Medicine 2026 entry - part 1

[rockstuckhardplace]

Starting a new thread for parents of prospective medical students looking to start in 2026.

Given that deciles come out late and uni open days stretch into October, how are people managing the 15 October deadline given schools / colleges need to process applications before they’re finalised? I was wondering if it would be possible to process the UCAS form in good time with a couple of choices so the school’s bit is done and then add the final couple of choices closer to the 15th after open days etc…

Any reason that wouldn’t work?

Yes - the Manchester link is almost hilariously opaque gicen it supposedly explains the difference between PBL and TBL! I guess the fact they have changed the undergrad in some way is promising for those of us repelled by PBL but with candidates who really long to apply to Manchester.

To the Sunderland-adjacent pp, I think it would be a shame to write off a potential target for proximity. Provided the parents can be trusted not to lurk on the student’s doorstep (heartfelt undertakings could be pledged..) the world of a student in a location is so different from that of a school child that a fresh new life can easily be constructed. Sunderland surely offers an interesting option for a low UCAT applicant with a good PS, especially if contextual.

Having said which, however much research and number crunching one does, it can be hard to shed the more emotional/subjective issues - for some reason I really wouldn’t at all want to go to Manchester myself, but can’t really defend that feeling! And of course, I’m not the one who would be going. Still, it’s about how one prioritises getting on the path to being a doctor vs some of the “uni experience “ stuff that can be higher up the priority list for non medic applicants.

@PurryGrowls My DD sits hers on Monday and her mocks have been really going up in these past few days of practice much to her relief. I feel like she is reaching her peak so am glad she doesn't have to keep this effort up for long as she would burn out I think.

I still have no idea how she will perform on the day but she has been better these final days than the few weeks running up to it in her outlook. I just hope it isn't a case of doing worse on the day like your DD's friend!

@womblemum I too was thinking about late choices after the final deciles are released. DD likes Leeds but with it being so opaque in how they select it might be a risky one for her. We are going to the open day on 4 Oct but it seems really late to be changing choices at that stage.

@PurryGrowls sorry, yes Cardiff now do 8/9 as same

Good luck to your DD for next week 🤞🏻
Leeds is a tricky one - they only changed to UCAT 2 years ago - my DD didn’t apply in 2023 as she wasn’t sure she would get an interview but actually looking back she would have. My DD got 2900 B1 which was (just) top decile. Removing her AR she would have got 2170. Hope that’s helpful

Leeds took some 2,600 UCAT last year. Decent GCSEs but not stellar. No idea what they were looking for

I think getting school to process the form with two entries is better than being rushed to make the decision, provided one is v disciplined about getting everything done on time. However, many schools won’t contemplate signing off an incomplete form - each year there are people on here having this fight even for more clear cut situations like non medics where there isn’t a rush but they want to do oxbrside. There can be a fear that pupils will spin their wheels and burn loads of time fretting over it and therefore better to get it over with, but with medicine there isn’t the time to fall into that trap really.

Great your daughter is seeing improvement now and hope she shines on Monday! I think I will be a nervous wreck the night before my daughter’s test… it’s ridiculous to put them under so much pressure to perform in this way!

Though I’m trying to hide it of course. I’ve told her I’ll be proud of her whatever her mark - she’s put so much effort in.

Me either! DD is just going to ask them outright when we do the open day as she will have all her stats to ask if they would meet their requirements. I will update if we find out more.

DD has one last day of practice today and a day off for rest tomorrow. I don't know why I find this so stressful, she is great at exams normally, this is just a different kind of exam altogether.

I know a YP who is going to Cardiff this year on his second try, got a place on results day from the waiting list. They were encouraging DD to apply as they think UCAT is not considered that much and as DDs GCSEs are high she would likley get an interview. We haven't yet looked at it much, will do so after Monday but I still keep reading about preference for Welsh applicants and also they state on their website about high application numbers, I think 4000 last cycle.

Oh this is so hard! 😂.

Much kudos to that young person. But I am not sure someone who got into medicine off a waiting list second time around would be my first port of call for application advice - other than as an example of how you can achieve if you persevere!

Cardiff are v open about prioritising Welsh candidates. English do get in but not that many. Belfast also good if perfect GCSEs and also Birmingham. Others it all friends on that UCAT to some extent.

The latest Cardiff figures I can find are from 2022/3 but seem to show that offer rates are much higher for Welsh students than English (27% vs 8%) but English students applied in far bigger numbers so still got more offers than Welsh applicants (198 vs 157).

Rules changed in 2023.

All I can I can say is be thankful you are in the UK. In Australia - 2000 as a score gives you no options at all.

Wow even with the changes this year and it’s now only out of 2700?

Australia scores v similar to uk

For Cardiff? Ah, I didn't realise that. Do you have any details? It's so hard to find anything!

@RM26 here you go

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/documents/2734195-admissions-information-for-studying-medicine-at-cardiff

That is different to Scotland where Scottish students and rUK students are considered as two separate groups. rUK students don’t compete against Scottish students but there are fewer spaces available for them. (International students are a separate group in all medical schools)

What do people think of this message on Manchester’s UCAT page - suggesting 1800 - 1900 could be a competitive score for 2026 entry?

I think I agree with them (having seen quite a lot of scores now).

Not sure I agree about not choosing schools based on admissions statistics though. Yes definitely consider university and curriculum but if you have a low UCAT and grades then it would be a waste applying to certain schools, even if UCAT scores are more uncertain this year. If universities don’t want candidates to put too much emphasis on grades and UCAT scores then they need to find a way to assess candidates more broadly.

Totally agree. Doesn’t make any sense to waste your precious application on a pipe-dream school!

Ah no -they arent. Unless you come under some sort of special consideration you need a 2280 - in Australia thats a 90% percentile mark. for some universities it needs to be higher. In the UK - 1800-2000 is acceptable. Not for a handful of unis but for plenty more.