Pathway · Medicine and dentistry
Getting into medicine: every step from Year 10 to your offer
Medicine is competitive, but the route is clear. Strong grades, a real understanding of the job, a good UCAT and a thoughtful interview. Here is what matters when, and how we help.
Brainhub works with graduates of UK medical schools who know exactly what it takes, and we pair students with them at the stages where it counts.
Facts checked against official sources on 6 November 2026.
Medicine and dentistry at a glance
- Apply by
- Usually 6pm on 15 October, a year before starting (15 October 2026 for 2027 entry). UCAS hasn’t published the 2028-entry date yet.
- Choices
- Up to four medicine courses (or four dentistry), plus one other course.
- Admissions test
- The UCAT, in the summer before Year 13 (13 July to 24 September in 2026). Its 2027 dates are due by February 2027.
- Typical offers
- From AAB to A*AA at the schools we checked (dentistry AAA to A*AA), usually with Chemistry and often Biology.
- GCSEs
- Used very differently: some schools score them when shortlisting, others only set minimum grades.
- Experience
- Caring and volunteering roles count. Virtual work experience is accepted, and shadowing doctors is not essential.
- Interviews
- Usually December to March, as multiple mini-interviews (MMIs) or panels.
- Competition
- In 2025, 9,805 18-year-olds living in England applied to medicine and 4,990 were accepted.
Start here
Which year is your child in?
Pick a year to see what to do now. The timeline below marks where you are.
Year 12: what to do now
Apply for programmes, build experience
- Apply now if eligible: KCL K+ is open from 9 to 30 November 2026, and the Social Mobility Foundation closes at noon on 11 December 2026
- Make Year 12 exams count: they feed predicted grades
- Keep up regular volunteering, and try Observe GP (free, age 16 and over)
- Read how each medical school uses the UCAT and GCSEs
The journey
The medicine timeline
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1
Year 10 to 11
GCSEs and A-Level choices
Some schools score GCSEs, so top grades help. Choose A-Levels with Chemistry, and usually Biology.
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2
Year 12, September to December (you are here)
Programmes open
In 2026, KCL K+ opened from 9 to 30 November and the Social Mobility Foundation closed on 11 December.
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3
Year 12, January to May
Experience and research
Regular volunteering, Observe GP, and reading each school’s selection policy. Year 12 exams shape predictions.
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4
Year 12, May to September
The UCAT
In 2026, registration opened 20 May, testing ran from 13 July to 24 September, and booking closed 16 September.
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5
Year 13, by 15 October
Apply through UCAS
Four medicine choices plus one other, chosen with your UCAT score in hand.
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6
Year 13, December to March
Interviews
MMIs or panel interviews. Keele, for example, interviews from December to March or April.
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7
Year 13, winter to spring
Offers
Offers arrive through UCAS. Choose a firm and an insurance offer.
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8
Year 13, August
Results day
Offers depend on A-Level results. If they fall short, there is still a plan B.
Scroll along the journey →
Honest priorities
What medical schools look at
Every medical school publishes its own selection method, so weightings differ. This is the overall picture.
- Matters most
A-Level grades and predictions
Standard offers at the schools we checked run from AAB to A*AA, usually with Chemistry and often Biology.
- Matters most
The UCAT
Some schools set a threshold score, others weight it with grades. Birmingham, for example, gives it 40% when shortlisting.
- Matters most
The interview
Most offers follow an interview. Keele says its final decision is made on performance at interview.
- Matters a lot
Understanding of medicine
What you learned from caring, volunteering or virtual work experience, not a list of hospital days.
- Matters, to some extent
GCSEs
Very different by school. Birmingham and Cardiff score them; UCL set minimum grades only and ranked on the UCAT (2025 entry).
- Matters, to some extent
Personal statement
Schools use it differently: Keele combines it with the UCAT to rank applicants. Expect questions on it at interview.
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Every stage we can support
From first conversation to results day
Twelve stages, from the first conversation to results day. Open any stage to see your to-do list and how we help.
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Any time, ideally Year 10 to 12
Stage 1: A free consultation and a plan
A first conversation about your child’s goals, grades and timeline, so nothing important is left to chance.
Your to-do and how we help with A free consultation and a plan
Your to-do
- Bring recent reports and any mock or predicted grades
- Note the courses or universities already on your list
- Ask anything: we explain the whole route
How Brainhub helps
- A free consultation with someone who knows the medicine route
- A written plan with next steps, key dates and the support worth having
- Honest advice if a different course or route would suit your child better
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Year 10 to 11
Stage 2: GCSEs that keep doors open
GCSEs matter, but only to an extent. Some medical schools score them when shortlisting, while others look mainly at A-Levels and the UCAT.
Your to-do and how we help with GCSEs that keep doors open
Your to-do
- Aim for top grades in maths, English and the sciences
- Check the minimum GCSE grades at schools you might choose
- Start a simple list of achievements and activities
How Brainhub helps
- GCSE tuition in maths, English and the sciences
- Exam technique for the top grades
- A check of which medical schools suit your child’s GCSE profile
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Year 11
Stage 3: Choosing A-Levels
Medical schools usually ask for Chemistry, and many ask for Biology too. The wrong mix can close doors before you start.
Your to-do and how we help with Choosing A-Levels
Your to-do
- Take Chemistry, and usually Biology
- Choose a third subject your child enjoys and will do well in
- Check each medical school’s required subjects
How Brainhub helps
- Advice on A-Level choices for medicine and dentistry
- A head start on A-Level Chemistry and Biology over the summer
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Year 12 to 13
Stage 4: A-Level grades and predicted grades
Offers usually ask for top grades, and your school’s predicted grades decide whether you can apply. Year 12 results feed those predictions.
Your to-do and how we help with A-Level grades and predicted grades
Your to-do
- Work steadily from the start of Year 12
- Treat Year 12 mocks and end-of-year exams as real
- Ask the school how and when predicted grades are set
How Brainhub helps
- A-Level Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Physics tutors
- Past-paper practice matched to the exam board
- A catch-up plan after a disappointing mock
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Year 11 to 13
Stage 5: Work experience and volunteering
Medical schools want to see what you learned about caring for people. Caring roles and virtual experience count, and shadowing is not essential.
Your to-do and how we help with Work experience and volunteering
Your to-do
- Find a regular caring or volunteering role, such as a care home, hospice or charity
- Try Observe GP, free virtual work experience for anyone 16 and over in the UK
- Keep a short diary: what you saw, what you learned
How Brainhub helps
- Ideas for realistic placements and volunteering
- Reflection coaching, so experiences become strong answers
- Practice questions built on your own experiences
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Year 12
Stage 6: Wider reading and interests
Reading around medicine, ethics and the NHS gives you something real to say in your statement and at interview.
Your to-do and how we help with Wider reading and interests
Your to-do
- Follow health news, and try a medical book or podcast
- Consider an EPQ on a medical or ethical question
- Learn the basics of medical ethics and how the NHS works
How Brainhub helps
- A reading list and discussion sessions with a medicine graduate
- EPQ support from a subject specialist
- Ethics practice in the style of interviews
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Year 12, from the autumn
Stage 7: Summer schools and outreach
Free programmes give real insight and a stronger application, and some lead to a guaranteed interview or a lower offer. Many open and close in the autumn.
Your to-do and how we help with Summer schools and outreach
Your to-do
- Check who can apply to each programme below
- Put every application window in your calendar
- Ask your school which schemes it supports
How Brainhub helps
- Help choosing the programmes that fit
- Application answers checked before you submit
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Year 12 summer to September
Stage 8: Choosing medical schools
You can choose up to four medicine courses. Choose where your profile is strongest: schools weigh the UCAT, GCSEs and interviews differently.
Your to-do and how we help with Choosing medical schools
Your to-do
- Go to open days and read each school’s selection policy
- Match your choices to your UCAT score and GCSEs
- Use your fifth choice for a related degree you would enjoy
How Brainhub helps
- A strategy session to shortlist four schools that suit your profile
- A check of entry requirements against your grades
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Year 12 spring to summer
Stage 9: UCAT preparation
The UCAT is taken in the summer before Year 13. It is a skills test, so steady timed practice makes a real difference.
Your to-do and how we help with UCAT preparation
Your to-do
- Register, then book your test date early
- Use the free official practice tests
- Practise little and often for 6 to 8 weeks
- Check whether you qualify for a UCAT bursary
How Brainhub helps
- One-to-one UCAT tutoring for all four subtests
- Timed mocks, with a strategy for each subtest
- A study plan that fits round A-Levels
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Year 12 summer to September
Stage 10: Personal statement
Three questions sharing 4,000 characters. Medical schools want motivation, a real understanding of the job and what you learned.
Your to-do and how we help with Personal statement
Your to-do
- Collect your experiences and reflections first
- Write a first draft over the summer
- Leave time for your school to write its reference
How Brainhub helps
- Feedback from someone who studied medicine
- Line-by-line comments that say what to write instead
- Final checks before the 15 October deadline
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Year 13, December to March
Stage 11: Interview preparation
Many medical schools use multiple mini-interviews (MMIs): short stations on motivation, ethics, communication and teamwork. Others use panels.
Your to-do and how we help with Interview preparation
Your to-do
- Practise answering out loud, not just in your head
- Reread your statement and your experience diary
- Keep up with health news
How Brainhub helps
- Mock MMIs and panel interviews with medicine graduates
- Feedback on structure, ethics and role-play stations
- A final mock before each real interview
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Year 13, spring to August
Stage 12: Offers, results day and next steps
Offers depend on your A-Level results. If results fall short, there are still options: resits, reapplying or another route in.
Your to-do and how we help with Offers, results day and next steps
Your to-do
- Choose your firm and insurance offers
- Keep working: the offer still needs the grades
- Have a plan B ready before results day
How Brainhub helps
- A-Level revision and exam preparation
- Help with reapplying, resits or a gap-year plan
- Support on results day
Admissions tests
The UCAT, and the other tests you might meet
Nearly every UK medical and dental school uses the UCAT. These are the 2026 rules; the 2027 test dates are due by February 2027.
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UCAT
Medicine and dentistry at 50 UK universities
- Subtests
- Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Situational Judgement. Abstract Reasoning was withdrawn in 2025.
- Length
- Just under 2 hours, on a computer at a test centre
- Scores
- 300 to 900 for each of the first three (900 to 2700 in total), and Situational Judgement in Bands 1 to 4. No negative marking.
- When
- 2026: registration from 20 May, tests 13 July to 24 September, booking closed 16 September
- Fee
- £70 in the UK (UCAT FAQs), with full bursaries for those who qualify
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How schools use the score
Every school publishes its own method
- Threshold
- Kent and Medway used 1850 or above, plus a minimum Situational Judgement band, in 2025 to 2026.
- Weighting
- Birmingham: 45% academic, 40% UCAT and 15% contextual, with no minimum UCAT score.
- Ranking
- UCL ranked applicants by total UCAT score for 2025 entry.
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UCAT bursary
Full fee bursaries for UK candidates from low-income backgrounds
- Who
- For example free school meals, a 16 to 19 Bursary, Universal Credit or income-based benefits (2026 rules)
- How
- One piece of evidence, every year. The 2027 scheme is due around March 2027.
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BMAT and GAMSAT
Older and graduate-entry tests
- BMAT
- No longer used for school leavers. Leeds, for example, says BMAT isn’t accepted and every applicant takes the UCAT.
- GAMSAT
- Used by some graduate-entry routes, such as Exeter for applicants who aren’t school leavers. The UK fee is £296.
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Free summer schools and programmes
Free medicine summer schools and programmes
Free programmes for Year 12s, mostly at UK state schools. Several lead to a guaranteed interview or a lower offer. Windows are short, so check now.
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Observe GP
Royal College of General Practitioners
Free interactive video work experience showing the work of a GP and the primary care team. The Medical Schools Council supports it as relevant experience.
- Who
- Aspiring medics aged 16 and over living in the UK
- When
- Any time: register online
- Cost
- Free
Who can apply to Observe GP
- Aged 16 or over
- Living in the UK
- There is no completion certificate, so note what you learned
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Sutton Trust Pathways to Medicine
The Sutton Trust with host universities
A personal statement mentor, sessions with medical professionals, an online placement following one patient’s journey, and an optional clinical placement.
- Who
- Year 12 students (S5 in Scotland, Year 13 in Northern Ireland)
- When
- Sutton Trust windows usually close between late September and early December. Hosts include Imperial, Leicester, Liverpool and Nottingham.
- Cost
- Free
Who can apply to Sutton Trust Pathways to Medicine
- Always attended state-funded, non-fee-paying schools
- In the right year group, and within commuting distance of in-person events
- The more of these you meet, the better: five GCSEs at grades 6 to 9 including English and Maths; first in the family to go to university; free school meals at secondary school; a school with below-average results; a low-progression or high-deprivation area
- Care-experienced students only need the age, school and academic requirements
- Some hosts add subject rules; Liverpool, for example, can make a reduced offer to students who complete it
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Imperial Pathways to Medicine
Imperial College London with the Sutton Trust
A UCAT workshop, a summer school, mentoring from Imperial medical students, work experience, statement reviews and an interview workshop, through Years 12 and 13.
- Who
- Year 12 students living and studying within an hour of South Kensington
- When
- The 2026 to 2027 round is closed. It reopens in September 2027.
- Cost
- Free (funded by the Sutton Trust)
Who can apply to Imperial Pathways to Medicine
- In Year 12 when applying, and always at state-funded, non-fee-paying schools
- Living and at school within an hour of South Kensington
- Studying A-Level Biology and Chemistry
- At least eight GCSEs, five at grades 7 to 9 including maths and sciences, and grade 5 in English Language
- On track for at least two A grades
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K+ at King’s College London
King’s College London
A programme for Year 12s with a medicine route. Completing it can bring a reduced offer of up to two grades and a £1,000 bursary at King’s.
- Who
- Year 12 students at non-selective state schools in Greater London or target regions
- When
- Open from Monday 9 November to Monday 30 November 2026.
- Cost
- No fee stated; travel to London events covered for those outside London
Who can apply to K+ at King’s College London
- Live or go to school in Greater London or a target region, at a non-selective state school
- 8 GCSEs at grades 4 to 9 including English and Maths, with at least five at grades 6 to 9
- No parent or carer who has completed university (some exceptions)
- Grade rules may be waived for care-experienced, estranged, refugee or Gypsy, Roma and Traveller students
- Completing K+ is one route into King’s Extended Medical Degree Programme
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Social Mobility Foundation: Aspiring Professionals
Social Mobility Foundation
Mentoring, skills sessions, application support and work experience. Medicine runs as a Medicine Insight Programme in England.
- Who
- Year 12 students who have never attended a fee-paying school
- When
- Applications close at 12 noon on 11 December 2026.
- Cost
- Free, with reasonable expenses covered
Who can apply to Social Mobility Foundation: Aspiring Professionals
- Four GCSEs at grade 7 or above, and predicted ABB at A-Level
- Eligible for free school meals or care experienced, or at least two of: first generation to university; household income under £45,000; a parent’s job in the target groups
- Never attended a fee-paying school
- The medicine programme is only open to students in England
Official page for Social Mobility Foundation: Aspiring Professionals ↗
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In2MedSchool
A charity run by doctors and medical students
Two years of free one-to-one mentoring, with help on the UCAT, personal statement, work experience and interviews.
- Who
- Year 12 students at state schools who meet a widening participation criterion
- When
- Check the website for the current window.
- Cost
- Free for students and schools
Who can apply to In2MedSchool
- At a state school: grammar and private school students can’t have one-to-one mentoring, but can join the mailing list and free events
- Meet at least one criterion, such as free school meals, being in care or being a young carer
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Keele Steps2Medicine
Keele University
Sessions, clinical placements and mock MMIs. Completing it can lead to an interview and a reduced offer at Keele.
- Who
- Year 12 students at state schools in the Keele region
- When
- Open from 23 September 2026, with no closing date stated. Sessions run from November 2026.
- Cost
- Free, with free transport
Who can apply to Keele Steps2Medicine
- A non-selective state school for GCSEs, and now at a state school or college in the Keele region
- At least 5 GCSEs at grade 6 including science, and grade 5 in Maths and English Language
- Plus one of: a low-participation or deprived area, care leaver, refugee or asylum seeker, military family, young carer, or free school meals or pupil premium
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UKWPMED scheme
Medical Schools Council
Complete one of six university programmes and you get a guaranteed interview and an ABB offer at six medical schools.
- Who
- Students who completed a qualifying programme: Birmingham, Brighton and Sussex, Keele, Manchester (two) or Plymouth
- When
- Apply through UCAS in Year 13, by the October deadline
- Cost
- Free
Who can apply to UKWPMED scheme
- Successfully complete a qualifying programme, such as Birmingham’s Routes to the Professions, BrightMed or Steps2Medicine
- Meet each school’s GCSE and A-Level subject rules and UCAT requirements
- Home (UK) fee status, applying for medicine (A100)
- Participating schools: Birmingham, Brighton and Sussex, Hull York, Keele, Manchester and Peninsula
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Birmingham Routes to the Professions: Medicine
University of Birmingham
Leads to a Pathways to Birmingham offer (usually up to two grades lower), a guaranteed interview and the UKWPMED scheme.
- Who
- Year 12 students at partner schools in the wider West Midlands
- When
- The 2027 round closed on 6 November 2026. Year 11s can plan for next autumn.
- Cost
- Not stated
Who can apply to Birmingham Routes to the Professions: Medicine
- In Year 12 at a partner school, and meeting the Pathways to Birmingham criteria
- At least seven GCSEs including English Language, Maths, Chemistry and Biology, at the grades on the official page
- Studying three A-Levels including Chemistry and another science
Official page for Birmingham Routes to the Professions: Medicine ↗
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BrightMed
Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Saturday sessions from Year 9, a summer school at the end of Year 12, and for some a guaranteed medicine interview.
- Who
- Students living or studying in Sussex at state schools, interested in medicine or allied health
- When
- The 2027 to 2028 round opens in May 2027. It recruits mainly in Year 8, and accepts Years 8 to 11.
- Cost
- Not stated
Who can apply to BrightMed
- At least one criterion from three different groups: area, school, household and individual (for example a low-participation area or free school meals)
- Care leavers are offered a place automatically
- An interest in biology, chemistry and medicine or allied health
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Dates are the latest published (2026 to 2027). Criteria and windows change each year, so always check the official page.
Interviews
Medical school interviews: MMIs and panels
Interviews usually run from December to March. They test the values and qualities of a future doctor, so practise out loud and get real feedback.
Multiple mini-interviews (MMIs)
A series of short stations, some with an actor in a role-play, each testing specific qualities.
Panel interviews
Usually around 20 to 30 minutes with a small panel, structured or semi-structured.
Assessment centres
A mix of written tasks, group work and interviews that can take a whole day.
What they look for
The Medical Schools Council lists qualities such as motivation, reflection, empathy, honesty, teamwork, communication and resilience.
Online or in person
It varies. Keele expected to interview on Microsoft Teams for 2027 entry, while Leeds’ Gateway Year interviews face to face.
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Open days and admissions teams
Open days and talking to medical schools
Medical schools hold open days and information days, often in the summer and early autumn: St Andrews in June and Birmingham in September in 2026, for example. Search the UCAS events list and sign up to medical school newsletters for dates.
Questions worth asking
- How do you use the UCAT: a threshold, a weighting or a ranking?
- Do you score GCSEs, or only check minimum grades?
- What kind of work experience or volunteering do you value?
- Do you interview with MMIs or a panel, online or in person?
- Do you make contextual offers or run a widening participation scheme?
- What is your policy on resits and on reapplying?
If it doesn’t work out first time
There is more than one way into medicine
Many future doctors don’t get in first time. A clear plan B keeps the goal alive.
Reapply the next year
Sit the UCAT again, build more experience and apply with your grades known. Check each school’s rules on reapplying and resits.
Gateway and extended courses
Six-year routes such as King’s Extended Medical Degree Programme (ABB), Leeds’ Gateway Year (BBC) and Southampton’s BM6 (BBB), for widening participation applicants.
A related degree first
Use your fifth choice for a course you would enjoy, such as biomedical science. Graduate-entry medicine is a later route, and some schools use the GAMSAT.
Other healthcare careers
Dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and other healthcare degrees are worth a look if they fit what your child loves about medicine.
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Talk to someone who has been through it
Book a free consultation. We look at your child’s grades, plans and timeline, then suggest the next steps. No obligation.
Questions parents ask about medicine
When should my child start preparing for medicine?
Proper preparation starts in Year 12, but Year 10 and 11 set it up: strong GCSEs, the right A-Levels (Chemistry, and usually Biology) and a regular caring or volunteering role.
Do GCSEs matter for medicine?
Yes, to some extent, and it varies by school. Birmingham and Cardiff score GCSEs when shortlisting, while UCL set minimum grades only and ranked applicants by UCAT for 2025 entry. Check each school before you choose.
Which A-Levels do you need for medicine?
Most medical schools ask for Chemistry, and many for Biology too. Edge Hill, for example, asks for AAA including Biology and Chemistry. Rules differ, so check each school’s required subjects.
What is the UCAT and when is it taken?
The UCAT is the admissions test for medicine and dentistry at 50 UK universities. It has four subtests and lasts just under two hours. It is taken in the summer before Year 13: in 2026, from 13 July to 24 September.
Does my child need hospital work experience?
No. The Medical Schools Council says shadowing is helpful but not essential, caring and volunteering roles count, and virtual experience such as Observe GP is accepted. What your child learned matters most.
How many medical schools can you apply to?
Up to four medicine courses through UCAS, plus one other course. Dentistry has the same limit of four.
What is an MMI?
A multiple mini-interview: a series of short stations, some with actors, each testing qualities such as communication, ethics, empathy and teamwork.
Are there free programmes for aspiring medics?
Yes. Sutton Trust Pathways to Medicine, the Social Mobility Foundation and In2MedSchool are free for students who meet their criteria, and Observe GP is free for anyone aged 16 and over in the UK.
How competitive is medicine?
Very. In 2025, 9,805 18-year-olds living in England applied to medicine and 4,990 were accepted, according to official statistics.
How does Brainhub help with medicine applications?
We start with a free consultation and a written plan, then support each stage: GCSE and A-Level tuition, UCAT tutoring, turning experience into reflection, personal statement feedback and mock MMIs with medicine graduates.
Read next
- The UCAT explained
- Writing the personal statement
- How to choose A-Levels
- A-Level Chemistry tutors
- A-Level Biology tutors
- Personal statement examples
- Oxford and Cambridge pathway
Sources (36)
- UCAS: dates and deadlines
- UCAS: filling in your application (choices)
- UCAS: admissions consultation outcome
- UCAT: test format
- UCAT: 2026 test dates
- UCAT: FAQs (fees)
- UCAT: bursary scheme
- UCAT: universities
- UCAT: how universities use the UCAT
- Kent and Medway Medical School: entry requirements 2027
- University of Birmingham: selection for interview
- Cardiff University: medicine admissions policy, 2027 entry
- UCL: medicine selection procedure
- Keele: MBChB admissions process 2026 to 2027
- Medical Schools Council: entry requirements
- Medical Schools Council: work experience
- Medical Schools Council: interviews
- Medical Schools Council: core values and attributes
- Medical Schools Council: UKWPMED scheme
- Dental Schools Council: entry requirements
- RCGP: Observe GP
- Leeds: Gateway Year to Medicine
- King’s College London: Extended Medical Degree Programme
- Southampton: Medicine BM6
- GAMSAT
- Sutton Trust: Pathways programmes
- Imperial: Pathways to Medicine
- King’s College London: K+
- Social Mobility Foundation: student programme
- In2MedSchool
- Keele: Steps2Medicine
- Birmingham: Routes to the Professions
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School: BrightMed
- GOV.UK: medicine applicants and acceptances by free school meals status, 2019 to 2025
- UCAS: open days and events search
- UCAS: how to write your personal statement for 2026 entry onwards
Facts checked against official sources on 6 November 2026. Rules, dates and criteria change every year, so check each official page before you apply.