I Didn’t Get a Good Enough UCAT Score – What Should I Do?
Posted: September 16, 2024 by Stan
So you’ve sat the UCAT and feel you didn’t get a good enough score. What should you do now?
First, it’s important to remember that the UCAT is not the be-all and end-all of medicine admissions. There are many routes into medicine, and it is possible to secure an offer even with a low UCAT score.
Options for getting into medicine with a low UCAT score
It may feel like the end of the world if your score isn’t what you expected, but several pathways are still open to you. You can:
- Apply as a school leaver to universities that place less emphasis on the UCAT (see our guide to where to apply with a low UCAT score)
- Undertake a Foundation/Gateway year, if you meet the Widening Participation criteria
- Take a gap year after your A levels, resit the UCAT and reapply
- Apply for an undergraduate degree with an option to transfer into medicine
- Study medicine abroad
- Complete an undergraduate degree, then apply for Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) or graduate entry onto a standard medical course
Foundation/Gateway year
Foundation/Gateway years involve completing a year-long course before your first year of medical school. They let you gain skills, learn foundational science and develop yourself as a person.
They are a good option if:
- You did not take the required subjects after your GCSEs (e.g. no science A levels or BTECs). Note that some universities will exclude you if you do have one or more science A levels.
- You have not been predicted or achieved AAA
- You are part of a Widening Participation scheme
These courses often still require the UCAT, but the cut-off scores are generally lower.
Note: to apply for these courses, you often need to live in the local area of the medical school you are applying to.
Foundation/Gateway courses in the UK
- University of Aberdeen
- University of Bristol
- University of Central Lancashire (international students only)
- University of East Anglia (Norwich Medical School)
- Edge Hill University
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Glasgow
- Hull York Medical School
- Keele University
- King’s College London (EMDP)
- Lancaster University
- University of Leeds
- University of Leicester
- University of Manchester
- University of Nottingham
- University of Plymouth
- University of Southampton
- University of St Andrews
Stand-alone Foundation courses
Some stand-alone Foundation courses run in a similar way but do not guarantee entry into medicine on completion. Instead, successful students are offered an interview at the university’s associated medical school. Examples include:
- University of Bradford
- University of Dundee
- University of Buckingham
- Aston University (taken alongside A levels)
- University of Liverpool
Taking a gap year
If you achieve at least AAA in your A levels (including Chemistry and/or Biology), you can resit the UCAT in the summer you receive your results and reapply for medicine.
When reapplying, be aware that some medical schools do not accept applicants who applied the previous year. Queen’s University Belfast is the opposite: it only accepts reapplications from those who applied there in their first cycle, as this demonstrates commitment to the university.
A gap year gives you more time to prepare for the UCAT, and spreading your preparation over a longer period is a more effective way to study.
It is also a great opportunity to develop yourself through voluntary or paid work, travel and learning new skills. These experiences strengthen your personal statement and interview preparation, and help you decide whether medicine is the right career for you. With a wider range of experiences and more time for UCAT and interview preparation, a gap year can significantly improve your chances if you don’t secure a place as a school leaver.
If you didn’t achieve AAA, you can resit some or all of your A levels the following year. However, some medical schools do not accept resits without extenuating circumstances, while others require a minimum of ABB at first sitting.
Transferring into medicine
Some universities allow students on another undergraduate degree to transfer into medicine, usually after the first year of study. The process often involves resitting the UCAT, submitting an application and attending an interview.
Medical schools offering a transfer route include:
- Anglia Ruskin University
- University of Leicester
- Newcastle University
Advantages: this route gives you another chance at medicine without completing a whole degree first, you don’t need a gap year, and if you’re unsuccessful you are still partway through a degree. Requirements vary, but you will often need a First in your first year plus evidence of your motivation for medicine, such as additional work experience or volunteering while at university.
Disadvantages: these schemes are highly competitive, and you are limited to one medical school rather than the four choices you would have after a gap year, since other universities generally won’t accept applicants who aren’t in the final year of their degree. You will also need to factor in tuition and living costs.
Studying medicine outside the UK
Many international medical schools teach medicine in English. Studying abroad can offer lower tuition fees and living costs, lower entry requirements and more available places.
To study medicine in the Republic of Ireland, you will need to sit the HPAT. MedEntry offers HPAT preparation courses.
Things to consider before going down this path:
- Studying in some countries can make it harder to return to practise in the UK, although some courses let graduates return without taking the PLAB exam (the exam international medical graduates sit to practise in the UK).
- Even if your course is taught in English, you may need to learn the local language, as patients in hospitals may not speak English.
- Moving away from home can be stressful, so research your options thoroughly.
Graduate entry
Graduate entry requires you to complete an undergraduate degree before applying for medicine. There are two types of course open to graduates:
- Standard entry medicine as a graduate (5 years): some medical schools accept non-medicine graduates onto their standard undergraduate programme.
- Graduate Entry Medicine (4 years): an accelerated programme for degree holders. Some universities require the GAMSAT, while others require the UCAT.
If you’re choosing an undergraduate degree with graduate entry in mind, note that the following universities look favourably on their own graduates:
- University of Exeter
- Queen Mary University of London
- Cardiff University
- Swansea University
- University of Sussex
- University of Brighton
We recommend sitting both the UCAT and the GAMSAT to maximise your chances of an offer. The UCAT is also much shorter (about 2 hours, compared with 5.25 hours for the GAMSAT) and is generally considered easier to prepare for.
Most universities require your first degree to be in a science or health-related subject. However, some, such as Newcastle University, accept any degree provided you achieve a First or 2:1, so research each school’s requirements before you apply.
A final word
Every pathway into medicine has its advantages and disadvantages, and with so many options it can feel overwhelming. But with hard work, dedication and good organisation, you can succeed.
Remember that most pathways into medicine still require the UCAT, so start (or restart) quality UCAT preparation as early as possible to give yourself the best chance.
Last updated: July 2025
