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Our interactive data table provides an overview of policies to increase diversity of students at UK medical schools

Would you like to check how UK medical schools try to assist a broader range of applicants with securing places?

Our interactive data table can help you keep track of policies to increase diversity at UK medical schools.

Important notes

In our data table, we include notes with links to UK medical school websites —  follow these for more details on 'Widening access', 'Widening participation", and 'Contextual offers' at your target medical schools.

If you would like to know about the big picture, check our brief history of widening access and participation.

You can adjust this interactive table

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. To revert after applying any filter, and see all (unfiltered) results, use the 'Reset' button.

Displaying 1 - 39 of 39 UK medical schools

Medical school Notes about widening access
Aberdeen

Criteria for widening participation: SIMD20 postcode or attends a Reach school or is care experienced.
As explained in discussion of 'Widening access' on its website, this medical school makes lower special offers to applicants who meet criteria: "SIMD20 and care experienced applicants will recieve a 10% uplift on their UCAT score. Scottish domcilied applicants are guaranteed an interview if they have achieved the minimum academic requirements and UCAT score within the top 75% of scores of all applicants to Aberdeen."

Anglia Ruskin

Depending on their circumstances, applicants eligible for the Widening Access to Medicine Scheme (WAMS) may be offered (if successful at interview) a lower conditional offer at A level of ABB rather than AAA.
As explained on its 'Widening Access to Medicine' questionnaire,  "Anglia Ruskin University is committed to widening access as part of our educational mission. Recruitment of students to the School of Medicine will reflect this mission but students will always be subject to meeting the course entry requirements or lower Widening Access to Medicine Scheme Conditional offer and the demonstration of aptitude and ability."

Aston

As explained in discussion of 'Widening participation' on its website, "In keeping with our vision of being a socially inclusive medical school, we aim to offer 40% of our UK/EU places each year to students who meet specified widening participation criteria. Preference will be given to our local students including those who are on the Sir Doug Ellis Pathway to Healthcare Programme."

Barts

Barts has 'Bridge the Gap' and 'Realising Opportunities' schemes in place. Students on these schemes may receive a contextual offer.
As explained in discussion of 'Contextual offers' on the website, medical school applicants "must score 3 points from at least two of our contextual criteria, or successful completion of the Realising Opportunities Programme." 

Birmingham

Medicine students can be recruited via a number of outreach schemes; for more information, see Pathways to Birmingham.
As explained in discussion of outreach and 'Widening participation' on the website, this medical school has a range of resources and activities to "encourage school and college pupils to discover more about research and education in biomedical science and healthcare. We are committed to supporting all pupils, irrespective of their backgrounds and with the academic potential to achieve success on our degree programmes, to access and engage with an excellent higher education experience."

Brighton and Sussex

BrightMed and BrightIdeas are programmes for students with non-traditional and disadvantaged backgrounds to make a competitive application to medicine.
Along with assessing the candidate's academic profile, any contextual data that may enhance the application will also be sought.  If applicants meet Widening Participation criteria, they will accept AAB at A-level (including Biology and Chemistry), IB 35 points (including Biology and Chemistry), and GCSE Grade 5 (C) in Maths and English.
As explained in discussion of 'Widening participation' on the website, "BSMS is committed to seeking out talented people who have the potential to become tomorrow’s doctors but who may not have considered it as a possibility, thus enabling medicine to better reflect the patient population."

Bristol

As part of 'Widening Participation', some applicants may be eligible for lower contextual offer of ABB / AAC.  
This contextual offer must include A in Chemistry and A/B in Biology, Physics or Mathematics.
As explained in discussion of 'Widening participation' on the website, Bristol's "mission is to diversify the student body at the University of Bristol by empowering and supporting prospective students from underrepresented backgrounds to access university".

Buckingham

Not available

Cambridge

No formal access to medicine programme, though contextual factors are considered.
Relevant applications receive contextual flags based on individual, socio-economic and educational disadvantage.
As explained in discussion of 'Widening participation' on the website, Cambridge "always encouraged applications from under-represented groups – long before the government’s formalised programmes to widen access to a university education." The university delivers a Medicine Summer School with the Sutton Trust, alongside a number of other subject-specific outreach interventions.

Cardiff

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."

Dundee

Widening access factors are considered prior to interview.
As explained in discussion of 'Widening access' on the website, Dundee coordinates several Widening Access programmes: "If you have the drive and ambition, we want to help you succeed and look forward to helping you. To achieve these aims we coordinate the following programmes: Access Summer SchoolOSSReachACESDiscovering DegreesDLAD."

Edge Hill

Widening Participation (WP) criteria may be used to compensate against your UCAT score.
As explained in discussion of 'Widening Participation' on the website, "Edge Hill University runs a two-year Widening Access to Medicine programme which is designed to support local students from state schools who have the ability and personal attributes to be successful in their application for a place in medical school. For more information on the WAM programme, please visit our dedicated webpages."

Edinburgh

As explained on the University website, Edinburgh considers the following factors when making widening access offers:
"Your home postcode: we look at whether or not you live in a geographical area of the UK that is defined by government data as being an area of deprivation.
Your school or college: we look at the academic attainment and, in some cases, the percentage of students from your school or college who progress to higher education.
Whether you are care experienced.
Whether you are a refugee or an asylum seeker
Whether you have completed a Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) or University of Edinburgh Access Programme.
Whether you are eligible for support from Lothians Equal Access Programme for Schools (LEAPS)."
The minimum entry requirements for widening access applicants are: SQA Highers: AAABB by end of S5 and CC at Advanced Higher. A Levels: AAB. IB: 36 overall with 666 at HL.

Exeter

Factors considered for 'Contextual offers' include the following: 
Care experienced.
School or college where A Levels were taken.
Completion of progression scheme.
AABBB in Scottish Highers and BBB in Scottish Advanced Highers are typical offers for Widening Participation applicants.
As explained in discussion of 'Widening Participation' on the website, Exeter "is committed to enabling social mobility through education" and has detailed 'Access and Participation' plans. See explanations of 'Contextual offers' for full details of criteria used when making adjusted offers.

Glasgow

As explained on the website, Glasgow is committed to widening participation and participates in Reach programme aiming to increase access to Medicine and other professional training.
Factors taken into consideration include care experience, postcode deprivation.

Hull York

As explained on the website, the selection procedures are based on commitment to 'Widening Participation' (WP).  These procedures take account educational, social, health or other personal disadvantage. 
Applicants who meet Contextual Data markers receive additional points in the selection for interview and at interview. 
Applicants who attend specified WP Residentials or listed WP programme and receive a UCAT result of Decile 3 or higher are eligible for a fast track to interview, additional points at interview and our Contextual Offer.

Imperial

As explained on the website, "admissions schemes allow us to look beyond purely academic achievements and consider your performance in context – taking into account factors such as your economic, social and educational background" 
A contextual offer of AAA rather than A*AA may be available.
Widening participation candidates are flagged at application stage and this may be a factor at short-listing stage.
The medical school is involved in the Pathways to Medicine scheme.

Keele

As explained on the website, students with specific indicators of educational and socio-economic disadvantage may be eligible for adjustments to entry criteria.

Kent and Medway

As explained on the website, this medical school applies  "contextualisation to school average" to all applicants.  Along with assessing your academic profile, relevant contextual data will be sought that may enhance your application.  This "contextualise everyone" method considers every applicant's GCSE or A level attainment in comparison to their school average attainment, with significant effect on widening participation.

King's College

As explained on the website. numerous widening participation schemes are available.
Prospective applicants who have taken part in widening participation programmes within King's, are part of Realising Opportunities, or who believe they meet any other widening participation criteria should contact the admissions team for advice before making an application.

Lancaster

As explained on the website, this medical school has a contextual offer scheme for applicants who meet two or more widening participation criteria.
Lancaster also runs a range of activities, including a Summer School, to help widening participation students prepare to apply.

Leeds

As explained on the website, Access to Leeds applicants receive special consideration & those who receive an offer are given an ABB offer alongside their standard offer.
The Interdisciplinary Science with Foundation Year BSc allows internal transfer.

Leicester

As explained on the website, AccessLeicester: Medicine allows for contextual data to be used in selecting for interview and at offer stage.
Applicants on the Realising Opportunities Programme and MEDLEAP access programmes are automatically invited to interview, as long as they do not obtain SJT band 4 or a UCAT score in the bottom 20% nationally.

Lincoln

As explained on the university website: "We make contextual offers for our five-year medicine courses – A100 and A10L. This offer will be conditional on you making Nottingham your firm choice." Applicants eligible for the Widening Participation Flag may be accepted with predicated grades of AAB with at least one A in either Biology or Chemistry or IB - 35 (6,6,5 at Higher Level including 6 in either Biology or Chemistry, excluding core component) and may be given a corresponding lower contextual offer following interview.

Liverpool

As explained on the website, Liverpool medical school gives special consideration to Liverpool Scholars and students on the Realising Opportunities programme. It also  "provides a number of summer schools and school outreach activities, including Destination Medicine and the Merseyside Young Medics Programme".  

University of Liverpool uses contextual data in the admissions process

Manchester

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.

Newcastle

As explained on the website, contextual data (socioeconomic, school or college and/or personal or family circumstances) is considered to set each student’s academic achievements in context. Together with information from the UCAS application, this informs the offers throughout the admission process.
PARTNERS scheme applicants may attract a slightly lower UCAT threshold for interview.
Those made an offer must pass a summer school and would have received a lower A level conditional offer.

Norwich (UEA)

As explained on the website, A104 Gateway programme available to students that meet eligibility criteria.  
The medical school runs the Medical Aspirations Programme, supporting Year 12 students on their path to study medicine.
This is part of the university's commitment to Widening Participation.
 

Nottingham

As explained on the website, Nottingham has an active Widening Participation initiative for medicine applicants.  If an applicant is eligible for the University of Nottingham Widenind Participation flag, allowance made for predicated grades of AAB with at least one A in either Biology or Chemistry or IB - 35 (6,6,5 at Higher Level including 6 in either Biology or Chemistry, excluding core component) and applicant may be given a corresponding lower contextual offer following interview.
To qualify for a contextual offer, you must have Home/UK fee status and have attended a state school.
You live in an area where people are less likely to go to university (see Postcode checker)
You have taken part in a summer school with Sutton Trust, UNIQ, Realising Opportunities or Nottingham Potential
You have refugee status from the Home Office
You have spent more than three months in care. In this situation, you do not need to have attended a state school.

Oxford

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.

Plymouth

As explained on the website, Plymouth is committed to Widening Participation and ensuring that all students with the potential to succeed, regardless of background, are encouraged to apply. Additional information gained through contextual data enables Admissions Advisory Panel to recognise a student’s achievements and identify their potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Contextual data is consulted when determining to issue an AAB offer, based on the criteria outlined in the 'Widening access' section of entry requirements for this medical school.

Queen’s Belfast

As explained on the website, this medical school "has in place various pathways for those candidates who have taken their GCSEs at certain secondary schools in Northern Ireland." Applicants educated at a secondary school in Northern Ireland to at least Year 12 will be short-listed on the basis of AS level grades, UCAT and A level predictions, rather than GCSE performance.

Sheffield

As explained on the website, schemes such as Discover Medicine and Realising Opportunities encourage applications from under-represented groups. There are dedicated courses at Sheffield Hallam University & the University of Bradford that permit entry to Medicine course, via UCAS.

Southampton

As explained on its website, Southampton uses contextual data as part of its commitment to widening participation.  Contextual offers may be made at AAB. Southampton also provides a  gateway programme with BBB offer.

St Andrews

As explained on the website, St Andrews is committed to reducing and eliminating barriers to entry for students with the potential to succeed. Based on contextual admissions policy, some applicants may be given lower offers. St Andrews is involved in the Reach scheme.For more information, see notes about contextual requirements.

St George's London

As explained on the website, St George's has two widening participation schemes (Contextual Offer and Contextual Consideration), both open to undergraduate applicants. Medical school entry criteria based on  'Adjusted Criteria List' for students attending low-performing non-selective schools allow some applicants A-Level offers of AAB.

Sunderland

As explained on the website, Sunderland is committed to Widening Participation and has initiatives to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds.  Eligible students attending the Online Medicine summer school are guaranteed an interview, subject to meeting the GCSE, A Level and UCAT requirement.

UCL

As explained on the website, UCL is committed to widening participation and Access UCL scheme enables AAB offer, with AA in Biology and Chemistry.
UCL Medical School's summer school, Target Medicine, includes a Mentoring Scheme, Summer School and Summer Challenge.

UCLan

As explained on the website, UCLan Pathways to Medicine programme is designed for students who are from backgrounds that are under-represented at universities. Four regional UK scholarships offering full tuition fees and a maintenance grant are available.
Home applicants are invited to complete a widening participation form if they wish to be considered against these criteria.
Note: Home applicants must be residents in the North West of England.

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