Pathways to Medicine at Sutton Trust: eligibility, deadline and what it gives you
Pathways to Medicine is the Sutton Trust's free two-year programme for Year 12 state school students, delivered in 2026 to 2028 by Imperial, Leicester, Liverpool and Nottingham. It includes work experience, monthly skills workshops, UCAT preparation, a mentor, a summer residential and personal statement support. Completing it brings a lower offer at Leicester, Liverpool and Nottingham, with a guaranteed interview at Leicester; the Sutton Trust's separate one-week Summer Schools, applied for in early 2027, are recognised by Cardiff, Nottingham and others.
- Closes
- 2 Nov 2026
- For
- Year 12 students, medicine
- Where
- London, East Midlands, North West, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber
- Gives you
- Lower offer
What you get
Completing Pathways to Medicine gives you a lower offer for medicine at Sutton Trust.
- Leicester: guaranteed interview, an AAA offer instead of A*AA and a £1,000 a year bursary
- Liverpool: AAB offer instead of AAA and 12 GCSE points instead of 15 for its own cohort; other Pathways completers get the GCSE reduction only
- Nottingham: ABB offer instead of AAA; Imperial states no admissions benefit
- Sutton Trust Summer Schools (applications about Jan to Mar 2027) give a guaranteed interview at Cardiff for Medicine and Dentistry, ABB plus a bursary at Nottingham and minimum entry at St Andrews
To get it, you must
- Leicester: be predicted AAB or above with the GCSE minima, and score in the top 7 UCAT deciles with SJT band 1 to 3
Who can apply
You need to
- Live within 90 minutes of Imperial, Leicester, Liverpool or Nottingham
- Be in Year 12 and have always attended a state school
- Be studying Chemistry and Biology A-level (Leicester accepts one of them with Physics, Maths or Psychology)
- Have 5 GCSEs at grade 6 or above including English and Maths
Plus at least one of
- First in family to university
- Free school meals
- Low-progression school
- Deprived postcode
- Care-experienced
- Low household income
- Young carer
What it involves
- Complete the two-year programme by 1 December of Year 13
Dates
- Applications open
- 1 Sep 2026
- Applications close
- 2 Nov 2026
- Programme runs
- Nov 2026 to early 2028, with a summer residential in Jul 2027. Leicester closes 26 Oct; Imperial has closed
- Apply to university
- UCAS deadline 15 October 2027 for 2028 entry
How to apply
Apply through the Sutton Trust Pathways to Medicine page. It is run by Sutton Trust with Imperial, Leicester, Liverpool and Nottingham. Questions go to applications@suttontrust.com.
Frequently asked questions
Does Pathways to Medicine guarantee an interview?
Yes, if you complete the programme and meet its academic conditions. Leicester: guaranteed interview, an AAA offer instead of A*AA and a £1,000 a year bursary.
Who is eligible for Pathways to Medicine?
Live within 90 minutes of Imperial, Leicester, Liverpool or Nottingham. You need to be in Year 12 and have always attended a state school, be studying Chemistry and Biology A-level (Leicester accepts one of them with Physics, Maths or Psychology), have 5 GCSEs at grade 6 or above including English and Maths, and meet at least one of its widening participation criteria, such as first in family to university, free school meals, low-progression school.
When is the Pathways to Medicine deadline?
Applications close on 2 Nov 2026. They opened on 1 Sep 2026. The programme then runs nov 2026 to early 2028, with a summer residential in Jul 2027. Leicester closes 26 Oct; Imperial has closed.
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