Applying to Medical School Strategically: Part 5 - Where to Apply with a Low UCAT Score
Posted: September 26, 2026 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.
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 low UCAT score generally means placing in the 4th decile or below 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.
This is generally too low for the universities covered in our high, good and average UCAT score blogs, but a place at medical school is still very much possible.
Combined with strong academic grades and a strong application, a UCAT score in the 4th decile or below can still secure an interview at universities that place less emphasis on UCAT, so long as your choices are made strategically.
Where should I apply with a low UCAT score?
Here are some medical schools where you should consider applying with a low UCAT score. Tap a university to see its full breakdown:
Keele University School of Medicine
| Typical grades |
A*AA AAA with an A in EPQ |
| Required subjects |
General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship Studies are not accepted. Only one of Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Statistics is counted. Applied Science is not accepted, and Human Biology is not accepted alongside Biology. Predicted grades are not used at any point in selection. |
| GCSE requirements |
Five GCSEs at grade 7/A, with grade 6/B or above in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Combined Science at 6-6, or IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award) at 66/BB, is accepted. Biology and Chemistry without Physics are not accepted. |
| How UCAT is used |
Home applicants are ranked on a combined score out of 25: up to 10 points from UCAT and up to 15 from the personal statement, which is scored against Keele's person specification. UCAT points combine the total score quintile (5 points for the top 20% down to 1 for the bottom 20%), SJT band, and one extra point each for receiving the UCAT bursary, being eligible for a contextual offer or attending a school in the Keele region. Verbal Reasoning is used as a tie-break at shortlisting, and UCAT may be used as a tie-break at any later stage. Offers are then based on interview score. |
| UCAT threshold |
Minimum total UCAT score of 1700. 2026 entry, shortlisting score threshold:
|
| Situational Judgement | Band 4 leads to automatic rejection. Band 1 earns 2 shortlisting points, Band 2 earns 1 and Band 3 earns none. |
University of St Andrews School of Medicine
| Typical grades |
SQA Highers: AAAAB in S5, plus BBB predicted in S6 (minimum AAABB in S5, plus BB predicted in S6) A-Levels: AAA (minimum AAB) |
| Required subjects |
SQA Highers:
Both must be taken in the same sitting. A-Levels:
|
| GCSE requirements |
National 5 (Highers route): Biology/Human Biology, Mathematics and English at grade B, if not taken at Higher. GCSE (A-Level route): Five GCSEs at grade 7/A, taken in one sitting. Biology, Mathematics and English Language or Literature at grade 5/B (GCSE or AS-Level) if not taken at A-Level. |
| How UCAT is used |
A hurdle-based approach is used, with no scoring or weighting. Applicants with a strong academic record, a positive reference and relevant medically related work experience are ranked by total UCAT score, and roughly the top 650 are invited to interview. Offers are based on interview score and the route applied for, with total UCAT score used as a tie-break. |
| UCAT threshold |
2026 entry, lowest UCAT score invited to interview:
|
| Situational Judgement | Not published. |
University of Sunderland School of Medicine
| Typical grades |
AAA AAB contextual ABB contextual if Sunderland is Firm choice and the applicant lives in the North East or Cumbria (A in Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics) |
| Required subjects |
A pass in the practical element is required for science A-Levels. Only one of Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Statistics is counted. All three subjects must be taken in one sitting. |
| GCSE requirements |
Five GCSEs at grade 7/A, with grade 6/B or above in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Resits are accepted if achieved before application, with a maximum of two attempts per subject. |
| How UCAT is used | Shortlisting is based on academic requirements, UCAT score and the interview selection tool, a survey completed as part of the application. |
| UCAT threshold |
UCAT score must be in the top eight deciles of that year's cohort. 2025 entry: 1670 (converted by Sunderland to the current three-subtest scale) |
| Situational Judgement | Band 4 leads to automatic rejection. |
University of Lancashire Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA |
| Required subjects |
All three subjects must be taken in one sitting. |
| GCSE requirements | GCSE grade 5/B in English and Mathematics |
| How UCAT is used |
Applicants who meet the minimum grades are given an academic score. For UK applicants, this is considered alongside UCAT score and the personal statement when selecting for interview. Contextual (WP) applicants receive a 10% uplift on their total UCAT score. Offers are then based on MMI scores. |
| UCAT threshold |
2025 entry, home applicants invited to interview:
|
| Situational Judgement | Band 4 leads to automatic rejection. |
Cardiff University School of Medicine
| Typical grades | AAA (not lowered for contextual applicants) |
| Required subjects |
A pass in the practical element is required for science A-Levels. Critical Thinking, General Studies and Citizenship Studies are not accepted. A fourth A-Level gives no advantage. Predicted and AS-Level grades are not considered at any stage. A-Level resits are not accepted, except for offer holders in exceptional circumstances. |
| GCSE requirements |
Grade 6/B in English or Welsh Language and Mathematics, grade 7/A in Biology and Chemistry (or 77/AA in Double Science), plus four other GCSEs at grade 6/B. GCSE resits are accepted within 12 months of the first sitting; English Language can be retaken at any time. |
| How UCAT is used |
Applicants are scored on achieved qualifications only, combining:
Around 1000 applicants are interviewed. If more applicants than this reach the top academic scores, a UCAT cut-off is applied, which can differ by applicant group. Welsh-domiciled applicants are treated as a contextual group. |
| UCAT threshold |
No fixed threshold. 2026 entry, home applicants invited to interview:
2026 entry, home applicants made an offer:
|
| Situational Judgement | Not used. |
Queen's University Belfast School of Medicine
| Typical grades |
A*AA if taking Chemistry and Biology/Human Biology A*AA plus AS-Level Biology at grade B if taking Chemistry and Mathematics or Physics Alternatively, AAA plus an A in a fourth AS-Level (which must be Biology, if Biology is not taken at A-Level) |
| Required subjects |
Only one Mathematics subject is counted at A-Level, and only one Applied A-Level or AS-Level is counted. Critical Thinking and General Studies are not accepted. |
| GCSE requirements |
The best nine GCSEs are scored: 4 points for grade 9/A*, 3 for 7-8/A, 2 for 6/B and 1 for 4-5/C. Only GCSEs taken in Years 10 and 11 are counted. Mathematics and either Physics or Double Award Science (44/CC) at grade 4/C are required if not taken at AS or A-Level. |
| How UCAT is used |
Applicants are ranked for interview on a combined score of GCSE points (up to 36) and UCAT points (up to 9). UCAT points are awarded by percentile band, from 0 for the bottom 10% to 9 for the top 10%. AS-Level results, additional GCSE A grades and other factors may be considered in borderline cases. Offers are based on interview ranking alone. |
| UCAT threshold | 2025 entry: 30 points or above |
| Situational Judgement | Not used for interview selection, but used as a tie-break after interview. |
Kent and Medway Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA-AAB |
| Required subjects |
All three A-Levels must be taken in one sitting in Year 13, within two years of starting Year 12. A-Level resits are not accepted, except through the extenuating circumstances process. Critical Thinking and General Studies are not accepted. Predicted grades are not used at any point in selection. |
| GCSE requirements |
Five GCSEs at grade 6/B or above, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics (or Double Science and one other subject). Resits are accepted if completed before applying. |
| How UCAT is used |
Only achieved qualifications are assessed, so pre-A-Level applicants are shortlisted on their GCSEs. Applicants meeting the UCAT threshold who studied at a school in England are ranked on their grades relative to their school's average, rather than on absolute grades. |
| UCAT threshold | 2025 entry: 2490/3600 (47th centile) |
| Situational Judgement | Band 4 leads to automatic rejection. |
Brunel Medical School
| Typical grades | AAA |
| Required subjects |
A-Level resits are considered. |
| GCSE requirements | Five GCSEs at grade 6/B or above, including two sciences, plus English Language at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 5/B |
| How UCAT is used | Home applicants are ranked by total UCAT score against others applying in the same year, and interview selection is competitive. |
| UCAT threshold | No fixed threshold. |
| Situational Judgement | Band 4 leads to automatic rejection. |
Non-UCAT options
There are other routes into medicine that do not require the 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: September 2026
