Applying to Medical School Strategically: Part 3 – Where to Apply with a Good UCAT Score

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 2070-2170 or an average of 690-725).

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 2070-2170 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 2070-2170. 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:

UCL Medical School

At UCL, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:

• A*AA with either of Biology and Chemistry at A* and the other at grade A
• GCSE grade B/6 in English Language and Mathematics

At UCL, applicants who meet the minimum academic requirements are ranked according to their UCAT score. Personal statements will not be scored. For 2025 entry their UCAT cut-offs were 2600 (1950) for contextual students, 2800 (2100) for home students and 3060 (2295) for international students.

University of Exeter Medical School

At Exeter, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:

• A*AA with Chemistry and Biology at Grade A
• GCSE Grade B/6 in English Language

Candidates are then scored using 75% academic profile and 25% UCAT overall score, with the highest-scoring students being invited to interview.

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.

There is no specific information on how UCAT Situational Judgement Score is used in the selection process.

University of Sheffield Medical School

At Sheffield, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:

• AAA in Chemistry or Biology and a second science (Mathematics, Physics, Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry or Psychology) to include a pass in the practical element
• An alternative offer of AAB with an A in EPQ is available if they are all taken in the same sitting
• 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
• A UCAT exceeding the published minimum score (1800 for 2026 entry)

Beyond the minimum requirements, candidates' UCAT scores are ranked and the top-scoring students are invited to interview. For 2025 entry, Sheffield states that they required a score of 2760 (2070) for home students and 2590 (1943) for international candidates. The UCAT Situational Judgement subtest is used at interview and will be scored out of a possible 5. Achieving Band 4 in UCAT Situational Judgement does not automatically lead to rejection and is described as 'borderline' at interview.

Newcastle University Medical School

At Newcastle, applicants are first checked to ensure that the minimum academic requirements are met:

• AAA predicted
• No specific A-levels required, but General Studies, Use of Mathematics, World Development, Communication and Culture, and Critical Thinking are NOT accepted
• No specific GCSE subjects or grades required

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. Sixty points are then available for the UCAT.

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. Students who achieved Band 4 in the UCAT Situational Judgement subtest were automatically rejected.

Barts and The London School of Medicine (Queen Mary University of London)

At Barts, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:

• A*AA in Chemistry or Biology and another science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics) in one sitting following no more than two years of study
• At least three Grade 7(A)s and three Grade 6(B)s at GCSE to include Biology, Chemistry, English Language and Mathematics. The Science Double Award is accepted in place of Chemistry and Biology.
• UCAT score in the top 7 deciles and Bands 1-3 in Situational Judgement

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. These points 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. Their 2025 UCAT thresholds were 2670 (2003) for home students and 2810 (2108) for international candidates.

University of Manchester Medical School

At Manchester, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:

AAA in Chemistry or Biology/Human Biology; and one of Chemistry, Biology/Human Biology, Physics, Psychology, Mathematics or Further Mathematics
At least seven GCSEs at Grade A (7) or A* (8+)

Candidates are then ranked using UCAT scores. For 2023 entry, the threshold was 2750 for standard entry and 2620 for widening participation. Band 2 in Situational Judgement was also required. For 2025 entry, Manchester's cut-off scores were 2710 (2033) for non-contextual students and 2520 (1890) for contextual ones.

Manchester does not consider applicants with Bands 3 or 4 in the UCAT Situational Judgement subtest.

University of Southampton School of Medicine

At Southampton, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:

• AAA in Biology and one of Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Studies or Geography
• Seven GCSEs at Grade 6/B or above including English Language, Mathematics and either Biology and Chemistry, Combined Science, or Science and Additional Science

Candidates are then shortlisted for interview based solely on their UCAT score. Southampton has not released many official statistics, but for 2024 entry, the offer holder with the lowest UCAT had a score of 2610 (1958). No details were given around contextual or fee status. Their 2025 entry cut-off appears to have been around 2750 (2063), which is in line with 2810 (2108) for 2023 entry and 2750 (2063) for 2022 entry. 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.

University of Nottingham Medical School

At Nottingham, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:

AAA in Chemistry and Biology or Human Biology
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

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.

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. Students who achieved Band 4 in the UCAT Situational Judgement subtest were automatically rejected.

University of Aberdeen School of Medicine and Dentistry

At Aberdeen, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:

• AAA in Chemistry and one of Biology/Human Biology, Mathematics and Physics
• GCSE Grade 6/B in English Language and Mathematics. Biology and Physics also recommended at Grade 6/B or above.

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.

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

At Dundee, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:

• AAA in Chemistry and one of Biology, Mathematics and Physics
• If not studied at A-Level, GCSE Grade 6/B in English Language and Mathematics and Grade 7/A in Biology and Chemistry are required

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). For 2024 entry, the average UCAT score of Scottish interviewees was 2662 (1997) and 2723 (2043) for RUK students.

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".

Brighton & Sussex Medical School (BSMS)

At BSMS, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:

• AAA including Biology and Chemistry
• GCSE Grade B/6 in English Language or Literature and Mathematics

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. If necessary, BSMS will use UCAT as the tie-breaker post-interview.

University of Leeds Medical School

At Leeds, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:

• AAA including both Biology and Chemistry. Please note that Leeds only accepts Human Biology, Further Mathematics, Statistics and Sports Science as fourth A-Levels and does not count them as part of their scoring system
• Six GCSEs of Grade 6 or above to include Mathematics, English Language, Biology and Chemistry or Dual Science. However, Leeds states on their website that candidates who only meet the minimum requirements are unlikely to be considered and scoring is based on 8 GCSE results.

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; however, 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 15^th 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