Medicine · Medical School Profile

Medicine (Graduate Entry) at the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine

MMI interviewUCAT requiredUpdated 13 June 2026
Carlisle Cathedral by David Iliff (Diliff)
Carlisle Cathedral by David Iliff (Diliff) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, cropped

At a glance

Degree awarded
MBBS (UCAS code A102)
Course length
4 years
Interview format
MMI
UCAT required
Yes (UCAT or GAMSAT)
Foundation year
No

Overview of the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine

The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine is a new graduate entry medical school in Carlisle, delivered as a partnership between Imperial College London and the University of Cumbria (supported by the Pears Foundation). It is a four year programme (UCAS code A102), and graduates receive an MBBS awarded by Imperial College London. The programme is subject to ongoing General Medical Council quality assurance.

Eligibility note: this course accepts home (UK) students only; international applicants are not eligible. Always confirm the latest entry information on the official school and Imperial College London websites before applying.

What makes the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine unique?

The course blends Imperial's MBBS curriculum with the University of Cumbria's allied-health training, with early clinical exposure, multi-professional collaborative learning and a community-based project on prevention and healthcare delivery. Placements run across community, primary, secondary and mental health settings in North and South Cumbria, with a distinctive mission to train doctors for under-served rural areas.

Pears Cumbria entry requirements

A-Levels

Pears Cumbria School of Medicine offers graduate-entry medicine only (4-year MBBS, UCAS code A102, awarded by Imperial College London). There are no A-level requirements; entry is based on a prior degree.

GCSEs

No GCSE requirements — this is a graduate-entry programme. Applicants must hold a minimum 2:1 in a Biosciences or Allied Healthcare degree and meet a minimum UCAT or GAMSAT threshold. Home (UK) fee-status applicants only.

Graduates (degree requirements)

A 2:1 or above in a biosciences or allied-healthcare degree, for example anatomy, biochemistry, biomedical science, biology, nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, paramedic science, pharmacy, dentistry or veterinary science (this list is not exhaustive). There are no GCSE or A-Level requirements; school qualifications are not scored.

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Admission tests at the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine

UCAT or GAMSAT at the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine

Applicants take either the UCAT or the GAMSAT and are ranked and considered for interview based on their score. The UCAT must be taken in the same year as the UCAS submission, while the GAMSAT must be taken within the two years before submission. Cut-off scores differ between the MSC listing and the school's own page across cycles, so confirm the current threshold directly with the school.

GAMSAT

The GAMSAT is accepted as an alternative to the UCAT (see above).

Work experience for the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine

Clinical experience is not required, but work experience with service users is strongly recommended and is assessed at interview alongside the personal statement.

Personal statement at Pears Cumbria

The personal statement is not scored or used to rank applicants for interview selection (which is based on degree class plus a GAMSAT/UCAT threshold). It is referred to at interview, where work experience with service users is assessed alongside information from the personal statement.

Note: from 2026 entry, UCAS replaced the single free-text personal statement with three structured questions — why you want to study the course, how your studies have prepared you, and what else you have done to prepare. Any guidance above still applies; it is simply spread across those questions. For worked examples and a review of your own statement, see our medicine personal statement examples and review service.

Graduate entry at Pears Cumbria

The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine is graduate entry only (four years, UCAS code A102). There is no standard five year route.

Does Pears Cumbria have a gateway or foundation year?

Pears Cumbria interview

Selection is by Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs), which may run in a blended format with a mix of in-person and asynchronous stations. Stations assess commitment to medicine, potential contribution to the region, teamwork, ethics, empathy and resilience.

Contact details for Pears Cumbria

For full details and to apply, see the official Pears Cumbria School of Medicine website and the Imperial College London graduate entry medicine course page.

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FAQs

Pears Cumbria medicine FAQs

What are the A-Level requirements for Medicine at Pears Cumbria?

Pears Cumbria School of Medicine offers graduate-entry medicine only (4-year MBBS, UCAS code A102, awarded by Imperial College London). There are no A-level requirements; entry is based on a prior degree.

What are the GCSE requirements for Medicine at Pears Cumbria?

No GCSE requirements — this is a graduate-entry programme. Applicants must hold a minimum 2:1 in a Biosciences or Allied Healthcare degree and meet a minimum UCAT or GAMSAT threshold. Home (UK) fee-status applicants only.

What is the UCAS course code for Medicine at Pears Cumbria?

The UCAS course code for the standard Medicine course at Pears Cumbria is A102, and the degree awarded is the MBBS.

The course is based in Carlisle, Cumbria, England and lasts 4 years.

The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine is a graduate entry programme; the MBBS is awarded by Imperial College London.

Does Pears Cumbria require the UCAT for Medicine?

Yes, Pears Cumbria requires the UCAT for entry to Medicine (UCAT or GAMSAT).

What UCAT score do you need for Medicine at Pears Cumbria?

Applicants take either the UCAT or the GAMSAT and are ranked and considered for interview based on their score. The UCAT must be taken in the same year as the UCAS submission, while the GAMSAT must be taken within the two years before submission. Cut-off scores differ between the MSC listing and the school's own page across cycles, so confirm the current threshold directly with the school.

What type of interview does Pears Cumbria use for Medicine?

Pears Cumbria uses a multiple mini interview (MMI) format for Medicine interviews.

Does Pears Cumbria offer a foundation or gateway year for Medicine?

No, Pears Cumbria does not offer a foundation or gateway year for Medicine.

Does Pears Cumbria accept graduate entry for Medicine?

The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine is graduate entry only (four years, UCAS code A102). There is no standard five year route.

Is the personal statement assessed for Medicine at Pears Cumbria?

No, Pears Cumbria does not formally score the personal statement for Medicine applicants.

The personal statement is not scored or used to rank applicants for interview selection (which is based on degree class plus a GAMSAT/UCAT threshold). It is referred to at interview, where work experience with service users is assessed alongside information from the personal statement.

Can international students apply to the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine?

No. The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine accepts home (UK) students only; international applicants are not eligible.

Where is Pears Cumbria based?

The school is based in Carlisle (University of Cumbria, Fusehill Street), with clinical placements across community, primary, secondary and mental health settings in North and South Cumbria.

Is Pears Cumbria a new medical school?

Yes. The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine is a brand new graduate entry medical school in Carlisle, delivered as a partnership between Imperial College London and the University of Cumbria, and subject to ongoing General Medical Council quality assurance.

Which admissions test does the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine use?

You can take either the UCAT or the GAMSAT, and applicants are ranked and considered for interview based on their score. The UCAT must be sat in the same year as your UCAS application, while the GAMSAT must be sat within the two years before you apply.

What degree do you get from Pears Cumbria?

Graduates receive an MBBS awarded by Imperial College London. The graduate entry course, UCAS code A102, lasts four years.

Do you need work experience for Medicine at Pears Cumbria?

Clinical experience is not required, but work experience with service users is strongly recommended and is assessed at interview alongside your personal statement.

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Ultimate Package students from our 2025/26 cycle, with their UCAT scores and offers, who trained with us for the UCAT, personal statements and interviews.

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