Admissions test requirements at UK medical schools

Our data table highlights admissions test requirements at UK medical schools

Keen to know which UK medical schools require the UCAT, BMAT or GMAT admissions tests, and compare how each school uses test results?

Our interactive data table can help you keep track of key information on admissions test usage at your target medical schools.

Important notes

Medical schools can change their entry requirements from time to time, so as you finalise your shortlist we always advise you to check target medical school websites for more details and latest updates.

For the big picture of how many UK medical schools are using each type of admissions test, see our chart of admissions test usage statistics.

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By default, this table displays information about all UK medical schools. To focus only on medical schools of interest, you can filter by medical school names. You can also filter by type of admissions test. To revert after applying any filter, and see all (unfiltered) results, use the 'Reset' button.

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Displaying 1 - 39 of 39 UK medical schools

Medical school	Admissions test	Admissions test usage notes
Aberdeen	UCAT	UCAT scores are considered in our selection for interview alongside actual and predicted academic achievement. A minimum UCAT cut-off score is NOT used. For more details, see the medical school's explanation of UCAT usage
Anglia Ruskin	UCAT	Applicants will be ranked by their UCAT score and a certain number will be invited to an Interview Day, provided they meet our main academic entry requirements. Applicants with an SJT score of Band 4 (lowest band) will not be invited for interview for September 2019 entry onwards.
Aston	UCAT	The UCAT will be considered alongside other required qualifications No further information given
Barts	UCAT	School-leavers/gap-year students are ranked with a 50:50 weighting of UCAT score and academic ability as measured by UCAS tariff. Candidates achieving a total UCAT score below the third decile are rejected. SJT score may form part of assessment at interview.
Birmingham	UCAT	Home applicants: Score allocated based on ranking the total of the scores for the four UCAT subtests. No cutoff. Scores are ranked into deciles. International applicants: Total score ranked in order to define a threshold. The result for the Situational Judgement Test contributes to the scoring at the interview stage.
Brighton and Sussex	BMAT	BMAT cut-off 16.1 for 2019 entry. Section one: a score of at least 3 or higher Section two: a score of at least 3 or higher Section three: a score of at least 2.5 C or higher
Bristol	UCAT	All subtests, except SJT, are considered with other academic qualifications. UCAT cut-off for interview was 2730 in 2019, though this changes every year.
Buckingham	No admissions test required	As explained in this medical school's website: "Please note that we do not require UKCAT or BMAT".
Cambridge	BMAT	No pass mark. Each college uses the BMAT differently. Refer to college website for specific guidance.
Cardiff	UCAT	UCAT is the admissions test required of most applicants; No minimum threshold for UCAT. GAMSAT is required for graduates.
Dundee	UCAT	There is no minimum UCAT cut-off score. UCAT must be taken in year of application, unless exempt as no test centre in applicant’s country.
Edge Hill	UCAT	Applicants who meet the minimum academic criteria will be ranked according to their UCAT scores. Applicants who meet the UCAT threshold will be invited to interview Any candidate scoring within band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test will be automatically rejected. The UCAT threshold will be extended for candidates who meet specific widening participation criteria.
Edinburgh	UCAT	Accepts all UCAT scores and has no minimum requirement. Considers the Situational Judgement section of the UCAT test separately. Applicants with Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test will not be considered for entry. Scores are ranked, students are divided into deciles and allocate a score (including for situational judgement banding). The points are then added to your academic score to contribute towards your final ranking for shortlisting and possible invitation to one of our Assessment Days. The total score an applicant achieved may be looked at again when final decisions are made and there are applicants with the same ranked score and limited places left to offer.
Exeter	GAMSAT, UCAT	UCAT required for direct school leavers. Applications are sorted according to academic profile and UCAT results in order to decide which applicants will receive an interview offer. GAMSAT required for applicants who took their A Levels more than 2 full academic years previously.
Glasgow	UCAT	Interviews are allocated accordingly by UCAT score for those that meet all other screening aspects.
Hull York	UCAT	Candidates with band 4 SJT are rejected. Candidates meeting academic requirements are ranked based on top 8 GCSE grades, UCAT, SJT, and contextual factors and invited to interview. 40% weight placed on UCAT when inviting candidates to interview.
Imperial	BMAT	Invitations to interview based on performance in all three sections of BMAT AND content of UCAS application. BMAT cut-off used: Minimum requirements for interview included a minimum score in each of the BMAT sections 1, 2 and 3 and a minimum sum of scores across sections 1 and 2.
Keele	BMAT, UCAT	UCAT: Home/EU applicants, Applicants with a total UCAT score < 2280 or SJT Band 4 will not be considered, Applicants not ranked on UCAT scores BMAT: International applicants GAMSAT: Graduate applicants not meeting A-Level / GCSE requirements must also sit UCAT or BMAT, as appropriate.
Kent and Medway	UCAT	Application of a ‘generous’ UCAT threshold to initially assess applications.
King's College	UCAT	No threshold UCAT score in any particular year. The overall UCAT score averaged across the four subtests is given more consideration than the individual subtest scores in shortlisting for interview. SJT is also considered when shortlisting.
Lancaster	BMAT	Once GCSE and/or A-Level requirements are met, students are ranked on overall BMAT score. Calculated by adding together the scores from Sections 1, 2 and 3 Cut-off score usually below BMAT average, around 10.5
Leeds	BMAT	Only contributes 5% to interview selection criteria. Applicants are ranked into BMAT quintiles – no cut-off used. GCSEs and A Level prediction make up remaining weight
Leicester	UCAT	50% of the pre-interview scoring system. Applicants scoring in the bottom two deciles of that year’s results are rejected. Applicants with SJT band 4 are typically rejected.
Lincoln	UCAT	Points awarded for both the UCAT and GCSE’s. Points awarded for each section of the UCAT + SJT. Lincoln is less competitive, the points required to receive an interview are lower than Nottingham.
Liverpool	UCAT	UCAT for non-graduates. GCSE scores and UCAT scores will be used to generate a score for applications for interview, weighted 3:1 in favour of academics over UCAT. Competitive score ~2400. GAMSAT for graduates
Manchester	UCAT	UCAT scores in approximately the top third of all results nationally, with Band 1/2 in SJT, normally required for interview if minimum academic requirements are met. Candidates with Band 4 in SJT are rejected. Applicants with SJT band 3 are welcome to apply, though priority given to applicants with Bands 1/2 in UCAT and holistic assessments. Candidates with UCAT scores not in the top third of results nationally are included in holistic assessment, using all the information available e.g. GCSE grades, A-level profile, additional qualifications, NAI form.
Newcastle	UCAT	Threshold for interview based on total UCAT score. Threshold may differ in each admission cycle as it is dependent on the scores achieved by those applicants who apply to this Medical School in the current cycle. The UCAT score is an integral part of the Newcastle admissions process. The A100 threshold for 2020 entry was 2730.
Norwich (UEA)	UCAT	No cut-off score, though high score is an advantage. Low score does not disqualify an applicant from consideration. The subsection scores may be used to rank the applicants for selection for interview. The overall score is used alongside the interview score to rank and select applicants to whom an offer is made. The SJT section score is included within the interview score.
Nottingham	UCAT	No fixed UCAT threshold score when selecting for interview as scores vary from year to year. The UCAT threshold is set in combination with GCSE scores. 40 points available based on each section of UCAT, 16 points based on top 8 GCSEs. Applicants with SJT band 4 are automatically rejected.
Oxford	BMAT	No formal cut-off. Suggested that average applicants should work towards a 6 in sections 1-2. Sections 1 and 2 receive greater weighting (40% each) than section 3 (20%).
Plymouth	GAMSAT, UCAT	UCAT for applicants with relevant Level 3 Qualifications (A Levels, Advanced Highers). Overall UCAT threshold score for interview allocation – usually in region of 2400. UCAT must be sat in year of application. SJT not specified. GAMSAT if Level 3 qualifications are more than 5 years old or if their current qualifications do not meet published requirements.
Queen’s Belfast	UCAT	Scored and used in conjunction with the GCSE score to rank for interview. 12.5% weight to UCAT, 87.5% weight to top 9 GCSEs. 4 points awarded for a grade 9, 3 points for a grade 7/8, 2 points for a grade 6 and 1 point for grades 4/5.
Sheffield	UCAT	Academic requirements AND UCAT above 2420 needed to get an interview. SJT band considered for those applicants invited to interview.
Southampton	UCAT	SJT not used! Applicants ranked by UCAT to determine who is invited to interview. UCAT and interview performance used in allocation of offers. Lowest UCAT receiving interview is ~2580.
St Andrews	UCAT	Applicants ranked by UCAT score & top 400 applicants invited to interview. Score of ~2400 usually required for interview. UCAT score used to differentiate between borderline interview scores.
St George's London	UCAT	SJT not used. Threshold score for interview is ~2500. Minimum of 500 in each section required.
Sunderland	UCAT	Scores must be within top 8 deciles. Applicants with SJT band 4 are not considered. Interviews allocated based on UCAT, R&R, & academic requirements.
UCL	BMAT	No cut-off system, though average UCL applicant score is 4.8, 4.8. 3A. Emphasis on section 3 of the BMAT, which can be discussed at interview.
UCLan	No admissions test required	No admissions test currently used.

Notes on admission tests

UCAT

Currently required by 77% (30/39) of UK medical schools (as shown in our chart of admissions test usage statistics), the UCAT is by far the most frequently required admissions test.

As explained by its developer UCAT Consortium, the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) "helps universities to select applicants with the most appropriate mental abilities, attitudes and professional behaviours required for new doctors ... to be successful in their clinical careers. It is used in collaboration with other admissions processes such as the UCAS application and academic qualifications."

BMAT

The BMAT is currently required by 21% (8/39) of UK medical schools (as shown in our chart of admissions test usage statistics).

As explained by its developer Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing, the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) evaluates "your ability to apply scientific and mathematical knowledge, as well as problem solving, critical thinking and written communication skills that are essential to university-level study."

GAMSAT

GAMSAT is sometimes required of atypical undergraduate applicants. Please check the table above for notes on exceptional circumstances where some undergraduate applicants may be required to take the GAMSAT.

As explained by its developer Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) "is designed to assess the capacity to undertake high-level intellectual studies in the medical and health professional programs."

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Important notes

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Notes on admission tests

UCAT

BMAT

GAMSAT

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