Applying to Medical School Strategically: Part 4 - Where to Apply with an Average UCAT Score
Posted: August 24, 2025 by Stan
In this blog series we are exploring how to use your UCAT scores when applying to medical school. Depending on the UCAT score that you have achieved, you should apply to universities which will maximise your chances of securing a place in medicine. Here, we will discuss the universities that you should consider applying to if you have achieved an average UCAT score (1880-2100 or an average of 625-700).
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 is an average UCAT score?
An average UCAT score would be around 1880 to 2100. While this score is now too low for the universities that use UCAT alone to shortlist, it should be sufficient for some of the universities that use a more holistic approach. It would be wise to think twice about applying to the universities mentioned in our where to apply with a high and good UCAT score blogs.
Where should I apply with an average UCAT score?
Here are some medical schools where you should consider applying with an average UCAT score. Tap a university to see its full breakdown:
Edge Hill University Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA. Where an A* is achieved in Biology or Chemistry, the third subject will be accepted at Grade B or above. |
| Required subjects | Chemistry, Biology and one other subject, excluding General Studies, Critical Reasoning, Citizenship and Key Skills |
| GCSE requirements | Five GCSEs at Grade B/6 or above including Biology, Chemistry, English Language and Mathematics. The Double Science Award, at Grades 6-6 or B-B or above, would be accepted in place of Chemistry and Biology. |
| How UCAT is used | Candidates are then ranked by UCAT score, with the top-scoring candidates being invited to interview. UCAT Situational Judgement Score Band 4 leads to an instant rejection. |
| UCAT threshold | While Edge Hill has not released any official UCAT thresholds, the score required for an interview for 2025 entry appears to have been around 2700 (2025). This marks a slight increase from 2610 (1958) for 2023 entry and 2620 (1965) in 2022. |
Aston University Medical School
| Typical grades | A*AA. The A* must be in Chemistry or Biology. For students taking four subjects at A-Level, Chemistry, Biology and the highest of the two remaining subjects are considered. |
| Required subjects | Chemistry, Biology and a third subject excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies |
| GCSE requirements | Six GCSEs at Grade B/6 or above to include English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology or Double Science |
| How UCAT is used | Aston uses a points system to select candidates for interview, with 24 points available for GCSEs and 12 points for UCAT (a 2:1 GCSE:UCAT ratio). This means that high academic results can compensate for a lower UCAT score. The Situational Judgement subtest will not be scored. |
| UCAT threshold | For 2025 entry, the lowest UCAT score invited to interview was 2600 (1950) for a non-contextual home student and 2550 (1875) for a contextual applicant. The mean UCAT of all home students interviewed was 2759 (2070). |
Lancaster Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA, or AAB plus a B in a fourth subject or EPQ |
| Required subjects | Two of Biology, Chemistry and Psychology, plus a third subject, achieved in one sitting after two years of study. |
| GCSE requirements | A score of at least 13 points from GCSEs, with each A*-A(7-9) grade worth 2 points and B(6) worth 1 point, across eight subjects. Applicants must also achieve at least Grade B(6) in Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Combined Science (Trilogy), English Language and Mathematics. If Biology or Chemistry is not studied at A-Level, GCSE Biology and/or Chemistry must be achieved at Grade 7/A. |
| How UCAT is used | At Lancaster, applicants who meet the minimum academic requirements are ranked according to their UCAT score. |
| UCAT threshold | For 2025 entry, Lancaster's UCAT thresholds were 2580 (1935) for non-contextual students, 2470 (1853) for contextual applicants and 2440 (1830) for international candidates. |
Anglia Ruskin University School of Medicine
| Typical grades | AAA |
| Required subjects | Chemistry or Biology and one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics |
| GCSE requirements | Five GCSEs at Grades 9-6 (A*-B), including English Language, Mathematics and two science subjects |
| How UCAT is used | UCAT scores of applicants are then ranked, with the top-scoring students invited to interview. Students living or studying in the East of England region are given extra points, with further additional points for those based in Essex, which can supplement a lower UCAT score. UCAT Situational Judgement Band 4 leads to automatic rejection. |
| UCAT threshold | Anglia Ruskin's 2023 entry threshold was 2640 (1980). They are yet to release this year's application statistics, but it appears to be similar. |
University of Liverpool Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA. Alternatively, A*AB is accepted if the A* and A grades are in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics. |
| Required subjects | Chemistry with Biology, Physics or Mathematics, plus a third subject. A*AB is also accepted provided the B is in the third subject and A*A is achieved in the two science subjects. |
| GCSE requirements | Nine GCSEs at a minimum of Grade B/6 to include English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics (or Core & Additional Science, combined or triple science). A minimum score of 15 points is calculated from the best 9 GCSEs (where A*-A/7-9 = 2 points and B/6 = 1 point). |
| How UCAT is used | Candidates are then scored using UCAT, with the top-scoring candidates being invited to interview. UCAT Situational Judgement Score Band 4 leads to an instant rejection for home applicants. All 4 SJT bands are considered for international applicants. |
| UCAT threshold | For 2025 entry, Liverpool predicts (not guaranteed) cut-offs of 1820-1920 (4th-6th decile) for home applicants and 1980-2170 (7th-9th decile) for international students. For 2024 entry, the lowest non-contextual UCAT score shortlisted for interview was 2300 (1725) with the average interviewee score being 2774 (2081). For 2023 entry, Liverpool's cut-off score was 2660 (1995) for home students and 2770 (2078) for international applicants. |
University of East Anglia Norwich Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA |
| Required subjects | Biology/Human Biology or Chemistry, plus two further A-Level subjects. Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies, Leisure Studies, Applied Science, General Studies and BTEC qualifications are not accepted. A-Level Mathematics or Further Mathematics will be accepted, not both. Where applicable, Science A-Levels awarded by an English exam board require a pass in the practical element, and grades must be achieved over two consecutive years. A fourth AS/A-Level or EPQ can be listed on the application but will not be subject to grade requirements. Applicants without a fourth subject will still be considered. |
| GCSE requirements | Six GCSEs at Grade 7/A including Mathematics and either two science subjects or Double Science (Triple Science, Science, Additional Science and Further Science GCSEs are also accepted). GCSE English Language must be offered at Grade 5/B. Graduate applicants instead need six GCSEs at Grade 5/B including English Language, Mathematics and either two science subjects or Double Science (the same additional science GCSE types are accepted). |
| How UCAT is used | Candidates are then scored using UCAT, with the top-scoring candidates being invited to interview. UCAT Situational Judgement Score Band 4 leads to an instant rejection. The UCAT Situational Judgement subtest is used as part of the 50% interview weighting when making offers. The other 50% is based on a candidate's UCAT score, so high scorers are at an advantage post-interview. |
| UCAT threshold | For 2024 entry, their average score for interviewees was 2790 (2093). There are no confirmed statistics for 2025 entry, but approximately 2550 (1913) seems to have been required for interview. |
St George's University of London Medical School (Now part of City, St George's)
| Typical grades | AAA |
| Required subjects | Chemistry and Biology/Human Biology |
| GCSE requirements | Five GCSEs at Grade B/6 or above including English Language, Mathematics and either double or triple award science |
| How UCAT is used | A UCAT score of at least 500 in each cognitive subtest is required; this might be different for clearing if the university continues to enter it. Candidates are then given an overall score (comprising 100% UCAT), with the top-scoring candidates invited to interview. For 2026 entry, they will be using Situational Judgement as part of shortlisting. |
| UCAT threshold | For 2025 entry, a UCAT score of 2600 (1950) was required for home students and 2750 (2063) for international candidates. The previous admissions cycle, their threshold scores were 2690 (2018) for domestic students and 2700 (2025) for international applicants. |
Hull-York Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA at A-Level. Applicants must be predicted at least AAB. |
| Required subjects | Biology and Chemistry, with a third subject |
| GCSE requirements | Six GCSEs from Grades A*-C/9-4 including Grade 6/B in English Language and Mathematics |
| How UCAT is used | Candidates are scored on various criteria with the following points available: 35 for GCSEs, 35 for the UCAT cognitive subtest score, 15 for UCAT Situational Judgement and up to an additional 15 points based on contextual data. Top-scoring students are then invited to interview. GCSEs are scored using each student's best six results while UCAT is scored using overall decile. HYMS has not released the UCAT scores required for a certain number of points, but has confirmed that they use deciles to allocate them. Achieving Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test results in an instant rejection. |
| UCAT threshold | For 2024 entry, a score of 70 was required for home students with a slightly lower score of 68 required for international applicants. |
University of Glasgow Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA |
| Required subjects | Chemistry and one of Biology/Physics/Mathematics |
| GCSE requirements | GCSE English Literature or English Language at Grade 6/B for all candidates and Biology at Grade 6/B if not studied at A-Level |
| How UCAT is used | Candidates are then screened to ensure they meet the expected standards for personal statement and reference. UCAT scores are used to rank students, with the top-scoring candidates being invited to interview. Glasgow assesses applications from Scottish students separately to those from the rest of the UK (RUK students), so has separate cut-off scores. The UCAT Situational Judgement Test is not used. |
| UCAT threshold | For 2026 entry, Glasgow has published official UCAT cut-offs of 1870 for Scottish-domiciled applicants, 1990 for Rest of UK applicants, and 2150 for international applicants. |
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 3 - Where to Apply with a Good UCAT Score
- Applying to Medical School Strategically: Part 5 - Where to apply with a Low UCAT Score
Last updated: September 2026
