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University of Exeter Medical School

An innovative medical school in the heart of Devon, known for exceptional student satisfaction and early clinical exposure

Quick Facts

Location Exeter, Devon
Course Offered A100 (5-year programme)
Annual Intake ~140 students
Admissions Test UCAT (or GAMSAT for mature applicants)
Interview Format MMI (Multiple Mini Interview)
Teaching Hospitals Royal Devon, Derriford, Torbay

HOW WE BUILT THIS

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 If you spot something that looks out of date, tell us and we will check it.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

About University of Exeter Medical School

Considering Exeter Medicine? Here's a complete breakdown of entry requirements, admissions criteria, and the application process for 2027 entry.

The University of Exeter Medical School is one of the UK's newer medical schools, established in 2013. Despite its relatively recent founding, Exeter has quickly established itself as one of the top-rated medical schools for student satisfaction, consistently ranking highly in the National Student Survey.

Exeter offers a single 5-year undergraduate medicine programme (A100) with an innovative, integrated curriculum that emphasises early patient contact. Students benefit from clinical placements across Devon and Cornwall, experiencing medicine in both urban and rural settings. The school is known for its supportive learning environment and strong sense of community.

Considering University of Exeter Medical School? 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.

Medicine Course at University of Exeter

Medicine BMBS

UCAS Code: A100 | 5 years

The standard 5-year undergraduate medicine programme. Exeter offers only this single entry route, with no Graduate Entry or Foundation Year options currently available.

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Exeter Medicine Entry Requirements

Exeter has clear academic requirements and values both academic excellence and personal qualities. Below are the requirements for the 5-year Medicine BMBS programme (A100).

A-Level Requirements

Qualification Requirement
A-Level Grades A*AA with A in Chemistry and A in Biology
Required Subjects A in Chemistry and A in Biology
Third Subject Any subject except General Studies or Critical Thinking
Science Practicals Practical endorsement required where applicable
Contextual Offer AAB for eligible applicants

Contextual Offers

Exeter publishes a reduced contextual offer of AAB for eligible applicants — a full grade below the standard A*AA. If you qualify, this materially changes whether Exeter is a realistic choice, so check your eligibility before you commit a UCAS slot elsewhere.

Qualification Contextual Requirement
A-Level AAB
International Baccalaureate 34 points overall, with 665 at Higher Level
BTEC DDD

GCSE Requirements

  • B or 6 in English Language
  • Grade 7/A minimum in Mathematics
  • Strong overall GCSE profile preferred

International Baccalaureate

  • 38 points overall minimum
  • Grade 6 in Higher Level Biology and Chemistry required
  • Must also sit the UCAT

Graduate Applicants

  • Graduates are welcome to apply to the A100 programme
  • Must meet the same A-Level and GCSE requirements as school leavers
  • Degree classification may be considered alongside A-Level grades
  • Strong science background preferred

Admissions Test Requirements

All applicants must sit an admissions test. Exeter accepts the UCAT for most applicants, but also offers a GAMSAT option for mature applicants.

Applicant Type Test Required
School Leavers UCAT
Recent Graduates (A-Levels within 2 years) UCAT
Mature Applicants (A-Levels 2+ years ago) UCAT or GAMSAT

GAMSAT Option for Mature Applicants

If you sat your A-Levels 2 or more years ago, Exeter allows you to use GAMSAT instead of UCAT. This is particularly helpful for career changers or those returning to education who may find the GAMSAT format more suitable. You must register for GAMSAT separately and sit the exam in the year of application.

UCAT Requirements

Aspect Detail
Cut-off Score Variable each year based on applicant pool
How UCAT is Used Combined with academic scores to create a ranking for interview selection
SJT Consideration Yes, SJT band is considered in the selection process
Typical Competitive Score Above the national average is recommended

"Exeter is a great option for mature applicants because of their GAMSAT pathway. If you've been out of education for a while or you're changing careers, the GAMSAT can be a better fit than the UCAT. It tests different skills and gives you more time to prepare. Just make sure you understand both exams before deciding which route to take."

— Dr. Ash, Future Doc

Note: The UCAT format changed in July 2025 with the removal of Abstract Reasoning, reducing the maximum score from 3,600 to 2,700. Cut-off scores and statistics from previous years may not directly apply to the current format.

Interview Process

Exeter uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, which consists of several short stations assessing different attributes and competencies.

Aspect Detail
Format Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
Number of Stations Approximately 6-8 stations
Station Duration 5-7 minutes each
Interview Period December to March
Location On-campus at St Luke's Campus, Exeter

MMI Stations May Assess

  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ethical reasoning and decision-making
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking
  • Motivation for medicine and understanding of the profession
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Empathy and emotional intelligence
  • Reflection on work experience

Tip: MMI interviews reward candidates who can think on their feet and communicate clearly under time pressure. Practice with a variety of scenarios and get feedback from multiple people.

Preparing for your University of Exeter Medical School 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.

Application Statistics

Metric Figure
Annual Applications ~2,500
Total Places ~140
Interview Invitations ~500-600
Application to Place Ratio ~18:1
Published UCAT Cut-off Not published — Exeter does not publish a UCAT threshold in advance; applications are ranked each cycle on the scores received

Exeter does not publish an official annual admissions statistics table for Medicine. The application, place and interview figures above are indicative of recent cycles rather than figures taken from the university's own published data — treat them as a sense of the scale of competition, not as a target.

Work Experience Requirements

Exeter expects applicants to have undertaken relevant experience that demonstrates their understanding of medicine and the NHS. While there is no strict minimum hours requirement, they look for evidence of:

  • Clinical observation or work shadowing (where possible)
  • Caring experience in any healthcare setting
  • Voluntary work demonstrating commitment to helping others
  • Reflection on experiences and what you learned
  • Understanding of the realities of a career in medicine

Exeter values quality over quantity. They want to see that you have thought deeply about your experiences and can articulate what you learned, rather than simply accumulating hours.

Special Applicant Categories

Do They Accept Resits?

Considered on a case-by-case basis

Exeter will consider applicants who have retaken qualifications, but strong mitigating circumstances may be required. First-time achievers are generally preferred.

Do They Accept Re-applicants?

Yes

Re-applicants are welcome. You should be able to demonstrate how your application has strengthened since your previous attempt.

International Students

Accepted

Applicant Type Eligibility
UK Home Students Accepted
International Students Accepted (limited places)

Note: International students must meet English language requirements (typically IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in each component) and pay international tuition fees.

Contextual & Widening Participation Offers

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.

They Might Apply To You If…

  • You are or have been in receipt of Free School Meals at a state school
  • You are care experienced or a care leaver
  • You live in POLAR4 quintile 1–2 or IMD quintile 1–2 and attend a state school
  • You are a carer, an estranged student, or you have parental responsibility

If you meet any of those conditions, the University of Exeter will make you a lower offer for BMBS Medicine. That is the whole of it — the adjustment at Exeter is a grade reduction, not a separate pool, not a guaranteed interview, and not a lower UCAT bar.

What It Gets You

How it helps What that means for you
A one-grade lower A-level offer AAB instead of the standard A*AA. Exeter's standard offer requires an A in Chemistry and an A in Biology; the contextual offer is published simply as AAB.
A lower IB offer 34 points with 665 at Higher Level, against a standard 38 points (766 HL) with HL 6 in Chemistry and HL 6 in Biology.
A lower BTEC offer DDD, against a standard D*DD. Note that Exeter's standard BTEC route also requires A-level Biology and Chemistry at grade A.
Nothing is asked of you beyond your UCAS form Exeter identifies contextual eligibility from the information you supply at application. Declare free school meals, care experience, caring responsibilities or estrangement — an undeclared circumstance cannot be counted.

What It Does Not Do

  • Medicine gets a one-grade reduction, even though Exeter's university-wide contextual scheme advertises two- and three-grade reductions on other courses. An applicant reading the headline university scheme would materially over-estimate what Medicine gives them.
  • The contextual offer does not lower the UCAT threshold and does not guarantee an interview. Exeter states plainly that meeting the typical offer range does not guarantee being shortlisted.
  • There is no gateway or foundation year route into Medicine at Exeter.
  • Exeter has no dental school, so none of this applies to a dentistry application.
  • T-Levels are not accepted for BMBS Medicine, contextual or otherwise.

See every UK medical and dental school's widening participation scheme to compare what each one actually gives you.

Fees (2027/28)

Fee Status Annual Tuition
Home (UK) students £10,050 per year
International students £49,300 per year

These are the figures Exeter publishes on the BMBS Medicine course page for 2027 entry. Fees are reviewed annually and the international rate is liable to rise in subsequent years of the course.

Course Structure

Exeter's BMBS programme uses an integrated curriculum that combines scientific learning with clinical experience from Year 1. The course is organised into three phases:

Phase 1: Years 1-2 (Foundations)

Building the scientific foundation of medicine while introducing clinical skills. Students begin patient contact early through community placements and learn in small groups with problem-based learning elements.

Phase 2: Year 3 (Integration)

Bridging the gap between preclinical and clinical medicine. Increased clinical exposure with rotations in primary and secondary care. Development of clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills.

Phase 3: Years 4-5 (Clinical Practice)

Full-time clinical placements across Devon and Cornwall. Rotations through all major specialties including medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry, and general practice. Preparation for foundation training.

Intercalation

Optional intercalated degrees are available, allowing students to take a year out to study a subject in greater depth and gain a BSc or MRes qualification.

Location and Teaching Sites

Students are based at the St Luke's Campus in Exeter for early years teaching, with clinical placements across Devon and Cornwall:

  • Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - Major teaching hospital in Exeter
  • University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (Derriford Hospital) - Large teaching hospital in Plymouth
  • Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust - District general hospital in Torquay
  • North Devon District Hospital - Rural/coastal hospital experience
  • Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust - Hospital in Truro
  • GP Practices - Extensive network across Devon and Cornwall

"What I love about Exeter is the variety of clinical settings. You get experience in busy urban hospitals and also in rural and coastal communities. It's a different experience from London medical schools, and you see a wider range of presentations. The lifestyle in Devon is fantastic too, which helps with wellbeing during what can be a stressful course."

— Dr. Ash, Future Doc

How to Strengthen Your Application

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.

Exeter Medicine FAQ

What UCAT score do I need for University of Exeter?

Exeter uses a variable UCAT cut-off that changes each year based on the applicant pool. Generally, you should aim for an above-average score to be competitive. The UCAT is combined with your academic scores to create a ranking for interview selection.

Can I use GAMSAT instead of UCAT for Exeter?

Yes, but only if you are a mature applicant who sat your A-Levels 2 or more years ago. This GAMSAT pathway is designed for career changers and those returning to education. School leavers and recent graduates must sit the UCAT.

Does Exeter have a Graduate Entry Medicine programme?

No, Exeter currently only offers the 5-year A100 programme. Graduates can apply to this programme but must meet the same A-Level and GCSE requirements as school leavers.

What is the interview format at Exeter?

Exeter uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format with approximately 6-8 stations. Each station lasts 5-7 minutes and assesses different attributes including communication, ethical reasoning, problem-solving, and motivation.

Is Exeter good for mature students?

Yes, Exeter is particularly welcoming to mature students. The GAMSAT pathway for those who sat A-Levels 2+ years ago provides an alternative to UCAT. The supportive community and smaller cohort size also suit mature learners well.

How can I improve my chances of getting into Exeter Medicine?

Focus on achieving strong academics (A*AA), preparing thoroughly for the UCAT or GAMSAT, and gaining meaningful work experience that you can reflect on deeply. 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.

Is University of Exeter a good medical school?

Yes, Exeter consistently ranks highly for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey. The school offers an innovative curriculum, early patient contact, and clinical placements across diverse settings in Devon and Cornwall. The quality of life in Exeter is also excellent.

Can international students apply to Exeter Medicine?

Yes, international students can apply, though places are limited. You must meet English language requirements and pay international tuition fees. All other entry requirements remain the same.

Official Resources


Need Help With Your University of Exeter Medical School Application?

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
Dr. Ash - Founder of Future Doc

Dr. Ash

Founder of Future Doc and creator of the Predictable Offer Protocol. A qualified doctor and dentist who has helped thousands of students secure medical and dental school offers through Future Doc's interconnected coaching system.

Last updated: March 2026. Information verified against University of Exeter admissions pages and Medical Schools Council guidance.