Keele Medicine: Entry Requirements & UCAT Cutoff (2027 Entry)
Last cycle
Keele Medicine at a glance
Entry requirements
Selection · how they rank for interview
Keele shortlists home applicants on a score out of 25:
2- UCAT - up to 7 points (score quintile up to 5, SJT band up to 2).
- Contextual markers - up to 3 points.
- Personal statement - up to 15 points, scored by Keele against its person specification.
2026 thresholds Home 15/25
Most of the marks (15 of 25) come from the personal statement, which we can't assess - our rating covers the other 10 points (UCAT up to 7, contextual markers up to 3).
Contextual adjustments apply to this ranking.
Full requirements, with sources
A-Levels
- You must be taking a first subject from Biology or Chemistry, a second from Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Maths/Further Maths/Statistics, Physics or Psychology, plus a third academic subject. Predicted grades are never used.1
- General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship Studies are not accepted, and only one of Maths/Further Maths/Statistics counts.1
- If you're in your third year of A-Level study you're not considered - unless your grades are already achieved and you're adding subjects, or extenuating circumstances apply.1
- A 360-GLH AAQ at D* (e.g. BTEC National extended certificate) can replace the third A-Level - but not Applied Science, and not Human Biology alongside Biology A-Level.1
GCSE
- Grade 6/B minimum in English Language and Maths.1
- Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSEs at 6/B unless passed at A-Level grade B or better. Combined science 6/6 is accepted; Biology and Chemistry without Physics is not.1
- Five GCSEs at grade 7/A, on top of the grade-6/B minimums.1
- One BTEC level-1/2 first award or level-2 Cambridge Technical at Distinction can replace one of the five grade-7/A GCSEs - the English Language, Maths and science minimums still apply.1
- All GCSE requirements must be met before you apply - the only exception is Access to HE applicants, who may complete GCSE English Language and Maths during their application year.2
UCAT
Age
- You must turn 18 before 1 October of your entry year; if not, apply for deferred entry.2
Resits & reapplying
- A-Level resits are accepted - there's no limit on resits and no first-sitting requirement, but you can't apply while still resitting unless you evidence significant extenuating circumstances, and all three A-Levels must be completed within three years; resitters need the A*AA offer achieved (AAA only counts at the first attempt). GCSE resits are fine if the requirement is met before you apply.2
- You may reapply to Keele once - and not within the same UCAS cycle.2
- If you've previously started medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine elsewhere without completing it, you won't usually be considered.1
- Transfers from other medical schools are not usually considered, and there's no internal transfer route from other Keele courses or foundation years.2
Selection & shortlisting
- Keele ranks home applicants for interview on a single score out of 25: UCAT - up to 7 points (score quintile out of 5 + SJT band out of 2), contextual markers - up to 3 points, and a personal-statement grade out of 15. The 10 test-and-context points are built like this:2
- UCAT quintile (relative to all national sitters): top 20% = 5 points, 2nd quintile = 4, 3rd = 3, 4th = 2, 5th = 1.2
- SJT band: Band 1 = 2 points, Band 2 = 1, Band 3 = 0 (Band 4 is rejected before scoring).2
- +1 shortlisting point for meeting any one of Keele's eight contextual-offer indicators (a single +1 however many are met).3
- +1 point each for holding a UCAT bursary and for attending a school/college in the Keele region (no grade reduction attached).2
- The personal statement is scored 0-15 - more than half the 25 shortlisting marks - against Keele's published person specification for a Keele medical student; their guidance notes (PDF) explain what to cover.2
- Ties in the shortlisting score for interview places are broken by the UCAT Verbal Reasoning score.2
- The 2026-entry home threshold was 15 out of 25 - applicants on 14/25 were also invited if their UCAT Verbal Reasoning was 600+. The threshold moves each year with the applicant pool.2
- Most of the marks (15 of 25) come from the personal statement, which we can't assess - our rating covers the other 10 points (UCAT up to 7, contextual markers up to 3).
- Home and international applicants are ranked separately - internationals are ranked by UCAT only.2
Contextual eligibility
View policy- Who qualifies
You count as contextual here if any one of these applies:
UCAT bursary recipientSchool in the Keele regionUKWPMEDState (non-fee-paying) school + POLAR4 quintile 1 or POLAR4 quintile 2State (non-fee-paying) school + IMD quintile 1 or IMD quintile 2Care-experienced (any time in care)RefugeeSeeking asylumFree School MealsYoung / adult carerFirst in family at uniMilitary family
Interview & decision
- Two 15-minute panel interviews, usually 2 hours apart, conducted online via Microsoft Teams (not MMI).2
- After interview, offers are decided on interview performance alone - the 25-point shortlisting score doesn't carry forward. Interview scores tied at the offer threshold are ranked by UCAT total.2
- Deferred entry is welcomed - apply by choosing the next year as your year of entry on UCAS.2
Conditional offer
- Conditional offer: A*AA, or AAA + EPQ grade A.1
Keele admissions email: medicine@keele.ac.uk
Would Keele interview you?
Enter your GCSEs, A-Levels and UCAT score - the selector checks you against every UK medical school's published rules and shows where you're competitive.
Frequently asked questions
What UCAT score do you need for Medicine at Keele?
Home applicants need a UCAT total of at least 1,700. SJT Band 4 is an automatic rejection (home and international). Thresholds move with each year's applicant pool - use our free university selector to see where your score is competitive.
What A-Levels do you need for Keele Medicine?
You must be taking a first subject from Biology or Chemistry, a second from Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Maths/Further Maths/Statistics, Physics or Psychology, plus a third academic subject. Predicted grades are never used. General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship Studies are not accepted, and only one of Maths/Further Maths/Statistics counts.
What are the GCSE requirements for Keele Medicine?
Grade 6/B minimum in English Language and Maths. Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSEs at 6/B unless passed at A-Level grade B or better. Combined science 6/6 is accepted; Biology and Chemistry without Physics is not.
How does Keele decide who gets a Medicine interview?
Keele ranks home applicants for interview on a single score out of 25: UCAT - up to 7 points (score quintile out of 5 + SJT band out of 2), contextual markers - up to 3 points, and a personal-statement grade out of 15. The 10 test-and-context points are built like this: The personal statement is scored 0-15 - more than half the 25 shortlisting marks - against Keele's published person specification for a Keele medical student; their guidance notes (PDF) explain what to cover.
What is the Medicine interview like at Keele?
Two 15-minute panel interviews, usually 2 hours apart, conducted online via Microsoft Teams (not MMI). After interview, offers are decided on interview performance alone - the 25-point shortlisting score doesn't carry forward. Interview scores tied at the offer threshold are ranked by UCAT total.
Sources
Admissions policies change - always confirm with Keele before finalising your UCAS choices.