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UCL Medical School

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2024 Entry

MBBS Academic Requirements 

Applicants should carefully check that they will meet the minimum academic standard before making an application. The entry requirements for the medical degree programme may differ from those of other undergraduate programmes at UCL. The range of qualifications accepted for Medicine is limited to those that appear on the online prospectus

The majority of applicants apply on the basis of GCE A Levels or the International Baccalaureate diploma. Please note that we do not consider international qualifications unless otherwise indicated on the online prospectus.

The information provided on the UCAS application must be accurate and complete. Applicants who receive an offer should be aware that they are not usually permitted to drop subjects listed on their UCAS application, as we will have made our assessment in good faith based upon the information supplied by the applicant.

GCSE Requirements

All candidates must offer GCSE (or IGCSE, O-level, IB or EB equivalent) at grade B/6 or above in both English Language and Mathematics. Candidates may re-sit GCSE subjects in order to meet the GCSE requirements. 

For international students, if English is not your first language then an alternative English Language test may be offered. The “Level 4" grade must be achieved in each case. 

GCE A-levels

We require three A-levels studied at the same time (which must be completed within two years). The examinations for the three A-levels must be sat at the same time.  We do not accept qualification re-sits, including re-starting Year 12. A-levels from recognised UK examination boards are the only “advanced levels” accepted. Chemistry and Biology must be studied at A-level. The third subject is the student’s own choice and can be any subject other than General Studies or Critical Thinking.

  • Our standard conditional offer will be grades A*AA to include A*A in Chemistry and Biology, either order.
  • Contextual Offers: please visit the course webpage for further details about our Access UCL scheme.

We would expect any “extra” qualifications that an applicant has undertaken to be completed and passed.

Extended Project Qualification

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) can provide useful preparation for undergraduate study in terms of undertaking research, writing up a project and making a presentation.

Students may also find that the EPQ allows them the opportunity to enjoy researching an area of particular interest and it may provide a useful topic for discussion during interviews.

We would encourage students to consider taking the EPQ if it is offered at their school. If you are not able to undertake an EPQ then we would encourage you to try to develop the relevant research skills through independent learning.

International Baccalaureate

Candidates taking the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) must offer three subjects including Chemistry and Biology at Higher Level, plus three subjects at Standard Level.

If Mathematics and English Language are not offered as part of the diploma, they should be offered as GCSE or IGCSE at grade B/6.

  • Our standard conditional offer will be 39 points out of 45 overall. The grades for the three Higher subjects must make up at least 19 points and must include Biology and Chemistry, with scores 6 and 7, either order. Scores below 5 in any subject are not acceptable.
  • Contextual Offers: please visit the course webpage for further details about our Access UCL scheme.

Other Qualifications

For detail of the entry requirements for other acceptable entry qualifications, as listed below, please visit the online prospectus and choose the qualification from the drop-down list.

  • European Baccalaureate
  • Scottish Advanced Highers and Highers
  • Welsh Baccalaureate
  • Cambridge Pre-University Diploma
  • Irish Leaving Certificate
  • Singaporean Cambridge A-levels or NUS Diplomas
  • HKDSE or HKALE
  • Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE)

UK Graduates

We consider graduates or students in their final year of degree studies who have obtained, or are expected to obtain, at least an upper second-class Honours (2.1) UK degree. Degrees awarded by universities outside the UK are not acceptable. Students should note that we do not consider applications from candidates who have started but not finished their degree.

Graduate applicants should offer at least ABB grades in A-levels taken prior to their first degree (or 34 Overall points in the IB with a minimum of 16 Higher Level points and scores of 6,5,5).  We also accept ABB equivalents in one of the above listed 'Other Qualifications'. Graduates who re-sat A-levels or an accepted equivalent qualification before their degree will also be considered. Otherwise, we do not accept any re-sitting of qualifications. If a graduate meets the entry grade requirements, but has not taken A-level Chemistry and/or Biology they may sit these subjects during or after the degree.  We will expect grade A* or A*A, if taking both subjects (or IB Higher Levels with scores of 7 or 7 and 6). 

Science and non-science graduates are considered equally. However, all graduate applicants must offer A-level Chemistry and Biology (or IB equivalent). Please note that linear A-levels taken from 2017 should include the science practical. 

Should a candidate not be able to meet these subject requirements, full details, provided by the Academic Tutor, of any Biology or Chemistry modules studied at undergraduate level in the UK degree should be submitted for consideration by 1st September of the year you are applying. These will then be considered as possible alternatives to A-level Chemistry and Biology. However please note that the number of graduates for whom the Biology and Chemistry A-level requirements are waived is very small.

We do not offer a fast-track (4-year) Graduate Entry Programme at UCL. Graduates admitted to the Medical School follow the same programme of study as the undergraduate students, except that they will complete the course in five years instead of six, since the iBSc year (Year 3) is waived. Graduates must complete all parts of the 5-year programme; there are no exemptions apart from the iBSc.

Graduates intending to apply are strongly advised to give careful consideration to the financial implications of embarking on the medical programme.

Access to Medicine HE Diploma

Currently, we accept applications from candidates who are studying the Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) at the College of West Anglia or Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) conforming to the QAA subject descriptor for medicine. Candidates studying the Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) conforming to the QAA subject descriptor for medicine please confirm with the provider that the diploma meets this requirement before registering. Candidates are responsible for ensuring that their Access diploma is eligible before applying to this Medical School.

Please note that no other access courses are accepted. Candidates applying with an ineligible Access diploma will be unsuccessful in their applications.

Applicants must achieve a minimum of 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units.

These courses are suitable for candidates returning to study after a break or those who did not study the necessary science subjects in their original A-levels (i.e. students with a non-science background who now intend to change career path). It is not suitable for candidates who did study the required A-level or IB subjects but did not achieve sufficiently high grades.

QAA accredited courses which are studied through a UK Access to Higher Education Diploma Provider are listed on the QAA website.