Selection Procedure

Applying for Medicine at UCL

There continues to be considerable pressure on the available places for students to read Medicine. Applications typically exceed 3,000 for a total of 334 places. Therefore, it is not possible to interview all eligible applicants.

Selection for Interview

All applications are read and assessed carefully by several people.

The following factors are taken into account when deciding which candidates to interview.

• Predicted and actual grades. Although there is no simple relationship between academic performance and whether or not a student will make a ‘good’ doctor, there is evidence that those with low grades or those who need to re-sit examinations are more likely to have academic problems with the programme. Predicted grades for qualifications not yet completed must meet our published entry requirements.
• We do not score personal statements to select candidates for interview.  We encourage applicants to use the opportunity of writing their personal statements to think reflectively about their skills and experiences, and how they have helped to prepare them for a career in medicine. This includes evidencing attributes, skills, behaviours and values needed to work within the healthcare service.
• All candidates need to have sat the University Clinical Aptitude test (UCAT) in the year of application. Candidates may only test once in any year. 
• Students who are eligible for Access UCL, our contextual offer scheme, will be automatically flagged to us, and their UCAT scores will be reviewed separately. 
• We have 24 places for Overseas applicants, and for these places Overseas applicants will be selected separately to our Home applicants.

Re-applicants: If an applicant remains unplaced in the UCAS cycle, they are welcome to reapply. This includes those who have been unsuccessful following interview at UCL Medical School. Re-applicants must sit the UCAT again in the year that they apply.

UCAT - University Clinical Aptitude Test

Since the withdrawal of the BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test) in 2024, UCL Medical School (UCLMS) has adopted the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude test) as part of our selection process. All candidates who are applying to study the MBBS BSc Medicine programme at UCL must complete the UCAT in the year of application and candidates may only test once in any year

You will need to create a UCAT account to register for the test on the UCAT website. Account registration usually opens in May: UCAT 2025 test dates. 

About the UCAT   

The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is used to assess a range of skills and abilities. In 2024, the test consisted of five sections:  

• Verbal Reasoning
• Decision Making 
• Quantitative Reasoning 
• Abstract Reasoning 
• Situational Judgement (SJT) 

Note: UCAT is changing for 2025 - Abstract Reasoning will be withdrawn from the test. For the latest information about UCAT, including registration, test fees and key dates, visit the UCAT website.  

UCL MBBS BSc Medicine: September 2025 entry 

On receipt of an application to study medicine, the UCL admissions team first checks that candidates meet the minimum academic entry requirements for the programme. We do not score or rank candidate’s GCSEs or A Levels. Achieving or being predicted to achieve higher than the minimum grade requirements does not confer any advantage within our selection procedure.  

2024/25 was the first year that UCLMS used UCAT scores for shortlisting, instead of the BMAT. Candidates who have applied to study Medicine starting in September 2025, completed the UCAT test during the testing period July - September 2024 and UCAT scores were sent to the University in November 2024. The total UCAT score was used to rank and select candidates to invite to interview. Where candidates achieved the same UCAT score, the SJT was used to further rank each candidate. Students achieving the following minimum total score were invited to interview (out of a total of 3600). 

• Access UCL (Contextual offers): 2600  
• Home: 2800  
• Overseas: 3060

The average score for all those applying to UCL for 2025 entry was 2859. UCAT test statistics provides information on decile distributions and percentile ranking. 

UCL MBBS BSc Medicine: September 2026 entry 

Due to the changes in the 2025 UCAT (the Abstract Reasoning section has been withdrawn) the total score available will be 2700 instead of the previous 3600.  

Please do be advised that previous UCAT scores are not indicative of future cohorts. With applicant cohorts changing year on year, resulting in variable UCAT score distributions, it is not possible to predict what minimum score might go on to achieve an interview in future years.  

UCAT preparation and resources 

The UCAT website has advice and resources available, plus question banks and practice tests. These resources are free to use.  

Assessment at Interview

Selected candidates are invited to interview on a weekday morning or afternoon. If you are successful at interview then you will be invited to an offer holder event where talks and tours of the Medical School will take place.

Following the interview the scores of the interviewers will be reviewed by the Admissions Tutor. Interviewers score the candidate for the following qualities:

• Academic curiosity and interest in healthcare
• Motivation for and understanding of a career in medicine (including robustness for the course)
• Problem solving and reasoning ability
• Professional attitudes and values (factors such as flexibility, integrity, empathy, honesty, conscientiousness and compassion)
• Team work, leadership, resilience and individual strengths
• Communication skills (including verbal ability, listening skills, eye contact)