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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 If you spot something that looks out of date, tell us and we will check it.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
Considering Keele Medicine? Here's a complete breakdown of entry requirements, admissions criteria, and the application process for 2027 entry.
Keele University School of Medicine is one of the newer medical schools in the UK, having welcomed its first students in 2007. Despite its relatively recent establishment, Keele has quickly built a strong reputation for producing compassionate, well-rounded doctors through its integrated curriculum that combines scientific knowledge with early clinical experience.
Located on a beautiful 600-acre campus in Staffordshire, Keele offers a unique learning environment that blends traditional campus life with excellent clinical placements across NHS trusts in the West Midlands. The school is particularly known for its commitment to widening participation and its supportive, student-centred approach to medical education.
Considering Keele University School of Medicine? 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 | 5 years
The standard 5-year undergraduate medicine programme for school leavers and graduates. Open to UK and international applicants.
You are viewing this courseUCAS Code: A104 | 6 years
A widening participation programme designed for students from underrepresented backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in medicine.
View full entry requirements| Route | UCAS Code | Length | Typical Offer | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine MBChB | A100 | 5 years | A*AA, or AAA plus an EPQ at grade A | School leavers and graduates, UK and international applicants |
| Medicine with Health Foundation Year | A104 | 6 years | BBC from three A-levels including Chemistry or Biology | School leavers only, meeting Keele's widening participation essential criteria. Not open to graduates, to anyone who has already started or completed another higher education programme, or to international fee status applicants |
Both codes are confirmed on Keele's own 2027-entry course pages. Keele adds a warning worth repeating: if you meet the social and educational criteria for A104 but already meet the academic criteria for A100, it advises you to apply for A100 instead, since you are unlikely to benefit from the extra year — and you may still qualify for a reduced offer if you succeed at interview.
The following requirements apply to the standard 5-year Medicine MBChB programme (A100). For the Health Foundation Year programme, see the dedicated page linked above.
| Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| A-Level Grades | A*AA, or AAA with an EPQ at grade A |
| Required Subjects | Biology or Chemistry, plus one from Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Maths/Further Maths/Statistics, Physics, or Psychology, plus a third academic subject |
| Not Accepted | General Studies, Critical Thinking |
| Contextual / WP Offer | ABB or equivalent for UKWPMED programme completers who meet the minimum requirements |
Applicants who complete the UKWPMED widening participation programme and meet Keele's minimum requirements receive a reduced offer of ABB or equivalent — two grades below the standard A*AA. If you are eligible for UKWPMED, completing it changes your offer level, not just your chances.
All applicants must sit the UCAT (or GAMSAT for eligible graduates) in the same year they apply. Keele uses the UCAT score as part of their selection process for interview invitations.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cut-off Score | Published minimum threshold: total UCAT of at least 1,700 (home) or 1,950 (international), revised annually |
| How UCAT is Used | Combined with academic achievement and contextual data for shortlisting. The published interview threshold is a combined score — in 2025 the threshold score was 15/25 |
| SJT Consideration (Home) | Yes — you must achieve SJT band 1, 2 or 3. Home applicants with a total below 1,700 or an SJT result in band 4 are rejected automatically |
| SJT Consideration (International) | Higher bar — international applicants need a total of at least 1,950 and an SJT result in band 3 or better |
| GAMSAT Alternative | Graduates can use GAMSAT instead of UCAT |
"Keele is one of the more accessible medical schools for graduates, especially those without traditional A-level backgrounds. The GAMSAT route opens doors for career changers, and the school genuinely values diverse life experiences. If you're a mature applicant or have taken an unconventional path, Keele could be an excellent fit."
- 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.
Keele does not use an MMI. Keele's own "How to apply" page states that selection is two 15-minute interviews, usually two hours apart, conducted online using Microsoft Teams. Older guidance describing nine short MMI stations is out of date.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Two separate interviews — not an MMI, and not a single panel |
| Duration | 15 minutes each |
| Spacing | Usually two hours apart on the same day |
| Delivery | Online, using Microsoft Teams |
| Interview Period | December to April |
| What's Assessed | Communication, empathy, ethical reasoning, problem-solving, teamwork |
Do not prepare for an MMI at Keele. Two 15-minute online interviews reward sustained, developed answers under follow-up questioning — not the quick-fire, reset-every-station rhythm of an MMI circuit. Practise on Teams, and plan for the two-hour gap between your interviews.
Important: Keele values candidates who demonstrate genuine empathy, self-awareness, and a realistic understanding of the challenges and rewards of a medical career.
Preparing for your Keele University School of 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.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Annual Applications (A100) | Not published by Keele |
| Total Places (A100) | Not published |
| Interview Invitations | Not published |
| Applicants per Place | Not published |
| Minimum UCAT threshold (Home) | 1,700 total, with an SJT result in band 1–3. This is the figure Keele does publish, and it is a hard floor |
| Minimum UCAT threshold (International) | 1,950 total, with an SJT result in band 3 or better |
| Combined shortlisting threshold | 15/25 in 2025. Keele revises this annually |
Why the first four rows are empty: Keele does not publish applicant, place or interview numbers for the MBChB. Applicant-to-place ratios quoted elsewhere are estimates. What Keele does publish is more useful anyway — a hard UCAT floor you can check yourself before you spend a UCAS choice.
Keele expects applicants to have undertaken relevant experience that demonstrates their understanding of and commitment to a career in medicine. While there is no strict minimum hours requirement, they are looking for evidence of:
Keele takes a contextual approach and understands that access to clinical work experience varies. They value quality of reflection over quantity of hours, and alternative experiences (e.g., virtual work experience, caring for family members) are considered.
Within a strict time limit
Keele publishes a hard time limit on completing your A-Levels, which effectively caps resits:
Important: This is a firm cut-off, not a case-by-case concession. If a resit year would push you past three years in total, Keele will not consider your application.
Yes
Re-applicants are welcome to apply again. You will need to demonstrate how your application has strengthened since your previous attempt.
A100 only
| Programme | International Students |
|---|---|
| Medicine MBChB (A100) | Accepted |
| Health Foundation Year (A104) | Home fee status only |
Note: International applicants must meet English language requirements (typically IELTS 7.0 overall with no component below 6.5).
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.
Keele runs several schemes and they are not equal. The one most applicants will qualify for — the standard contextual offer — gets you one grade plus an extra point at shortlisting. The one that changes your application completely is Steps2Medicine / UKWPMED, which is worth three grades and an automatic interview. Knowing which bracket you fall into is the difference between a marginal improvement and a transformed application.
| How it helps | What that means for you |
|---|---|
| Standard contextual offer: one grade, plus a shortlisting point | Your offer drops one full grade from A*AA (or AAA plus EPQ grade A), and you get an additional point on the UCAT grade used at the shortlisting-for-interview stage. Note the asymmetry: Keele gives most of its other courses a two-grade contextual reduction. Medicine gets one. Subject-specific requirements are not reduced at all — the reduction applies only to the non-subject-specific part of the offer. |
| Steps2Medicine / UKWPMED: three grades and an automatic interview | This is by a long way the most valuable route at Keele. Complete Keele's Steps2Medicine programme (Year 12 students at a local partner school or college with significant indicators of disadvantage), or an equivalent UKWPMED-recognised programme at another English medical school, and you get an automatic interview (provided you meet the GCSE requirements and the minimum UCAT threshold) plus a reduction of three full grades. Keele's own worked examples: A*AA becomes ABB; IB 37 points becomes 32. |
| Steps2Medicine also travels | Because Keele is a UKWPMED partner, completing Steps2Medicine unlocks the equivalent adjustments at other UKWPMED medical schools — not just at Keele. If you are eligible, this is one programme that improves several applications at once. |
| UCAT Bursary holders and Keele Region applicants: a shortlisting point only | For Medicine, these two routes give an additional point on the UCAT grade used at shortlisting. They make an interview more likely. They do not reduce the grade offer. (On Keele's other health courses the regional scheme does give a one-grade reduction — medicine is explicitly carved out.) |
| A104 Health Foundation Year: four grades below, via a separate UCAS code | A dedicated six-year route entered at BBC including Chemistry or Biology — effectively four grades below the A*AA direct-entry offer. The GCSE requirement relaxes to five at grade 6/B including science, with Maths and English at 5/C, and certain BTEC, T-Level and other vocational qualifications are accepted here that A100 will not take at all. Progression into the MBChB requires 40% in semester 1 (45 credits) and 70% thereafter (75 credits), after which it is automatic. |
One more thing worth knowing if you are deciding between the two routes: Keele advises applicants who meet the A104 social and educational criteria but who already meet the A100 academic criteria to apply for A100 instead — they are unlikely to benefit from the additional year, and may still qualify for a reduced offer if successful at interview. A104 also allows only one reapplication to Keele; further applications are not considered.
For a side-by-side comparison, see every UK medical and dental school's widening participation scheme.
| Fee Status | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|
| Home (UK) | £10,050 — Keele publishes this directly for 2027/28 entry and notes the figure is set by the UK Government |
| International | 2027/28: TBC. Keele states: "International fees for 2027/28 entry have not yet been confirmed." Its published 2026/27 rate was £46,700 |
In later years of the course, UK Home fees may change in line with government policy. For continuing international students, Keele increases fees each year in line with RPI, capped at 5% per year.
Keele also publishes mandatory additional costs for medicine, quoted for 2026/27: two sets of uniform £78.94, occupational health £92.80, lab coats £36.75, stethoscope from £18 (required from year 3), and an enhanced DBS check with digital ID check £60.70. Costs for 2027/28 are not yet confirmed. Travel to local placements is your responsibility, though NHS-bursary-funded students on mandatory clinical placements may be able to claim excess travel and placement accommodation.
The MBChB programme at Keele follows an integrated spiral curriculum that builds knowledge progressively over five years:
Introduction to the scientific basis of medicine, including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology. Early clinical exposure through community placements and communication skills training. Problem-based learning integrated throughout.
Hospital and community-based clinical rotations across medical and surgical specialties. Students develop clinical reasoning, examination skills, and patient management abilities through hands-on experience.
Advanced clinical placements with increased responsibility. Student assistantship period preparing students for their Foundation Year 1 posts. Includes elective opportunity for international or specialist experience.
Optional intercalated degree available, allowing students to pursue an additional qualification in a related subject area. This adds an extra year to the programme.
Students benefit from clinical placements across a network of NHS trusts in the West Midlands and surrounding areas:
"Keele's campus is genuinely beautiful - it's one of the largest in the UK and provides a real sense of community that you don't always get at city-centre medical schools. The smaller cohort size means you really get to know your classmates and tutors. If you want a supportive environment with excellent clinical exposure, Keele is worth serious consideration."
- Dr. Ash, Future Doc
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.
Keele publishes a minimum UCAT threshold that is revised each year. For the most recent cycle, home applicants needed a total score of at least 1,700 with an SJT result in bands 1 to 3, while international applicants needed at least 1,950 and an SJT result in band 3 or better. For home applicants, a total below 1,700 or an SJT band of 4 results in automatic rejection, so a strong SJT performance matters as well as your total score.
Yes. Graduates with at least a 2:1 honours degree can apply, and where the required science GCSEs or A-Levels are not held, the GAMSAT route is used in place of UCAT. This makes it particularly suitable for career changers or those without traditional science A-levels.
Neither. Keele uses two 15-minute interviews, usually two hours apart, conducted online using Microsoft Teams. Keele's "How to apply" page states this twice. Older material describing MMI stations at Keele is out of date.
Yes, Keele is particularly welcoming to mature and graduate applicants. The GAMSAT route provides flexibility for career changers, and the school values diverse life experiences. The supportive campus environment and smaller cohort sizes also suit those returning to education.
The A104 programme is a 6-year route that includes an additional foundation year before the standard medicine programme. It's designed for students from widening participation backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in medicine but may not meet the standard entry requirements. See our dedicated A104 page for full details.
Keele values quality reflection over quantity of hours. They take a contextual approach and understand that access to clinical experience varies. What matters most is demonstrating genuine understanding of healthcare and the ability to reflect meaningfully on your experiences.
Focus on achieving strong academics (A*AA, or AAA with an EPQ at grade A, including Biology or Chemistry), prepare thoroughly for the UCAT to exceed their threshold, and develop meaningful healthcare experience with thoughtful reflection. 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.
Yes, Keele is highly regarded for its integrated curriculum and strong focus on patient-centred care. The school has excellent clinical placements, a supportive learning environment, and produces well-rounded graduates who are prepared for the demands of modern medical practice.
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: February 2026. Information verified against Keele University admissions pages and Medical Schools Council guidance.
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