Medicine 2026 entry - part 1

[rockstuckhardplace]

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

That should be 3 x A * (stars) for A levels...

For anyone contemplating Exeter – I emailed them this morning and asked what the lowest score was offered an interview last cycle (non-contextual):

For September 2025-entry, applicants who achieved an Exeter Score of 74+ were invited to interview. Kindly note, that this offers no indication as to what the cut-off will look like for 2026-entry. We are unable to advise whether an applicant would be successful in gaining an interview as the threshold for interview changes each year depending on the quantity and quality of the applications we receive.

So, you were right @Michaelah Very surprised at how low that is, but I guess it will encourage more applications and push it up again!

why do you say it's not high enough?

Tbf, for standard applicants, that still requires two AStar predictions and above 8th centile. It is only a bargain if predicted three A stars

I’m not sure why you think BSMS is ruled out at 2010 - am starting to worry we have miscalculated ! Can you explain @catty29 ?

I may just be totally confused tbh! On @mumsneedwine 's fabulous spreadsheet, BSMS listed as needing 2030 score but their website says 'For 2025 entry applicants whose total UCAT score (excluding SJT) was in the 50th centile (or above) were invited to interview.' - no idea what that actually means but I initially translated that in my head as being attainable!

@catty29 it means eventually the UCAT score went down to 5th decile (hopefully not contextual.). This must have been late interviews so I've not changed my spreadsheet as not seen the v late changes. If you like it, have a go.

AH OK!! Thankyou so much @mumsneedwine. I hope you are being given lots of wine for all your help on here. Total hero!

Remind me nearer the time and I’ll see what she’s up to!

Does the all-seeing spreadsheet also have a column for sport flagging?

DS has 2190 for UCAT (9th centile maybe?)
Three A* predictions for A level
Gcse 3 8s (eng lang, maths) and 7 9s (chem,bio,physics, eng lit etc)
Also plays as junior national and premiership in BUCCs league sport, hockey. Has been asking for consideration for sports flagging
Is that enough to get an interview with Birmingham, Exeter, Nottingham and Newcastle?
This process is a fast-track to motherly madness BTW.

Sorry I meant 8th decile for UCAT (learning more statistical expressions than I have ever needed so far in my life). Also EPQ.

DS got a fast track to interview from Notts a few years ago. He did county level athletics

Edinburgh also do it, I seem to recall

https://uoesport.ed.ac.uk/performance-sport/elite-athletes-policy

More FOI hilarity - this time from Brunel. They resolutely decline to reveal past UCAT cutoffs, with a new variation on commercial sensitivity ie "The UCAT details are commercially sensitive and are not released because they allow candidates and competitors to adjust their own behaviours which may be detrimental to Brunel Medical School, for example by setting standards just below ours, or by providing candidates with information that may guide UCAS selections instead of using school characteristics and reputation." which made me snort.

On applicant numbers, they were willing to say how many places, applicants and interview invitations (home invite rate just 34%) but, curiously, not to reveal how many offers they made, as the latter would show what their take up rate was, to their commerical disadvantage. Very unusual.

And their conclusion was (in a kick at spreadsheets😀):

More FOI hilarity - this time from Brunel. They resolutely decline to reveal past UCAT cutoffs, with a new variation on commercial sensitivity ie "The UCAT details are commercially sensitive and are not released because they allow candidates and competitors to adjust their own behaviours which may be detrimental to Brunel Medical School, for example by setting standards just below ours, or by providing candidates with information that may guide UCAS selections instead of using school characteristics and reputation." which made me snort.

On applicant numbers, they were willing to say how many places, applicants and interview invitations (home invite rate just 34%) but, curiously, not to reveal how many offers they made, as the latter would show what their take up rate was, to their commerical disadvantage. Very unusual.

And their conclusion was (in a kick at spreadsheets😀):

Commercial sensitivity refers to information of use to other medical school, and to applicants. 1. Other medical schools can use our data to adjust their decisions regarding the number of interviews to offer and the number of offers to make. 2. Applicants can use the ratio of application numbers to number of offers made to decide where their greatest chance of success lies.

Amused me anyway

For Edinburgh, they need to contact the Performance Sport team in advance of 15 October, they don’t screen applications or personal statements for elite athletes.

They have to be competing at international level, not just county or national level. But it’s worth getting if your child qualifies .

Thanks. He has already been in touch with Edinburgh and has played in tourneys internationally so that is one of his picks. Wondered about the take up rates for interview for the other unis.

The Nottingham process wasn’t onerous.

Ds contacted the sports team who then asked for evidence. They emailed back to say they were happy to flag his application and he got his interview.

He also interviewed at Newcastle, but applied with their partners scheme.

@Mumof21981
Thank you for the compliment- it was me who saw you at Liverpool I think. Glad you've got the spreadsheet from @mumsneedwine. Hope all goes well.

Hello Med Mums ☺️ Trying to nail down my daughter’s choices for next week. A teacher told her Liverpool can be ‘fussy’ and I wondered what she meant by that. I saw on a FB chat that interviews can be tough - low offer rate - does anyone have any insight on that front?

Also - any thoughts on Plymouth .- have never been there so no idea what it’s like. And Southampton? My DD heard they can do tough group tasks on assessment day which doesn’t appeal.

Other than that, Leeds, Sheffield, Lancaster &
St George’s in the mix.

My DC had a group task at one interview and quite enjoyed it. He had already spoken to the other two in his little group so they were comfortable with each other before the task.

Yes, I'm sure it would be fine. She's got it into her head that it would be the worst thing ever, though! She's quite good at teamwork but doesn't like pushing herself forward in a group situation (especially while being assessed!)

As someone who has assessed teamworking skills in interviews before (but not for universities) 'pushing yourself forward' is not always a desirable trait. As much as anything teamworking assessments are looking for red flags that would immediately discount you. Better to be in the background a bit and consult with others than confidently insist people do it your way.

Plymouth is a fantastic city and Uni has good placements.

Southampton interviews are friendly and the group task is just to see how you interact with others (quite an important skill !). Make sure you try and include any quieter people, ask their opinion, and don't be too pushy. If anyone is loud try and be heard while listening to everyone else. Just be you as that's what they want.