Medicine 2026 entry - part 1

[rockstuckhardplace]

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

The average UCAT score of rUK invited to interview last year was 3017, the lowest was 2290 - though that might be contextual. But that means half of the interviewees had scores below 3017.

May I ask about the fifth choice, please?

Dd is set on medicine and wants to just leave it empty, but I have in the back of my mind having heard or read that Clearing works more smoothly if you've used up all your choices already. But not having put a fifth option slows the process down somehow. (not that Medicine is often in clearing, mind you).

Have I hallucinated this?!

The Op’s dc has a band two sjt

It used to be you needed perfect stats for Edinburgh as RUK if non contextual.

70% of the offers went to b1 sjt students.

I was just trying to make the point that there are far safer options

I'd like to know this too as my DD doesn't plan to put down a fifth choice. I thought the issue was if you have got an offer then you can't use the UCAS Extras option. I took this from UCAS website:

You are eligible for UCAS Extra if you have:

• Used all five of your original UCAS choices.
• Not received any offers, or you have declined any offers made.

Back to my thoughts: So if you haven't chosen a fifth then you can't apply for UCAS Extras - but not sure if any/many medicine courses go into UCAS Extra? If you chose a fifth and were given an offer, then I think you'd need to decline it to be able to apply for a course in UCAS Extras - but I think it is a quick thing to do on their system.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than me will come along and say for sure, but this is from the back of my memory from reading these threads from last year's intake.

Maybe it's the same for clearing as well as UCAS Extras.

You don’t need to decide about the fifth option for a while. My DC only added it at the end of November. It just needs to be added by the middle of January (double check the exact date in January). If unsure at this stage I would get your medicine application in then when the pressure is off for that you can have a think.

so... DS has had his meeting with the headmaster. He (HM) seems pleased with the choices, tried to help out with some interview questions (not sure how much he did since DS was in and out in 7 min!)... ahhh.. so this is it!?!?!??!! omg.

Could I have some opinions on my DDs university choices please?
UCAT: 2310 B2
GCSEs: 9988888877
Predicted A levels: A* A A A

She is considering Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and either Edinburgh or Leeds.

@SuperSue77 you are correct 😊. Putting a 5th makes Extra much easier. V v occasionally there have been extra places come up. Clearing doesn't matter as by then you'll either have a firm or not.
If you're not going to take it then just stick something down as 5th.

Leeds admission team is.... [fill in the blanks].

I asked whether they treat 8s the same as 9s when evaluating candidates, and they sent me some copy and paste blurb about UCAT score thresholds (I didn't ask anything about UCAT or anything else, for that matter).

Safe to say DD won't be risking an application slot on them, when there are quite a few other interview-safe options for her. Shame, as she loves the course and the city.

I’ve gathered from quite a few sources - people who say they’ve been observing trends over the years - that 8s and 9s are treated the same. I also drew that conclusion from TSR threads I saw about who was getting interviews. I know it’s not the same as from the horse’s mouth, but we’re making this assumption.
But yes… why the hell can’t they just say? It’s infuriating!

And to add to that - any 7 in the mix (8 GCSEs assessed) is a risk apparently, even with a high UCAT.

Yup, also they mentioned that they "do not publish weighting and scoring processes as they are subject to change every year". Exact quote.

Just to add to the stress of YPs and parents when sending an application to Leeds :)

Same goes to Kent - we live on their doorstep and we can’t risk it. 😬

For Leeds, are the top 8 GCSEs considered or do they look at specific subjects? DD has 8 GCSEs at 9 or 8, but she only got a 7 in Physics.

When are the UCAT final deciles published? Given it is all electronic I'd have thought they could produce it pretty much same day, why isn't it available yet?

1st October

Another question for you @mumsneedwine ! Do you know which med schools have catered halls? I know Nottingham do :-) But just looking at Exeter and I see their catered halls are only for students on shorter term courses and the medics have to stay in halls with longer contracts that are self-catered. Just wondered if there were many med schools that do offer catered halls?

@SuperSue77sorry, that's out of my remit 😂. Halls are not something I take much interest in. Although DD was catered at Notts and food was stodgy.

I would assume the best 8 GCSEs. Given physics isn’t part of the minimum entry requirements (bio and chemistry are), it would seem v unfair to penalise a 7 there. However, it’s all a bit of a guessing game… !

Thank you. It is such a guessing game. I hope we get it right with at least 2 choices.

Bristol and Edinburgh do off the top of my head

Oxbridge

Leeds and Manchester do too.

Could I ask if anyone has any thoughts/ knows anything about deferring entry? DD has settled on Exeter, Sheffield, Glasgow and Brighton however is wondering whether she would like a gap year. And if best to tick box to defer for 2027 or see if she is fortunate enough to receive offers and then ask - she is renowned for changing her mind!! Info I can find suggests post places happy to consider and Exeter/ Sheffield amenable after offers made - Brighton unlikely to allow. I just don't know enough about whether it changes how her application this year is considered or if just over thinking things.

If you are thinking of a deferred application you need to be doubly sure her options allow it. Some don’t and it would be a big shame to waste options.