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This profile of Manchester highlights this medical school's entry requirements, typical offers, student numbers, competition ratios, teaching and learning methods, course structure, demographics and history. Is Manchester one of your target medical schools? This medical school can be added to or removed from your personal shortlist |
Admitting over 400 medical students each year, Manchester is the largest medical school in the UK. Within its five year, integrated curriculum, Manchester's course sets itself apart with its unique European Studies programme, in which students are supported in learning a second language prior to training in a Spanish, French, or German clinical attachment in the final year of the course. The university is proud to teach anatomy through full body dissection, alongside prosections, skeletal materials, and anatomical models. Teaching is delivered through PBL, lectures, practical classes, and clinical placements.
Key information dashboard
For convenience, here is an at-a-glance summary of key information related to Manchester medical school.
Links in this dashboard can help you check which other UK medical schools are similar to Manchester with regard to points listed here.
Be sure to check our notes in sections below for more details about each of these points.
Manchester medical school establishment date: 1824
Years of course: 5
Total medical students: 1945
Average year cohort: 389.0
Region: North West
Subject prerequisites:
Biology (acceptable option)Chemistry (acceptable option)Maths (acceptable option)Physics (acceptable option)Psychology (acceptable option)
Interview format:MMI
Admissions test:UCAT
A Level typical offer:AAA
Advanced Higher typical offer:AA
IB typical offer:37 points
General teaching method:
Integrated, PBL
Anatomy teaching:
Dissection
Intercalation mode:Optional intercalation
Typical offers
A Levels must include Chemistry or Biology / Human Biology, a second science from Chemistry, Biology or Human Biology, Physics, Psychology, Maths or Further Maths.
Offer will not accept combinations of very similar subjects: for example, Biology and Human Biology, or Maths and Further Maths together.
GCSE results must include 7 subjects at grade 7 (A) or A* (8+).
English Language, Maths + two science subjects are required at grade 6 (B).
If Dual Award Science or Core and Additional Science are offered, minimum required is BB (66).
Advanced Highers must be completed by the end of S6.
Scottish Highers must be completed by the end of S5, to be achieved in the same sitting at first attempt.
National 5 results must include English language, and any science subject (Maths, Chemistry or Biology) not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at National 5.
IB applicants must achieve 7,6,6 at Higher level.
If Maths and English Language are not offered as part of the Diploma, they should be offered at GCSE or IGCSE at grade B or above.
Major subjects must include Chemistry or Biology, plus another science and one further subject at Higher Level.
Both maths options are accepted as part of the Diploma.
As explained on the website, Manchester Access Programme is a targeted work experience scheme in Preston.
Automatic contextual offers (normally AAB or ABB) for candidates who meet specific Widending Participation criteria.
Manchester also participates in the UKWPMED scheme.
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 |
440 students in this cohort | 390 Home students | 50 International students |
2019-20 |
395 students in this cohort | 350 Home students | 45 International students |
2018-19 |
385 students in this cohort | 360 Home students | 25 International students |
2017-18 |
350 students in this cohort | 315 Home students | 35 International students |
2016-17 |
375 students in this cohort | 345 Home students | 30 International students |
2015-16 |
370 students in this cohort | 335 Home students | 35 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
Study in Europe option unique to Manchester.
Dissection, Lectures, PBL, self-directed learning, early clinical experience.
Intercalation after years 2, 3, or 4.
As explained on the website overview of teaching and learning, "We use a wide range of learning techniques, but the key Manchester approach is the study of themed case discussions in small groups where you are a proactive learner. This is supported throughout your course by lectures, practical classes (including anatomy dissection) and clinical experience."
As explained in discussion of intercalation on this medical school's website, "You can apply to take an intercalated degree after the second, third or fourth year of your course.... Most students intercalate on courses within The University of Manchester, but, as long as the content of the degree differs sufficiently to courses offered at Manchester, you can also intercalate at another institution. However, students who decide to intercalate externally will not be considered for the full range of bursary funding offered by Manchester."
Years one and two:
In the first two years at Manchester students are based at the Oxford Road campus, completing modules in ‘Life Cycle' and ‘Cardiovascular Fitness' in a partially systems based fashion. Topics include cellular & molecular medicine, genetic disease, and cancer. Students can develop their ‘Personal Excellence Paths' in year two by appraising literature, academic writing, and presentation skills. Students can apply to take an intercalated degree after the second year.
Year three:
Year three marks a transition in learning, with the majority of teaching taking place on clinical placements. Students are based at a hospital, learning about the diagnosis and treatment of common conditions. Later in the year, students are introduced to more complex clinical cases with three four-week placements in acute care and surgery. Students can apply to take an intercalated degree after the third year.
Year four:
Year four aims to broaden students' clinical experience, introducing specialties such as paediatrics, mental health, oncology, and women's health. Students also undertake an elective in year four, providing an opportunity to experience healthcare outside the NHS.Students can apply to take an intercalated degree after the fourth year.
Year five:
The fifth and final year at Manchester aims to prepare students for national exams and Prescribing Safety Assessments. Student assistantships allow integration into clinical teams prior to foundation training, under the supervision of practising doctors, giving experience of shift work and being on call.
Reported demographics
This chart highlights gender and disability data reported by Manchester 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 | 51.1% female students | 48.9% male students | 18.1% students with disability | 81.9% students without disability |
| 2016-17 | 48.8% female students | 51.2% male students | 12.1% students with disability | 87.9% students without disability |
Medical school history
The medical school was established in 1824. Previously, medical teaching began in 1752, when Charles White founded the Manchester Royal Infirmary as the first modern hospital in the Manchester area.