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 2021 entry, the BMAT will take place in November (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.
English Language Requirements:
If you are applying from outside the UK or if English is not your first language, 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.
Additional Information:
1. BTEC Level 2: Dist/Dist*= 2 points; Merit (or equivalent) = 1 point. BTEC qualifications are not acceptable replacements for English, Maths and Science subjects.
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. We will consider those who achieved a Grade 5 in GCSE English Language at first attempt and resit to achieve a 6 at second attempt.
4. 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:
If you are applying from outside the UK or if English is not your first language, 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.
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 English is not your first language, 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.
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:
If you are applying from outside the UK or if English is not your first language, 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.
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
The following Access to Higher Education qualifications are currently accepted:
- Access to HE Diploma (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Medical Science at The Manchester College
- Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) at East Sussex College
- Access to HE Diploma (Medicine and Health Professionals) at Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group
Open University modules are also accepted.
If you have completed an alternative Access qualification or 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:
If you are applying from outside the UK or if English is not your first language, 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.
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 International Qualifications 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; for instance, 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 similar grant); (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.
- 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; for instance, 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 the supplementary information questionnaire. This secure, self-report questionnaire will ask you to provide additional information that is not available on your UCAS application. The questionnaire 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 questionnaire, 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, but you can also view this below.
You can view a copy of the questionnaire here.
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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 for up to one year and all records will be erased on or before 15th November 2021.
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Required evidence
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 similar grant)
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.
A letter from a social worker or your local authority.
Alternatively, your school or GP can complete a form, if they have direct knowledge of your caring role.
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.
Work Experience and COVID-19
Lancaster Medical School recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic may have prevented first-time applicants from completing their planned work experience or volunteering placements and this will be taken into account during the selection process for 2021 entry.
The Medical Schools Council has published useful guidance about gaining relevant experience during the pandemic, including some suggestions of other ways in which you can demonstrate insight into your chosen career and your own suitability.
Fitness to practise
Accordion
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Health and Disability
Lancaster Medical School strongly endorses the view of the General Medical Council (GMC) that applicants who have a disability or medical condition should be welcomed to the medical profession and valued for their contribution. Having a health condition or disability is not, in itself, a fitness to practise concern, but applicants with a condition that might impact on their ability to practise medicine safely should provide details on their UCAS application. Disclosed disabilities or medical conditions are not taken into account during the selection process. If successful after interview, the applicant will be assessed by an Occupational Health professional to determine whether they are fit to practise or if there are reasonable adjustments that Lancaster Medical School can make to support them in their medical training.
Any offer of a place to study medicine at Lancaster Medical School is conditional upon a satisfactory assessment of fitness to train from the Occupational Health Department (OHD) at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust (UHMFBT). You will be assessed initially through a health questionnaire before registration and then through follow-up appointments with the OHD. This health screening programme assesses the following: absence of infection with communicable diseases; immunisation status; functional capacity and ability to achieve the outcomes of Tomorrow’s Doctors. The standards are defined by the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Department of Health (DH). Read further guidance for potential applicants
Infection and Immunisation: All students will be tested for and/or immunised against a range of infectious diseases before any patient contact will be permitted.
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Probity
Doctors are expected to maintain trust in the medical profession by “being open, honest and acting with integrity” at all times (Duties of a Doctor).
Therefore, probity is taken extremely seriously during the admissions process for our medical degree programme. Applicants are advised to ensure that their UCAS application form has been completed fully, honestly and without omissions. Lancaster Medical School reserves the right to reject any applicant who is found to have been dishonest at any stage of their application.
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Criminal records
Applicants should note that all medical students are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Details of any criminal convictions, reprimands, warnings, cautions or fixed penalty notices should be declared if you are invited for interview. This information is not taken into account during the selection process and is only considered after interview. If successful at interview, the circumstances of the incident will be considered by the Lancaster Medical School Fitness to Practise panel and a judgement made as to whether it impacts on your fitness to practise. Only those who are deemed fit to practice will be admitted onto the medical degree programme; applicants may be subject to further requirements to confirm their fitness to practise.
In most instances, minor offences do not bar entry to medical training or clinical practice.
Please note: Applicants who fail to disclose information that subsequently comes to light through their enhanced DBS check will be subject to Fitness to Practice procedures and may be excluded from the degree programme on the basis of lack of probity. Please note that spent criminal convictions, cautions, warnings and reprimands that would not normally appear on your criminal record may be disclosed through an enhanced DBS check.
This information is collected in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. For unsuccessful applicants, data related to any declared criminal convictions will be deleted and removed from our admissions system by the end of the relevant admissions period; if they apply before 15th October, any data will be deleted before the end of October in the following year (unless they apply for deferred entry, in which case the data may be retained for a further 12 months before deletion). Successful applicants, who become students, will have any declared criminal conviction information retained for the duration of their studies. This information will be securely deleted and removed from our systems within six months of the student graduating or terminating their studies.
All information on applicant declared criminal convictions will be stored securely within University systems and will only be accessed by appropriate University staff. To learn more about how the University ensures the security of personal information please refer to the University’s Information Security Policy.
GDPR grants individuals certain rights in relation to their own personal data. For more information on these rights and how they have been embedded at Lancaster University, please refer to the Rights of the Data Subject page on the University website.
For more information about how the University uses student and applicant data, please visit the Student Privacy Notice on the University’s website.
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Expectations of students
As a medical student, you will be expected to behave in a professional manner from the very outset of your medical degree programme. Medical students are expected to strive for high standards in both their professional training and their personal lives. This section aims to provide some guidance about the professional behaviour expected of medical students. Potential applicants should ensure that they would be willing and able to agree to the expected standards of behaviour before applying to study at Lancaster Medical School.
During your medical degree, much of your training will take place in a clinical environment and will involve extensive patient contact. Moreover, as a medical graduate, you will be entitled to preliminary registration with the General Medical Council and to work as a Foundation Year doctor.
Therefore, medical students are expected to act in accordance with the standards of professional behaviour as outlined by the General Medical Council in Professional behaviour and fitness to practice and Duties of a Doctor.
Lancaster University has a duty of care to ensure that no member of the public comes to any harm as a consequence of contact with Lancaster University medical students during their training. To remind students of their responsibilities and the expected standards of behaviour, at the beginning of each academic year, Lancaster Medical School requires all medical students to agree to conditions of training. Potential applicants should read these conditions of training carefully and ensure that they are willing and able to agree to them before accepting an offer from Lancaster Medical School.
In addition to maintaining certain standards of conduct during their professional training, medical students must also ensure that their behaviour outside of the clinical environment does not negatively impact on their fitness to practise; they must not bring the profession or the medical school into disrepute through their behaviour in their professional or their personal lives.
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.
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 are resitting their A Levels (one or more subjects) or are taking additional A Levels after the end of Year 13 or repeated all of Year 12.
In absence of exceptional circumstances, you must have achieved at least ABB in your A Levels at the first attempt. Otherwise, all AS and A Levels must be at least grade C, at the first sitting, regardless of the mitigating circumstances. Please note, the COVID-19 pandemic on its own will not be accepted as exceptional circumstances, please see below (or link to COVID section).
All resit applicants must achieve the required grades (typically A*AA) after three years of study.
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.
Applicants who have taken longer than two years to achieve the required grades at A Level (or equivalent) should mention this and reflect on the circumstances in their UCAS personal statement.
For 2021 entry we will consider applicants who have retaken or are resitting GCSE English Language and achieved a 5 at first attempt, provided they achieve at least grade 6 at the second attempt. We will not consider applicants who have resat other GCSEs unless evidence of exceptional circumstances is provided.
Resits and COVID-19
Applicants who completed their A-levels in 2020 can apply to Lancaster Medical School if their calculated grades or centre-assessed grades (CAGs) meet our academic entry requirements.
Applicants whose CAGs do not meet the entry requirements but are taking the autumn exams in 2020 are also eligible to apply.
Applicants whose grades do not meet the entry requirements after the autumn exams, may be able to be considered with the grades achieved in exams taken in summer 2021, if the following criteria are met:
- They completed their A-levels in 2020, after two years of study*.
- They achieved at least ABB after their calculated grades, CAGs and the autumn exams.
- They achieved CCC-BBB in 2020 but have exceptional circumstances** that are accepted by the medical school as evidence of mitigation.
* Those who completed their A-levels in 2020 after three years of study must fully meet the entry requirements with either their calculated grades, their CAGs or after the autumn exams; they do not have the opportunity to re-take their A-level exams in summer 2021.
** Please note, COVID-19 will not be considered as exceptional circumstances on its own as adjustments have already been made for the impact of the pandemic; the centre-assessed grades were based on assessments completed before the pandemic and the autumn exams provide an opportunity for students who perform better in exams to demonstrate their academic ability. If applicants faced specific exceptional circumstances associated with the pandemic, such as severe ill health or demise of a close relative from COVID, these may be accepted if the applicant can provide supporting documentary evidence and a statement to explain the impact on their studies.
