Entry requirements
What makes a good doctor?
Being a successful medical student and future doctor takes so much more than academic ability. You also need to be motivated and conscientious, and be able to demonstrate respect for patients, compassion and a caring nature. You must have insight into your chosen career and your own suitability to be a doctor. Working in a team is a crucial part of medical practice, and being able to work alongside and respect your peers is essential within our PBL curriculum.
As a Lancaster medical student, you must be committed to making a difference to the health and wellbeing of your patients, and the communities they live in.
If this sounds like you, and you want to be part of the future of medicine, join us at Lancaster Medical School.
Academic entry requirements
Entry requirements for our medical degree include both academic and non-academic criteria.
A Level: AAA or AAB plus EPQ. See full requirements below.
We accept applications from school leavers, graduates and those returning to higher education via Access courses. We do not provide a four-year graduate entry degree, but graduates are eligible to apply for our five-year undergraduate degree.
All applicants must complete the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT). For 2024. entry, the BMAT will take place in October 2023 (after application). For more information, please see the BMAT website.
There are four places available to international students. No offers are made without interview and, therefore, all overseas applicants must be prepared to travel to Lancaster University for interview, with no guarantee of being successful. For more details, please see our International applicants page.
Tab Content: A-levels
GCSE:
In eight subjects attained by the end of Year 11.
At least a score of 13 points from the eight where A*-A or 7-9 = 2 points; B or 6 = 1 point1, 2
A minimum of a grade B or 6 in the following required subjects:
- Biology, Chemistry, and Physics (or Core & Additional Science)3
- English Language and
- Mathematics
If Biology or Chemistry is not studied at A-level, then GCSE must be at least grade A/7.
All other subjects must be at least grade C or 4.
A-level:
Three subjects taken at one sitting, including any two of Biology, Chemistry or Psychology4. Grade requirements: AAA
Three subjects taken at one sitting, including any two of Biology, Chemistry or Psychology plus a 4th subject or EPQ4. Grade requirements: AAB (b)
Only one of Maths or Further Maths will be considered and native languages can only be considered as a 4th subject.
BTEC (Level 3 Extended Certificate) may be considered in lieu of 3rd A-level subject. BTEC (Certificate) may be considered in lieu of 4th AS-level subject. Please note, BTEC Applied Science is not accepted, as a 3rd or 4th subject.
English Language Requirements:
English Language Requirements for Medicine
If you are applying from outside the UK or if you have been permanently domiciled in the UK for less than 5 years and have not previously resided in a majority English Language speaking country (as listed on the gov.uk website), you must demonstrate proficiency in English through one of the following recognised English Language qualifications:
- IELTS (a minimum score of 7.0 with no component less than 7.0) or
- Pearson PTE Academic qualification (at least 70 overall and at least 70 in each communicative skill sub-test).
This is in addition to the academic entry requirements outlined above. We do not accept other English Language proficiency qualifications. Applicants must demonstrate their English language proficiency before application. Applicants who do not include details of their English language proficiency qualification on their UCAS application will not be considered. English language qualifications must be less than 2 years old at the time of application.
Scholarships and Bursaries:
There are a range of scholarships available to both home and overseas students. Visit our Scholarships and Bursaries webpage to find out if you are eligible to receive any of them.
Additional Information:
- BTEC Level 2: Dist/Dist*= 2 points; Merit (or equivalent) = 1 point. BTEC qualifications are not acceptable replacements for English, Maths and Science subjects.
- Two points is the maximum score awarded in each subject area: for example, only one of Maths and Further Maths considered; Dual Award GSCEs (with the exception of Dual Award Science) are awarded a maximum of 2 points. Short courses will be awarded, at most, half the points of a full GSCE.
- Lancaster Medical School will consider applications from applicants who have taken longer than two years to achieve the required grades at A Level, if the applicant otherwise meets the GCSE criteria and the non-academic entry requirements. This includes those who have retaken Year 12, resat their A-levels or taken additional subjects at A-level after year 13. In the absence of mitigating circumstances, you must have achieved ABB in your A-levels at the first attempt. Otherwise, all AS and A2-level qualifications must be grade C or above at the first attempt, regardless of mitigating circumstances. Applicants must acknowledge and reflect on their individual circumstances (e.g. need to re-take year 12, need to resit A-levels etc) in their personal statement. Applicants who have taken longer than 3 years to achieve the required grades will not be considered.
Tab Content: International Baccalaureate
GCSE:
In eight subjects attained by the end of Year 11.
At least a score of 13 points from the eight where A*-A or 7-9 = 2 points; B or 6 = 1 point1, 2
A minimum of a grade B or 6 in the following required subjects:
- Biology, Chemistry, and Physics (or Core & Additional Science)3
- English Language and
- Mathematics
If Biology or Chemistry is not studied at A-level, then GCSE must be at least grade A/7.
All other subjects must be at least grade C or 4.
International Baccalaureate:
36 points overall, to include:
At Higher Level (HL): any two of Biology, Chemistry or Psychology and one other subject; all at a minimum of 6 points.
At Standard Level (SL): three subjects, all at a minimum of 5 points.
We will consider applications from applicants who have taken longer than 2 years to achieve the required grades in the International Baccalaureate.4
English Language Requirements:
English Language Requirements for Medicine
If you are applying from outside the UK or if you have been permanently domiciled in the UK for less than 5 years and have not previously resided in a majority English Language speaking country (as listed on the gov.uk website), you must demonstrate proficiency in English through one of the following recognised English Language qualifications:
- IELTS (a minimum score of 7.0 with no component less than 7.0) or
- Pearson PTE Academic qualification (at least 70 overall and at least 70 in each communicative skill sub-test).
This is in addition to the academic entry requirements outlined above. We do not accept other English Language proficiency qualifications. Applicants must demonstrate their English language proficiency before application. Applicants who do not include details of their English language proficiency qualification on their UCAS application will not be considered. English language qualifications must be less than 2 years old at the time of application.
Scholarships and Bursaries:
There are a range of scholarships available to both home and overseas students. Visit our Scholarships and Bursaries webpage to find out if you are eligible to receive any of them.
Additional Information:
1. BTEC Level 2: Dist/Dist*= 2 points; Merit (or equivalent) = 1 point
2. Two points is the maximum score awarded in each subject area: for example, only one of Maths and Further Maths considered; Dual Award GSCEs (with the exception of Dual Award Science) are awarded a maximum of 2 points. Short courses will be awarded, at most, half the points of a full GSCE.
3. BTEC qualifications are not acceptable replacements for English, Maths and Science subjects.
4. This includes those who have repeated Year 12, resat the entire IB or have re-taken components of the IB after Year 13. Applicants must acknowledge and reflect on their individual circumstances (need to re-take year 12, need to resit IB etc) in their personal statement. Applicants who have taken longer than 3 years to achieve the required grades will not be considered.
Tab Content: Graduate
GCSE:
In eight subjects attained by the end of Year 11.
At least a score of 13 points from the eight where A*-A or 7-9 = 2 points; B or 6 = 1 point1, 2
A minimum of a grade B or 6 in the following required subjects:
- Biology, Chemistry, and Physics (or Core & Additional Science)3
- English Language and
- Mathematics
If Biology or Chemistry is not studied at A-level, then GCSE must be at least grade A/7.
All other subjects must be at least grade C or 4.
A-level:
Three subjects taken at one sitting, after 2 years of study.
Where degree is in a Biological, Biomedical or Health Science Subject: BBB including any two of Biology, Chemistry or Psychology4
Where degree is in any other subject: AAB including any two of Biology, Chemistry or Psychology. General Studies, Critical Thinking and native languages are only considered as the 4th subject.
Only one of Maths or Further Maths will be considered.
Higher Education:
A minimum of an Upper Second Class honours degree (average transcript mark of 65% or greater) predicted/already attained.
English Language Requirements:
If you are applying from outside the UK or if you have been permanently domiciled in the UK for less than 5 years and have not previously resided in a majority English Language speaking country (as listed on the gov.uk website), you must demonstrate proficiency in English through one of the following recognised English Language qualifications:
- IELTS (a minimum score of 7.0 with no component less than 7.0) or
- Pearson PTE Academic qualification (at least 70 overall and at least 70 in each communicative skill sub-test).
This is in addition to the academic entry requirements outlined above. We do not accept other English Language proficiency qualifications. Applicants must demonstrate their English language proficiency before application. Applicants who do not include details of their English language proficiency qualification on their UCAS application will not be considered. English language qualifications must be less than 2 years old at the time of application.
Scholarships and Bursaries:
There are a range of scholarships available to both home and overseas students. Visit our Scholarships and Bursaries webpage to find out if you are eligible to receive any of them.
Additional Information:
1. BTEC Level 2: Dist/Dist*= 2 points; Merit (or equivalent) = 1 point
2. Two points is the maximum score awarded in each subject area: for example, only one of Maths and Further Maths considered; Dual Award GSCEs (with the exception of Dual Award Science) are awarded a maximum of 2 points. Short courses will be awarded, at most, half the points of a full GSCE.
3. BTEC qualifications are not acceptable replacements for English, Maths and Science subjects.
4. If Biology, Chemistry or Psychology A-levels are taken at a later date, the original A Levels must be at least BBB
Tab Content: Highers/Advanced Highers
National 5:
At least seven1 subjects attained by the end of S4 including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English Language, Mathematics2, plus at least two other subjects.
Required grades: National 5 (A or B) or Standard Grade Credit (1 or 2) or Intermediate 2 (A or B)
Highers:
At least five subjects taken at one sitting, after one year of study including Biology (A), Chemistry (A), plus at least three other subjects.
Minimum grades required: AAAAB3
Advanced Highers:
Minimum grades required: AA including Biology and Chemistry
English Language Requirements:
English Language Requirements for Medicine
If you are applying from outside the UK or if you have been permanently domiciled in the UK for less than 5 years and have not previously resided in a majority English Language speaking country (as listed on the gov.uk website), you must demonstrate proficiency in English through one of the following recognised English Language qualifications:
- IELTS (a minimum score of 7.0 with no component less than 7.0) or
- Pearson PTE Academic qualification (at least 70 overall and at least 70 in each communicative skill sub-test).
This is in addition to the academic entry requirements outlined above. We do not accept other English Language proficiency qualifications. Applicants must demonstrate their English language proficiency before application. Applicants who do not include details of their English language proficiency qualification on their UCAS application will not be considered. English language qualifications must be less than 2 years old at the time of application.
Scholarships and Bursaries:
There are a range of scholarships available to both home and overseas students. Visit our Scholarships and Bursaries webpage to find out if you are eligible to receive any of them.
Additional Information:
1. Applicants who have taken less than seven subjects at National 5 may be considered if the academic reference states that it is school or local authority policy for National 5 students to be entered for fewer than seven examinations.
2. All applicants must study Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English Language and Mathematics to National 5/Standard grade. Applicants may be able to take an additional National 5 subject alongside their Highers or Advanced Highers to meet this subject requirement.
3. This includes those who have retaken their Advanced Highers or taken additional subjects at Advanced Higher after 6th year to meet the entry requirements. Applicants must acknowledge and reflect on their individual circumstances (need to re-take Advanced Highers, need to take additional subjects after 6th year etc.) in their personal statement. Applicants who have taken longer than 3 years to achieve the required grades in Highers and Advanced Highers will not be considered
Tab Content: Access
We only accept Access to Medicine courses that comply with the QAA national framework and subject descriptors.
If you have completed Open University modules and would like to know if it would be accepted for entry to A100, contact medicine@lancaster.ac.uk for further advice.
GCSE:
A minimum of a grade B or 6 in the following required subjects1
- Biology, Chemistry, and Physics (or Core & Additional Science)
- English Language and
- Mathematics
Qualifications should be achieved at one sitting. Depending on individual circumstances, applicants may be required to demonstrate at least a score of 13 points from eight GCSEs where A*-A or 7-9 = 2 points; B or 6 = 1 point2,3
Access Course:
Complete an approved Access to Medicine course and achieve distinction in 45 Level 3 credits.
The Level 3 components of the Access course will need to offer at least 15 Level 3 credits in Biology, 15 in Chemistry and 15 in at least one other subject.
English Language Requirements:
English Language Requirements for Medicine
If you are applying from outside the UK or if you have been permanently domiciled in the UK for less than 5 years and have not previously resided in a majority English Language speaking country (as listed on the gov.uk website), you must demonstrate proficiency in English through one of the following recognised English Language qualifications:
- IELTS (a minimum score of 7.0 with no component less than 7.0) or
- Pearson PTE Academic qualification (at least 70 overall and at least 70 in each communicative skill sub-test).
This is in addition to the academic entry requirements outlined above. We do not accept other English Language proficiency qualifications. Applicants must demonstrate their English language proficiency before application. Applicants who do not include details of their English language proficiency qualification on their UCAS application will not be considered. English language qualifications must be less than 2 years old at the time of application. The required level (usually distinction or equivalent) in the approved Access to Medicine course. The Level 3 components of the Access course will need to offer at least 15 Level 3 credits in Biology, 15 in Chemistry and 15 in at least one other subject.
Scholarships and Bursaries:
There are a range of scholarships available to both home and overseas students. Visit our Scholarships and Bursaries webpage to find out if you are eligible to receive any of them.
Additional Information:
1. BTEC qualifications are not acceptable replacements for English, Maths and Science subjects.
2. BTEC Level 2: Dist/Dist*= 2 points; Merit (or equivalent) = 1 point
3. Two points is the maximum score awarded in each subject area: for example, only one of Maths and Further Maths considered; Dual Award GSCEs (with the exception of Dual Award Science) are awarded a maximum of 2 points. Short courses will be awarded, at most, half the points of a full GSCE.
- Applicants offering Access-type qualifications often have previous qualifications and these will be taken into consideration. Access instead of resitting A-levels is not recommended.
- If you have already taken three years to complete your A-levels, you are not eligible to apply to Lancaster Medical School with an Access-type qualification and applicants applying with an Access-type qualification are expected to meet the academic requirements at first attempt.
- Any AS or A2 qualifications held (irrespective of subject) should usually be at a minimum of grade C at first attempt.
- Applicants offering an Access-type qualification to compensate for having studied the wrong subjects at A-level are usually expected to offer three A-levels and have achieved at least BBB.
- Applicants without AS or A2 qualifications should demonstrate excellent attainment in vocational/professional qualifications at a higher level than GCSE.
International Qualifications
For international qualifications, please download our A100 international qualifications 2022 fact sheet or email medicine@lancaster.ac.uk if you can’t find your qualification.
Contextual offer scheme
As part of our commitment to widening access to medicine, we take a holistic approach to reviewing applications and aim to understand as much as possible about our applicants and their potential.
Medicine as a profession needs to attract the best students to embark on what can be a challenging career. While academic qualifications provide one marker of potential, a number of studies have shown that potential to succeed in medicine is not reliant on qualifications alone. In 2012, Lancaster University’s Chancellor, the Rt Hon Alan Millburn, published a report which highlighted that the UK medical profession does not reflect wider society. We are committed to recruiting medical students who reflect the diversity of our society.
If you meet two or more of our widening participation criteria, meet the academic entry requirements (see below) and are successful at interview, you may be considered for a contextually lowered offer of ABB. To be eligible for the contextually lowered offer, you must be predicted at least AAB in your A-levels, at the first attempt, after two years of study. If you are predicted less than AAB but fulfil two or more criteria, you may be eligible for A104, Medicine & Surgery with a Gateway Year. Applicants who are resitting their A-levels are not eligible to be considered for the contextual offer scheme.
In this instance, you will be made a dual offer: (1) the standard offer and (2) the contextually lowered offer; the lower offer is dependent upon you making Lancaster Medical School your firm choice and attending one of our post-offer events.
Accordion
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What information is considered?
In addition to the information collected through UCAS, Lancaster Medical School considers a variety of information to provide a full picture of the applicant and their circumstances. As part of the application process, the admissions team will consider whether applicants meet two or more of our widening participation (WP) criteria listed below:
- You live in a neighbourhood of low participation in higher education or live in an area that is less advantaged, as assessed by multiple factors. To find out if this applies to you please visit the Index of Multiple Deprivation, or if you live in Scotland, the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. A map of the UK, showing the areas that differ in terms of young people’s participation in higher education can be found on the Office for Students website.
- You live in a low income household. This can be demonstrated in any of three ways: (1) your parent or guardian is in receipt of a means-tested benefit (e.g. Universal Credit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance); (2) you receive or are eligible for the 16-19 bursary or, if you live in Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland, Education Maintenance Allowance instead of 16-19 bursary; (3) you receive or are eligible for free school meals.
- The school where you completed your GCSEs is a non-selective state school and has a below-average Attainment 8 score. You can view your school’s Attainment 8 score from Compare School Performance.
- The school where you completed/are completing your A Levels (or equivalent) is a non-selective state school, whose examination results are below average for schools/colleges in England (C- or below). You can view your school’s average A Level results from Compare School Performance.
- Your parent(s) did not attend university or attain a higher education qualification, apart from as a mature student.
- You have been in local authority care for three months or more, or considered as Care Experienced , including residing within a secure or children’s care home, foster care and kinship care. You can find out more on our Care Leavers page.
- You are a young carer to a parent or sibling.
- You are a refugee.
- You live in a neighbourhood of low participation in higher education or live in an area that is less advantaged, as assessed by multiple factors. To find out if this applies to you please visit the Index of Multiple Deprivation, or if you live in Scotland, the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. A map of the UK, showing the areas that differ in terms of young people’s participation in higher education can be found on the Office for Students website.
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How is information collected?
Most of the information that we consider is available through the UCAS application form, including information about your school.
If you are invited to interview, and if you are a UK applicant, you will receive an email inviting you to complete a supplementary information form. This secure, self-report form will ask you to provide additional information that is not available on your UCAS application. The form must be submitted at least a week before your interview date, in order for the information to be considered alongside your application.
If you identified yourself as meeting any of the criteria on the supplementary information form, you will be required to provide the relevant evidence when you come for interview. If this applies to you, you will receive an email confirming what evidence you will be required to bring to interview.
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How will your information be held?
The information you provide will only be accessible to members of Lancaster Medical School’s admissions team and will be stored in a restricted area. The information will be retained up to the 15th November of the year following your application.
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Required evidence
If you meet two or more of our widening participation criteria (see below), meet the academic entry requirements and are successful at interview, you may be considered for a contextually lowered offer (CLO) of ABB. Care leavers and care experienced applicants will automatically be considered for a CLO regardless of how many other criteria they meet.
If you identify yourself as meeting any widening participation criteria through the supplementary information questionnaire, you will be required to bring evidence of this with you to interview. If you think you have a piece of evidence that is not listed below, please let us know by emailing medicine@lancaster.ac.uk and we will confirm whether it is a suitable alternative.
Criterion
Accepted Evidence
Your parent(s) did not attend university or attain a higher education qualification, apart from as a mature student.
Your parent(s) or guardian will be required to complete and sign a form.
Your parent or guardian is in receipt of a means-tested benefit (e.g. Universal Credit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance)
A letter confirming receipt of a means-tested benefit e.g. from Jobcentre Plus.
You receive or are eligible for the 16-19 bursary or Education Maintenance Allowance
A letter from your school or college.
You receive or are eligible for free school meals
A letter from your school or college.
You have been in local authority care for 3 months or more.
A letter from a social worker or your local authority.
You are a young carer to a parent or sibling.
What to include on your personal statement
We’re looking for a coherent, well-structured personal statement that conveys a real impression of you and demonstrates effective written communication skills.
Visit the Medical Schools Council websiteYou should demonstrate what you have done to establish that medicine is the right career path for you. For example, you should outline any relevant work and voluntary experiences and describe what you have learned about being a doctor, and about your own suitability, from these experiences. You do not need to have shadowed a doctor; voluntary or caring roles, especially in a healthcare setting, are just as valuable. Voluntary and caring roles can also be useful to demonstrate your commitment to improving the lives of others. You should describe the skills you have developed through engaging in these roles and explain their relevance to a career in Medicine.
For further guidance from Lancaster Medical School about work experience, please see our leaflet. Please see the Medical Schools Council website for advice and guidance about work, voluntary and caring experience
You should also demonstrate an understanding of the NHS constitution and core values in your personal statement. For instance, you might draw upon your work and voluntary experiences to illustrate why these values are important. You might also present evidence to demonstrate that you share these values. More information about the NHS Constitution and Core Values can be found on the NHS website.
Reapplications and Resit Policy
We do not consider re-applications from applicants who were unsuccessful after interview in a previous cycle. Applicants who were rejected before interview in a previous admissions cycle can however re-apply if they can show evidence of further work experience and self-reflection.
All resit applicants should reflect on their circumstances in their UCAS personal statement and must achieve the required grades (typically A*AA) within three years of study.
If you would like to apply during your resit year of A level study:
- in the absence of exceptional circumstances, you must have achieved at least ABB in your A Levels at the first attempt.
- if you are able to evidence that exceptional circumstances negatively affected your studies or exam performance we will consider grades of BBB - CCC in your A levels at the first attempt. Please note, the COVID-19 pandemic on its own will not be accepted as an exceptional circumstance.
If you have achieved the resit requirements of A*AA within three years of A Level study, Lancaster Medical School will consider your application if you meet our other entry requirements, regardless of initial grades achieved at A Level and exceptional circumstances.
Similar criteria apply to applicants who have failed to achieve the required grades in the International Baccalaureate or Scottish qualifications at the first attempt. Such applicants may apply if they are resitting (or resitting components of) these qualifications.
We will not consider applicants who have resat any GCSE qualifications unless evidence of exceptional circumstances is provided at the point of application. For further information about the exceptional factors process, please contact the admissions team (medicine@lancaster.ac.uk).
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