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We compile these profiles from each university's own published admissions pages and review them monthly. Entry requirements do change mid-cycle, and universities sometimes publish updates without announcing them.
Use this page to get oriented quickly, build your shortlist, and work out which questions to ask — then confirm the specifics that your application depends on (grades, admissions test, fees, eligibility) directly with the university before you apply. If you spot something that looks out of date, tell us and we will check it.
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Entry year covered: 2027
You will need to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) as part of the Cambridge Medicine admissions process. There is no minimum threshold; results are used in selecting candidates for interview and may also be used when making offers.
Considering Cambridge Medicine? Here's a complete breakdown of entry requirements, admissions criteria, and the application process for 2027 entry.
The University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine is consistently ranked as the top medical school in the UK and among the best in the world. The Cambridge medical course is known for its rigorous scientific foundation, exceptional teaching, and world-leading research opportunities.
What makes Cambridge unique is its college system. Students belong to one of 29 undergraduate colleges, which provide pastoral support, accommodation, and supervisions (small-group teaching). The preclinical years are spent in Cambridge, with clinical training primarily at Addenbrooke's Hospital and partner NHS trusts.
The Cambridge course places strong emphasis on scientific understanding. The first three years focus heavily on the scientific basis of medicine, with clinical experience introduced gradually. This approach produces doctors with exceptional scientific reasoning skills and a deep understanding of how medicine works at a fundamental level.
Considering University of Cambridge? Future Doc's Predictable Offer Protocol™ coordinates every element of your application as one interconnected system, from UCAT preparation to university selection to interview readiness. 93% of our students receive at least one offer. Find out how it works.
UCAS Code: A100 | 6 years
The standard undergraduate medicine programme. Three preclinical years in Cambridge followed by three clinical years. Open to school leavers and graduates. 270 students were accepted in the 2025 cycle.
You are viewing this courseUCAS Code: A101 | 4 years
Accelerated programme for graduates with a degree in any subject. Home fee status only. 28 students accepted in the 2025 cycle.
View full entry requirements| Route | UCAS Code | Length | Typical Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine (standard course) | A100 | 6 years | A*A*A at A-Level; 41–42 IB points with 776 at Higher Level |
| Graduate Course in Medicine | A101 | 4 years | A*A*A if you hold a 2:1 or your degree is incomplete; ABB if you hold a first-class degree. Home fee status required. |
| Gateway / foundation / widening participation route into Medicine | Not published — Cambridge does not run one. The Cambridge Foundation Year is restricted to Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. | ||
The following requirements apply to the standard 6-year Medicine programme (A100). For the Graduate Course, see the dedicated page.
| Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| A-Level Grades | A*A*A |
| Required Subjects | Chemistry (at A*) plus two further science/maths subjects (Biology, Physics, Maths); some colleges require only one further science/maths subject |
| Recommended Subjects | Biology highly recommended; taking both Chemistry and Biology is advantageous |
| Not Accepted | General Studies, Critical Thinking, Key Skills |
| Science Practicals | Pass required in practical elements |
"Cambridge is looking for students who are genuinely passionate about the science of medicine, not just about becoming doctors. Your interview will test your scientific thinking and problem-solving abilities. They want to see curiosity, intellectual engagement, and the ability to think on your feet. If you're someone who loves asking 'why' and 'how', Cambridge could be perfect for you."
— Dr. Ash, Future Doc
You will need to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) as part of the Cambridge Medicine admissions process. Importantly, there is no minimum UCAT threshold. For 2027 entry, only the cognitive subtest scores are considered, and the situational judgement (SJT) section is excluded. UCAT results are used when selecting candidates for interview and may also be used when making offers, alongside your academic record, personal statement, school reference, and interview performance.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| UCAT Required? | Yes |
| Minimum Threshold? | No minimum threshold |
| Separate contextual / widening participation threshold | Not published — there is no threshold to lower |
| Scores Considered (2027 Entry) | Cognitive subtests only (SJT excluded) |
| How UCAT is Used | Selection for interview, and may be used when making offers |
| GAMSAT Required? | No |
| BMAT | Discontinued |
Strategic note: Although there is no cut-off, the UCAT still forms part of the selection process, so prepare thoroughly. Your A-Level grades and interview performance remain crucial alongside a strong UCAT score.
Understanding the Cambridge college system is essential for applicants. Unlike other universities, Cambridge students belong to a college as well as the university.
All 29 undergraduate colleges accept medical students. Factors to consider include:
Open applications: If you don't choose a college, you'll be allocated one. This doesn't affect your chances of admission but does mean less control over which college you join.
The Cambridge interview is central to the selection process. Unlike MMI-style interviews at other medical schools, Cambridge uses traditional academic interviews.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Traditional academic interviews |
| Number of Interviews | Typically 2-3 per applicant |
| Duration | 20-30 minutes each |
| Interview Period | Early December (specific dates confirmed each year) |
| Location | At your chosen college in Cambridge |
| Number of MMI stations | Not applicable — Cambridge does not use an MMI circuit |
| Scoring or weighting of the interview | Not published. Colleges do not publish how interview scores are combined with the rest of the application. |
If your chosen college doesn't offer you a place but believes you're a strong candidate, you may be "pooled", meaning other colleges can consider you. Many successful applicants receive offers through the pool, so don't be discouraged if this happens.
"Oxbridge interviews are unlike anything else. They're not trying to catch you out, they want to see how you think. The best candidates are those who can engage with unfamiliar problems, think out loud, and show genuine intellectual curiosity. Preparation is essential, but you also need to be comfortable with not knowing the answer immediately."
— Dr. Ash, Future Doc
Preparing for your University of Cambridge interview? Future Doc's Think Like a Doctor™ module includes university-specific practice, high-pressure simulations, and an intensive In-Person Interview Day. Our near-100% interview-to-offer conversion rate reflects months of preparation across the full application, not just last-minute coaching. Learn more.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| June-September | Research colleges and finalise personal statement |
| October 15th | UCAS deadline (earlier than most medical schools) |
| October | Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ) submitted |
| November | Shortlisting for interview |
| Early December | Interviews at Cambridge |
| January | Decisions released (typically mid-January) |
Important: The October 15th deadline is earlier than most UK medical schools. This applies to both the A100 and A101 courses, and also to Oxford medicine applications.
Cambridge publishes its admissions statistics in full every year. The figures below are from the University's own Undergraduate Admissions Statistics, 2025 cycle report — the most recent published at the time of review.
| Metric (2025 cycle) | Medicine A100 | Graduate Course A101 |
|---|---|---|
| Applications | 1,530 | 172 |
| Offers | 307 | 35 |
| Acceptances | 270 | 28 |
| Success rate | 17.6% | 16.3% |
| Home applicants from maintained (state) schools | 77.0% of applications, 76.9% of acceptances | Not comparable — small numbers |
| Published interview rate | Not published as a single figure. Cambridge interviews a large majority of applicants but does not publish a course-level interview rate. | |
| Post-interview success rate | Not published. | |
Source: University of Cambridge, Undergraduate Admissions Statistics 2025 cycle (Tables 1.1 and 2.2). These are historic cycle figures, not a prediction for 2027 entry.
Cambridge expects applicants to have undertaken relevant experience, though they take a flexible approach to what this looks like.
Cambridge is particularly interested in what you learned from your experiences and how they informed your understanding of medicine as a career. Depth of reflection is more important than breadth of experience.
Considered with context
Cambridge considers applicants who have resit qualifications, but competition is extremely high. First-time achievement of A*A*A is strongly preferred. If you have resits, you'll need to explain the circumstances in your application.
Yes
Re-applications are considered. You'll need to demonstrate how your application has strengthened since your previous attempt. Many successful Cambridge medical students applied more than once.
Accepted (limited places)
| Programme | International Students |
|---|---|
| Medicine A100 (6-year) | Accepted. Cambridge does not publish a separate international place number for A100 — not published. |
| Graduate Course A101 (4-year) | Home fee status only |
Note: International places are highly competitive, and Cambridge does not publish how many there are. English language proficiency must be demonstrated (IELTS 7.5 overall, 7.0 in each component). Remember that international students pay a College fee on top of the £70,554 University tuition fee — see Fees below.
A contextual offer is an adjustment a university makes for applicants whose circumstances have made their education harder than the grades alone suggest. Universities use them because they recognise that two students with the same predicted grades have not always had the same run at them. They are a formal, published part of the admissions process — not a favour, and not something you have to argue for.
What the adjustment actually is varies by school, and it matters more than most applicants realise. Depending on where you apply, qualifying can mean: a lower grade offer; being ranked against other widening participation applicants rather than the whole field; a guaranteed or prioritised interview; a lower admissions test threshold or extra shortlisting points; relaxed GCSE or subject requirements; or access to a separate gateway or foundation year route.
Cambridge is one of the places where the distinction matters most, because Cambridge's adjustment is none of the first five. Read the next three sections carefully before you build your shortlist around it.
Cambridge groups its contextual data into three families. You do not apply for a flag; it is generated from your UCAS data.
If you meet any of those conditions, Cambridge will not lower the grades it asks of you. What a flag does is change how your application is read: assessors see it alongside your results, and it feeds into shortlisting, interview and offer decisions for Medicine. The benefit is interpretive weight in a very competitive field, not a reduced threshold.
| How it helps | What that means for you |
|---|---|
| Your results are read in context | Assessors can see that your A*A*A was achieved at a school where few students reach that, or while you were in care, or on free school meals. Two identical transcripts are not read identically. |
| It feeds shortlisting for interview | Flags inform who gets called to interview, not just who gets an offer. At Cambridge, where roughly three-quarters of Medicine applicants are interviewed, this matters most at the margins. |
| It feeds the offer decision | The flag is visible when the offer decision is made — but the offer itself is still A*A*A. |
| It is automatic | You do not apply for contextual consideration, write a separate form, or argue your case. It is generated from your UCAS data, so make sure your care status, free school meal eligibility and extenuating circumstances are declared there. |
What that looks like in Cambridge's own numbers: across the 2023–2025 cycles, Home applicants to Medicine from an IMD-flagged neighbourhood (the most deprived 40% of their UK region) made 1,107 applications and received 168 offers — an offer rate of about 15%. Unflagged applicants made 2,503 applications and received 630 offers, about 25%. Flagged applicants made up 24.1% of accepted Home students on Medicine. The flag is real and it is used; it does not close the gap.
One honest caveat: Cambridge admits through its Colleges, and College-level practice is not centrally published. How a flagged application is actually weighed will vary with where you apply.
For how every other school handles this, see see every UK medical and dental school's widening participation scheme.
| Fee Status | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|
| Home (UK) | £10,050 |
| International — University tuition fee | £70,554 |
| International — College fee (payable on top, every year) | £12,500 – £15,950 depending on your College |
Figures from Cambridge's official "Undergraduate tuition fees 2027-28" schedule (version 2026.1). Medicine sits in the most expensive international band, alongside Veterinary Medicine. International fee rates are fixed for the duration of the course; Home fees rise with the government-regulated cap. The College fee is a genuine extra, not a deposit: at the top end it adds nearly £16,000 a year. The A101 Graduate Course is Home fee status only — the schedule lists no international rate for it at all.
The Cambridge medical course is structured in two distinct phases:
Based in Cambridge, focusing on the scientific foundations of medicine:
Based primarily at Addenbrooke's Hospital and partner trusts:
Year 3 is effectively an intercalated year, where all students complete an in-depth research project in their chosen field. This leads to the award of a BA degree before proceeding to clinical studies.
Clinical training takes place at:
Applying to medical school requires more than meeting the minimum entry requirements. Here are practical steps to strengthen your application:
For an overview of all UK medical schools and how they compare, see the UK Medical Schools hub page.
Yes. You will need to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) as part of the Cambridge Medicine admissions process. There is no minimum UCAT threshold. For 2027 entry, only the cognitive subtest scores are considered (the situational judgement section is excluded). Results are used in selecting candidates for interview and may also be used when making offers. The BMAT has been discontinued.
The typical offer is A*A*A. Most colleges require Chemistry (at A*) plus two further science or mathematics subjects (from Biology, Physics, and Maths), although some colleges require only one further science/maths subject. Taking both Chemistry and Biology is highly recommended. Check the specific requirements of your chosen college.
You choose a college when applying, and that college conducts your interviews and makes admissions decisions. All 29 undergraduate colleges accept medical students. If your college doesn't offer you a place, you may be pooled for consideration by other colleges.
October 15th. This is earlier than most other UK medical schools and is the same deadline as Oxford. You'll also need to complete a Supplementary Application Questionnaire after submitting your UCAS application.
Cambridge uses traditional academic interviews, typically 2-3 per applicant at your chosen college. Interviews focus on scientific thinking, problem-solving, and motivation for medicine. They may include data interpretation and discussion of scientific concepts.
No. You cannot apply to both Cambridge and Oxford in the same application cycle. You must choose one or the other. This is a rule for all Oxbridge courses, not just medicine.
Focus on achieving exceptional academics (A*A*A minimum), developing genuine scientific curiosity beyond the syllabus, and preparing thoroughly for the traditional Cambridge interview format. Most applicants treat these as separate tasks, which is why the national success rate is just 16%. Future Doc's Predictable Offer Protocol coordinates every element as one interconnected system, which is why 93% of their students receive at least one offer.
Cambridge consistently ranks as the top medical school in the UK. The course offers an exceptional scientific foundation, world-class research opportunities, and the unique collegiate experience. However, it's particularly suited to students who enjoy academic rigour and independent learning.
Get an in-depth look at what it's really like to study medicine at Cambridge, from the supervision system to clinical placements.
Watch on YouTube →| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| General admissions email | admissions@cam.ac.uk (Student Admissions and Access, Student Services Centre, New Museums Site, Cambridge CB2 3PT) |
| Course page | undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk — Medicine MB BChir |
| College-specific questions | Each College has its own admissions office — use the College contacts list. Admissions decisions are made by Colleges, so College-level queries go there, not to the central office. |
Most applicants treat the medical school application as a series of separate hurdles: the UCAT, personal statement, work experience, university selection, and interviews. They try to solve each one independently. This creates a fragmented approach where the pieces never add up.
Future Doc works differently. Through the Predictable Offer Protocol, a dedicated coach who knows your complete profile coordinates every element of your application as one interconnected system. Every decision is made with the full picture in mind.
The result: 93% of our students receive at least one offer. If they don't, they come back next year for free.
Find Out How It Works
Last updated: October 2026. Information verified against University of Cambridge admissions pages and Medical Schools Council guidance.
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