Medical school entry requirements for 2024 start

Graduates must hold at least an upper second class honours (2:1 Hons degree) or equivalent. Chemistry to at least B grade in Scottish Higher or B grade in GCE A-Level examinations is required also, although this requirement may be satisfied in individual cases by appropriate courses of study and achievement during the first degree.

A levels - AAA including Chemistry and one from Biology, Maths or Physics, and one other subject

S5 - AAAAB in Chemistry and two of Maths, Biology/Human Biology or Physics plus two other subjects.
S6 - BBB at Higher/Advanced Higher

36 points. Three subjects at Higher level at grade 6 or higher including Chemistry and one of either Biology, Physics or Maths. Three appropriate subjects at standard level with average grade 6 including one science if three not offered at Higher level.

GCSE Grade 6 passes in English Language and Maths are required. Biology is recommended; Physics is recommended (or Dual Award Science)
A combination of Grade 6-9 passes at GCSE is expected, especially in science subjects.

National 5s: English and Maths are required (Grade B minimum); Biology and Physics are recommended but not compulsory (Grade B minimum). A combination of Grade A & B passes at Standard Grade / National 5 is expected, especially in science subjects.

Access to Medicine Higher Education Courses that are approved by AQA

Minimum 2:1 honours degree awarded within the last five years. The degree must be in a biological, biomedical, chemistry or health science subject.

AAA at A Level taken within two academic years prior to the time of application, to include Chemistry or Biology and one of either Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics. For the third A Level*, please note that we do not accept General Studies and Critical Thinking. For Biology, Chemistry and Physics A Levels, we require a pass in the practical element. Applicants who meet the criteria of our Widening Access to Medicine Scheme are eligible for a lower entry requirement of ABB.

Advanced Highers: ABB from Scottish Advanced Highers with grades AB to come from Biology and/or Chemistry and another science subject.

Highers: AAAAA at Higher Grade including Biology and/or Chemistry and another science subject. We also require National 5 Grade B or above or GCSE grade B (5) or above in English Language, two science subjects and Maths.

A minimum of 36 points is accepted. 666 at Higher Level in Biology and/or Chemistry plus one other science and including Mathematics or English.

GCSEs: A minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade A*-B (9-6) required including English Language, Maths and two science subjects.

Scottish Nationals: Grade 5 or above in English Language, two science subjects and Maths.

We currently accept any QAA accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma (Medicine) qualification.

For graduate applicants, normally a minimum of an upper second class Honours degree (2:1) in any discipline plus three A Levels at grades ABB to include Chemistry and Biology with either at grade A. The university degree must be from a recognised UK or UK ENIC approved university. In addition, applicants will normally be required to have the same GCSE requirements as other applicants.

A Level: A*AA which must include Chemistry and Biology (including passing the practical elements).
Scottish Advanced Highers: AAA to include Chemistry and Biology.

Normally applicants are required to have a minimum of six grade 6 (B) at GCSEs, or equivalent for international qualifications. Compulsory subjects are Maths, English Language, Chemistry, Biology or Double Science.

37 overall where applicants must have  7,6,6 at Higher Level consisting of 7 in Chemistry or Biology, 6 in Chemistry or Biology and 6 in another subject and the remaining from Standard Level subjects and Core.

If you are a graduate applicant, you must have or be working towards a 2:1 (Hons) in your degree and have BBB/ABC at A-level (or equivalent), including subject requirements and meet the minimum GCSE requirements (or equivalent qualifications). If you have completed an MSc / PhD, the minimum A-Level requirement is BBC and all other criteria listed for graduates must be met.  

A Levels - AAA required. This must include Biology and an additional science from the list below:  

• Chemistry  
• Physics  
• Economics  
• Maths / Further Maths / Statistics  

You will need to pass the science practical element of the A-Level if this is part of your programme of study.  

Other non-standard subjects may not be accepted.

36 overall (excluding Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay) including 19 at Higher Level. Must include grade 6 in Biology and Chemistry. Grade 7 in SL Biology or Chemistry can be taken in place of Higher Level Biology or Chemistry if you also have grade 6 in HL Maths, Physics or Statistics.  

GCSEs:

• English Language or Welsh Language at grade B/6 and, 
• Double Science at grades BB/66 (or grades B/6 in both Biology and Chemistry) and,  
• Maths grade B/6 and,  
• Five other GCSEs at grade B/6  

Achieved or predicted first or upper second class degree in any subject from a recognised institution. We expect that no more than five years will have elapsed between the most significant and relevant qualification and the start date of the course. If more than five years have elapsed since your degree, then your work since your degree will be considered.

The standard offer is A*AA at A-Level, including Biology/Human Biology and Chemistry. Applicants must be predicted a minimum of AAA. Contextual applicants may receive an alternative offer of AAA and those on a recognised widening-participation programme may receive an offer of ABB.

A total of seven GCSEs must be offered, and these will be used to calculate an applicant score (see website for details). The required subjects are: English Language at grade 6/B or higher (English Literature is not required but is one of the identified subjects that we will score); Mathematics (or one of Methods in Mathematics and Applications of Mathematics) at grade 6/B or higher; and Biology and Chemistry or dual award science at grade 6/B or higher.

Higher level: 7,6,6 from Chemistry and Biology and one other approved subject. A minimum of 32 points must be attained.

2:1, in a science degree with GCSE Maths & English at grade 6 (B) and BBB at A level to include Biology and Chemistry.

A Level: AAA - Biology, Chemistry and one other (AAB with CD)

Scottish Highers: AAA to include Biology and Chemistry. Or pass Advanced Higher Biology and Chemistry with grades A with at least grades A in two additional Higher Subjects. English and Maths requirements: grades B or above in National 5s English and Maths.

36 points including Biology and Chemistry at Higher level at grade 6. 

We require all applicants, without contextual data, to have obtained at least a grade 6/B in English (Language or Literature) and Maths GCSEs. For applicants with contextual data, we will accept English (Language or Literature) and Maths GCSEs at a grade 5/C. Please note we do not take any other GSCEs into consideration during our admissions process.

Scottish National 5s - English and Maths at grade B or above, or grade C for applicants meeting BSMS's contextual admissions criteria.

BSMS accepts the following Access to HE qualifications:

• East Sussex College Access to Medicine and Dentistry Diploma
• City and Islington Medicine & Medical Bio Sciences – Access to HE Diploma
• College of West Anglia Access to Medicine and Dentistry
• Distance Learning Centre's online Access to HE Diploma in Medicine

2:1 in first degree with ABB at A Level including A in Chemistry and B in one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics (or in equivalent level 3 qualifications). Any degree subject is accepted if applicants meet the above level 3 requirements.

AAA at A level including A in Chemistry and A in one of Biology, Physics or Maths.

AA at SQA Advanced Higher including A in Chemistry and A in one of Biology, Physics or Maths with with AAAAB in Scottish Highers.

36 points overall with 18 at Higher Level, including 6, 6 at Higher Level in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations)

Advanced numeracy requirement (7 or A in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent) and Standard literacy requirement (4 or C in GCSE English or equivalent).

Life Science, Medicine or Science. Must include a minimum of 15 level 3 credits in Chemistry and 15 level 3 credits in one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics.

Upper second-class degree or equivalent in a subject relevant to Medicine.
Applicants presenting university degree qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

AAB at A-Level to include Chemistry or Biology and a second science (chemistry, biology, physics) or maths and a third subject (not general studies) or international equivalent.

At least Grade B (5) in Maths and Grade C (4) in English Language or equivalent qualification.

36 points (including Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay) and must include Higher Level 6 in either Chemistry or Biology and Higher Level 5 in Mathematics or in a second science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics).

For applicants offering a degree – they should have a Bachelor degree in a subject cognate to Medicine, and have or be predicted a minimum classification of 2.1.

ABB at A level including Chemistry and Biology.

BBB at Advanced Highers to include Chemistry and Biology.

No specific requirements.

In the specific case of the International Baccalaureate, they should be expected to achieve or to have achieved a total score of at least 34 points with Higher Level 6 in Chemistry & Biology. Please note that the overall point score does not include theory of knowledge or extended essay.

Typical offers are A*A*A at A level, or A1A1A2 in Scottish Advanced Highers. On entry, applicants must have A level passes in Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics, Maths (two required by some colleges).
Please note that the success rate for students offering three or more Science/Maths A levels has often been higher than for those without.

No specific requirements.

40–42 points, with 7,7,6 at Higher Level. On entry, applicants must have Higher Chemistry and at least one of Higher Biology, Physics, Maths (two required by some Colleges).