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This profile of Cardiff highlights this medical school's entry requirements, typical offers, student numbers, competition ratios, teaching and learning methods, course structure, demographics and history. Is Cardiff one of your target medical schools? This medical school can be added to or removed from your personal shortlist |
Cardiff University has the only medical school in Wales, drawing on a patient population of 3 million individuals. The course is highly patient-oriented, with clinical placements from first year onwards. As the course progresses, emphasis on clinical skills increases, giving students clinical responsibility in primary and secondary care throughout Wales. A key element of teaching at Cardiff is its non-modular spiral curriculum (C21), in which students revisit core themes in more detail in each year of the course. Case-based learning (CBL) is a key component of teaching at Cardiff.
Key information dashboard
For convenience, here is an at-a-glance summary of key information related to Cardiff medical school.
Links in this dashboard can help you check which other UK medical schools are similar to Cardiff with regard to points listed here.
Be sure to check our notes in sections below for more details about each of these points.
Cardiff medical school establishment date: 1893
Years of course: 5
Total medical students: 1585
Average year cohort: 317.0
Region: Wales (Cymru)
Subject prerequisites:
Biology (strictly required)Chemistry (strictly required)
Interview format:MMI
Admissions test:UCAT
A Level typical offer:AAA
Advanced Higher typical offer:AA
IB typical offer:36 points
General teaching method:
CBL, Integrated
Anatomy teaching:
Dissection
Intercalation mode:Optional intercalation
Typical offers
A Levels must include Chemistry and Biology.
Welsh Baccalaureate accepted in place of third A Level.
Critical Thinking, General Studies and Further Maths are not accepted.
Eight GCSEs at grade B/6 including Biology, Chemistry, and Maths, or equivalent qualifications.
Grade 6 (B) is required in Maths and English Language. If Welsh Language is offered, it must also be supplemented with English Language at a minimum of a grade 6 (B).
IB applicants must achieve 7,6,6 at Higher level. This must include grade 6 in Higher level Biology or Chemistry AND grade 6 in one other Higher level science from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, or Statistics.
Must also include grade 7 in SL Biology or Chemistry if not taken at Higher level.
All offers exclude Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay.
Academic and non-academic attainment of a candidate will be reviewed against educational performance data and socio-economic background to provide an overview of an applicant’s potential.
The medical school will consider this information when deciding whether to call a candidate for interview.
As explained in discussion of 'Contextual admissions' on the website, Cardiff "use contextual information as part of our commitment to widening participation, taking into account the context in which an applicant has achieved or will achieve their qualifications, to provide greater understanding of their potential to study an undergraduate degree programme with us."
Total students and cohort sizes at UK medical schools
For uniform comparison of medical student admissions each year across all UK medical schools, we rely on annual reports from the Office for Students (OfS) entitled 'Medical and dental intakes'.
| Admission year | Total students admitted this year | Home places | International places |
|---|---|---|---|
2020-21 |
330 students in this cohort | 300 Home students | 30 International students |
2019-20 |
315 students in this cohort | 285 Home students | 30 International students |
2018-19 |
320 students in this cohort | 295 Home students | 25 International students |
2017-18 |
325 students in this cohort | 300 Home students | 25 International students |
2016-17 |
295 students in this cohort | 275 Home students | 20 International students |
2015-16 |
305 students in this cohort | 280 Home students | 25 International students |
Competition data
Competition ratio data reported here is from the 2019-20 admissions cycle, as confirmed by MedSchoolGenie Freedom of Information (FOI) requests from this period.
Please note: Due to ongoing impact of Covid-19 since March 2020, UK medical schools have not yet released competition ratio data for the 2020-21 admissions cycle. Applicants should keep in mind that coronavirus-related lockdowns and other restrictions affected the entire UK education sector, so competition ratios were most likely distorted during 2020-21. MedSchoolGenie will update here when further competition data becomes available.
Applicant percentages of success
From reported competition ratios, it's possible to calculate percentages of success at various stages of the application process.
Numbers of applicants competing in latest admissions cycle
Based on reported numbers of applicants securing places, we can use competition ratios to estimate how many applicants have been competing at each stage of the most recent admissions cycle.
Please note: Estimates of competition factors from 2020 onwards may be less reliable than in previous years because UK medical schools have not yet reported competition ratios for the 2020-21 admissions cycle. MedSchoolGenie will update here when more recent data on competition ratios becomes available.
Teaching and learning
Integrated, in a spiral curriculum.
Case-based learning (CBL), revisiting core themes every year in more detail.
As explained in its overview of teaching methods, "We use a blend of teaching methods with small group teaching and case based learning. Learning is supported and reinforced by a coordinated programme of lectures, seminars, practicals, lab and clinical skills sessions, and relevant clinical experience.... Case based learning is a structured and supported method of learning. This method of learning in the clinical context makes it easier to recall knowledge. You will learn practical clinical skills such as communication, examination and practical procedural skills in clinical skill centres. Communication skills are taught by using actors who are trained to behave as patients."
As explained in discussion of intercalation on this medical school's website: "In an intercalated year, you complete a BSc in a medically related subject. You can do this after year three or year four of your MBBCh studies. Approximately 100 students intercalate each year, most studying BSc courses in Cardiff University or at Bangor University, with whom we have close links.... Top students can intercalate at other UK institutions for courses not offered here. "
Phase one (years one and two):
Phase one takes place in the first two years of the course, featuring core science and introduction to clinical practice. The theme of ‘Chronological Life Course' informs CBL in years one and two. Students have opportunities to undertake student selected components (SSCs) in every year of the course.
Phase two (years three and four):
Phase two occurs in years three and four, introducing an increasing amount of spent learning on clinical placements. Students return to Cardiff throughout phase two for complementary teaching on scientific principles. Emphasis is placed on, diagnostic methods and the management & treatment of common diseases.
Phase three (year five):
Phase three takes place in the year five, consolidating learning in preparation for FY1. Students take on an increasingly active role in clinical teams in their junior and senior assistantships.
Reported demographics
This chart highlights gender and disability data reported by Cardiff to the General Medical Council (GMC), which has compiled this information into spreadsheets as part of its medical school annual return (MSAR) data sets.
Please note this data is retrospective, and that future numbers can vary from preceding years.
For comparison, we also include below all demographic data reported by this medical school to General Medical Council.
| Reporting year | Female students | Male students | Students with declared disability | Students without declared disability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | 65.9% female students | 34.1% male students | 8.3% students with disability | 91.7% students without disability |
| 2016-17 | 66.4% female students | 33.6% male students | 8.5% students with disability | 91.5% students without disability |
Medical school history
Originally founded in 1893, and previously known as the Welsh National School of Medicine and the University of Wales College of Medicine, this medical school was re-amalgamated into Cardiff University in 2004.
To see how this compares chronologically, you can check our sortable overview of establishment dates at UK medical schools.