having perfect A-levels at age 18 doesn’t bar you from becoming a doctor in the long run – universities will primarily look at your degree and entrance exam for GEM. It’s a more winding path, but many successful doctors have come through the graduate entry route as long as you ultimately meet the minimum requirements (which may or may not include certain A-levels), you can still achieve your goal of studying medicine.
Conclusion
Choosing the right A-levels – and achieving top grades – is one of the most important steps for a sixth-form student aspiring to become a doctor. In summary, aim for A-level Chemistry and Biology, with at least an A grade in each, plus one other strong subject, and target AAA or higher to keep your medical school options open. We’ve seen that all UK medical schools demand high academic achievement. Still, there are some variations: a few schools will accept an A* in place of a third A or allow alternative subject combinations, and a few have slightly lower offers, like AAB, in some instances.
It’s also reassuring that if things don’t go perfectly at A-level, there are alternative routes. Foundation year programs and widening participation schemes can offer a lifeline if you miss the grades or lack a required subject, and graduate entry medicine provides a second chance later on if you choose to go through university first. In all cases, determination and the ability to demonstrate your potential – through exams, interviews, and relevant experience – will be key.
Finally, always stay up to date with the requirements by checking official sources. The medical school entry criteria are updated annually, and while this guide gives you a comprehensive overview as of 2025 entry, universities may adjust their requirements in future years. Good luck with your studies, and remember that becoming a doctor is a challenging journey – but with the proper preparation and perseverance, your A-level choices will set you on the path to a rewarding career in medicine.
Sources: The above information is based on the latest entry requirements published by the Medical Schools Council and individual universities, as well as guidance from the Medical Schools Council on widening participation and graduate entry programs. Always verify details on the official websites of the medical schools you’re interested in, as admissions criteria can change.
