HYMS Medicine: Entry Requirements & UCAT Cutoff (2027 Entry)

Offer: AAA including Biology and Chemistry, all three A-Levels taken in one sitting. Predicted applicants need at least AAB; applicants with achieved grades must have met AAA or be resitting to achieve it. ^[6]

The third A-Level can be any subject except General Studies, Applied Science, Citizenship and Critical Thinking, and must be distinct — Biology and Human Biology don't count as separate subjects. ^[7]

A-Levels must be completed within a three-year period; Year 12 may be repeated once with no restrictions. Year 13 repeaters must have achieved at least BBB at first sitting, with a B in every subject, and are expected to meet the balance of AAA in their resits. Where Biology/Chemistry were not in the first sitting, AAA must have been achieved first, with AA in Biology and Chemistry within one further year. ^[8]

EPQ offer (firm acceptance only): AAB — AA in Biology and Chemistry, B in the third subject — plus grade A in the EPQ. Not available to resitters; insurance choices must meet the standard AAA. ^[9]

Applicants whose education system has no GCSE equivalent, or who took an approved Access programme, are scored on an upscaled UCAT in place of the GCSE component for interview selection. ^[10]

Minimum grade 6/B in GCSE English Language and Maths. (Biology and Chemistry are required at A-Level, not separately at GCSE.) GCSE resits to meet the requirement are accepted. ^[25]

At least 6 GCSEs at grade 9/A* – 4/C (or equivalent) by the time of application. The best six achieved grades are then scored for interview selection (best five for the Gateway Year programme). ^[26]

No fixed minimum UCAT total. The UCAT total decile feeds the composite ranking (up to 35 points); HYMS does not look for a specific score and the interview threshold floats each year. ^[27]

SJT Band 4 is not accepted — only Bands 1, 2 or 3 are eligible. The SJT band also contributes up to 15 points to the composite. ^[28]

The UCAT must be sat in the calendar year of application — earlier scores are not carried over. ^[29]

Offer: 36 points with 6,6,5 at Higher Level, including 6 in both Biology and Chemistry (any third HL subject accepted). Predicted applicants need no lower than 35 with 6,6,5 HL (6 in Biology and Chemistry); achieved applicants must have met the offer or be resitting to achieve it. ^[11]

The IB must be completed within a three-year period. Year 13 repeaters must have achieved at least 31 points with 5,5,5 at Higher Level at first sitting (a 5 in every subject — no equivalence accepted). ^[12]

IB applicants without GCSE-equivalent qualifications also need Grade 5 in English Language A (or English Lang/Lit A) and in Maths, at Standard or Higher Level. ^[13]

Offer: BBB at Advanced Higher including Biology and Chemistry, plus AAAAB at Higher — or, where only two Advanced Highers are studied, AA in Advanced Higher Biology and Chemistry plus AAAAA at Higher. The Highers must already be achieved when you apply; Advanced Higher predictions must be no lower than BB in Biology and Chemistry. ^[14]

Highers and Advanced Highers must be completed within a three-year period; S5 may be repeated or restarted once with no restrictions. S6 repeaters must have achieved at least BC in Advanced Higher Biology and Chemistry at first sitting. ^[15]

A single BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate counts as the third subject alongside A-Level Biology and Chemistry: offer AA in Biology and Chemistry plus Distinction in the BTEC (predictions no lower than AA + Merit, or AB + Distinction). Applied Science is not accepted as the BTEC subject. ^[17]

A-Level + BTEC Year 13 repeaters must have achieved at least BB in the A-Levels and Merit in the BTEC at first sitting; everything completed within three years. ^[18]

Only approved Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) courses (nine listed providers) are accepted: 60 credits with at least 45 at level 3, Distinctions (or marks above 70%) in all level-3 modules. GCSE English Language and Maths at 6/B are still required; distance-learning Access courses are not accepted. ^[19]

The Access route is only open if you have not studied Biology/Chemistry A-Levels (or equivalent) or a relevant science degree in the 3 years before starting the Access course; career changers need 3+ years since their previous highest qualification. Access applicants are scored on an upscaled UCAT in place of the GCSE component. ^[20]

The Welsh Baccalaureate counts as a third A-Level: meet the offer with AAA in the A-Levels including Biology and Chemistry, or AA in Biology and Chemistry plus A in the Welsh Bacc; predictions no lower than AAB. ^[21]

Graduates need a 2:1 or better (achieved or predicted) plus BBB at A-Level in their initial sitting (a B in every subject; three distinct A-Levels completed within three years), and must show sufficient grounding in Biology and Chemistry — grade A at A-Level, equivalent degree content, or an approved combination. ^[22]

UK Biomedical Science degrees automatically meet the Biology/Chemistry grounding requirement; other degrees must be checked with HYMS before 31 September in the year of application. If your degree content isn't relevant, you're assessed on your Level 3 qualifications instead. ^[23]

Dentistry graduates can apply for a limited number of Year 2 entry places — full GDC registration, the MJDF or MFDS, and 1+ year of Core Dental Training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery are required, plus a CV by 31 September. ^[24]

Six Higher-level passes at H1 H1 H1 H2 H2 H2, with H1 in both Biology and Chemistry, achieved in a single sitting; grade O3 or better in English is also required. ^[16]

You must apply within 3 years of completing the qualification you intend to use for entry. ^[5]

Applicants must be 18 or over by 1 October of the year of enrolment; younger applicants are welcome to apply for deferred entry to meet this. ^[30]

Applicants who have previously enrolled on another medical degree (UK or overseas) must discuss their situation before applying and are only considered via the exceptional-circumstances process (deadline 25 September in the year of application). ^[31]

Medical-student transfers are not accepted from any other UK or international medical school. ^[32]