Medicine 2026 Part 3

[MyGreyBiscuit]

Hi everyone, here's the new thread!

ohhh!! where in Portugal did you go? We flew in to Porto for a few days, and then trained down to Lisbon for a few days, and then to Algarve.

We went to a place called Algoz which is in the Algarve and about 30 minutes from Vilamoura. It was lovely as we were up in the hills surrounded by lime trees, very peaceful.

that sounds idyllic!

@mumsneedwine first time DD has discussed results day/clearing with us today (has declined any conversation before now). Is there any guidance/advice you can give us for Thursday. Anything to prepare/we should do on the day? Do any uni’s have medicine places on clearing (have googled and cannot see any at mo)? Thanks x

There are usually places available from Thursday but the grades required aren't much lower than original offers. Several places go to those who have high grades but didn't get offers.
It will be a matter of ringing round on the day.

@mumsneedwine Very grateful for your advice. My son accepted an offer from Imperial. We'd never have gone for that as it felt financially out of reach but you told me about the bursaries and he would get a really good one. He's got this as his firm at A star A star A star. Bristol as back up with three As. On Ucas Imperial have in the past accepted around ten percent with three As and Bristol some with AA B. Do they sometimes take dropped grades. How strict are they. I'm far more anxious than he is. Can not face the thought of UCAT and doing this all over again.

sorry that should say Astar A A for Imperial offer

Dropped grades are variable I'm afraid. But I've been told they look at the interview scores and decide if can accept - this week lots of discussions going on at Unis as they have the results.

V glad it's working out - Bristol do good bursaries too if needed. Good luck 🤞

There won't be clearing places with lower grades I'm afraid. If any come available they will appear on ucas first thing, and then disappear v fast. So, if need this get all your exam results, UCAT score and ucas number to hand. Hit the phones at 9am as its first come - I usually have every available phone calling the numbers as the lines are v busy (up to 15 phones going at one time !). You'll be asked to give your stats and then if make the shortlist you'll likely have a phone/video interview that afternoon or next day. It's a v quick process. But you do still need the grades so it's only really if you've not had an offer. And it's getting less likely as most Unis now using wait lists.

Good luck. It will all be over soon 🤞

Thanks. Just read that out to DD and she also said thank you, that’s what she thought (I didn’t know much)! She has friends where their course is already in clearing so they will probably drop grades for that. Not like medicine!

Last year Edgehill had in-person interviews the next day!

The last couple of years Newcastle has had a significant number of places available through clearing - so much so that something must have gone very wrong with their recruitment. If I remember correctly in 2024 40% of places were offered through clearing! But they seemed to have sorted it out this year as they state they are not in clearing. They probably made up a large proportion of clearing places the last two years (but we were still only talking tens of places).

Wait lists gave changed clearing for medicine (because some Unis have had issues with too many dropping grades). V unusual to insist on in person interviews with 24 hours notice ! Many are on holiday.and I've never had a Uni require this (optional yes).

Medicine is one of the few courses that have a cap on numbers and Unis are fined if go over. But if under they won't get enough funding. So it's a massive juggling act !!!

V unusual to insist on in person interviews with 24 hours notice

Fortunately we didn’t need to go into clearing but I remember thinking we would have to pretty much drive through the night to make it. I guess there would have been plenty of takers though.

@Sachetaandb if if had happened to any of my students (or if I'd heard about it), they'd have had me on the phone complaining about fair access 😂. Not everyone has the ready cash to travel across the country last minute, and some people have jobs. Naughty Uni (don't try it again 🤪).

My dd was rejected from Bristol a few years ago when she dropped a grade. She was heartbroken as her insurance for some reason hadnt accepted her ( despite making the grades for insurance) when she logged in at 0800

Fingers crossed for your dc tomorrow

Good luck to everyone’s dc tomorrow. I hope all goes well and they get the grades they need x

Birmingham has some Medicine places in clearing at AAA.

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/clearing/home/medicine-in-clearing

Edit to add: That seems to be one grade lower than their standard offer of A*AA.

They are starting to dribble out. As this is 8am and some people don't get results until later I'd suggest contacting head or exams officer at 8am tomorrow if interested - they will have access to your results already.

good luck !!

@sixsept I bet you'll need at least one star, or an absolutely stellar UCAT, to get an interview. All on line thankfully 😂

Good luck everyone for tomorrow morning.

Medicine has gone into clearing at Newcastle but only for international students..
Does anyone have any idea how this impacts students on reserve list? Does it mean they will prioritise international students through clearing over home students on reserve list?

I read on another thread that universities have a max number of home students that they can take, set by the govt, and are fined if they go over. This is why sometimes clearing spaces are for international only. It wasn't about medicine but I assume probably the same reason?

Yes home and international student numbers are fixed for medicine. There are actually very few international places compared to
other subjects.

if they state AAA then when you phone up it will be ‘did you get AAA? Is your UCAT over our threshold? If so here is an interview slot’. It is generally completely first come serve for interview slots once you fulfil the criteria.

You will probably hear from your firm/insured if you have your place first thing tomorrow before you get your results.