All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2020 entry.
UK entry requirements |
A level |
AAA (or AAB widening participation contextual offer)
Please note: Applicants whose backgrounds or personal circumstances have impacted their academic performance may receive a reduced offer. Please see our contextual admissions policy for more information.
|
Required subjects |
Biology (or human biology) and chemistry at grade A (a pass is required in science practical tests, where assessed separately). The third A can be in any subject except citizenship studies, critical thinking, general studies and global perspectives. A levels must be taken within a two-year period.
Please check our 'Entry requirements' section on this page for full details of the entry criteria. |
IB score |
36 (6, 6, 6 at Higher Level including biology and chemistry, excluding core component) |
International entry requirements |
IB score |
36 (6, 6, 6 at Higher Level including biology and chemistry, excluding core component) |
IELTS |
7.5 (no less than 7.0 in any element) |
High school qualifications |
Check our country-specific information for guidance on qualifications from your country |
A level |
AAA (or AAB widening participation contextual offer) |
Required subjects |
Biology (or human biology) and chemistry at grade A (a pass is required in science practical tests, where assessed separately). The third A can be in any subject except citizenship studies, critical thinking, general studies and global perspectives. A levels must be taken within a two-year period.
Please check our 'Entry requirements' section on this page for full details of the entry criteria. |
English language requirements
As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English. Check our English language policies and equivalencies for further details.
For presessional English or one-year foundation courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations.
If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a Presessional English for Academic Purposes (PEAP) course. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.
If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.
Visa restrictions
International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period
where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying
full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time
courses. The Standard Visitor visa
route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and
Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.
Alternative qualifications
We recognise that applicants have a wealth of different experiences and follow a variety of pathways into higher education.
Consequently we treat all applicants with alternative qualifications (besides A-levels and the International Baccalaureate) on an individual basis, and we gladly accept students with a whole range of less conventional qualifications including:
- Access to HE Diploma
- Advanced Diploma
- BTEC HND/HNC
- BTEC Extended Diploma
This list is not exhaustive. The entry requirements for alternative qualifications can be quite specific; for example you may need to take certain modules and achieve a specified grade in those modules. Please contact us to discuss the transferability of your qualification. Please see the alternative qualifications page for more information.
Contextual offers
We recognise the potential of talented students from all backgrounds. We make contextual offers to students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement at school or college. These offers are usually one grade lower than the advertised entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must have Home/UK fee status and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.
No offers are made without interview.
When applying for medicine, please make sure you meet our academic requirements.
A levels and GCSEs
A levels (or equivalent)
AAA (AAB widening participation contextual offer*); including biology (or human biology) and chemistry (a pass is required in science practical tests, where assessed separately). The third A can be in any subject except citizenship studies, critical thinking, general studies and global perspectives. A levels must be taken within a two-year period.
*If you are eligible for the University of Nottingham WP Flag,
- you may be accepted with predicted grades of AAB with at least one A in either biology or chemistry
- or IB 35 (6,6,5 at Higher Level including 6 in either biology or chemistry, excluding core component).
- If you are successful at interview, you may then be made an offer of AAB with at least one A in either biology or chemistry or IB 35 (6,6,5 at Higher Level including 6 in either biology or chemistry, excluding core component). However, this offer will be conditional on you accepting the University of Nottingham as your Firm choice for medicine.
Criteria for the WP Flag at the University of Nottingham are
- students who have spent more than 3 months in care
OR
- students who are attending a state school at the time of application and meet any one of the following criteria:
- have successfully completed a specified sustained widening participation scheme*
- live in a low participation neighbourhood and disadvantaged area at the time of application (see Postcode checker)
- are refugees at the time of application
*This includes Nottingham Potential Summer School / Sutton Trust / Realising Opportunities or UNIQ)
UCAT
Candidates must take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) test during the same year as an application is made. For more information, please refer to the UCAT website.
Graduates
2:1 degree in any subject plus A levels as described above.
GCSEs (or equivalent)
At least six GCSEs at grade 7 (A). If you are taking sciences as individual subjects (Triple Science) then 7(A) is required in biology and chemistry, plus one of either physics or maths passed to grade 7 (A) with the other being grade 6 (B) and a minimum of grade 6 (B) in English language. If you are taking the Double Science (or Combined Science), the requirement is 7,7 and maths and English language must both be passed at grade B (6).
We do not accept GCSE resits.
Alternative qualifications
For details on other alternative qualifications, please make an enquiry.
Work experience
You should have ongoing voluntary work experience in a care related setting in your 'home' country or to have ongoing volunteering experience helping disadvantaged groups or paid employment in a job working with the general public.
English language requirement
Medical students need to be fluent in English, both to understand the course and communicate with patients.
International applicants
If English is not your first language, we only accept one of the following:
- IELTS 7.5 (no less than 7.0 in any element)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 73 (minimum 67)
- Cambridge Proficiency/Advanced test (from January 2015) 191 with no element below 185
- International Baccalaureate diploma: either GCSE English language grade B(6) or IB standard English language grade 5.
Notes:
- Applicants who are studying their curriculum (i.e. all subjects) in the English medium are required to have GCSE English (first) language grade B (6). IELTS will compensate for a grade lower.
- Applicants who are studying their curriculum in their home language can take IGCSE English however they must have IELTS as well
Former international students living in the UK
For 2020 entry, if your home country is not the UK but you are now living in the UK (with indefinite leave to remain) having moved here after 1 September 2016 from an international country where you were not studying the full curriculum (ie all subjects) in the English language:
If you have NOT achieved level 6 (Grade B) GCSE English language, we will accept one of the following:
- IELTS 7.5 (no less than 7.0 in any element)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 73 (minimum 67)
- Cambridge Proficiency/Advanced test (from January 2015) 191 with no element below 185
- International Baccalaureate diploma: IB standard English language grade 5.
Note:
Applicants who are studying their curriculum in their home language can take iGCSE English Language, however they must have IELTS 7.5 as well.
Health note
Offers are subject to meeting the following criteria for clearance:
- Health questionnaire clearance
- At least two doses of Hepatitis B vaccine OR evidence of immunity
- At least one dose of MMR vaccine OR evidence of immunity to measles and rubella
- At least one dose of Varicella vaccine OR evidence of immunity to varicella
- Tuberculosis screening and vaccination where required
- Exposure Prone Procedure (EPP) screening (where required you will need to be screened for HIV, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B surface antigen)
- In addition, once you have been made an offer, you will be required to have an occupational health assessment
Students with disabilities
If you have a disability, please seek advice from the School of Medicine before applying. The school welcomes students who have a disability but also has a responsibility to ensure all candidates admitted to the course will be eligible for registration by the General Medical Council on graduation. The GMC document ‘Gateways to the professions’ provides further guidance.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
Offers are subject to satisfactory DBS clearance. The University is required to use the DBS to assess the suitability of applicants for medicine. Information held by the DBS will be considered on an individual basis and will be handled and disposed of securely in compliance with legislation. The GMC document ‘Outcomes for graduates' sets out expectations for newly qualified doctors.
Conduct/Fitness to Practise
All UK medical schools have a duty to ensure that no member of the public is harmed as a consequence of participating in the training of medical students.
If we have any serious concerns we will not offer you a place, and reserve the right to revoke offers should serious concerns arise before starting the course.
If your conduct as an offer holder falls below the high standards of behaviour that the public has a right to expect, your offer may be subject to a review through the School of Medicine’s professionalism and fitness to practice processes. Students will also be expected to comply with regulations and policies required by the University of Nottingham.
Mature Students
At the University of Nottingham, we have a valuable community of mature students and we appreciate their contribution to the wider student population. You can find lots of useful information on the mature students webpage.