Applying to Medical School Strategically: Part 4 - Where to Apply with an Average UCAT Score

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 (1850-2070 or an average of 625-690).

What is an average UCAT score?

Where should I apply with an average UCAT score?

Edge Hill University Medical School

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

• AAA in Chemistry, Biology and one other subject
• Where an A* is achieved in Biology or Chemistry, the third subject will be accespted at Grade B or above.
• Five GCSEs at Grade B/6 or above including Biology, Chemistry, English Language and Mathematics. The Double Science Award would be accepted in place of Chemistry and Biology.

Candidates are then ranked by UCAT score, with the top-scoring candidates being invited to interview. 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

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

• A*AA in Chemistry, Biology and a third subject excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies. 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.
• Six GCSEs at Grade B/6 or above to include English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology or Double Science

Lancaster Medical School

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

• AAA to include two of Biology, Chemistry and Psychology or AAB + B in a fourth subject or EPQ.
• A score of at least 13 points from GCSEs with each A*-A(7-9) grade being worth 2 points, and B(6) awarded 1 point. Eight subjects are scored. Lancaster also requires students to achieve at least Grade B(6) in Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Combined Science (Trilogy), English Language and Mathematics.
• If not taken at A-Level, GCSE Biology and Chemistry are required at Grade 7/A.

Anglia Ruskin University School of Medicine

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

• AAA in Chemistry or Biology and one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics
• Five GCSEs at Grades 9-6 (A*-B), including English Language, Mathematics and two science subjects

University of Liverpool Medical School

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

• AAA in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics
• Alternatively, A*AB would be accepted if the A* and A grades are in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics
• 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 will be calculated from the best 9 GCSEs (where A*-A/7-9 = 2 points and B/6 = 1 point).

Candidates are then scored using UCAT, with the top-scoring candidates being invited to interview. For 2025 entry, Liverpool predicts (not guaranteed) cut-offs of 1820-1920 (4-6^th decile) for home applicants and 1980-2170 (7-9^th 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

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

• AAA including Biology/Human Biology or Chemistry
• Six GCSEs at a minimum of Grade A/7 to include Mathematics and either two science subjects (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) or double science
• GCSE English Language must be offered at Grade 5/B

Candidates are then scored using UCAT, with the top-scoring candidates being invited to interview. 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)

At St George's, candidates are first checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements:

• AAA in Chemistry and Biology/Human Biology
• Five GCSEs at Grade B/6 or above including English Language, Mathematics and either double or triple award science
• UCAT score of at least 500 in each cognitive subtest; this might be different for clearing if the university continues to enter it

Hull-York Medical School

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

• AAA at A-Level including Chemistry and Biology. Applicants must be predicted at least AAB
• Six GCSEs from Grades A*-C/9-4 including Grade 6/B in English Language and Mathematics

Then 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. For 2024 entry, a score of 70 was required for home students with a slightly lower score of 68 required for international applicants. HYMS has not released the UCAT scores required for a certain number of points, but has confirmed that they use deciles to allocate them.

University of Glasgow Medical School

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

• AAA in Chemistry and one of Biology/Physics/Mathematics
• 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

Candidates are then screened to ensure they meet the expected standards for personal statement and reference. Finally, 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 two separate cut-off scores. They have not released their 2025 entry threshold, but it appears a score of around 2750 (2063) was required for interview for RUK applicants. For 2024 entry, Scottish students needed a UCAT score of 2450 (1838), while RUK students needed 2500, while for 2023 entry, scores of 2440 (1830) for Scottish applicants and 2690 (2018) for RUK candidates were required. Glasgow states on their website that 'while thresholds vary year to year we anticipate 2025 scores will be more reflective of the 2024 statistics rather than previous years'.

Note: UCAT score thresholds do change year-to-year and are impossible to predict with certainty until after the UCAS October 15^th deadline.

Last updated: August 2025

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