BM5 Graduate applicants need to achieve an Upper Second-Class Honours (2.1) in their first degree, this must be equivalent to a UK Honours degree. The degree can be in any subject and no preference will be given based on the degree subject taken. Please note we do not have any A Level requirements for graduate applicants.
Please see below for additional GCSE requirements.
AAA to include A level Biology and one additional science (with a pass in the practical element where it is separately endorsed). Please note applicants must offer AAA or above, we do not accept grade or tariff equivalents to AAA.
Acceptable science subjects are Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Studies or Geography. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Subjects where there may be considerable overlap of material will not be accepted in combination (examples of combinations include, but are not exclusive to, Zoology/Biology; Biology/Sports Studies/Physical Education). If you believe there is a potential overlap, please contact us before applying.
Please see below for additional GCSE requirements.
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.
Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Overall score of 36 points with 18 at Higher Level, with 6 in Biology and one additional Science.
Acceptable science subjects are Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Studies or Geography. Subjects where there may be considerable overlap of material will not be accepted in combination (examples of combinations include, but are not exclusive to, Zoology/Biology; Biology/Sports Studies/Physical Education). If you believe there is a potential overlap, please contact us before applying.
All applicants (Home and International) must meet the minimum GCSE requirement. If an International applicant has not taken GCSEs they must offer an equivalent qualification with comparable subjects and grades to those listed below.
BM5 (standard and contextual applicants) – applicants must hold 7 GSCEs at grade B/6 or above, including English language, mathematics and either biology and chemistry, combined science, or science and additional science.
BM5 Graduate applicants – Applicants must hold 4 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English language, mathematics and either biology and chemistry, combined science, or science and additional science.
BM5 Mature Non-Graduate applicants (applicants who are over 21 at the point of applying who do not have a degree)- applicants must hold 4 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English language, mathematics and either biology and chemistry, combined science, or science and additional science.
Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
Access to Medicine – May be accepted from approved institutions or with suitable scientific content. 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3 all of which must at Distinction.
Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) will be accepted. Other access courses may be considered on a case by case basis, however, online access courses will not accepted. We would expect there to be a significant amount of time between the previous qualification (where relevant) and the Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) or alternative access course. We will not consider an application from an A Level student who undertakes an Access course shortly after completing their A Level but fails to achieve the required advertised A Level grades. Access courses are most likely to be considered for applicants who have not taken Science qualifications.
Our BM5 curriculum is currently being updated. From 2025, BM5 Year 1 students will study an improved and updated course. This will have more clinical learning time and embedded research experience.
Applicants are required to be predicted the advertised entry requirements.
We do consider re-sits for A level. Applicants are permitted to undertake one retake attempt per A level for a maximum of three subjects. We are unable to consider applications from applicants who fail to meet the requirements of their offer then shortly afterwards undertake a different, equivalent qualification (for example A Levels and then an Access course).
We have no restrictions on GCSE re-sits.
Completion of formal work experience or volunteering is not required. However, applicants are expected to demonstrate what they have learned from their experiences of interacting with people in health or social care settings (this may include work experience, paid employment and personal experiences both in and outside health and social care settings).
Used during the interview.
UCAT.
We rank applicants by UCAT score and invite the top candidates to one of our selection days.
Selection day which includes traditional panel interviews and group exercises.
At the University of Southampton, we take a lifecycle approach to Widening Participation and Social Mobility. Our flagship programme Ignite Southampton allows us to offer sustained and sequential support to students from groups under-represented in higher education.
Ignite your Journey, our strand for Year 12 and 13 students, is designed to support your university application, help develop the skills you’ll need for study at a research led university and support your transition to higher education (HE).
Alongside our BM6 course, which is designed to widen participation in medicine for UK applicants meet specific widening participation criteria, we also consider contextual date for our BM5 applicants.
The additional information gained through contextual data supports our Admissions team to recognise a student’s achievements and identify their potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. The following contextual information will be taken into consideration for “home” fee paying school leaver applicants only. Contextual criteria is not considered for Graduate, Mature Non-Graduate and Overseas applicants.
You will be flagged if you meet two of the following criteria:
a. You have been in care or looked after for three months or more
This information is derived from two fields in the UCAS application form, so it is important that care leavers declare this in their application. For more information on support available for care leavers, explore our information page .
b. Your home postcode is in a Low Participation Neighbourhood
If you currently live in a postcode assigned to the lowest POLAR4 or TUNDRA quintile according to the Office for Students (OfS) and identified by UCAS in the data it transmits to us. You can use our postcode checker to check the status of your home postcode .
c. You have participated in a recognised outreach or widening participation programme
These are activities and programmes delivered by the University of Southampton that have:
Eligible programmes/activities:
For more information on the University’s widening participation and outreach activities, go to www.southampton.ac.uk/schoolsandcolleges .
d. You live in a postcode assigned to Quintile 1 of the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)
If you live in a postcode assigned to Quintile 1 (equivalent to decile 1 and 2) according to The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s’ English Index of Deprivation. More information about the Index of Multiple Deprivation can be found on the Government website . You can use our postcode checker to check the status of your home postcode . Our postcode checker categorizes postcodes by quintile and your postcode should be listed as 1 to be eligible.
Please note, as the classification of your postcode may change from year to year, any current links or downloads are only applicable to applications for the current entry cycle.
e. You were eligible for Free School Meals after the age of 14
Young people in the UK are usually eligible for fee school meals if their parents or carers are on a low income or in receipt of certain benefits – they will need to have registered with their local authority.
You may also be eligible if you are paid qualifying benefits directly, instead of through your parent or carer.
f. You are an estranged student
Estranged students are defined as young people aged 25 or below, studying without the support and approval of any parent due to a breakdown in their relationship which has led to ceased contact. This might be biological, step or adoptive parents, or possibly wider family members who have been involved in your care.
This information is derived from the UCAS so it is important that you state this in your application.
g. You are eligible for the UCAT Bursary ( Medicine BM5 School-Leavers only )
You are eligible for the UCAT Bursary. Please see the UCAT website for more information.
For any other questions about contextual admissions, please contact: [email protected].
Students who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme, as follows:
BM5 Contextual offers only apply to School Leaver applicants. To be considered contextual School Leaver applicants need to meet two contextual flags in accordance with the University contextual admissions criteria.
Students at Southampton will study in a nurturing environment where we take pride in our pastoral and academic student support. Our undergraduate medical students will be exposed to the full range of clinical practice both in the community and in specialised centres.
Our courses benefit from being embedded in research excellence in areas as diverse as public health, allergy, cancer, genomics, osteoporosis and nutrition. You’ll study medicine at one of the UK’s leading teaching hospitals – University Hospital Southampton – and at our purpose-built Life Sciences facilities on campus. You’ll get clinical experience from the first weeks of your course, meeting patients in hospital and primary care settings. You’ll also benefit from teaching from our world-leading medical research groups, embedding research firmly in the curriculum.
