Preparing for Medicine at East Anglia: eligibility, deadline and what it gives you
Preparing for Medicine is an 18-month programme run by the University of East Anglia with Anglia Ruskin University and the Medical Schools Council for Year 12 students at state schools in England from under-represented backgrounds. It runs from March to September with three in-person days, two online events and a five-day summer school at UEA or ARU, followed by e-mentoring from a medical student into Year 13. Students who engage with all of it and meet the entry requirements are guaranteed an interview for Medicine at UEA.
- Closes
- Opens soon
- For
- Year 12 students, medicine
- Where
- East of England
- Gives you
- Guaranteed interview
What you get
Completing Preparing for Medicine gives you a guaranteed interview for medicine at East Anglia.
- Guaranteed interview for Medicine (A100) and Medicine with a Gateway Year (A104)
- Guaranteed-interview applicants are not ranked by UCAT for interview
- The MSC listing says ARU Medicine also gives a guaranteed interview, though ARU's own pages do not state it
- Free, with transport to events paid for; completion also counts as a contextual criterion for A104
To get it, you must
- Meet the entry requirements
- Reach the 80% engagement threshold across the programme
Who can apply
You need to
- Attend a state school in England, with priority for Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex
- Be in Year 12 at a non-selective state school in England
- Be capable of predicted BBC at A-level with GCSE English and Maths at grade 5
Plus at least two of
Care-experienced, or estranged from parents, or refugee or asylum seeker qualifies on its own.
- Care-experienced
- Estranged from parents
- Refugee or asylum seeker
- Low-progression school
- Deprived postcode
- Young carer
- First in family to university
- Free school meals or low household income
What it involves
- Attend every event, including the five-day summer school
Dates
- Applications open
- Late 2026, date not published
- Applications close
- Not published, last cycle 30 November 2025
- Programme runs
- Mar to Sep 2027, with a five-day summer school in May or July, then e-mentoring to Year 13
- Apply to university
- UCAS deadline 15 October 2027 for 2028 entry
How to apply
Apply through the Preparing for Medicine page. It is run by UEA Faculty of Medicine and Health outreach with ARU and the Medical Schools Council. Questions go to fmh.outreach@uea.ac.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Does Preparing for Medicine guarantee an interview?
Yes, if you complete the programme and meet its academic conditions. Guaranteed interview for Medicine (A100) and Medicine with a Gateway Year (A104).
Who is eligible for Preparing for Medicine?
Attend a state school in England, with priority for Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. You need to be in Year 12 at a non-selective state school in England, be capable of predicted BBC at A-level with GCSE English and Maths at grade 5, and meet at least two of its widening participation criteria, such as care-experienced, estranged from parents, refugee or asylum seeker.
When is the Preparing for Medicine deadline?
This cycle's closing date has not been published. Not published, last cycle 30 November 2025. Applications late 2026, date not published.
Not sure this one fits?
The widening participation explorer lists all 60 UK programmes and filters them by where you live, your year group and your background.
Open the explorer