Advice & Insight From Medicine Application Specialists
Different medical schools will require different GCSE grades, with some providing far more exhaustive lists of requirements than others. You should note that whilst overall minimum requirements may not be especially stringent, applicants will be scoring far higher than the minimum, and you should therefore pay attention to the average results for applicant groups and the cohorts that are accepted to each university.
As an example, the average offer holder for Medicine at Oxford will have 10A* GCSEs. However, Oxford’s site explains that ‘there are no formal GCSE requirements for Medicine… [however] if Biology, Physics or Mathematics have not been taken to A-Level, applicants will need to have received a basic education in those subjects (for example at least a grade C at GCSE).
Looking at Edinburgh as another example, despite the university explaining that ‘Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics at grade B or 6’ are minimum requirements, the median number of A*s at GCSE is 8.
In general, you will find that the majority of medical schools look for at least a 6 (C) in one subject. You should consider your GCSEs carefully when applying, as they will be used to a greater or lesser extent during the admissions process depending on the university. Essentially, whilst two universities might have equivalent required GCSEs, the degree to which the admissions team will then actually look at your GCSEs will be very different. Universities that rely heavily on GCSEs during the admissions process traditionally include Edinburgh and Nottingham.
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The following is a list of GCSE requirements at each UK medical school. You should thoroughly research each university through their website, and ensure that you look at freedom of information requests on average GCSE results for cohorts as well.
Note throughout that universities not requiring Chemistry GCSE will be due to their reliance on Chemistry A Level in its place.
The University of Aberdeen requires English Language, Maths, Biology, Physics at GCSE, and will accept Double Science.
Anglia Ruskin requires English language and Maths, with any two sciences.
Aston University requires English Language, Maths, Chemistry and Biology, but not Physics. Double Science accepted.
Barts QMUL requires English Language, Maths, Chemistry and Biology, but not Physics. Double Science accepted.
University of Birmingham requires English Language, Maths, Chemistry and Biology, but not Physics. Double Science accepted.
BSMS (Brighton and Sussex Medical School)Â requires English Language and Maths.
University of Bristol requires Maths.
University of Buckingham requires Maths.
University of Cambridge does not specify their required grades.
Cardiff University requires English Language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology and accepts Double Science.
University of Dundee requires English Language, Chemistry, and Biology.
Edge Hill University requires English Language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology and accepts Double Science.
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The University of Edinburgh requires English Language only.
The University of Exeter requires English Language only.
The University of Glasgow requires English Language and Maths.
Hull York Medical School requires English Language and Maths.
Imperial College London requires English Language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology and accepts Double Science.
Keele does not specify its requirements.
Kent and Medway requires English Language and Maths.
King’s College London requires English Language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Physics and does not accept Double Science.
Lancaster University requires English Language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology and accepts Double Science.
University of Leeds requires English Language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology and accepts Double Science.
University of Leicester requires English Language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology and does not accept Double Science.
The University of Liverpool requires English Language and Maths and accepts Double Science.
The University of Manchester does not specify required GCSEs.
Newcastle University requires English language and Maths.
UEA requires Maths and accepts Double Science.
University of Nottingham requires English Language, Maths and accepts Double Science.
University of Oxford requires Biology, Physics and Mathematics if they are not provided at A Level.
University of Plymouth requires Maths, Physics and accepts Double Science.
Queen’s University Belfast requires Maths and Physics and accepts Double Science.
The University of Sheffield does not specify required GCSEs.
University of Southampton requires English Language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Physics, and accepts Double Science.
St Andrews requires English Language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Physics, and does not accept Double Science.
St George’s requires English Language and Maths.
University of Sunderland requires English Language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Physics, and does not accept Double Science.
Swansea University requires English Language and Maths.
UCL requires English Language and Maths.
UCLAN does not specify required GCSEs.
Warwick does not specify required GCSEs.
