IB Requirements for Medicine UK 2026 (2027 Entry): Every Medical School Explained
Written by Dr Akash Gandhi MBBS MA (Cantab) DGM DRCOG MBA MRCGP | Updated April 2026 for 2026 and 2027 entry
Data sourced from the Medical Schools Council Entry Requirements Tool (medschools.ac.uk) and individual university admissions pages, verified April 2026.
What IB score do you need for medicine in the UK?
The majority of UK medical schools require a minimum of 36 IB Diploma points, with Chemistry and Biology at Higher Level. That is the baseline. But the range is wide: from 34 points at Buckingham, Greater Manchester, Hull York, Nottingham, and UEA at the lower end, to 41 to 42 points in practice at Cambridge at the upper end.
The IB is fully accepted at every UK medical school that accepts school-leaver applicants. Several universities - including Warwick, Chester, Pears Cumbria, and Swansea - only accept graduate entry and are therefore not relevant to IB applicants.
Critical distinction: total points AND subject grades are both conditions of your offer. Reaching 38 points overall with a 5 in HL Chemistry does not satisfy an offer requiring 38 points with 6 in HL Chemistry.
Medical schools treat the overall score and individual Higher Level grades as separate, simultaneous conditions. Both must be met. This is the most common misconception among IB applicants to medicine.
If you are weighing the IB against A-levels, or want the GCSE and A-level picture alongside this, our UK medical school entry requirements guide sets out the full academic baseline, and our blog on what A-levels you need to study medicine explains the Chemistry and Biology rules that apply to both qualification routes.
The points bands below show where the main clusters of schools sit. Note that many schools publish a minimum offer; the typical competitive offer is often one to two points higher. Imperial, for instance, publishes a minimum of 38 but the typical offer made to at least half of successful applicants is 39
IB Predicted Grades and Medicine Offers: What You Need to Know
UK medical schools make offers based on your predicted grades, not your results. This sounds straightforward, but it creates a specific trap for IB applicants that A-level students rarely fall into in the same way.
When a medical school offers you 38 IB points with 6,6,6 at Higher Level, they are offering you a conditional place on the expectation that your final May results meet those numbers. If your predicted grades sit at 38 but your final results come in at 37, your offer is withdrawn. There is no rounding, no goodwill margin, and at competitive schools essentially no appeal route.
The implication is that your predicted grades need to sit comfortably above the offer level, not at it. A student predicted 38 applying to schools with a 38-point minimum has no buffer. One subject underperforming in the May exams by a single grade - a 5 instead of a 6 in Chemistry, for instance - ends the cycle.
The safer approach is to treat your predicted grades minus two points as your realistic floor, and build your school list from there. If your predicted total is 40 with 7,6,6 at HL, schools requiring 38 are your solid choices, schools at 39 are your reaches, and Cambridge or Oxford represent genuine stretches requiring a strong overall application beyond grades alone.
There is a second complication specific to the IB. Predicted grades in the Diploma are issued by your school's IB coordinator, and different schools predict with different levels of conservatism. Some coordinators predict at ceiling; others predict cautiously to protect students from over-reaching.
Medical school admissions teams are aware of this variation. A predicted 42 from a school known to inflate predictions carries less weight than a predicted 40 from a school with a track record of accuracy. This is not something you can control directly, but it is worth understanding - particularly if your coordinator predicts below your target offer level despite strong internal performance.
Finally, if you receive a predicted grade that you believe significantly underestimates your ability, speak to your coordinator early. Once UCAS is submitted in October, predicted grades are very difficult to revise upward. The conversation needs to happen in September at the latest.
IB Requirements Summary By Score Per Medical School
Here is a summary of each medical school:
- 34 points: Buckingham, Greater Manchester (widening participation), Hull York, Nottingham, UEA
- 35 points: Sunderland
- 36 points: Aberdeen, ARU, Bangor, Brighton and Sussex, Brunel, Cardiff, Edge Hill, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester (6,6,6 route), Lincoln, Liverpool, Manchester (A100), Newcastle, Plymouth, QUB, Sheffield, Southampton, St Andrews (minimum), St George's, St Mary's, UCLAN
- 37 points: Aston, Barts (QMUL), Dundee, Harper and Keele
- 38 points: Exeter, Glasgow, Imperial (minimum), KCL
- 39 points: Oxford, UCL
- 40 points: Edinburgh
- 41 to 42 points (Cambridge): The MSC does not publish a fixed total. In practice, the majority of successful IB applicants score 41 to 42 with 777 at HL.
- Graduate entry only (IB not applicable): Chester, Pears Cumbria, Swansea, Warwick
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IB requirements for all UK medical schools - 2027 Entry
The table below covers every UK medical school that accepts IB applicants for 2026 and 2027 entry. Click the school name to read its full profile on TheUKCATPeople.
Always verify requirements directly with each institution before submitting your UCAS application - requirements can change mid-cycle.
Medical School | IB Points | HL Grade Requirements | Required HL Subjects | Key SL / Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
36 | 6,6,6 | Chemistry + one of Biology/Physics/Maths | Three SL subjects at grade 6 | |
36 | 6,6,6 | 666 at Higher Level in Biology and/or Chemistry plus one other science and including Mathematics or English. | HL grade 6 in Maths or English required at HL | |
37 | 7,6,6 | Chemistry and Biology. Either must be the 7. | None | |
36 | 36 overall including 19 at Higher Level. Must include grade 6 in Biology and Chemistry. Grade 7 in SL Biology or Chemistry can be taken in place of Higher Level Biology or Chemistry if you also have grade 6 in HL Maths, Physics or Statistics. | None | None | |
37 | 6,6,6 | Chemistry or Biology plus one further science subject from (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths). | None | |
32 | 7,6,6 | Must include Biology & Chemistry | SL must include English, Biology and Maths if not at HL. Grades must be achieved at first sitting. | |
36 | 6,6 | 6 in Higher Level Biology or Chemistry and a grade 6 from one further HL subject from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics | None | |
36 | 6,6 + 18 at HL | Chemistry + one of Biology/Physics/Maths | Minimum 18 points across three HL subjects overall | |
36 | 6,6,5 | 36 overall including 6 and 5 at HL in Biology OR Chemistry and one of Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths. | None | |
34 | One 6, one 5 | Chemistry and Biology (one at HL6, one at HL5) | None | |
41 to 42 | 7,7,6 typical | Chemistry + one of Biology/Physics/Maths | Majority score 41 to 42 with 777 at HL. College level pre interview assessments used. | |
36 | 19 pts at HL | Must include grade 6 in Biology and Chemistry. Grade 7 in SL Biology or Chemistry can be taken in place of HL Biology or Chemistry if you also have grade 6 in HL Maths, Physics, or Statistics. We do not accept IB repeats. | Minimum 19 points from three HL subjects | |
GEM only | None | Graduate entry only | IB not relevant | |
37 | 6,6,6 | Chemistry + one further science | Average grade 6 at SL minimum | |
36 | 6,6,6 | Chemistry, Biology + one other | Three SL subjects at grade 5 each minimum | |
40 | 7,6,6 | Chemistry + one further science at HL | 7 can be in any subject | |
38 | 7,6,6 | Biology + one other science at HL | None | |
38 | 6,6,6 | Chemistry and Biology | SL Physics or Maths at 6; SL English at 6 | |
34 | 6,6,5 | Chemistry and Biology | Applicants applying with predicted grades should have a prediction of no lower than 35, with 6,6,5 at Higher Level, with 6 in Biology and Chemistry. | |
38 min / 39 typical | 6,6 min; 7,6 typical | Biology and Chemistry at HL | SL English at grade 5. Typical offer 39 with HL7 in Biology or Chemistry. | |
37 | 7,6,6 | 7 or 6 in Higher Level Biology or Chemistry plus one more from Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Maths (any), Physics or Psychology. Alternatively, 766 in three Higher Level subjects including Biology or Chemistry plus one more from Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Maths (any), Physics or Psychology. | SL 6,6,5; English at SL grade 6 | |
34 to 36 | 6,6,6 | Biology or Chemistry + one further science | None | |
38 or aggregate of 19 from 3x HLs | 7,6,6 | Chemistry and Biology must be at least a 6 | None | |
36 | 6,6,6 | 3 HL subjects including any 2 of Biology, Chemistry and Psychology | None | |
36 | 6,6,6 | Must include Chemistry and Biology | SL English at grade 5 minimum if not at GCSE | |
34 or 36 | 7,6,6 or 6,6,6 | Chemistry or Biology + one further science | 7,6,6 route: 34 pts minimum. 6,6,6 route: 36 pts minimum. | |
36 | 6 | Biology; mirrors Nottingham requirements | Delivered in partnership with University of Nottingham | |
36 | 6,6,6 | Chemistry and Biology (or Chemistry + Physics or Maths) | SL subjects at 5,5,5 minimum. First sitting only. Or can be 7,6,5 with Chemistry and Biology as the 7 and 6 | |
34 | 6,6,6 | Chemistry or Biology + one further science | Widening participation route | |
36 | 6,6,6 | Chemistry or Biology + one further science | Maths and English required at B/6 GCSE if not in IB. Must include at least two sciences at HL. | |
36 | Min grade 5 all subjects | No additional specific HL subject requirements | No single subject below grade 5 | |
34 | 6,6,6 | Biology or Chemistry | None | |
34 | 6 Bio + Chem | Biology and Chemistry at HL | English Language at HL5 or SL6 | |
39 | 7,6,6 | Chemistry + one of Biology/Physics/Maths | None | |
Pears Cumbria | GEM only | None | Graduate entry only | IB not applicable |
36-38 | 6,6 | Higher Level 6 in Biology And Higher Level 6 in one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology | 6,6,5 also required at SL | |
36 | 6,6,6 | Chemistry and Biology | GCSE Physics required if Physics not included in IB | |
36 | 6,6,6 | Chemistry or Biology + one further science | Minimum grade 4 in all SL subjects | |
36 | 6,6 + 18 HL | Biology + one additional science at HL | Minimum 18 points across HL subjects | |
36 min / 38 standard | 6,6,5 min / 6,6,6 standard | Chemistry + one of Biology/Maths/Physics | Standard offer: 6,6,6 HL + 6,6,5 SL. Minimum: 6,6,5 HL + 6,6,5 SL. | |
36 | 6 | Chemistry or Biology + one further science | SL English and Maths at grade 5 minimum if not at GCSE. 18 points at HL minimum. | |
St Mary's University Twickenham | 36 | 6,6,6 | One must be Chemistry or Biology | None |
35 | 6,6,6 | Chemistry or Biology, plus one from Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths and a third rigorous subject | None | |
GEM only | None | Graduate entry only | IB not relevant | |
39 | 19 points in 3 HL subjects | 6 and 7 in Biology and Chemistry, in either order. No higher-level score below 5. | None | |
36 | 6,6 | Chemistry + one further science at HL; one further at HL5 | Three SL subjects at minimum 5 points each | |
GEM only | None | Graduate entry only | IB not applicable |
What IB subjects do you need to study medicine in the UK?
Before anything else: Chemistry and Biology at Higher Level is the non-negotiable baseline for most UK medical schools. If you are planning your Diploma subject choices with medicine in mind, these two should be your starting point. Offering either at Standard Level only will close the majority of doors, including every Russell Group medical school.
Higher Level: the essentials
Your three Higher Level subjects should include Chemistry HL and Biology HL in virtually all cases. Your third HL subject is where you have the most flexibility: Maths (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretation), Physics, and Psychology are all strong choices.
Lancaster is notably flexible, allowing any two of Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology as your required science HLs - meaning you could theoretically offer Chemistry and Psychology without Biology at HL. Harper and Keele takes a similarly broad approach, accepting Economics, Maths, Physics, or Psychology as a third HL science alongside Biology or Chemistry. These remain exceptions; the overwhelming majority of schools expect both Chemistry and Biology at HL.
On the Maths question: both the Analysis and Approaches (AA) and Applications and Interpretation (AI) courses are accepted at most schools, including Imperial. The old convention that AA was strongly preferred no longer applies universally, though checking individual school requirements before finalising your subject choices remains prudent.
Standard Level: the details that matter
SL requirements vary more than most guides acknowledge. The following SL conditions appear most frequently across medical school requirements.
English Language at SL grade 5 or above is required by Leeds, St George's, and others if English is not offered at GCSE or HL. Maths at SL grade 5 or above is required by several schools including St George's if not covered at GCSE. All SL subjects at grade 5 or above is Newcastle's explicit condition. Sheffield requires a minimum grade 4 across all SL subjects. Harper and Keele requires SL grades of 6,6,5 with English at SL grade 6 specifically.
Glasgow is worth singling out. It requires 6,6,6 at HL including Chemistry and Biology, but also Physics or Maths at SL grade 6 and English at SL grade 6. That SL condition makes Glasgow's total profile considerably more demanding than its 38-point headline figure alone suggests.
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Which UK medical schools do not require Chemistry at Higher Level IB?
A small group of schools allows Biology as the primary required HL science without mandating Chemistry HL alongside it.
Exeter requires Biology HL and allows any other science as the second HL. Southampton, Bristol, and QUB follow a similar pattern. Lancaster allows any two of Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology.
However, offering Chemistry at Higher Level remains strongly advisable regardless of where you apply. It underpins pharmacology, biochemistry, and the majority of pre-clinical study content across all programmes.
Dropping Chemistry entirely from your Higher Level choices will limit you significantly even where the admissions rules technically allow it.
IB versus A-levels for medicine: which gives you a better chance for UK Medical Schools
Neither qualification is formally preferred over the other by UK medical schools. All institutions that accept the IB treat it on an equivalent basis to A-levels. However, there are some practical differences worth understanding.
On grade conversion, admissions teams may use IB-to-A-level conversion tables when comparing applicants. A grade 7 at HL is broadly equivalent to an A*, grade 6 to an A, and grade 5 to a B. These conversions are approximate and not universally standardised, which can occasionally disadvantage IB students at schools that shortlist primarily on converted grades.
On personal statement material, the IB's Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and CAS programme provide richer material for demonstrating independent research, critical thinking, and community engagement - all qualities medicine values. IB students often find they have more to draw on when writing their personal statement for precisely this reason.
On workload, the IB carries a consistently high demand across all six subjects simultaneously. A-level students concentrating on three subjects can go deeper in the sciences most relevant to medicine. Neither approach is objectively better.
Applying to UK medical school with the IB as an international student
The IB Diploma is the most widely accepted non-UK qualification for medicine admissions, and international students apply through the same UCAS process as home applicants. However, several important differences apply.
On place availability, most UK medical schools cap the number of international places, often at far fewer than home places. Competition at international level is proportionally higher. Several schools - including Sheffield, Nottingham, and Manchester - have historically limited or not offered international undergraduate places for medicine. Always check the specific international admissions policy of each school before applying.
On English language, most schools require IELTS of 7.0 overall with no component below 7.0 for applicants whose first language is not English. Schools with IB requirements often note that a Diploma studied entirely in English may satisfy the language condition - but confirm this directly with each admissions team rather than assuming.
On fees, international tuition fees for medicine are substantially higher than home fees, typically £35,000 to £50,000 per year at most UK medical schools. This is a significant financial commitment across a five or six-year programme.
On interviews, Oxford and Cambridge require international candidates to attend in-person interviews in the UK. Most other schools now offer online MMI options for international applicants.
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What if your IB grades are borderline or you are resitting?
Several medical schools specify that their IB requirements must be achieved at first sitting. Liverpool is explicit about this, stating that the 36-point minimum must be met at first sitting, and that resit applicants should expect a higher threshold. Birmingham requires HL grades to be met at first sitting, even across unrelated subjects. Cardiff states directly that it does not accept IB repeats.
If you have already sat your IB exams and narrowly missed a grade condition, your options are limited but not zero. Some schools will consider contextual factors in borderline cases. Contact the admissions team of any school you are interested in directly and explain your situation. Some schools will advise whether a remarking of a specific paper could bring you to the threshold.
At UCL, Imperial, Oxford, and Cambridge, entry thresholds for resit applicants are applied strictly. These schools receive sufficient first-time applicants meeting full requirements that they rarely need to consider resit candidates. Do not assume borderline contextual consideration applies at these institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What IB score do you need for medicine in the UK?
Most UK medical schools require a minimum of 36 IB Diploma points with 6,6,6 at Higher Level, including Chemistry and Biology. The range runs from 34 points at the lowest (Buckingham, Hull York, Nottingham, UEA) to 41 to 42 points in practice at Cambridge. Both your total points and your HL subject grades are separate conditions of the offer, and both must be met.
What IB subjects do you need for medicine?
Chemistry and Biology at Higher Level is the non-negotiable baseline at almost every UK medical school. Your third HL is usually flexible: Maths (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretation), Physics, or another science are all widely accepted. A small group of schools (Exeter, Bristol, Southampton, Lancaster) allows Biology HL with another science instead of mandating Chemistry HL, but offering Chemistry HL remains strongly advisable.
What is the minimum IB score for medicine in the UK?
The lowest published IB minimum for a UK medical school that accepts school-leaver applicants is 34 points, at Buckingham, Greater Manchester (widening participation route), Hull York, Nottingham, and UEA. These minimums still require specific Higher Level grades, typically including Chemistry and Biology, so meeting the points total alone does not guarantee an offer.
What are the UCL medicine IB requirements?
UCL requires 39 IB points with a minimum of 19 points from the three Higher Level subjects. Biology and Chemistry must both be offered at HL, with one at grade 6 and one at grade 7 in either order. No Higher Level subject may be below grade 5, and there are Standard Level conditions to check too. Both the points total and the subject grades are conditions of any offer.
What IB score do I need for Imperial College London medicine?
Imperial's minimum published requirement is 38 IB points with Biology and Chemistry at Higher Level, both at grade 6 minimum, plus English at Standard Level grade 5. In practice the typical offer made to most successful applicants sits a point or so higher, so a predicted 39 with a grade 7 in either Biology or Chemistry HL gives you a more realistic buffer.
Does Cambridge medicine require 40 or 42 IB points?
Cambridge does not publish a fixed minimum IB points total, and the Medical Schools Council tool does not list a specific figure for it. The official guidance points to a very high standard, and in practice the majority of successful IB applicants score 41 to 42 points with 7,7,7 at Higher Level, including Chemistry and Biology. Treat 42 with 777 as the competitive target rather than a published minimum.
How does the IB convert to A-levels for medicine?
Admissions teams may use rough conversion tables when comparing applicants. A grade 7 at Higher Level is broadly equivalent to an A*, grade 6 to an A, and grade 5 to a B. So 38 IB points with 6,6,6 at HL is loosely comparable to AAA at A-level, and 40 to 42 points maps onto the A*A*A range top schools expect. These are guides only; medical schools assess the whole IB profile, not just a converted grade.
Which UK medical schools accept IB without Chemistry at Higher Level?
Exeter, Southampton, and Bristol require Biology HL and allow the second required science to be chosen from Chemistry, Physics, or Maths. Lancaster allows any two of Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology as the science HLs. Even where the rules permit it, dropping Chemistry HL entirely is strongly discouraged, as it underpins pharmacology, biochemistry, and most pre-clinical content.
Is Biology required at Higher Level for UK medical schools?
The majority of UK medical schools require Biology at Higher Level, either as a fixed condition or as one of two acceptable science HLs. A handful, including Bristol and Exeter, will accept Biology HL paired with another science instead of mandating Chemistry HL. For the safest application across the widest list of schools, offer both Chemistry and Biology at Higher Level.
Can you get into UCL medicine with IB?
Yes. UCL accepts IB applicants and requires 39 points with a minimum of 19 from the three Higher Level subjects, Biology and Chemistry both at HL (one at grade 6 and one at grade 7), and no HL below 5. IB applicants apply through the same UCAS process as A-level students, sit the UCAT, and are assessed on predicted grades, so aim to be predicted comfortably above 39.
Can I study medicine in the UK with 35 IB points?
Yes, though your options narrow considerably. At 35 points with the right Higher Level combination you meet the published minimum for Sunderland, and several 36-point schools may consider 35 in exceptional or contextual cases. Below 36, focus your list on the 34 to 35-point schools (Buckingham, Hull York, Nottingham, UEA, Sunderland) and make sure your HL Chemistry and Biology grades are strong.
Do predicted IB grades matter for medicine offers?
Yes, heavily. UK medical schools make offers on predicted grades, not results, so a low predicted total can stop you reaching interview even if you would have scored higher in May. Predicted grades are issued by your IB coordinator and schools vary in how conservatively they predict. Aim to be predicted at least a point or two above each school's minimum, and raise any underestimate with your coordinator before UCAS is submitted in October.
Do I still need to take the UCAT as an IB student?
Yes. The UCAT requirement applies to all applicants regardless of qualification route. If you apply to schools that require the UCAT, which is the majority, you must sit it in the summer before you apply. Since 2025 the UCAT has four sections scored out of 2700 (Abstract Reasoning was removed), so use current resources and build revision around your IB workload.
What happens if I miss my IB grade offer for medicine?
If you miss either the total points requirement or a subject-specific HL grade, your offer will almost certainly be withdrawn, because both conditions must be met simultaneously. Your options then are to contact the admissions team in case they will accept a near miss, look at Clearing or Adjustment where medicine places very occasionally appear, or plan a reapplication. Some schools, such as Liverpool, require requirements to be met at first sitting.
Can a mature or older student apply to medicine with the IB?
Yes. There is no upper age limit for UK medicine, and mature applicants are assessed on the same academic conditions as school leavers, so the same 36-point baseline with HL Chemistry and Biology applies. If your IB is some years old, check each school's currency-of-qualification rules. Graduate-entry medicine, which usually needs a prior degree rather than the IB, may also be worth considering.
Does the IB Extended Essay help a medicine application?
The Extended Essay is not formally weighted in the way Higher Level grades are. However, a well-executed EE in a relevant subject, such as a biology investigation or a chemistry topic, gives strong, specific material for your personal statement and interviews. The IB's Theory of Knowledge and CAS programme similarly provide good evidence of independent research, critical thinking, and community engagement.
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