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 Biology and Chemistry and meet the minimum GCSE requirements (or equivalent qualifications).
If you have completed a PhD, the minimum A-Level requirement is BBC and all other criteria listed for graduates must be met.
AAA. Must include Biology and Chemistry. You will need to pass the science practical element of the A-level if this is part of your programme of study.
AAA at A-level including Chemistry and Biology. The Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (WBA) with an overall grade A will be considered in lieu of an A-level alongside grade A in both Biology and Chemistry A level. Advanced Higher: BB grades (including Chemistry and Biology) along with Scottish Higher grades AAAAB.
36 overall (excluding Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay) including 19 at HL. Must include grade 6 in Biology and Chemistry. Grade 7 in SL Biology or Chemistry can be taken in place of HL Biology or Chemistry if you also have grade 6 in HL Maths, Physics, or Statistics. We do not accept IB repeats.
If you are a graduate applicant, you must have or be working towards a 2:1 (Hons) in your degree and have 32 overall in the IB, including subject requirements at Standard and Higher level.
N/A
Case-Based Learning (CBL) is a tutorial-based, group learning approach where students work through real-world clinical scenarios across subjects such as cardiology, respiratory, and gastroenterology.
During each session, you’ll identify key learning outcomes and use them to guide your study, following a patient case from initial presentation through to diagnosis and management.
The goal of CBL is to help students apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations. This better prepares you for reviewing real cases during clinical placements.
Predicted grades are not considered at any stage of the selection process.
We accept re-sits at the GCSE level within a year after they were originally taken (except for English Language which can be taken at any time).
We do not accept A-level re-sits. (Welsh applicants can re-sit AS-level subjects). We only accept A-level re-sits in exceptional circumstances.
Clinical experience is not required. Experience and reflection in a caring environment can be demonstrated by reflecting on any work experience carried out (examples include care homes, helping out with younger pupils in school, helping out with clubs, etc).
The Personal Statement is screened, but not formally scored.
UCAT
Multiple Mini Interviews.
We’re committed to supporting all students to reach their potential, regardless of their background. We offer a range of programmes that give young people access to inspiring new experiences and opportunities.
The programme aims to equip college and sixth form students with the right skills and knowledge to successfully negotiate the application process and thrive at university.
More about widening access programmes
The School of Medicine has responsibilities regarding widening access to medicine and supporting the diversity of the healthcare workforce, and these are key considerations in reviewing applications to medical school. Please note that contextual admissions only apply to applicants with Home fee status.
You will be classed as contextual if, on your UCAS application, you answer yes to any of the following questions:
We aim to widen participation and fair access and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds.
Contextual admissions is a university admissions process that takes into consideration an applicant’s individual circumstances and background when reviewing their application, rather than solely focusing on their academic achievements. This means that universities can consider factors such as an applicant’s socioeconomic status, family background, and the quality of the schools they attended when making admissions decisions. The goal of contextual admissions is to create a more diverse student body and provide opportunities for students who may have faced additional challenges in their academic journey.
Each university will have its own contextual admissions policy and will use different sets of data to make decisions.
Our contextual admissions policy aims to widen participation and improve access to Higher Education (HE), and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We use additional information as part of the undergraduate admissions process, taking into account the context in which an applicant has achieved – or will achieve – their qualifications, to provide greater understanding of their potential to study an undergraduate degree programme with us.
Only information received in the original UCAS application can be used to create a contextual score. Information updated or provided after submission cannot be taken into account as a contextual score will already have been applied. Please make sure you thoroughly check your application before submitting and answer every question truthfully. It might feel uncomfortable to disclose certain information, but we can reassure you that this information is kept confidential and won’t negatively impact your application.
You will be classed as contextual if, on your UCAS application, you answer yes to any of the following questions:
You will also be classed as contextual if you complete any of the following widening participation activities at Cardiff University, whether you apply in the same year or the subsequent year after your participation in the activity:
Given the geography and population of Wales and the under-representation of Welsh students studying in Medical Schools across the UK, Cardiff School of Medicine recognises Welsh-domiciled applicants as one of their contextualised groups.
Contextual applicants will be given additional consideration in the scoring and selection process which is used for determining those to be invited to interview.
WP applicants who have taken part in either the Step-Up programme, Doctoriaid Yfory (DY) or Sutton Trust programmes are given a guaranteed interview.
In the bustling capital city of Cardiff, you’ll find a thriving and vibrant hub of the brightest minds working together to solve the world’s biggest and smallest problems at Wales’ only Russell Group university.
Our programme emphasises the importance of learning science in the clinical context, and the central place of the patient in a doctor’s work. We firmly believe that patients are at the heart of medical education and as such you will be introduced to patients from the first year. You will learn about common medical conditions from real patients, as well as their doctors, in authentic and impressively equipped facilities.
When you study with us, we’ll do everything we can to support your learning. We’ll help you take a deep dive into subjects and topics that you want to explore in new and exciting ways. We’ll empower you to use your talent, develop your knowledge and pursue your passions while offering a range of support and guidance to help you settle into university life.
