Applying to Medical School Strategically: Part 3 – Where to Apply with a Good UCAT Score
Posted: September 24, 2026 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.
Older figures are shown as originally published on the pre-2025 four-subtest scale (out of 3600). Unmarked figures are displayed on the current three-subtest scale (out of 2700).
What does my UCAT score mean?
A good UCAT score generally means placing around the 8th decile of that year's cohort. Decile and percentile boundaries are published after the UCAT testing period ends each cycle and shift slightly year to year. See Part 1 of this series for score thresholds by decile across recent years.
Scoring around the 8th decile is generally too low for the universities that place the heaviest emphasis on UCAT, covered in our high UCAT score blog, but most other UCAT-requiring universities remain well within reach.
Combined with strong predicted A-Level grades and GCSE results, a UCAT score around the 8th decile would be sufficient to secure an interview for medicine, so long as your university choices are made strategically.
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 (AAB contextual) |
| Required subjects |
At least two A-level subjects must be from UCL's list of preferred subjects. |
| GCSE requirements | GCSE grade 6/B in English Language and Mathematics |
| How UCAT is used | The total UCAT score and SJT score, alongside predicted and achieved grades, are used to select candidates for interview. Personal statements are not scored. All candidates must sit the UCAT in their year of application. Access UCL (contextual) applicants are reviewed separately, as are the 24 reserved places for Overseas applicants. |
| UCAT threshold | 2026 entry: 2080 contextual, 2190 standard, 2300 overseas |
| Situational Judgement | Included in the total score used for shortlisting; no separate band cut-off published. |
University of Exeter Medical School
| Typical grades | A*AA (AAB contextual) |
| Required subjects |
|
| GCSE requirements | GCSE Grade 6/B in English Language |
| How UCAT is used | Applicants meeting the published entry requirements have their UCAT and academic qualifications weighted at a 3:1 ratio (academic:UCAT) to calculate an Exeter score, which determines who is offered an interview. Full marks require 3 A*s (predicted or achieved) and a 9th-decile UCAT score; 10 points are deducted per grade below A* and 4 points per decile below the 9th. Achieved grades and Widening Participation (WP) category applicants have a higher potential maximum Exeter score. |
| UCAT threshold | 2024 entry: approximately 2790/3600 (combined with 3A*s predicted) was required for non-contextual students. |
| Situational Judgement | Not published. |
University of Sheffield Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA (AAB with an A in EPQ if Sheffield is Firm choice) |
| Required subjects |
A pass in the practical element of any science A-Levels taken is required. For the AAB + EPQ alternative offer, both must be taken in the same sitting. |
| GCSE requirements | 5 GCSEs at Grade 7/A, with at least Grade 6/B in Maths, English Language and the science subjects (Dual Award Science also acceptable) |
| How UCAT is used | Sheffield sets a minimum UCAT threshold each year. Some A100 applicants (Access to Sheffield participants, or those on a recognised Bradford/Sheffield Hallam pathway) progress immediately if they meet the threshold plus academic and widening participation criteria. All other applicants, including those eligible for Access+ or a contextual offer, are ranked by UCAT score, with only the highest scorers progressing. Applicants meeting the minimum academic, UCAT and (where relevant) widening participation requirements are invited to interview. |
| UCAT threshold |
2027 entry: minimum UCAT threshold 1800 A100 Home ranking cutpoint: 2120 A100 Overseas ranking cutpoint: 2070 |
| Situational Judgement | Used alongside MMI scores to rank applicants for final offers. Each MMI section is scored out of five, and the SJT score is converted onto the same scale; these are summed for a total score out of 45. Applicants scoring at least 3 in every MMI section and the SJT are prioritised in ranking. |
Newcastle University Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA predicted (ABB contextual) |
| Required subjects |
A pass in the practical element is required for Biology, Chemistry and Physics A-Levels. The following are not accepted:
|
| GCSE requirements | No specific subjects or grades required. Scoring is based on the best eight GCSEs or equivalent Level 2 qualifications. |
| How UCAT is used | Newcastle introduced a new points-based system for 2025 entry, replacing the previous UCAT-only approach for A100 Home applicants. Candidates now receive a score out of 100: up to 40 points from GCSEs, plus up to 60 points from UCAT performance. Standard and contextual applicants are ranked separately, and Widening Participation and PARTNERS applicants are assessed separately from Core applicants at every stage. A101 and all International applicants are unaffected by this change; UCAT score remains the sole basis for their ranking and interview selection. |
| UCAT threshold |
2025 entry: A100 Core and Contextual applicants need a total score of 50/100 (combined GCSE and UCAT) to be shortlisted. 2025 entry: A101 and International applicants are ranked on raw UCAT score alone: 2740/3600 for A101, 2980/3600 for International. |
| Situational Judgement | Band 4 (the lowest band) is not considered. The SJT band is included when calculating the final interview score. |
University of Manchester Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA (AAB contextual) |
| Required subjects |
No preference for the third subject, and three sciences are acceptable, but overly similar combinations (e.g. Biology and Human Biology, or Maths and Further Maths together) are not. A pass in the practical element of any science A-Level taken is required. Only three A-Levels are counted toward the offer, even if more are taken. |
| GCSE requirements |
WP+/WP++ contextual applicants need six GCSEs at grade 7/A or above. GCSE resits are permitted if listed as a pending qualification on UCAS. |
| How UCAT is used | Applicants meeting the UCAT threshold, achieving Band 1 or 2 in the SJT, and meeting minimum academic requirements (e.g. GCSEs) are eligible for interview. Where the number of eligible candidates exceeds available interview slots, they are ranked by UCAT total score and SJT band. |
| UCAT threshold | 2026 entry: 2060 standard, 2250 overseas, 1960 WP+ |
| Situational Judgement | Band 1 or 2 is required to be considered for interview, though it doesn't guarantee a place if demand exceeds capacity. Bands 3 and 4 are excluded. |
University of Southampton School of Medicine
| Typical grades | AAA (AAB contextual) |
| Required subjects |
|
| GCSE requirements | 7 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 | Applicants who meet the entry requirements (achieved or predicted) are ranked by UCAT score, with the top scorers invited to a Selection Day. Offers are based on Selection Day performance, with UCAT used only as a tie-break between applicants with equal scores. |
| UCAT threshold |
2025 entry: lowest interview-accepted score 2760/3600 2024 entry: lowest BM5 school-leaver score 2610/3600 |
| Situational Judgement | Not used as part of the selection process. |
University of Nottingham Medical School
| Typical grades |
AAA AAB Standard Contextual (A in Biology/Human Biology or Chemistry) ABB Enhanced Contextual (A in Biology/Human Biology or Chemistry) |
| Required subjects |
A pass is required in science practical tests where these are assessed separately. Citizenship Studies, Critical Thinking, General Studies and Global Perspectives are not accepted as the third subject. |
| GCSE requirements |
Must be achieved in one sitting after two years of study. |
| How UCAT is used |
Nottingham scores only GCSEs and UCAT for selection; A-levels, AS-levels and predicted grades are not scored, though any offer remains conditional on achieving them. Applicants without GCSEs, or applying with a degree, are likely to be selected on UCAT results alone, without disadvantage. Eight GCSE results are scored using a points system: Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry/Double Science, Maths and English Language, plus the four next-highest GCSEs. UCAT is scored alongside this, with Verbal Reasoning double-weighted relative to the other cognitive subtests. This combined GCSE and UCAT score determines who is selected for interview, but offers themselves are based on interview performance alone. |
| UCAT threshold | No fixed threshold; Nottingham does not publish previous years' figures. |
| Situational Judgement | Band 4 leads to automatic rejection. |
University of Aberdeen School of Medicine and Dentistry
| Typical grades |
SQA Highers: AAAAB (AAAB Widening Access), taken in one sitting A-Levels: AAA |
| Required subjects |
SQA Highers:
A-Levels:
|
| GCSE requirements |
National 5 (Highers route): English and Mathematics at grade 6/B or above required; Biology and Physics recommended. GCSE (A-Level route): English Language and Mathematics at grade 6/B or above required; Biology and Physics recommended. |
| How UCAT is used |
Applications are scored on academic achievement or predictions (30%) and UCAT score (20%). The UCAT component reflects total performance across the three subtests (Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Decision Making) relative to all other Aberdeen applicants; there is no minimum cut-off, and UCAT is not the sole indicator. The highest-scoring applicants on this combined score are invited to interview. Interview performance (50%) is then added to the earlier score, and offers go to the highest combined totals. |
| UCAT threshold |
No minimum cut-off used. 2026 entry, average UCAT among offer holders:
2026 entry, average UCAT among interview invitees:
|
| Situational Judgement | Not published. |
University of Dundee Medical School
| Typical grades |
SQA Highers: AAAAB (AAABB Widening Access) A-Levels: AAA (ABB Widening Access) |
| Required subjects |
SQA Highers:
The remaining three Highers are free choice and don't affect assessment. All Highers must be taken in one sitting. A-Levels:
The third subject is free choice, except General Studies is not accepted. A-levels must be taken in the same sitting. |
| GCSE requirements |
National 5 (Highers route): Biology and Chemistry at grade A, and Mathematics and English at grade B, are required wherever not already taken at Higher. GCSE (A-Level route): Biology and Chemistry at grade 7/A. Mathematics at grade 6/B is required if not taken at A-level. |
| How UCAT is used | Shortlisting combines 60% academic score and 40% UCAT score, with the highest combined ranks invited to interview. |
| UCAT threshold |
No minimum cut-off; no set threshold. Most recently available published statistics (as of 2026):
|
| Situational Judgement | Not used. |
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
