Applying to Medical School Strategically: Part 5 - Where to Apply with a Low UCAT Score
2 weeks ago by Chris
In this blog series, we are discussing how you should use your UCAT scores strategically when applying through UCAS in order to maximise your chances of securing a place at medical school. In this blog, we will focus on which universities you should consider applying to with a low UCAT score (1850 and below).
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 a low UCAT score?
A UCAT score of less than 1850 is slightly below average. However, combined with strong academic grades and high-quality extracurricular activities, a place at medical school is still very much possible, so long as your choices are strategic. It is advised to apply to medical schools which place less emphasis on UCAT. If you scored higher, we would recommend applying to medical schools outlined in our 'Where to apply with a High, Good and Average UCAT score' blogs.
Where should I apply with a low UCAT score?
You should consider applying to the following medical schools:
Keele University Medical School
At Keele, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:
- A*AA or AAA + A in EPQ in Chemistry or Biology and one of Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Physics or Psychology
- Five GCSEs at Grade 7/A including a minimum of Grade 6/B in English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics
- A UCAT score of at least 1700 with Band 3 in Situational Judgement
Keele uses a points system to shortlist candidates for interview and takes both the UCAT and personal statement into account. UCAT scores are split into quintiles, with those in the first quintile (top 20%) awarded 5 points, with 4 points awarded to those in the second quintile, 3 for those in the third quintile, 2 for those in the fourth and 1 point for anyone between 1700 and the fourth quintile. 2 points are available for band 1 in Situational Judgement and 1 point is given for band 2. No points are awarded for band 3 and those with band 4 are automatically rejected. Students in receipt of the UCAT bursary, eligible for a contextual offer or at a school within the Keele region are given an additional point. Personal statements are then scored out of 15, so it is worth reading Keele's criteria before applying to make sure your personal statement will score well.
University of Sunderland Medical School
At Sunderland, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:
- AAA in Chemistry or Biology and one of Biology, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Statistics
- Five GCSEs at Grade 7/A including a minimum of Grade 6/B in English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics
- A UCAT score in the top 8 deciles with at least Band 3 in Situational Judgement (generally around 2280 (1710))
For 2025 entry, Sunderland's cut-off score was 2260 (1695). Sunderland shortlists candidates using the UCAT and their interview selection tool, a form in which applicants reflect on work experiences over the past two years and how they have prepared them for or developed their interest in medicine. They are quite specific in terms of what counts as work experience, stating that it can be voluntary and paid, but must have been organised by the candidates themselves. Caring for ill family members counts as well. Sunderland specifies that clinical shadowing cannot be included in this form.
University of Central Lancashire Medical School (UCLan)
At UCLan, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:
- AAA in at least two science subjects including Chemistry
- A home student from the North West of England (Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Merseyside or Greater Manchester)
From 2024 entry onwards, UCLan requires their applicants to sit the UCAT. The average student invited for interview achieved a score of 2597 (1948).
UCLan first scores an applicant's academic grades. They then review the UCAT score and personal statement. Please note that UCLan has a limited number of domestic places available.
University of Cardiff Medical School
At Cardiff, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:
- AAA in Chemistry and Biology with a pass in the practical element
- GCSE Grade 6/B in English or Welsh Language, Double Science or Chemistry and Biology, Mathematics and five other subjects
Cardiff selects students for interview based on their GCSE results. Nine subjects including Biology, Chemistry, English Language, and Mathematics are scored out of 3 to give a total score of 27. Both Grades 8 and 9 (A*) are worth 3 points, with 2 points given for a 7 (A) and 1 for a 6 (B). Interview thresholds differ for Welsh residents and RUK students. Achieved A-Levels or a degree gives a candidate bonus points.
Cardiff also looks at students' personal statements and references before inviting top performing candidates to interview.
Note that although Cardiff didn't previously use a UCAT cut-off, they now state on their website that a UCAT threshold will be used if more students have full academic points than they have the capacity to interview. For 2024 entry, their average UCAT score was 2698 (2024) for domestic students, 2596 (1947) for Welsh students and 2732 (2049) for international students. The lowest UCAT shortlisted for interview was 1970 (1478). There is no specific information on how the UCAT Situational Judgement Score is used in the selection process at Cardiff.
It is worth noting, however, that as a Welsh medical school, Cardiff, like the Scottish universities, prioritises applications from Welsh-domiciled students. They say the following in their current admissions statement: "Welsh domiciled applicants are under-represented in applications to UK medical schools; additional consideration will be given to their applications." This means that higher GCSE results are required to be shortlisted for interview as an English or Scottish applicant.
Queen’s University Belfast Medical School
At Queen's, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements. There are three ways the A-Level requirement can be met:
- A*AA in Chemistry and Biology/Human Biology
- A*AA in Chemistry and either Mathematics or Physics + AS-level Biology grade B
- AAA at A-level + A in a fourth AS-level subject including A-level Chemistry plus at least one other A-level from Biology/Human Biology, Mathematics or Physics
- GCSE Mathematics and either Physics or Double Award Science at minimum grades C/4 are required if these subjects are not offered at AS-level or A-level.
Candidates are then scored out of 45 with 36 points for 9 GCSEs and 9 for the total UCAT cognitive score. Previously, Queen's Belfast scored students' UCAT scores out of 6, so the UCAT is slightly more important this cycle. You can find details of their scoring system here. Top scoring candidates are then invited to interview. In 2023, their score threshold was 38/42 with the average UCAT score being 2602 (1952). Approximately 700 students will be interviewed.
The UCAT Situational Judgement subtest is not used as part of interview selection but may be used post-interview as a tie-breaker.
University of Leicester Medical School
At Leicester, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:
- A*AA in Chemistry or Biology and one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology
- GCSE Grade B/6 in English Language, Maths and Chemistry and Biology or Double Award Science
- UCAT is scored out of 48 with points awarded by total cognitive score. Students with scores in the bottom two deciles will not be considered
Candidates are scored 50% for UCAT and 50% achieved GCSE, with top scoring candidates invited to interview. Eight GCSE results are scored, including English Language, Maths, Biology and Chemistry. Grades 6-9 receive points, with a 9 being worth 6 points, 8 getting 5, 7 receiving 4 points and a 6 gets 3.
Leicester will invite all re-applicants for interview provided they meet the minimum GCSE requirements and/or English Language competency at first sit with A-Level grades achieved within two years of their GCSEs and a UCAT score within the top 5 deciles for domestic students. For international students, a UCAT score within the top 3 deciles is required.
For 2025 entry, the mean UCAT score for interviewees was 2742 (2057) for domestic students and 2835 (2126) for international applicants.
University of Plymouth Medical School
At Plymouth, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:
- A*AA-AAA with an A in Biology, A in a second science from Chemistry, Maths, Physics or Psychology and an A in a third subject. AAB offers are available for those with Widening Participation flags.
- They also require 7 GCSE passes (Grade 4/C and above) to include English Language, Mathematics and two Science Subjects.
Plymouth has a certain UCAT cut-off score required for entry which changes every year. For 2024 entry, this has been published as 2210 for domestic students and 2600 (1950) for international applicants. The domestic threshold was significantly lower than in previous years (2680 (2010) in 2023 and 2610 (1958) in 2022).
The UCAT Situational Judgement subtest is not used in any part of the selection process.
Kent and Medway Medical School
Kent and Medway are unique in that they only assess achieved qualifications when shortlisting for interview:
- For those with achieved A-Levels: AAB in Chemistry and/or Biology. If neither are offered, a student must have taken one of Physics, Mathematics, Psychology or Computer Science.
- For those with achieved GCSEs: Five GCSEs at grade B/6 or above to include English Language, Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics (or Double Science and one other subject)
Kent states on their website that they use a 'generous UCAT threshold' and then applicants are ranked on contextualised offers, which are applicants' attainments relative to the school's average. Due to the unique way KMMS assesses their applicants, candidates are split into four groups with different UCAT thresholds. These are the latest ones available on their website (for 2024 entry):
Group A: A levels OR IB or equivalent, UCAT threshold = 2490 with Band 3 in SJT
Group B: Post A level OR Pre-graduate student in final year of Bachelor's degree, UCAT threshold = 2490 with Band 3 in SJT
Group C: Others including no school data, Scottish and international qualifications, no GCSEs, home educated students - threshold depends on what stage of their academic journey the student is at
Group D: Post Bachelor's Degree, UCAT threshold = 2490 with Band 2 in SJT
Please note that Kent states this on their website: "KMMS does not necessarily commit to the same, or similar threshold for selection for 2026 entry."
While each group had the same threshold for 2024 entry, this is not guaranteed to be the same every year. However, groups A and B will always share a UCAT threshold. A UCAT Situational Judgement band of 4 leads to an instant rejection from KMMS.
Brunel Medical School
At Brunel, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:
- AAA-AAB with an A in Chemistry or Biology, A in a second science from Chemistry, Maths or Biology and an A/B in a third subject excluding General Studies. AAB offers are available for those with Widening Participation flags.
- 5 GCSE passes at Grade 6/B or above including two Science Subjects or Double Science. Grade 4/C in English Language and 5/B in Maths are also required.
Applicants who get Band 4 in Situational Judgement are automatically rejected. Remaining candidates then have their personal statements and references reviewed before being ranked by UCAT score. All applicants are also invited to sit the Casper pilot test, but participation has no bearing on the shortlisting process. No details on UCAT threshold are given beyond that it changes each year.
Non UCAT options:
There are other options for getting into medicine that do not require the use of UCAT:
- Applying to Foundation/Gateway years if you meet specific widening participation criteria
- Applying for Graduate Entry Medicine on completion of an undergraduate degree
- Applying to study privately at the University of Buckingham
- Applying to study medicine abroad
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 4 - Where to Apply with an Average UCAT Score
Last updated: August 2025
