All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2021 entry.
UK entry requirements |
A level offer |
AAA including biology (or human biology) and chemistry |
IB score |
IB 36 (6, 6, 6 at Higher Level including Biology and Chemistry, excluding core component) GCSEs as above (or equivalent) |
International entry requirements |
IB score |
IB 36 (6, 6, 6 at Higher Level including Biology and Chemistry, excluding core component) GCSEs as above (or equivalent) |
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 offer |
AAA including biology (or human biology) and chemistry |
English language requirements
See above for our IELTS requirements. We also accept TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB, O level English, and a selection of other English qualifications. Check our English language policies and equivalencies for further details.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for your chosen course, you can apply for a Presessional English for Academic Purposes (PEAP) course. These courses are run by the Centre for English Language Education, which is accredited for the teaching of English in the UK by the British Council.
If you successfully complete a PEAP course, you can start your degree course at the University of Nottingham without retaking IELTS or equivalent.
A level
AAA: must include biology (or human biology) and chemistry.
A pass is normally required in science practical tests, where these are assessed separately. However, due to the pandemic and the uncertainty of practical tests taking place, this will not be required for 2021 applicants.
We will not accept citizenship studies, critical thinking, general studies, or global perspectives as your third A.
You must study three A levels for two years and meet the entry requirements, however you can take an extra A level a year earlier or later if needed to meet the entry requirements or recommended by your school or college.
Please note we do not usually accept A levels which have taken three years to complete.
We will consider resits for no more than two A levels as long as:
- you have completed your A levels in the last 12 months
- you have already obtained at least ABB with at least one A in biology/human biology or chemistry
- you are predicted and must achieve AAA after taking your resits
GCSEs
Six GCSEs at grade 7 (A) with grade 6 (B) in English language.
These GCSEs must include biology, chemistry and physics as either individual subjects, triple science or double science. They must also include maths.
We do not accept GCSE resits.
If you are taking the sciences as individual subjects or as triple science then you need Grade 7 (A) in biology and chemistry. You will also need one of either physics or maths at Grade 7 (A), with the other at Grade 6 (B).
If you are taking double science, then you need Grade 7,7 (A,A). You will then need at least Grade 6 (B) in maths.
We do not accept applied science, short course GCSEs or functional skills for English and maths.
GCSEs taken over multiple years will be accepted for home schooled students as long as they meet the entry requirements.
Degree
You are also able to apply for this course if you already have a degree.
You will need a 2:1 degree in any subject plus the A-Level entry requirements. You may also consider applying for our Graduate Entry Medicine course as this is specifically aimed at graduates of other disciplines.
You must be in your final year or have completed your degree before applying.
If you have achieved or are predicted to achieve a PhD, postgraduate Masters or a First in a Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject, you may not have to meet the A-Level or GCSE entry requirements. However, offers made without the A-Level or GCSE requirements are conditional on achieving the PhD, Masters or First in a Bachelor’s degree before starting the course.
For more information on which degrees are relevant, please contact the Student Recruitment Support Hub.
IB
36 (6, 6, 6 at Higher Level including biology and chemistry, excluding core component) GCSEs as above (or equivalent)
We will accept either of the maths qualifications for the IB at standard level (SL) or higher level (HL).
We will consider resits of a maximum of 2 subjects as long as:
- You have completed your IB in the last 12 months
- You have achieved 34 total points overall
- You have obtained 6,5,5 at Higher Level with a 6 in chemistry or biology – the other one being at level 5.
- Students must be predicted and achieve 666 (including biology and chemistry)
Contextual Offers
A Levels - AAB with at least one A in either biology or chemistry
IB - 35 (6,6,5 at Higher Level including 6 in either biology or chemistry, excluding core component)
This type of offer is given to students who meet our contextual admissions or elite athlete criteria and is conditional on you accepting the University of Nottingham as your firm choice for medicine.
Find out more about contextual offers at University of Nottingham
English Language
If English is not your first language, you will need to have proof of your fluency with 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
If your home country is not the UK, but you moved to the UK (with indefinite leave to remain) within two years before taking GCSE English Language or equivalent and did not achieve Level 6 then we will accept one of the alternative qualifications.
Work Experience
Applicants should complete regular work experience when applying for medicine.
This can be:
- Volunteering in a care related setting
- Volunteering with disadvantaged groups
- Paid employment in a job working with the general public
Please note, we are not expecting any work experience to have taken place or be ongoing after March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Your application for 2021 entry will not be negatively affected if you’ve been unable to complete work experience you had planned.
As part of your application we usually ask for evidence of your work experience. This may include a description of the experience, dates for when it took place, and a reference contact.
We usually send a form to candidates to complete during the application process.
If possible we'd advise that you speak to someone working in the NHS to ensure you are making an informed choice about your career in medicine.
We expect you to demonstrate a commitment to caring for people and a realistic idea of what working as a doctor entails.
Any students considering a gap year should use their time constructively either by working or further preparing yourself for a future career in medicine.
Interview and Test
You must also complete the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) in the same year you are applying. We do not accept the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) for entry.
We do not have a fixed UCAT threshold score when selecting for interview.
We do not accept applicants who achieve Band 4 on the Situational Judgement Test on the UCAT.
You will be required to have an interview.
For 2021 entry, due to the pandemic, all interviews will be online using Microsoft Teams.
The interviews will:
- Have two interviewers on the panel
- Last between 30 and 45 minutes
- Include questions on four scenarios which may include role play.
Please make sure you have access to IT equipment with a webcam and microphone, reliable Wi-Fi and a quiet space. If you don’t have this at home, we would encourage you to ask your school if there is an appropriate room where you would be able to have your interview.
Interviews are offered to the top percentage of candidates based on their combined UCAT and GCSE or equivalent scores. The percentage threshold varies from year to year based on the number of applicants.
Find out more about the UCAT
If you meet the entry requirements for the course and have completed one of our approved outreach summer schools or widening participation programmes, you will be considered for the interview stage without having to go through the UCAT/GCSE scoring stage of our selection process. However you will still need to sit the UCAT and not get a Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test.
Fitness to practise
We must be confident in your conduct, health and ability to be professional and interact safely with patients.
As part of your application you will be required to have an occupational health assessment and a disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.
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.
Find out more about fitness to practise
Offers
All offers are made subject to being successful at interview, and having a satisfactory occupational health assessment, DBS clearance, and no fitness to practise issues.
If you are still studying for the required qualifications and your predicted grades meet the entry requirements, offers will be conditional on you achieving those grades.
If you have already met the entry requirements, offers will be unconditional subject to having a satisfactory occupational health assessment, DBS clearance, and no fitness to practise issues.
Find out more about the undergraduate selection process.
Foundation progression options
If you don't meet the grades for this course and meet specific criteria, you could apply for our Medicine at Lincoln with a Foundation Year course. It's the same great course, but it gives you an extra year to ensure you have the skills you need to succeed in Medicine.
Please note that you cannot apply for both this course and the Medicine at Lincoln with a Foundation Year course.
You cannot use other foundation courses at this university or any other medical school to transfer onto this course.