Medical schools in the UK require a minimum of five A* or A GCSEs in subjects that include mathematics and English. Most medical schools also require a B degree in a science, with Chemistry, Biology, and Physics being the most common. However, some medical schools have specific GCSE requirements for physics. When it comes to GCSE qualifications for science subjects, the requirements vary from university to university.
Generally, all medical schools require a minimum of grade 6 in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, or Double Science Award. Some universities may also accept Applied Sciences and Applied Sciences as an alternative. Five medical schools have specified that they require a grade 6 or higher in GCSE Physics: Keele, Kent Medway, Lancaster, Liverpool and Sunderland. Queen's Belfast is the only one that requires a grade 4.Oxford has no specific GCSE requirements but states that most successful applicants will have A and A* ratings in their GCSEs.
If you are less confident in your GCSE scores, you may want to select medical schools that have less competitive GCSE requirements or that place more emphasis on other elements of your application such as A-levels or UCAT and BMAT. When it comes to GCSE Biology, about 15 medical schools mention a requirement of grade 6 or higher, two specify grade 7 (Lincoln and Nottingham), one says at least grade 5 (St Andrews) and one calls for a minimum of 4 grades (Leeds). Most universities claim that they will accept a minimum grade of 6 in these subjects but emphasize that successful applicants generally reach grades 7-9 in GCSE. It is important to know the GCSE requirements of the different medical schools so that you can check that you meet the criteria of any of the schools you want to apply. To study medicine at most universities in the UK, you must have at least five A* or A GCSEs in subjects that include mathematics and English as well as at least a B degree in a science.
