Applying to Medical School Strategically: Part 3 – Where to Apply with a Good UCAT Score
Posted: August 24, 2025 by Stan
In this blog series we are exploring how you should use your UCAT score strategically when applying to UCAS for medical school to maximise your chances of securing a place. Here we will be focusing on which universities you should consider applying to with a good UCAT score (in the range of 2100-2220 or an average of 700-740).
In this blog, we will be referencing previous cut-off scores in the old format with the 2025 equivalent out of 2700 in brackets.
What does my UCAT score mean?
A UCAT score of 2100-2220 is considered a good score. Combined with sufficient academic grades, a UCAT score in this range would be sufficient to obtain an interview at almost all UCAT-requiring universities, apart from those mentioned in our last blog (where to apply with a high UCAT score).
What is a good UCAT score?
A good UCAT score would be in the range of 2100-2220. Students scoring in this bracket would be able to apply to some universities that shortlist candidates using the UCAT alone. If you have strong academic grades, a UCAT score in this range would be sufficient to obtain an interview for medicine as long as your choices are made strategically. It would be wise to think twice about applying to the universities mentioned in our last blog (where to apply with a high UCAT score.
Where should I apply with a good UCAT score?
Here are some medical schools where you should consider applying with a good UCAT score. Tap a university to see its full breakdown:
UCL Medical School
| Typical grades | A*AA |
| Required subjects | Either of Biology and Chemistry at A* and the other at grade A, plus a third subject |
| GCSE requirements | GCSE grade B/6 in English Language and Mathematics |
| How UCAT is used | At UCL, applicants who meet the minimum academic requirements are ranked according to their UCAT score. Personal statements will not be scored. |
| UCAT threshold | Their published cut-off for 2026 entry is 2190 for standard applicants and 2080 for contextual students. |
University of Exeter Medical School
| Typical grades | A*AA |
| Required subjects | Chemistry and Biology at Grade A, with a third subject |
| GCSE requirements | GCSE Grade B/6 in English Language |
| How UCAT is used |
Candidates are then scored using 75% academic profile and 25% UCAT overall score, with the highest-scoring students being invited to interview. There is no specific information on how UCAT Situational Judgement Score is used in the selection process. |
| UCAT threshold | For 2024 entry, almost full marks on Exeter's points system (3A*s predicted and around 2790 (2093) in the UCAT) was required for non-contextual students as the number of students scoring 100 exceeded their number of interview slots. This year the highest score possible for school leavers is 90, given to students with 3A*s predicted and a 9th decile UCAT. Ten points are dropped for every grade below an A* and 4 are removed for each decile below the 9th. This puts those applying with predicted grades at a significant disadvantage, as those with achieved grades can score up to 100 points. Applicants with achieved grades who are eligible for a contextual offer can score up to 105 points. |
University of Sheffield Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA. An alternative offer of AAB with an A in EPQ is available if Sheffield is listed as firmed on UCAS. |
| Required subjects | Grade A in Chemistry or Biology with a second science subject (Mathematics, Physics, Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry or Psychology) and a third subject, to include a pass in the practical element |
| GCSE requirements | At least five GCSEs at Grade 7/A or above. Mathematics, English Language and at least one science subject must be passed at Grade 6/B. |
| How UCAT is used |
A UCAT exceeding the published minimum score (1800 for 2026 entry) is required. Once academic requirements are met, applicants are ranked by UCAT score, with the highest-scoring students invited to interview. The UCAT Situational Judgement subtest is used in combination with the MMI score post-interview, scored as follows: Band 1 earns 5 points, Band 2 earns 4 points, Band 3 earns 2 points, and Band 4 earns 1 point. |
| UCAT threshold | For 2026 entry, the lowest scores recorded were 2120 for home students, 2070 for international students, and 1800 for graduate entrants. |
Newcastle University Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA predicted. Contextual applicants are typically offered ABB. |
| Required subjects | No specific A-levels required, but General Studies, Use of Mathematics, World Development, Communication and Culture, and Critical Thinking are NOT accepted |
| GCSE requirements | No specific GCSE subjects or grades required |
| How UCAT is used |
Students are then ranked based entirely upon UCAT scores, with the highest-scoring individuals invited to interview. Newcastle has announced that they will be changing their admissions procedures for 2025 entry. As such, their previous UCAT thresholds of between 2800 and 2850 cannot be used to predict success this year. From this application cycle, Newcastle will be scoring an applicant's best eight GCSEs out of 40, with sixty points then available for the UCAT. Students who achieve Band 4 in the UCAT Situational Judgement subtest are excluded from interview. |
| UCAT threshold | For 2023 entry, Newcastle's UCAT cut-off scores for non-contextual applicants were 2820 for A100 and 2930 for A101, but with the new scoring system in place this may change. |
Barts and The London School of Medicine (Queen Mary University of London)
| Typical grades | A*AA, in one sitting following no more than two years of study. Contextual offers are typically AAA. |
| Required subjects | Chemistry or Biology and another science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics) |
| GCSE requirements | At least three Grade 7(A)s and three Grade 6(B)s at GCSE to include Biology, Chemistry, English Language or English Literature, and Mathematics. The Science Double Award is accepted in place of Chemistry and Biology. |
| How UCAT is used |
A UCAT score in the top 7 deciles and Bands 1-3 in Situational Judgement are required (Band 4 is excluded from interview). Barts is the only medical school to use a candidate's UCAS Tariff points as part of their selection procedure. They expect candidates to have achieved or been predicted 152 tariff points, which can be earned by AS and A2 Level qualifications as well as an EPQ, BTEC Level 3 and Music Examinations. To select candidates for interview, Barts uses this tariff score and a candidate's UCAT result in a 50:50 split. |
| UCAT threshold | Their 2025 UCAT thresholds were 2670 (2003) for home students and 2810 (2108) for international candidates. |
University of Manchester Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA. Contextual offers are typically AAB. |
| Required subjects | Chemistry or Biology/Human Biology; and one of Chemistry, Biology/Human Biology, Physics, Psychology, Mathematics or Further Mathematics, plus a third subject |
| GCSE requirements | Minimum seven GCSEs at Grade 7/A, including English Language, Mathematics and two science subjects (or Dual Award Science) |
| How UCAT is used | Candidates are then ranked using UCAT scores. Band 2 in Situational Judgement was also required for 2023 entry. Manchester does not consider applicants with Bands 3 or 4 in the UCAT Situational Judgement subtest. |
| UCAT threshold | For 2023 entry, the threshold was 2750 for standard entry and 2620 for widening participation. For 2025 entry, Manchester's cut-off scores were 2710 (2033) for non-contextual students and 2520 (1890) for contextual ones. |
University of Southampton School of Medicine
| Typical grades | AAA |
| Required subjects | Biology and one other science subject from Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Studies or Geography. General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted as the third subject. |
| GCSE requirements | Seven GCSEs at Grade 6/B or above including English Language, Mathematics and either Biology and Chemistry, Combined Science, or Science and Additional Science |
| How UCAT is used | Candidates are then shortlisted for interview based solely on their UCAT score. Southampton states that they re-evaluate candidates' UCAT scores in conjunction with Selection Day performance to determine which candidates will be offered a place. They invited 834 candidates for interview. |
| UCAT threshold | For 2026 entry, Southampton has published an official UCAT cut-off of 2070 — a change from previous years, when they released few official statistics. For context, the offer holder with the lowest UCAT for 2024 entry had a score of 2610 (1958), and their 2025 entry cut-off appeared to be around 2750 (2063), in line with 2810 (2108) for 2023 entry and 2750 (2063) for 2022 entry. |
University of Nottingham Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA |
| Required subjects | Biology/Human Biology and Chemistry, with a third subject. Citizenship Studies, Critical Thinking, General Studies and Global Perspectives are not accepted. |
| GCSE requirements | Six GCSEs at Grade A/7 or above to include Biology and Chemistry or double award science. A minimum of Grade B/6 in GCSE Mathematics and English Language. GCSE grades must be achieved in one sitting after two years of study. |
| How UCAT is used |
Following the academic screening, candidates are ranked by UCAT score and academic grades using a points system. Verbal Reasoning has double the weighting of the other three cognitive subtests, meaning that it is important to excel in that too. There are 50 points available for the UCAT with 10 points per subtest including Situational Judgement and an extra 10 (so double weighting) for Verbal Reasoning. There are also 32 points for GCSEs, with eight subjects scored and each Grade 9 being worth 4 points, Grade 8 getting 3 points, Grade 7 earning 2 points and Grade 6 receiving 1 point. This marks a change from previous years where the UCAT was worth 120 points and GCSEs 32 points, meaning that GCSE results now carry more weight than before. Students who achieved Band 4 in the UCAT Situational Judgement subtest were automatically rejected. |
| UCAT threshold | UCAT score requirements change from year to year, but it is possible to work out your score and thus have an indication of your chances of being shortlisted for interview before applying through UCAS. |
University of Aberdeen School of Medicine and Dentistry
| Typical grades | AAA |
| Required subjects | Chemistry and one of Biology/Human Biology, Mathematics or Physics, plus one other subject |
| GCSE requirements | GCSE Grade 6/B in English Language and Mathematics. Biology and Physics also recommended at Grade 6/B or above. |
| How UCAT is used | Candidates are then ranked using UCAT (40%) and academic achievement (60%) pre-interview and interview performance (50%), UCAT (20%) and academic scores (30%) post-interview. Therefore, a low UCAT score would have to be supplemented with a strong interview performance and good academic grades. The UCAT Situational Judgement Test is not scored, but it may be used in making offers when there are candidates with similar scores and Band 4 is not usually accepted. |
| UCAT threshold | It is worth noting that of Aberdeen's 298 medicine places for 2024 entry, just 25 of them were allocated to RUK students. They interviewed 149 of the 153 RUK school leavers who applied and made 57 offers. The average RUK UCAT score invited to interview was 2700 (2025) while the average Scottish one was 2560 (1920), while the lowest were 2440 (1830) and 2160 (1620) respectively. |
University of Dundee Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA |
| Required subjects | Chemistry or Biology with a second science, plus a third subject. Mathematics counts as a science subject. General Studies is not accepted. |
| GCSE requirements | Grade 7/A in Biology and Chemistry are required. If Mathematics and English Language are not studied at A-Level, Grade 6/B in these subjects is also required at GCSE. |
| How UCAT is used | Dundee selects candidates for interview using both their academic grades and their UCAT score in a 60:40 weighting. As a result, they do not have a set UCAT threshold. It is worth noting that Dundee assesses Scottish applicants separately to those from the rest of the UK (RUK). UCAT Situational Judgement subtest Band 4 does not necessarily lead to rejection; however, it "may affect the decision on whether or not to make an offer". |
| UCAT threshold | For 2024 entry, the average UCAT score of Scottish interviewees was 2662 (1997) and 2723 (2043) for RUK students. |
Brighton & Sussex Medical School (BSMS)
| Typical grades | AAA. Resits are accepted, but AAB must have been achieved at the first sitting. |
| Required subjects | Biology or Chemistry, plus one further subject from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics |
| GCSE requirements | GCSE Grade B/6 in English Language or Literature and Mathematics |
| How UCAT is used | At BSMS, applicants who meet the minimum academic requirements are ranked according to their UCAT score. Students must achieve Band 1, 2 or 3 in the Situational Judgement subtest. UCAT may also be used post-interview in a tie-break situation. They aim to offer 30% of interview spaces to contextual applicants who are ranked separately. |
| UCAT threshold | No specific UCAT cut-off score has been published. |
University of Leeds Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA, including Chemistry and Biology. An A* cannot compensate for a B in another subject, so A*A*B is not accepted in place of AAA, and taking a fourth A2 subject provides no advantage over taking three. |
| Required subjects | Chemistry and Biology, plus a third subject. The following combinations are not accepted: Chemistry with Biology and Human Biology; Chemistry with Biology and Sports Science; Chemistry with Biology and Critical Thinking. |
| GCSE requirements | Six GCSEs of Grade 6 or above to include Mathematics, English Language, Biology and Chemistry or Dual Science. However, Leeds states that candidates who only meet the minimum requirements are unlikely to be considered, and scoring is based on 8 GCSE results. |
| How UCAT is used | At Leeds, applicants who meet the minimum academic requirements are assessed by past and predicted grades and the UCAT. Unfortunately, they have not given any indication of the UCAT scores required for an interview. |
| UCAT threshold | They seem to have shortlisted applicants with around 2800 (2100) in the UCAT. |
Note: UCAT score thresholds do change year-to-year and are impossible to predict with certainty until after the UCAS October 15th deadline.
Check out other blogs in this series:
- Applying to Medical School Strategically: Part 1 - Using Your UCAT Score
- Applying to Medical School Strategically: Part 2 - Where to Apply with a High UCAT Score
- Applying to Medical School Strategically: Part 4 - Where to Apply with an Average UCAT Score
- Applying to Medical School Strategically: Part 5 - Where to apply with a Low UCAT Score
Last updated: September 2026
