Medicine without chemistry A Level

[AlphaApple]

DD is in her first year of A Levels, Biology, Psychology and PE plus an EPQ. Studying is going well with As and A stars anticipated. She's always been interested in health related careers but after 2 days work experience at our local hospital is suddenly thinking medicine (having previously ruled it out). I understand without chemistry A level, options for medicine are limited.

Does anyone have any experience or advice? E.g. a foundation year or a university that doesn't require chemistry?

But they do teach it. As a med student she will have to do the Chemistry element, regardless.

And those places who do not require the A level in Chem, are respectfully, not "top" medical schools.

And bingo. Those ‘top medical schools’ appear. There are no top Unis for medicine, no one cares where you go and all courses lead to you being a doctor. No one asks when applying for any job in this country - ever.

Snobbery is v alive and well in applications for medicine I’m afraid. One offer is fantastic and you go where your stats fit best. Not everyone likes or can afford London and not everyone wants 3 years pure theory at Oxbridge. And not everyone is Scottish.

You bang on about snobbery if that makes you happy. The most important thing is employability.

If you've got a kid who is having a half-arsed try at getting into medical school, whatever medical school, with less qualifications than the majority who are absolutely gunning to go, they are likely to be one of the drop outs / end of year exam failures.

Nothing snobby about that. Sorry.

You could think about an Access course. I know two people who became doctors this route through having the “wrong” A levels. Or you could start chemistry A-level and finish it a year later than the other A levels. Some schools may be amenable to this.

Please do link to the research that supports your claim.

I would think about physiotherapy with a focus in the future on women's health. It's a decent living (not amazingly paid in the NHS but not bad) with fairly standard hours.

She could always perhaps do physiotherapy for a few years and perhaps switch to medicine as a graduate (although the debt could be horrendous).

Plymouth required higher grades than UCL, so I assume you believe they are better ? So do I 😂

Totally untrue. Listen to Mumsneedwine. What she doesn't know about medical school applications isn't worth knowing.

What would be interesting is stats on how many medical students took A level chemistry but are studying at a university that does not require it.
My 5th year medic kid said chemistry was the most useful of their A levels close behind was biology.

There may not be 'standard' A levels for medicine, but I'd say the vast majority take a combination of chemistry, biology, maths or physics.

The vast majority do have Bio, Chem and one other. But many don’t and are just as successful. Every student turns up having done different A level boards and so Unis reteach bits in first term. Most of A level Chemistry had no relevance to medicine - only the organic part really. And I’m an A level chemistry teacher 😂

Does this comment make you feel good?
are you aware of how Mumsnet ( not netmums) works?
A poster can ask for opinions , advice and suggestions, then are free to do further research.

@mumsneedwineyou are an absolute legend.

DD is back at her (residential) college and has an appointment with careers on Monday. It may be a long shot, and on paper she’s not a strong candidate for medical school but I’ve encouraged her to pursue it as far as she can so that she doesn’t regret “what could have been” in years to come. My sister let her doubts hold her back from medicine and over 30 years later still regrets it —even though her chosen career has made her a flipping millionaire—

@AlphaAppleif I can help in any way please just ask. Never believe the rubbish you read about medicine - don’t even believe me but check for yourself. Unis are quite clear on their websites what is needed. Strategy is the key. Good luck. Probably see you on the Mecicine 2026 thread.

Sorry but this is nonsense and actually damaging nonsense. In reality, the best candidates are often those who have explored a range of options and made an informed choice.

I see the usual ill-informed nonsense is showing up here.

@AlphaApple As a medicine admissions tutor of long standing (and teacher of some moderately chemistry-heavy content), I'd say please listen to@mumsneedwine and take no notice at all of @PersonaPersona and a few others.

The only reliable source of information on A-Level subject requirements for medicine is https://www.medschools.ac.uk/studying-medicine/how-to-apply-to-medical-school-in-the-uk/entry-requirements (due to be updated for 2026 entry soon) and medical schools' own web sites. There are many medical schools that don't require chemistry A-level, and none that require maths.

She could always do the access to medicine course if she does find she wants more of a grounding in chemistry, and then med school the following year?

My son got an offer without chemistry, but because the medical school he wished to attend, he did chemistry at the tech. He said most schools require chemistry to reduce the number of applicants.

YOU DO NOT NEED CHEMISTRY. OR MATHS.

The main thing that secures an interview is UCAT

She could always do the access to medicine course if she does find she wants more of a grounding in chemistry, and then med school the following year?

Most medical schools won't consider students who have done an Access to HE diploma straight after A-Levels. That isn't what Access to HE is for. A fair few won't accept Access to HE at all.

It is a little odd that you're shouting.

The UCAT does include some questions that require a certain amount of Chemistry knowledge, surely?

"The Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences section includes questions that assess your knowledge and application of chemistry concepts, such as atomic structure, chemical reactions, and organic chemistry"

@ChangeitUp2im shouting because it’s boring having to keep saying the same thing.

You do not need Chem or maths. UCAT has no chemistry and basic gcse maths.

PS you quoted BMAT which no longer exists.

Completely agree with @mumsneedwine
DS doesn’t have chemistry A level and applied to unis that don’t specify it. He had a very strong UCAT (3160) and that was the most important thing. We went 3 open days, all of which said the UCAT and his grades would guarantee him an interview as they were shortlisted just on the basis of those 2 things.
Also love your username @mumsneedwine !

Ok. Got it.

So you don't need to have A levels in Maths or Chemistry for entry to all medical schools, but you do need to be prepared to learn elements of both subjects as an undergraduate.