Pathways to Birmingham: eligibility, deadline and what it gives you
Pathways to Birmingham is the University of Birmingham's suite of access programmes: Access to Birmingham (A2B) for Year 13 students in the West Midlands, Belong at Birmingham for final-year students elsewhere, and the National Access Summer School (NASS), a four-day residential for Year 12 students across England and Wales. A2B runs through Year 13 with a launch day, an online study module and an academic activity; NASS 2027 opens for applications in January 2027. Completing any of them gives a second, lower offer of ABB for Medicine or Dentistry, and NASS completers also get a guaranteed interview.
- Closes
- 12 Nov 2026
- For
- Year 12 to 13 and adults students, medicine and dentistry
- Where
- England and Wales
- Gives you
- Lower offer, then ABB instead of AAA
What you get
Completing Pathways to Birmingham gives you a lower offer and an offer of ABB instead of AAA for medicine and dentistry.
- Two offers for Medicine A100 and Dentistry A200: the standard AAA and a Pathways offer of ABB including Chemistry and a second science, with predicted grades of at least BBB
- NASS completers are guaranteed an interview for Medicine and Dentistry; A2B and Belong give special consideration and interview support sessions only
- Dentistry also drops the GCSE bar to 7 GCSEs at 4 or above, with English, Maths, Chemistry and Biology at 5 and any two at 7
- Up to £3,500 a year on the course (Chamberlain Award and Pathways Scholarship)
To get it, you must
- Make Birmingham your UCAS firm choice to take up the lower offer and the scholarships
Who can apply
You need to
- Attend a Pathways to Birmingham partner state school in England or Wales
- Be at a Pathways to Birmingham partner school and have taken GCSEs at a non-selective state school
- Have 7 GCSEs including English Language, Maths, Chemistry and Biology at 7755 for Medicine
Plus at least three of
Care-experienced qualifies on its own.
- Care-experienced
- Free school meals
- Low-progression school
- Deprived postcode
- First in family to university
- Low household income
- Disabled or long-term health condition
- Estranged from parents
- Young carer
Dates
- Applications open
- Open now for A2B; NASS 2027 opens January 2027
- Applications close
- 12 Nov 2026
- Programme runs
- A2B through Year 13; NASS residential in Jul 2027, dates not published (20 to 23 Jul in 2026)
- Apply to university
- UCAS deadline 15 October 2026 for 2027 entry
How to apply
Apply through the Access to Birmingham page. It is run by Birmingham Outreach with the Medical and Dental Schools. Questions go to a2b@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Does Pathways to Birmingham guarantee an interview?
Yes, if you complete the programme and meet its academic conditions. Two offers for Medicine A100 and Dentistry A200: the standard AAA and a Pathways offer of ABB including Chemistry and a second science, with predicted grades of at least BBB.
Who is eligible for Pathways to Birmingham?
Attend a Pathways to Birmingham partner state school in England or Wales. You need to be at a Pathways to Birmingham partner school and have taken GCSEs at a non-selective state school, have 7 GCSEs including English Language, Maths, Chemistry and Biology at 7755 for Medicine, and meet at least three of its widening participation criteria, such as care-experienced, free school meals, low-progression school.
When is the Pathways to Birmingham deadline?
Applications close on 12 Nov 2026. They opened open now for a2b; nass 2027 opens january 2027. The programme then runs a2B through Year 13; NASS residential in Jul 2027, dates not published (20 to 23 Jul in 2026).
What offer do Pathways to Birmingham students get?
Students who complete the programme are made an offer of ABB instead of AAA. Two offers for Medicine A100 and Dentistry A200: the standard AAA and a Pathways offer of ABB including Chemistry and a second science, with predicted grades of at least BBB
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