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This profile of Oxford highlights this medical school's entry requirements, typical offers, student numbers, competition ratios, teaching and learning methods, course structure, demographics and history. Is Oxford one of your target medical schools? This medical school can be added to or removed from your personal shortlist |
Oxford's traditional medical programme has an international reputation, almost always ranked among the top ten courses globally. The course is delivered over six years, with the first three years of the course culminating in a BA degree. Prospective students should note that applications are made to individual colleges, so attention should be paid to specific entry requirements and places available to maximise chances of success. Alternatively, open applications can be made in which no college is specified. Course highlights include the college tutorial system, in which students are taught by Oxford faculty in groups of two to four.
Key information dashboard
For convenience, here is an at-a-glance summary of key information related to Oxford medical school.
Links in this dashboard can help you check which other UK medical schools are similar to Oxford with regard to points listed here.
Be sure to check our notes in sections below for more details about each of these points.
Oxford medical school establishment date: 1946
Years of course: 6
Total medical students: 1105
Average year cohort: 184.2
Region: South East
Subject prerequisites:
Biology (acceptable option)Chemistry (strictly required)Maths (acceptable option)Physics (acceptable option)
Interview format:Traditional interview
Admissions test:BMAT
A Level typical offer:A*AA
Advanced Higher typical offer:AA
IB typical offer:39 points
General teaching method:
Traditional
Anatomy teaching:
Prosection
Intercalation mode:Required intercalation
Typical offers
A Levels must be achieved in one sitting, to include Chemistry, plus at least one of Biology, Physics or Maths.
Excludes Critical Thinking or General Studies.
Number and proportion of GCSE passes at 8/9 (A*) are used with BMAT score in the first stage of shortlisting.
Note: As explained on the website overview of the shortlisting procedures, where school performance data are available, GCSE attainment will be measured relative to the average attainment at the candidate's school.
Advanced Highers must include Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Maths.
Scottish Higher subjects not specified
National 5 grades will be considered by admissions tutors alongside all other aspects of the application.
IB must achieve 7,6,6 at Higher Level, with total score including core points.
Candidates are required to take Chemistry and a second science (Biology or Physics or Maths) to Higher Level.
As explained on the website, Oxford has many activities to support Widening access including outreach initiatives and particular support to students in the UK from lower income households with the Oxford Opportunity Bursaries.
Offers take into account several factors: information about the applicant’s school; information about the applicant’s neighbourhood; an applicant’s experience in the care system.
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 |
195 students in this cohort | 185 Home students | 10 International students |
2019-20 |
190 students in this cohort | 185 Home students | 5 International students |
2018-19 |
190 students in this cohort | 180 Home students | 10 International students |
2017-18 |
175 students in this cohort | 170 Home students | 5 International students |
2016-17 |
175 students in this cohort | 165 Home students | 10 International students |
2015-16 |
180 students in this cohort | 165 Home students | 15 International students |
2014-15 |
175 students in this cohort | 155 Home students | 20 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
First 3 years are part of pre-clinical tripos, culminating in BA.
Final 3 years are clinical.
As explained in its overview of pre-clinical teaching, students during pre-clinical years learn through "a series of lectures, practicals and college tutorials [that] ... provide you with the knowledge and understanding that you need to make a start in clinical medicine. The course will provide you with an understanding of science and of scientific method that will both prepare you for a world where medical practice is rapidly evolving and enable you, perhaps, to make your own distinctive contributions to that evolution."
As described in its overview of clinical teaching and learning, during these latter clinical years there is "emphasis on self-directed learning and evaluation of medical literature ... you are expected to become competent in searching for and evaluating information, so that you are equipped to assess advances in medical practice throughout your professional career. The core clinical curriculum is taught and assessed during the first two and half years. During the last six months of the course you pursue subjects of interest including your elective...."
As explained in discussion of intercalation on this medical school's website, "an intercalated degree... is completed by our own medical students as an integral part of their pre-clinical course and ... not available as a freestanding qualification."
Pre-Clinical phase (years one, two, and three):
The first three years at Oxford are pre-clinical, focussing on the science that underpins medical practice. Modules include ‘Organisation of the Body', ‘Physiology and Pharmacology', and ‘Biochemistry and Medical Genetics', among others. Teaching is delivered through a mixture of lectures, college tutorials, practicals, and self-directed study. From 2021 onwards, Oxford medical students will no longer be able to transfer to London medical schools to complete their clinical medical training.
Clinical phase (years four, five, and six):
Years four through six are taught in the Oxford University Hospitals NHS, with some teaching taking place in Northampton, Swindon, and Reading. Emphasis is placed on the use of evidence based Medicine in patient care. Students are able to pursue areas of clinical interest in the last six months of the course with an elective, before commencing FY1.
Reported demographics
This chart highlights gender and disability data reported by Oxford 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 | 51.9% female students | 48.1% male students | 10.2% students with disability | 89.8% students without disability |
| 2016-17 | 49.0% female students | 51.0% male students | 9.6% students with disability | 90.4% students without disability |
Medical school history
The current structure of the medical school at Oxford was established in 1946. Previously, medicine was taught here through various periods since the 13th century but was dormant during the 19th century.