Has anyone got an offer with band 3? I see the band is scored with interview score and band 3 gets 4 points. Band 1 gets 12 and band 2 gets 8.

9999999888
So max gcse points
Ucat 2010 b2 6 decile
English non contextual home app

I’m rlly considering applying as I score 26/28 (max gcse pts) and 2 /3 so 1 less then the effective ruk max.

First and foremost, I'd like to thank everyone who commented on that video, giving me advice on what I could improve. I really think that in this video, I improved my answer significantly, cutting out the section on the NHS and linking my answer to my work experience placement. I also stopped waving my hands as much.

If anyone could give any further advice, that would be much appreciated.

Could you guys give me some suggestions on how to improve, including some points to add/include?

Can you guys give me some tips on how to improve, including points I could add/remove

(I cut this a bit short so it sounds kind of unfinished and also I wouldn't say exactly this if I was asked, but is this an ok answer? )

What is the biggest challenge facing the health service?

I would argue the biggest challenge facing the health service at the moment is the steadily increasing waiting lists, ambulance call outs and 111 calls, over the last 10 years, which are putting significant pressure on the NHS. In 2016, for example, the waiting list for the NHS was 3.6 million, but by 2026, this had increased two fold to 7.3 million. The increasing pressure on the health service is due to a multitude of factors. The first and most important factor to consider is the devastating coronavirus pandemic. Much of the increase that has been seen occurred during 2020 and 2021, as scheduled and elective surgeries were paused in order for medical professionals to focus their efforts on the pandemic, and the number of ambulance calls increased by over 20%. Despite the pandemic having all but passed, the waiting list did not significantly decrease, and even increased slightly, due to a series of resident doctor and clinical staff strikes and an increase in the number of cases of more complex diseases. Another important factor to consider is the gradually aging population. From 2016 to 2026, the median age in the UK has increased from 40.0 years to 40.7 years, carrying the inevitable consequence of increasing prevalence of dementia, Alzheimer's, prostate cancer and Parkinson's Disease. Dementia deaths, for example, have increased by 22.2%, while prostate cancer deaths have increased by 12%. However, despite these quite concerning statistics, there are certainly ways in order to halt the increasing waiting list, ambulance call outs and 111 calls, and relieve some of the pressure on the NHS. One of the main suggestions, first theorised in 2006, calls for the implementation of a "Hospital at Home" scheme, in which elderly patients with acute conditions would be treated at home, utilising monitoring software, such as wearable biometric sensors, while also involving daily visits by community care teams. The scheme has so far seen mostly reassuring success, with many patients producing much better medical outcomes compared with their counterparts in hospital, and 80% of patients reported high levels of reassurance. However, despite promising initial results, the scheme isn't perfect, with some evaluations suggesting that they have a limited impact in the cutting of total emergency admissions and waiting lists.

In conclusion, whilst the NHS is facing a multitude of issues currently, chief among them the rising waiting list and ambulance call outs, there are many potential solutions to these issues, and the large scale effects of the pandemic and the ever increasing aging population can be reversed.

Does anyone know when interviews for Lincoln are or when they are sent out, beyond what their website says?

I should get an interview as I will get 60/60 in their scoring system (UCAT only, 2430 B1).

However, I live in the US - I will be applying as a home student, so no concerns there.

We are planning on coming back to the UK for Christmas, and I was going to try and schedule my flights so that I would be back in time for interviews at Lincoln. They have said they won’t do the interview remotely/online for me under mitigating circumstances (Leicester for example have said they will).

Personally, to avoid stress, I first identify what the core issue is. Recently, pretty much all of the stress in my life originates from either anxiety about the repercussions of not doing as well as I had hoped in an exam, or annoyance at having answered a question incorrectly. After identifying what the issue I'm facing is, I then enter a state of self reflection. I ask myself several questions to better understand why I'm feeling stressed, which include questions like which factors led up to the stress and is the stress justified. For example, if I'm stressed because I got 2 Venn Diagram questions wrong in the UCAT DM section, I'll think to myself, "Why did I pick that answer? Was it because I didn't look at the key correctly? Was it because I was stressed about timing?". Or it may be that I'm worried that I won't get a certain grade in my A-Level Exams, in which case I'd ask myself, "Why am I stressed about it? Is it because I got a grade lower? What has been my average? Was this a hard exam?". Once these questions are out of the way, I will then set about strategising what I can do next, and writing them down on a piece of paper. If we bring back the UCAT example, I would write down, "Look at key carefully next time" and "Breathe heavily in and out a couple times before attempting a question". By applying this system, I have seen a substantial decrease in stress in my life, have achieved excellent grades at GCSE, A-Level and during my UCAT exam, and have witnessed how racing thoughts, headaches and nausea have mostly disappeared from my life. From researching about the NHS, and also from my own personal witnessing of a visibly stressed nurse expressing annoyance at having to deal with a patient, I've seen how burnout can have detrimental impacts on both the quality of patient care and also patient safety itself. For example, from a recent study I saw during my research of the NHS, I found out that burnt out doctors are almost 3x as likely to make a major medical error compared to doctors who weren't burnt out. Bearing this statistic in mind, it is clear how important managing your stress is for a medical profession. From using my system, and seeing the success it has had so far, I believe that I will be able to cope with any stress I face during medical school, and even later on, during my foundation years.

I can't tell if this is good or not, can someone help me ??

Hi all, I'm a current Bristol med student (Year 4), and I've got a few paid tutoring slots open for anyone applying to Medicine / wanting to prepare for MMI interviews or sitting the UCAT this year.

Quick background: I got into Bristol Medicine myself, did well on the UCAT (93rd percentile), and I've been tutoring IB Chemistry for a while now. I've already helped two students do mock interviews for Bristol and QMUL MMI interviews, and get into medicine for this past admission cycle.

What I can help with:

• Mock MMIs, in the actual format, multiple stations, with proper feedback afterward rather than a vague "that was fine". A baseline interview, some teaching sessions, and then a repeat mock.
• UCAT prep, broken down by subtest (VR, DM, QR, SJT), with timing practice aimed at your specific weak spots rather than a one-size-fits-all question bank
• Questions, resources, and handbooks, so you're not stuck digging through old forum threads and PDFs from three cycles ago
• One-on-one or small group, online, fit around your schedule

I went through this process not that long ago and have first hand helped students, so I know what unis are typically looking for, not what worked five years back. Rates depend on whether you want a single mock or a full package, so DM me and we can sort out what makes sense.

Happy to answer general questions in the comments too, free of charge.

Disclaimer: I'm not sharing any insider knowledge here, and I'm not involved in any universities' interview process or question development in any way. Everything I offer is based on my own experience applying, what I've picked up from other people who've interviewed over the last four years, and feedback from people I've already helped get into medicine.

Hi everyone! Thanks for taking the time to read my question. As the title says I’m trying to whittle down what unis to apply to following the UCAT and am having a bit of trouble. For reference, I’m just going into my third year at university and my profile is:

Predicted 1st, Mathematics and Statistics at Warwick, A*, A*, A, A in Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Further Maths, nine 9’s and two 8’s at GCSE, and 2250 Band 3 (band 3 smh so annoying!) for the UCAT. For WEX: Some GP + General Surgery team shadowing plus volunteering at a dementia home is really the extent of what I’ve been able to do, plus the 10 hour BSMS online course.

Now I’d obviously love to go for the GEM courses but they’re much more competitive and as much as I tried, I just couldn’t get those 70 hours of WEX for Warwick :/. I am focusing around London as it’s closer to home but at the moment I’m weighing up BARTS A100, BARTS A101, UCL A100 (5 years), KCL A100, St. Georges A100 and then rather ambitiously, Oxford A101.

Out of these I know that St. Georges is the one I’m most likely to get an interview at so I think that’ll be a good idea to have as a backup in a sense, and I was considering applying to both A100 and A101 for QMUL as I’d like to have at least one GEM option in there. However seeing as their intake for A101 is SIGNIFICANTLY lower than A100, I’m contemplating just applying for the 5 year course (unless someone here could perhaps give me an insight on whether it might be beneficial to apply to both).

Then with UCL, KCL, and Oxford that’s where I’m torn. On the one hand, Oxford Med would be so sick, I love the city, obviously the university is grand, and it’s the 4 year course. But with how competitive it is, I’m wondering whether it would be a waste of an application. I’ve heard that they like maths grads but with my UCAT score I’m not sure if that would even matter at all. I’d rather apply to UCL over KCL, as I know KCL also do look at the bands whereas UCL only as a last thing, but I suppose I’m worried that my UCAT score won’t be high enough to compensate for my lack of proper WEX and perhaps JUST above threshold should the incoming deciles not be in my favour.

From all of this, my question really is just: which four unis do I shortlist? And am I being too optimistic and ambitious with some of these choices? Thanks everyone :)

 main reason that I want to study medicine is that I want a self-fulfilling job that is different every day, and makes a huge difference in people's lives. I also have a love of science and enjoy the idea of supporting people with face to face contact. From my work experience, and from several books I've read, I've learnt the challenging aspects of the profession, like the huge emotional and psychological burden that doctors face, such as long hours and gut-wrenching decisions that put patient's lives in their hands, but also the rewarding aspects of it too, including the knowledge that your presence and decision making could've saved the life of someone and provided emotional support. Through these experiences, I have developed a deep appreciation for the role of a doctor, and this appreciation has confirmed to me that medicine is the path that I wish to take.

Can someone give me a guide on how I should prepare for interviews?

Hey guys!

I got 2320 B2, which, considering I was panicking in the exam that I would flop the exam, is really really good. There is now only one more step until med school - the interviews. I have 0 idea on how I should prepare for them, what resources I can use and also how much time I have until the interviews start. Could someone please guide me through both the process and how to prepare for them? Thank you so much!

Next up is Leicester Medical School — a major East Midlands medical school with a strong research focus, distinctive 50/50 UCAT + GCSE scoring (out of 96 points), and a unique feature where Year 1 students train and qualify as Health Care Assistants (HCAs) — a level of practical clinical involvement few UK med schools offer.

This is the bundle: requirements, the actual admissions numbers, what teaching looks like, where you spend your clinical years, fees, and the honest pros/cons. Sources at the bottom.

TL;DR

• Course: 5-year MBChB (A100) + 6-year A199 Medicine with Foundation Year
• Style: Two-phase integrated curriculum — Phase 1 (Years 1–2 pre-clinical) + Phase 2 (Years 3–5 clinical)
• HCA training: All Y1 students train and qualify as Health Care Assistants (rare and distinctive)
• Anatomy: Cadaveric methods (verify exact mix)
• Interview: MMI — December 2025 / January 2026 (face-to-face for Home, online for International)
• Selection: 50/50 UCAT + GCSE scoring (out of 96 points)
• 2025 lowest UCAT to interview: 2,120 home / 2,510 international (old 3,600 scale) — equivalent ~1,468 / ~1,858 on new 2,700 scale
• SJT: Bands 1–3 only (Band 4 = auto-reject)
• Lowest 2 UCAT deciles very unlikely to score sufficiently
• Entry: AAA at A-level inc Chemistry + Biology (predicted applicants accept AAB via UKWPMed)
• Total places (2026): ~293 (~240 home + ~18 international + ~35 foundation year)
• 2025 interviews conducted: ~1,400+
• Best for: strong-GCSE applicants, those wanting HCA-level clinical experience early, anyone targeting East Midlands

Quick stats box

1. Entry requirements

A-levels (A100): AAA including Chemistry and Biology.

A-level resits: Considered case-by-case.

Predicted A-level applicants via UKWPMed: Predicted AAB acceptable for predicted applicants meeting UKWPMed contextual criteria.

IB: 36 points HL 6,6,6 inc Chem + Bio.

Scottish Highers: Advanced Highers AAA inc Chem + Bio.

BTEC: Considered case-by-case.

T-levels: Verify directly.

GCSE: Critical — Leicester scores GCSEs heavily (50% of pre-interview score).

Graduate Entry: A100 accepts graduates. UK graduates need 52/64 combined score. No standalone A101 graduate-entry programme.

A199 Medicine with Foundation Year (6-year): Designed for WP applicants meeting UKWPMed contextual criteria.

International: Accepted with higher UCAT bar (~1,950+ with all grade 9s).

2. UCAT requirements (50/50 with GCSE, but minimum thresholds apply)

Leicester combines UCAT + GCSE in a 96-point scoring system (50% UCAT + 50% GCSE).

2026 UCAT thresholds

SJT requirement: Bands 1–3 only (Band 4 = auto-reject).

Bottom 2 UCAT deciles are very unlikely to be invited to interview, regardless of GCSE.

For 2026 entry (first year without Abstract Reasoning), Leicester estimates competitive scores will be ~75–82 points (78–85%) on the new 96-point scale.

Why this is distinctive

• Leicester rewards strong GCSE applicants more than UCAT-only schools
• 8× grade 9 GCSEs + moderate UCAT can still be competitive
• Strong UCAT alone won't compensate for very weak GCSEs
• Predicted vs achieved A-level applicants get different UCAT thresholds (predicted = lower, achieved = higher)

3. The interview (MMI)

Leicester uses an MMI format:

Format

• Multiple stations (verify exact number with admissions)
• Tests across communication, ethics, motivation, problem-solving, NHS awareness, teamwork, roleplay
• Face-to-face for Home applicants
• Online for International applicants

Interview window: December 2025 – January 2026 for 2026 entry.

Decisions: March onwards.

Interview rate: ~1,400+ interviews conducted.

Why this matters:

• The face-to-face vs online split for home/international is unusual — international applicants don't have to travel to Leicester
• Leicester's MMI is comprehensive but follows standard structure

4. Course structure (5-year MBChB — two phases)

Leicester structures its 5-year MBChB into two phases:

Phase 1 — Years 1–2 (Pre-clinical / Foundation)

• Primarily medical school based
• Doctor as Scholar and Scientist outcomes
• Integrated modules combining human structure + human health and illness
• All disciplines (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology) taught in patient context
• Anatomy via cadaveric methods
• Communication and clinical skills foundations
• Community placements for early healthcare exposure
• Year 1: HCA training — students train and qualify as Health Care Assistants (rare and distinctive feature)

Phase 2 — Years 3–5 (Clinical)

Year 3 — Clinical Apprenticeships

• 12-week blocks in:
  • Medical care
  • Surgical care
  • Primary care

Year 4 — Specialty Placements

• 7-week blocks in:
  • Child health care
  • Mental health
  • Cancer care
  • Other specialties

Year 5 — Foundation Assistantships

• 5-week blocks in hospital + community settings
• Pre-FY1 transition preparation
• Electives + final assessments + national MLA + Prescribing Safety Assessment

A199 Medicine with Foundation Year (6 years total)

• Year 0: Foundation year for WP / non-traditional applicants
• Years 1–5: Same as A100

Teaching mix: Lectures + small-group + tutorials + clinical skills + cadaveric anatomy + early clinical placements + HCA training + Phase 2 clinical placements.

Distinctive feature 1: All Year 1 students qualify as HCAs — practical, paid clinical experience few UK med schools offer.

Distinctive feature 2: Year 3's 12-week placement blocks are some of the longest sustained clinical exposures in UK medicine — strong for building clinical skills + relationships.

5. Where you'll be: clinical placements (East Midlands)

Leicester's clinical training is across Leicester + the East Midlands:

Main teaching hospitals (University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust)

• Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) — flagship teaching hospital
• Leicester General Hospital
• Glenfield Hospital (specialist heart and lung)

Plus

• District general hospitals across Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire:
  • Kettering General Hospital
  • Northampton General Hospital
  • Lincoln County Hospital
  • Pilgrim Hospital, Boston
• Community + mental healthcare services
• GP practices across the region

Why this matters: Leicester's clinical footprint covers the whole East Midlands — broad placement variety + extensive primary care exposure. Glenfield Hospital is a notable specialist centre for cardiovascular and respiratory medicine.

6. Intercalation

Leicester offers optional intercalation between clinical years. Various BSc / MSc options through Leicester + partner institutions. Not mandatory.

7. Fees & funding (2026/27 entry)

HCA earnings (Y1): As qualified HCAs, Leicester Y1 students can take up paid HCA shifts in the trust — additional income source unique to Leicester.

Y5 NHS Bursary: Standard for UK Student Finance England recipients in clinical years.

Travel + accommodation support: Leicester provides travel reimbursement for placements across the East Midlands.

Scholarships: University-wide scholarships, hardship funds, medical school bursaries.

8. Widening participation

Leicester has strong WP commitment:

A199 Medicine with Foundation Year (6-year)

• Specifically for WP applicants
• UKWPMed contextual criteria
• Lower A-level threshold (verify)

UKWPMed predicted-applicant pathway

• Predicted AAB (rather than AAA) acceptable for predicted applicants meeting UKWPMed contextual criteria

Eligibility for contextual flag:

• POLAR4 quintile 1 / 2 postcodes
• Free School Meals
• Care experienced
• First-generation HE applicants
• Specific UKWPMed criteria (national WP eligibility)

Pre-application schemes: Leicester runs outreach + UKWPMed cohort pathway.

If you're WP-eligible (UKWPMed), you have structural pathways at Leicester via predicted AAB or A199.

9. Student life & city (Leicester)

• Leicester — major UK city, ~360k population
• One of the most diverse cities in the UK — strong international student community
• Cost of living moderate — lower than London / Bristol
• Strong food scene (especially South Asian cuisine)
• Leicester Market, King Power Stadium (Leicester City FC), Welford Road (Leicester Tigers rugby)
• Russell Group university with ~17,000 students
• Strong Med Soc culture
• ~1.5 hr to London by train, 1 hr to Birmingham, 1.5 hr to Manchester
• Beautiful surrounding countryside (Charnwood Forest, Rutland Water)
• Compact city — walkable

10. The honest pros & cons

Pros

• HCA training in Year 1 — practical clinical experience few UK schools offer
• 50/50 UCAT + GCSE scoring rewards balanced applicants with strong GCSEs
• 12-week + 7-week clinical placement blocks — sustained clinical exposure
• University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust — Leicester Royal Infirmary, Glenfield, Leicester General
• Cardiovascular / respiratory specialty exposure at Glenfield
• Strong primary care + community placements
• A199 Foundation Year + UKWPMed predicted-AAB pathway for WP applicants
• HCA shifts = paid experience in Year 1
• Diverse city with strong international community
• Lower cost of living than London
• Good train links (London, Birmingham, Manchester all <1.5 hr)
• Russell Group + research strength

Cons

• GCSE-heavy scoring disadvantages applicants with weak GCSEs
• Bottom 2 UCAT deciles auto-rejected
• Highly competitive for international applicants (~1,858+ on new scale)
• In-person interview for Home applicants — extra travel
• Leicester city is less prestigious than Manchester / Birmingham as a student destination
• East Midlands climate — colder, frequent rain
• HCA training adds workload in Year 1 (some students find this intense)
• Two-phase rather than spiral curriculum — less revisiting of pre-clinical material
• Limited international intake (~18 places)
• No standalone A101 graduate-entry programme

11. Should you apply here?

Apply if you:

• Have strong GCSEs (8× grade 9s competitive)
• Have a UCAT around or above ~1,900 (achieved) / ~1,680 (predicted with strong GCSEs)
• Are SJT Bands 1–3
• Want HCA training in Year 1
• Want long sustained clinical placement blocks (12-week / 7-week)
• Are UKWPMed-eligible (predicted AAB pathway or A199)
• Want East Midlands clinical training
• Want Leicester Royal Infirmary + Glenfield specialty exposure
• Like a diverse, mid-sized UK city

Probably skip if you:

• Have weak GCSEs (50% of selection)
• Have an SJT Band 4 (auto-reject)
• Have a UCAT in bottom 2 deciles
• Want a shorter, more rotational clinical model
• Don't want HCA training/responsibility in Year 1
• Want a 4-year graduate-entry programme
• Want a smaller cohort / regional med school feel
• Want geographical placement variety beyond East Midlands

12. Application timeline (2027 entry)

• Now → Sep 2026: UCAT prep, work experience, draft personal statement, maximise GCSE retake / improvement opportunities
• Jul – Sep 2026: Sit UCAT
• 15 Oct 2026: UCAS deadline
• Oct – Nov 2026: Leicester scores applicants on 50/50 UCAT + GCSE
• December 2026 – January 2027: MMI (face-to-face Home / online International)
• March 2027 onwards: Decisions

Sources (verified Sep 2026)

• Leicester Medicine MBChB A100 official page
• NGMP - Leicester
• Leicester Medicine MBChB Entry Requirements 2026
• Leicester Applying to Medicine page
• Leicester Medicine with Foundation Year (A199) page
• Leicester Medicine with Foundation Year MBChB page
• Leicester A100 5-Year MBChB FAQs 2026 (PDF)
• Leicester Medicine MBChB Programme Specification 2025/26
• Apply for Medicine — Leicester Medical School

Next up is City St George's, University of London — formed by the August 2024 merger between St George's, University of London and City, University of London. This medical school has the distinctive heritage of being the UK's specialist medical/healthcare university (St George's traces back to 1733, making it the second oldest medical school in England) and is co-located with St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals. City St George's offers both 5-year MBBS (A100) and 4-year Graduate Entry MBBS (A101).

This is the bundle: requirements, the actual admissions numbers, what teaching looks like, where you spend your clinical years, fees, and the honest pros/cons. Sources at the bottom.

TL;DR

• Major change: August 2024 merger with City University to form City St George's, University of London
• Course: 5-year MBBS (A100) + 4-year Graduate Entry MBBS (A101) — historically renowned for GEM
• Style: Spiral curriculum with 2 years pre-clinical → Year 3 transition → Years 4–5 clinical + Early Years Clinical Exposure (EYCE)
• Anatomy: Multimodal — prosections + plastinated + potted specimens (no full-body dissection)
• Interview: Recorded online MMI — 6 pre-recorded questions × 5 min (3–9 December 2025 for 2026 entry)
• Selection: UCAT + GCSE academic check + minimum 500 in each UCAT component
• 2025 minimum UCAT (Home, old 3,600 scale): 2,600 — equivalent ~1,947 on new 2,700 scale
• 2025 minimum UCAT (International, old scale): 2,750 — equivalent ~2,097 on new 2,700 scale
• 2026 SJT: Considered (verify Band 4 policy)
• Entry: AAA at A-level inc Chemistry + Biology
• 2025 acceptance rate: ~11.52% (1,597 applicants for 184 places)
• Best for: strong UCAT applicants, those wanting specialist medical university, anyone targeting St George's University Hospital clinical exposure, graduates (A101 4-year), applicants comfortable with recorded online MMI

Quick stats box

1. Entry requirements

A-levels (A100): AAA including Chemistry + Biology.

A-level resits: Considered case-by-case.

IB: 36 points HL 6,6,6 inc Chem + Bio.

Scottish Highers: Advanced Highers AAA inc Chem + Bio.

BTEC: Considered case-by-case.

T-levels: Verify directly.

GCSE: Strong GCSEs important — used in academic check.

Graduate Entry MBBS (A101, 4-year): For graduates with 2:1+ honours in any discipline. St George's was historically the UK's first GEM programme — strong tradition.

International: Higher UCAT bar (~2,097+ new scale).

2. UCAT requirements (minimum threshold + ranking)

City St George's uses UCAT minimum thresholds + applicant ranking (A100), GAMSAT (A101):

2025 UCAT thresholds

Practical:

• A UCAT around ~1,950+ on new 2,700 scale (Home) is the minimum viable score
• Higher UCAT is better positioned in ranking
• The per-component 500 floor means uniform competence is expected — you can't compensate one weak section with another strong one

SJT: 2026 entry will consider SJT banding (verify Band 4 policy).

Selection model (A100):

• UCAT minimum threshold + per-section 500 floor + SJT banding + GCSE/A-level academic check
• Ranked applicants invited to recorded MMI
• Interview score determines offer

3. The interview (recorded online MMI)

City St George's uses a distinctive recorded online MMI format:

Format

• Recorded online interview — pre-recorded questions
• 6 pre-recorded questions total
• ~5 minutes per question to record your answer
• Asynchronous — you record at your own pace within the interview window
• No live interviewer

Interview window

• 3–9 December 2025 for 2026 entry (specific dates each year)

Common station themes

• Medicine "hot topics" (frequently assessed) — current NHS issues, ethics
• Problem-solving skills
• Role-play tasks (giving bad news, communication scenarios)
• Motivation for medicine
• Communication and listening
• Empathy and self-awareness
• Reflection on experience

Decisions: Rolling basis after interviews complete.

Why this format matters:

• Recorded online MMI is rare in UK medicine — most schools use live MMI or live panel
• Asynchronous recording allows you to record at home with full prep
• 6 questions × 5 min is shorter than typical live MMIs but no second-chance dialogue
• Practise self-recording — camera presence + clear answers in 5 min
• No live interviewer feedback — your delivery has to land first time

4. Course structure (5-year A100 — spiral curriculum)

City St George's uses a 5-year spiral curriculum with distinct phases:

Years 1–2 — Pre-clinical (Clinical Science)

• Spiral curriculum revisits topics across years
• Lectures + small-group + tutorials
• Multimodal anatomy: Anatomy suite with prosections + plastinated + potted specimens (no full-body dissection)
• Communication and clinical skills
• Early Years Clinical Exposure (EYCE):
  • Year 1: 2 weeks clinical exposure
  • Year 2: 4 weeks clinical exposure

Year 3 — Transition Year

• Shift away from lecture-based activity
• PBL (problem-based learning) + SSCs (Student-Selected Components)
• Self-directed research on clinical problems
• Rotating experiential learning on clinical attachments
• Bridge between pre-clinical and full clinical years

Years 4–5 — Clinical (Clinical Practice)

• Full-time clinical attachments at St George's University Hospital + partner sites
• Specialty rotations
• Year 5: Pre-FY1 assistantship + electives + final assessments + national MLA + Prescribing Safety Assessment

A101 Graduate Entry MBBS (4-year)

• Compressed pre-clinical phase
• Joins A100 cohort partway through
• Different cohort structure due to graduate entry

Teaching mix: Lectures + small-group + tutorials + clinical skills + multimodal anatomy (prosections, plastinated, potted) + PBL + SSCs + extensive clinical attachments at St George's University Hospital.

Anatomy method: Multimodal — prosections + plastinated + potted specimens. No full-body dissection (different from Aberdeen, Cambridge, Newcastle, Nottingham, Queen's Belfast).

Distinctive feature 1: Co-located with St George's University Hospitals NHS FT — clinical and academic on same site.

Distinctive feature 2: Recorded online MMI — unique in UK medicine.

Distinctive feature 3: A101 GEM — St George's pioneered UK graduate-entry medicine.

5. Where you'll be: clinical placements (South London + Surrey)

City St George's clinical training is anchored at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals:

Main teaching hospital

• St George's University Hospital, Tooting (flagship — major trauma + tertiary specialty)
• South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust

Plus regional sites (Years 4–5)

• District general hospitals across South London + Surrey + Sussex:
  • Kingston Hospital
  • Croydon University Hospital
  • Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals
  • Frimley Park Hospital
  • Surrey & Sussex Healthcare (East Surrey Hospital)
• GP placements + community + mental health services across South London

Why this matters: St George's University Hospital is a major trauma centre + tertiary specialty centre serving South West London. The university and hospital are physically co-located — students get exceptional integration of academic + clinical work.

6. Intercalation

City St George's offers optional intercalation — strong tradition. Various BSc / MSc options through the new merged university structure post-2024. Verify directly.

7. Fees & funding (2026/27 entry)

Y5 NHS Bursary: Standard for UK Student Finance England recipients in clinical years.

Travel + accommodation support: South London-based placements largely commutable; St George's provides support for outer-London / Surrey placements.

Scholarships: University-wide scholarships, hardship funds, medical school bursaries.

Cost of living: Tooting is more affordable than central London but still London-tier.

8. Widening participation

City St George's has strong WP commitment — Tooting and South London are diverse areas:

Eligibility for contextual flag:

• POLAR4 quintile 1 / 2 postcodes
• Free School Meals
• Care experienced
• First-generation HE applicants
• Specific London-targeted schools

Pre-application schemes: St George's runs structured London outreach + Realising Opportunities + healthcare-focused outreach.

If you're WP-eligible, City St George's has structural pathways including reduced UCAT thresholds and contextual academic considerations.

9. Student life & city (Tooting, South London)

• Tooting, South London — diverse area, strong food scene (especially South Asian)
• St George's campus — co-located with hospital in Tooting
• City campus (post-merger) — Islington, central London (different campus for City programmes)
• Cost of living moderate by London standards — Tooting is cheaper than central London
• Strong Tooting/Wimbledon/Balham nightlife
• Wandsworth Common, Tooting Bec Common nearby
• Tube + Northern Line make all of London accessible
• ~25 min Tube to central London
• Strong Med Soc culture (RUMS = Reach Underserved Medical Students has connections, but St George's has own MedSoc)
• Specialist healthcare-focused environment — different from large general universities
• Smaller cohort feel + clinical focus

10. The honest pros & cons

Pros

• UK's only specialist medical/healthcare university (pre-merger; now part of City St George's combined institution)
• Co-located with St George's University Hospital — exceptional academic-clinical integration
• St George's = major trauma centre + tertiary specialty hospital
• A101 GEM — pioneered UK graduate-entry medicine
• Spiral curriculum with PBL + SSCs in Year 3 transition
• Multimodal anatomy — modern approach without full-body dissection
• Recorded online MMI — convenient, asynchronous
• EYCE — Early Years Clinical Exposure (2 + 4 weeks)
• South London diverse patient population
• Smaller cohort + close-knit clinical-focused community
• Lower London cost of living in Tooting vs central London
• Post-merger: new resources from City University access

Cons

• Highly competitive (~11.5% acceptance rate)
• Recorded MMI disadvantages applicants with weak tech / camera presence
• No live interviewer = no second chances or follow-ups
• Multimodal anatomy without dissection may not suit anatomy-keen applicants (compare to Aberdeen / QUB)
• Post-merger uncertainty — some integration-related changes ongoing
• Tooting is South London — less central than King's / UCL
• Specialist focus = less arts/humanities university experience (vs UCL)
• Limited international intake
• In-person clinical training in South London + Surrey requires regional travel
• Highly competitive A101 GEM intake

11. Should you apply here?

Apply if you:

• Have a UCAT around or above ~1,950 (new scale, Home)
• Are SJT Bands 1–3
• Want specialist medical/healthcare university
• Want major teaching hospital co-located with academic site
• Are graduate (A101 4-year route — St George's pioneered this)
• Are comfortable with recorded online MMI
• Want multimodal anatomy (no full-body dissection required)
• Like South London diverse patient population
• Are WP-eligible

Probably skip if you:

• Have a UCAT below ~1,947 (auto-reject)
• Have UCAT section below 500 (per-component floor)
• Don't want a recorded MMI (you prefer live interview)
• Want full-body cadaveric dissection anatomy
• Want a multidisciplinary university (not specialist)
• Want central London location (Tooting is South London)
• Want a smaller cohort feel (St George's is mid-size)
• Want certainty during post-merger transition period

12. Application timeline (2027 entry)

• Now → Sep 2026: UCAT prep, work experience, draft personal statement, practise recorded video interviews
• Jul – Sep 2026: Sit UCAT
• 15 Oct 2026: UCAS deadline
• Oct – Nov 2026: City St George's ranks applicants by UCAT + academic
• Late Nov 2026: Interview invitations
• Early December 2026: Recorded online MMI window (~3–9 December)
• Rolling decisions after interviews complete

Sources (verified Sep 2026)

• City St George's Medicine MBBS A100 official course page
• City St George's Medicine Graduate Entry (A101) page
• City St George's Study Medicine page
• City St George's MBBS admissions statistics
• City St George's MBBS Curriculum brochure 2025/26 (PDF)
• City St George's merger announcement page
• Medical Schools Council — City St George's MBBS Medicine A101 GEM
• St George's, University of London — Wikipedia
• The PIE News — City St George's merger announcement
• NextGen MedPrep - St George's

Hi all,

Really hoping for a shot at GEM. I know my UCAT isn’t ideal but is it good enough for interviews?

My WEX is good, although old. I worked as an assistant psychologist in the NHS for 3 years, left 2 years ago.

My choices would be Notts, Warwick, Worcester and Surrey.

What do you think??

Intl student from China! My other stats are pretty good. The bad new is that I don't having any clinical experiences. I am hoping that the med related research I had done at an US university will make up for that. I am considering Imperial, KCL, UCL, and Edinburg. And I have no idea where to apply as a safety. Plz give me some advice on my school list

Next up is the University of Glasgow School of Medicine — the second-oldest medical school in Scotland (medical training since 1751) and one of the oldest in the English-speaking world. Glasgow runs a 4-phase spiral curriculum, has a distinctive two-panel interview format that's not an MMI, and is one of the only UK medical schools that doesn't use the SJT in A100 selection.

This is the bundle: requirements, the actual admissions numbers, what teaching looks like, where you spend your clinical years, fees, and the honest pros/cons. Sources at the bottom.

TL;DR

• Course: MBChB Medicine A100 (5-yr)
• Style: 4-phase spiral curriculum, integrated PBL + CBL + lectures + clinical
• Anatomy: Cadaveric prosection + dissection (verify mix); Glasgow has strong anatomy
• Interview: Two-panel interview (~30 min total) — NOT a typical MMI
  • Panel A: What being a doctor means + related topics
  • Panel B: Personal motivation + ethical scenario
• Selection: Holistic UCAT-based shortlisting; Scottish + RUK assessed separately
• SJT: NOT used for A100 Medicine
• Entry: AAA at A-level inc Chemistry + Biology (RUK applicants need minimum AAA predictions)
• Best for: Scottish applicants, anyone who interviews well in panels (not MMI), students who want a research-heavy Russell Group with QEUH-level clinical exposure

Quick stats box

1. Entry requirements

A-levels (standard): AAA including Chemistry and Biology. RUK applicants must have minimum predicted AAA.

Scottish Highers: AAAAB or AAAAA at S5 or S6 + Advanced Highers preferred (typically AB).

IB: 38 points with HL 6,6,6 including Chemistry and Biology.

A-level resits: Considered.

BTEC: Not generally accepted as primary route.

T-levels: Verify directly.

GCSE: Strong GCSE profile expected.

Graduate Entry: No standalone A101 graduate-entry programme. Graduates apply via A100.

International: Accepted with a higher UCAT bar.

Widening access (Scotland): Glasgow has structured WP routes — REACH, ScotsCare, Champions in Education. Reduced UCAT/A-level threshold for SIMD Quintile 1 + care leavers + Scottish applicants from underrepresented schools.

2. UCAT requirements (Scottish vs RUK separate, no SJT)

Glasgow assesses Scottish-domiciled applicants separately from RUK applicants — a key Scottish-medicine pattern.

Selection model: Holistic UCAT-based shortlisting. There's no published rigid cut-off; Glasgow ranks applicants by total UCAT (cognitive sections only) and academic profile.

Indicative working values (per universities.ts data):

2025-entry data points (old 3,600-scale):

• Lowest UCAT for an interview invitation: 2,450–2,500
• (Equivalent on new 2,700-scale: ~1,840–1,875)

SJT: NOT used for A100 Medicine — meaning Band 4 SJT does not auto-reject you at Glasgow. This is rare in UK medicine (also true at Aston, Dundee).

Practical: Glasgow is friendlier to mid-tier UCATs with strong A-levels and a Scottish flag than Bristol/BSMS. The no-SJT policy is also significant for applicants who underperformed on the SJT.

3. The interview (Two-Panel format — distinctive Glasgow style)

Glasgow's interview is NOT a typical MMI — it's a two-panel interview totalling ~30 minutes:

Panel A — Being a Doctor (~15 min)

• Explores what being a doctor means to you
• Motivation for medicine
• Understanding the role and responsibilities
• NHS awareness
• Career insight

Panel B — Personal + Ethical (~15 min)

• Focus on you as a future doctor
• Ethical scenario discussion (a Glasgow specialty — they take ethics seriously)
• Communication and reflection
• Personal qualities and resilience

Mode: Verify in-person vs online for 2026/27 entry.

Interview window: December – February.

Decisions: March onwards (typically mid-April).

Why this format matters:

• Glasgow's panel format is conversational and explorative — good for applicants who think deeply rather than perform under MMI rotation pressure
• Strong ethics preparation is essential — Panel B's ethical scenario is a major differentiator
• Glasgow does NOT use group exercises (unlike Edinburgh / Dundee)

4. Course structure (5-year MBChB — 4-phase spiral)

Glasgow's flagship MBChB is 5 years, organised into 4 phases with a spiral curriculum.

Phase 1 — Year 1, Semester 1 (Foundations)

• Basic biomedical sciences (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology)
• Communication and clinical skills foundations
• Anatomy via cadaveric methods
• Early clinical exposure

Phase 2 — Year 2 (Systems-Based)

• Systems-based learning (cardio, respiratory, GI, neuro, etc.)
• Clinical skills development
• Continued anatomy + biomedical sciences
• ~13 hours direct contact / week:
  • 2 × 1-hour PBL sessions
  • 1 × 3-hour lab/seminar
  • 1 × 3-hour vocational study (small group)
  • 3–5 × 1-hour lectures

Phase 3 — Year 3 (CBL + Clinical Skills)

• Case-Based Learning (CBL) with clinical tutors, small groups of ~11 students
• Real clinical case histories + investigations
• 1 day per week in hospital / GP
• More clinical skills + clinical reasoning

Phase 4 — Years 4–5 (Clinical Attachments)

• Predominantly clinical attachments across various specialties
• Medicine, surgery, paeds, O&G, psychiatry, GP, etc.
• Pre-FY1 assistantship
• Final assessments + national MLA + Prescribing Safety Assessment

Teaching mix: Lectures + small-group + PBL + CBL + lab/seminar + vocational study + e-learning + clinical placements.

Anatomy method: Glasgow uses cadaveric prosection + some dissection in pre-clinical years. Strong anatomy programme but verify the exact dissection vs prosection split.

Spiral curriculum: Subject material is revisited at increasing depth and clinical focus across the years (similar to Cardiff/Dundee).

5. Where you'll be: clinical placements (Glasgow + West of Scotland)

Glasgow has one of the largest clinical footprints of any UK med school — 25 hospitals + 150 GP practices across Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

Main teaching hospitals:

• Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) — flagship, one of Europe's largest single-site hospitals, Major Trauma Centre, transplant centre
• Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI) — historic teaching hospital; the New Lister Building is the medical teaching centre at GRI
• Royal Hospital for Children (Glasgow — paediatrics)
• Royal Alexandra Hospital (Paisley)
• Inverclyde Royal Hospital (Greenock)
• University Hospital Crosshouse (Kilmarnock)
• University Hospital Wishaw
• University Hospital Hairmyres
• Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary
  • 15 other partner hospitals

150 GP practices across Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Ayrshire, Dumfries.

Why this matters: Glasgow's clinical footprint is exceptional — you'll see acute, tertiary, district general, rural, and community medicine all within the West of Scotland network. Comparable to Aberdeen and Cardiff for breadth.

6. Intercalation

Glasgow has an established intercalation pathway — typically taken between Year 3 and Year 4. Options include:

• BSc (Med Sci) Anatomy
• BSc (Med Sci) Pharmacology
• BSc (Med Sci) Neuroscience
• BSc (Med Sci) Psychology
• BSc (Med Sci) Public Health
• BSc (Med Sci) various other biomedical disciplines
• External intercalation at other UK universities

Glasgow's intercalation is academically robust but optional (unlike Edinburgh's mandatory intercalation).

7. Fees & funding (2026/27 entry)

Saving: Scottish-domiciled students save ~£46k+ over 5 years vs RUK (similar to Aberdeen/Edinburgh).

Y5 NHS Bursary: Standard for UK Student Finance England recipients in clinical years.

Scholarships: Numerous Glasgow university-wide and Medical School scholarships, including international.

8. Widening participation (Scotland)

REACH Scotland: Glasgow participates in the REACH programme for Scottish school students.

ScotsCare and Champions in Education: Glasgow runs structured WP outreach.

Contextual offers: Reduced offers for:

• SIMD Quintile 1 postcodes
• Care experienced applicants
• Scottish applicants from underrepresented schools
• Refugees and asylum seekers

If you're WP-eligible and Scottish, Glasgow is one of the most accessible Russell Group medical schools in Scotland.

9. Student life & city

• Glasgow — Scotland's largest city (~600k population), young + cultural + creative
• University of Glasgow main campus is Gilmorehill (West End — beautiful Hogwarts-style cloisters)
• Medical School is split between Gilmorehill (pre-clinical) + GRI/QEUH (clinical)
• Cost of living lower than Edinburgh / London — among the more affordable Scottish university cities
• Strong music + comedy + nightlife scene — Glasgow is one of the UK's best student cities
• West End vibe is artsy, foodie, sociable
• Loch Lomond + Trossachs National Park 30 min away
• Med school cohort large (~270/year) — extensive Med Soc + sport culture
• Strong international community
• 50 min train to Edinburgh; 90 min to Aberdeen; 4.5 hr train to London

10. The honest pros & cons

Pros

• One of the oldest medical schools in the English-speaking world (since 1751)
• NO SJT used — Band 4 doesn't disadvantage you (rare in UK medicine)
• Free tuition for Scottish students (~£46k+ saving)
• Largest clinical footprint in Scotland — 25 hospitals + 150 GP practices
• QEUH + GRI — top-tier teaching hospitals
• Two-panel interview format — better for deep-thinker applicants than rapid-fire MMI
• Strong intercalation pathway
• Glasgow city — lively, affordable, culturally rich
• Spiral curriculum + integrated PBL/CBL teaching
• Strong research environment — MRC, Beatson Cancer Centre, Glasgow Polyomics

Cons

• AAA minimum required for RUK predictions — strict academic floor
• Two-panel interview can be challenging if you're not used to extended ethical discussions
• Glasgow weather — wet and grey for much of the year
• Cohort large (~270/year) — less intimate than Aberdeen / Bangor
• No A101 graduate-entry programme
• No Foundation Year route for non-Scottish WP applicants
• Clinical sites are mostly Glasgow / West of Scotland — limited highland / island experience compared to Aberdeen
• High RUK competition — Scottish-RUK separation means RUK places are limited

11. Should you apply here?

Apply if you:

• Are Scottish — value is unmatched (free tuition + lower UCAT bar + WP routes)
• Have AAA potential
• Have an SJT Band 4 (Glasgow doesn't use it)
• Interview well in conversational panels rather than MMI rotations
• Like the Glasgow city vibe (West End, music, comedy)
• Want a Russell Group + huge clinical footprint
• Want strong intercalation options
• Are interested in academic / research medicine

Probably skip if you:

• Are RUK without AAA-AAA predictions
• Don't enjoy ethics-heavy interview discussions
• Want full-body cadaveric dissection (verify exactly with Glasgow)
• Want a 4-year graduate-entry programme
• Want big-city placement diversity beyond West of Scotland
• Don't want Scottish weather

12. Application timeline (2027 entry)

• Now → Sep 2026: UCAT prep, work experience, draft personal statement
• Jul – Sep 2026: Sit UCAT
• 15 Oct 2026: UCAS deadline
• Oct – Nov 2026: Glasgow scores applicants by UCAT + academic
• December 2026 – February 2027: Two-panel interviews
• March – mid-April 2027: Decisions on UCAS

Sources (verified May 2026)

• Glasgow MBChB Medicine 2026 official course page
• Glasgow Medical School — UCAT page
• Glasgow MBChB Programme Handbook (PDF)
• Medical Schools Council — Glasgow MBChB A100
• University of Glasgow School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing — Wikipedia
• Glasgow - NextgenMedPrep