Medicine at University of Leicester Medical School: Entry Requirements & UCAT 2026

Teaching style

Leicester Medical School offers an integrated, patient-focused curriculum that combines traditional lectures with problem-based learning (PBL) and early clinical exposure. From the outset, students engage in clinical placements, including the opportunity to train and qualify as Healthcare Assistants in the first year, providing valuable hands-on experience. Anatomy is taught through full-body cadaveric dissection, and students utilize technology-enhanced learning tools, such as iPads and 3D reconstructions, to support their studies. The curriculum emphasizes empathy and communication, aiming to develop compassionate and resilient future doctors

Intercalated BSc

University of Leicester Medical School Intercalation Year: BSc With the approval of the BSc Intercalated Degree Committee, students registered for the Degrees of MBChB may intercalate one year of additional study leading to the BSc Degree in the College of Medicine, Biological Sciences & Psychology. The additional year of study should be taken after completion of the second or third year of the course for the MBChB.

A-Levels

The minimum A level requirements for Leicester Medical School is A*AA

Including Chemistry or Biology, and one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology, but excluding General Studies, Citizenship Studies, Critical Thinking or Global Perspectives.

Will consider applicants with AAA (including two sciences as above) and EPQ grade B or an AS-level grade A in a fourth subject, or grade B in the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate / Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales qualification.

If you take four full A levels (not counting overlapping subjects such as Maths and Further Maths), Leicester can instead give an alternative offer of AAAB, with all of them completed in Year 12 or 13. If one of the four is a language other than English in which you are a home or native speaker, you need AAA in the remaining three.

GCSEs

The minimum GCSE grade requirement for Leicester Medical School is grade B (6) in English Language (as a first language), Mathematics and two sciences (including Chemistry and Biology, or Double Science).

Resits: Will consider resits in GCSE English Language or Maths.

For applicants with predicted A levels, Leicester scores eight GCSE qualifications as part of its academic score, which is combined 50:50 with the UCAT score. The detailed points tables are published in the official scoring documents on the Leicester website.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

34 points with 7,6,6 at Higher Level, or 36 with 6,6,6 at Higher Level including two sciences; Higher Level must include Chemistry or Biology, and one of Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Maths, Sports Science or Psychology.

Scottish Highers

They will not consider you if you are only taking Scottish Highers.

Scottish Advanced Highers

Leicester will consider Scottish Advanced Highers either alone or in combination with A-levels. Our standard offer is AAA, to include Chemistry or Biology, and one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology.

Leicester will also consider two sciences at Advanced Higher at grades AA plus three other subjects at Higher level at grades AAB.

Graduates (degree requirements)

Leicester will consider graduate applicants from any discipline with a minimum of an upper second-class honours (2:1) degree, or equivalent, in their Bachelor's or integrated Master's degree.

Graduate applicants must also have BBB or ABC at A level, including a grade B in either Chemistry or Biology, and must meet the minimum GCSE requirements of grade B (6) in English Language (as a first language), Mathematics and two GCSE science subjects (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Double Science).

Scoring A levels (or HL IB subjects): A* (7) = 12 (or 10 if over a 3 year period); A (6) = 10 (or 8 if over a 3 year period); B (5) = 8 (or 6 if over a 3 year period); C (4) = 4 (or 2 if over a 3 year period).

Degree: 1st Class obtained = 12; 2:1 obtained = 8; 1st Class predicted = 6; 2:1 predicted = 4.

English language requirements

IELTS: 7.5 overall, with no component below 7.0

Deferred entry

Yes

Eligibility criteria

University of Leicester Foundation Medicine - typical offer:

• A Levels: BBB
• GCSEs: Grade C or 5 in English Language, Maths, and two sciences, including Chemistry and Biology, or Double Science
• IB: Pass Diploma with 30 points overall including three higher level subjects at Grade 5
• Scottish Advanced Higher: Either alone or in a combination with A-levels. BBB to include Chemistry or Biology, plus one other science from Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics or Psychology. Scottish Highers are not considered.
• UCAT: must be completed, Band 4 SJT is rejected.
• Length: 6 years with medicine degree

Essential criteria (group A)

Must meet both the criteria:

• You are due to complete, or have recently completed, your A-levels/BTEC/IB/equivalent (completion should be no longer than two years prior to the start of the course) and have not already attended any higher education institution.
• You attended a state school for GCSEs

Other criteria (group B)

Meet one of the following:

• You are, or have previously been, in local authority care/looked after (a confirmation letter from the local authority is required)
• You have refugee status (a letter from the Home Office is required)

Or

Meet a minimum of two criteria from the following:

• Live in a neighbourhood with low young participation in higher education within the United Kingdom - your postcode must be in quintile 1 or 2 in POLAR4 young participation (postcode look-up) OR Live in a neighbourhood with a high level of multiple deprivation - your postcode must be in decile 4 or below in the Index of Multiple Deprivation (postcode look-up)
• Live in a household with an income of no more than £35000 OR Students who receive a UCAT Bursary award OR Students who have been in receipt of free school meals (documentary evidence required)
• Students who attended a state school for GCSEs where the Attainment 8 score is below the national average. For 2022 entry, GCSE performance in 2020 will be considered according to the Department for Education performance tables. 2019 data will be used if 2020 data is not available
• Students who belong to one of the priority engagement groups which include students from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and children of military families (a confirmation letter from your school is required)
• Students living independently of parents (for at least the last 6 months) due to situations of family breakdown or 'estrangement'. (a confirmation letter from your school is required)
• Students from a home where neither parent/carer attended university in the UK or abroad. (Declaration form will be required)
• Students who are the sole carer of a parent(s) or, if living away from home, you are the sole carer of a sibling (a confirmation letter from your school is required)
• Students who have successfully completed the Realising Opportunities programme. (The Realising Opportunities programme provides additional support to students to ensure they are equipped with all the skills they need to succeed at university. The University of Leicester is proud to be a partner University and supporting these students into university study is part of our Access and Participation Plan. Most students accepted onto the RO programme will also meet other criteria set out above.)