MBChB Medicine with a Foundation Year (A104)

BBC to include chemistry or biology. Practical endorsements must be achieved for Biology, Chemistry and Physics A-Levels. A-Levels may be combined with other level-3 qualifications (see Alternative qualifications, below).

Advanced Higher: minimum of BB from two subjects (including Biology or Chemistry).
Higher: minimum of BBBBB.

Please enquire directly.

Five GCSEs at grade 6/B including double/triple-award science or three separate sciences. If Maths and English language (including a pass in speaking and listening) are not included in the five at grade 6, then a minimum of 5/C is required. A maximum of one BTEC level-1/2 first award or level-2 Cambridge Technical award at distinction will be accepted in lieu of a GCSE at grade 6/B, however the minimum requirements for English Language, Maths and Science(s) must still be met.

Five National 5s at grade B including double/triple-award science or three separate sciences. If Maths and English language (including a pass in speaking and listening) are not included in the five at grade B, then a minimum of C is required.

T-Level distinction in health, healthcare science or science, with a minimum of B in the core component and a minimum of merit in the occupational specialism.

Large and small alternative academic qualifications (AAQs) are accepted in combination with each other or in combination with A-Levels. Please see web site for details.

Clinical work experience is not required or expected. Personal statement grading is based on evidence of five specific criteria; evidence of some of these criteria is likely to come from experience in roles that involve direct engagement with people, effective communication, handling responsibility and managing conflicting demands.

Used as one component in selection for interview.

UCAT.

Home applicants: minimum cut-off total score 1,700 and SJT band 3. Grade calculated for UCAT and combined with grade for personal statement to give a ranking score for selection for interview.

The verbal reasoning (VR) score may be used as a tie-breaker.

Online hybrid: two separate interviews, each including multiple tasks.

• Home Applicants per place: 24
• Home Applicants per interview: 8.4

Integrated approach combining small-group self-directed learning based on clinical cases/scenarios with a variety of lectures, laboratory activities, anatomy learning (including whole-body dissection), seminars, tutorials, skills workshops and clinical placements.

Learning within the gateway year (called a foundation year at Keele) includes classroom and laboratory sessions along with a professional development portfolio to develop appropriate insight and behaviours for progression to the MBChB programme.

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Applicants must meet the following Essential Criteria from Group 1 and 2 to be considered for this route. Applicants must provide evidence of meeting the essential criteria at the point of application. We will send you an email to request this information.

Group 1

Applicants must meet all the following –

• Ordinarily resident in the UK
• Attended a non-selective maintained school for GCSEs and a maintained school for A-Levels (we recognise that generally non-selective schools and sixth-form colleges may use some form of selection for students wishing to undertake A-Levels). Applicants must either be in the second and final year of A-Level or equivalent study (i.e. year 13) or have completed these qualifications at the required grades in the previous academic year: applications from students retaking level-3 qualifications are not accepted.
• Attended a school for GCSEs with an attainment 8 score below national average (level set on an annual basis: for 2026 entry the 2023-24 school performance measure is used).

For schools without an attainment 8 score only, we will consider schools where the % of students on free school meals is above the national average OR if this is not available, we will consider POLAR 4 data, quintile 1 of the school.

For home-schooled applicants who are therefore without an Attainment 8 Score, we will use the POLAR4 quintile of your home postcode rather than of the examination centre where you sat the exams.

Group 2

Applicants must also meet one of the following –  

• Parent(s) or guardian in receipt of means-tested benefit(s) for a minimum of three months within your last five years of schooling
  (i.e. in Years 9–13)
• Time spent in local authority care (more than three months) within the last five years (i.e. in Years 9–13)
• Eligibility for free school meals at any point in Years 9–13
• Receipt of 16–19 bursary for purpose other than meals
• Receipt of UCAT bursary. Bursaries are available to cover the test fee for applicants from less well-off families. We strongly advise applicants to apply for the UCAT Bursary if they are eligible. Please check the UCAT web site for details.