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Learn About Our Programme See How We Can Support Your Application →4-year accelerated medicine programme for graduates from any degree discipline - UCAT required from 2027 entry
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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 If you spot something that looks out of date, tell us and we will check it.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
Nottingham has changed the admissions test for Graduate Entry Medicine. For 2027 entry, "applicants will also need to take the UCAT aptitude test (not GAMSAT) in the year of application." GAMSAT applies only to the 2026 entry cycle. Nottingham does not accept applicants who score Band 4 on the Situational Judgement Test.
Nottingham GEM Medicine is a graduate entry programme with its own set of admissions criteria. This guide covers entry requirements, the application process, and what distinguishes this programme for 2027 entry.
The University of Nottingham Graduate Entry Medicine programme is a 4-year accelerated route to becoming a doctor, designed specifically for graduates who have already completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline. This pathway is ideal for career changers or those who discovered their passion for medicine later in their academic journey.
With approximately 93 places available each year, Nottingham GEM is one of the larger graduate entry programmes in the UK. Uniquely, Nottingham accepts applicants from any degree background - you don't need a science degree to apply. This opens the door for graduates from arts, humanities, social sciences, and other non-science disciplines who want to pursue a career in medicine.
The programme is intensive, covering the same clinical competencies as the 5-year course but in a shorter timeframe. Students benefit from earlier clinical exposure and a curriculum designed to build on graduate-level learning skills.
Considering Nottingham Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM)? 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.
| Route | UCAS Code | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Entry Medicine BMBS (this page) | A101 | 4 years |
| Medicine BMBS (standard entry) | A100 | 5 years |
| Medicine with a Foundation Year | A108 | 6 years |
All three courses are covered by one School of Medicine admissions policy, but they are selected on differently: A100 and A108 are scored on achieved GCSE grades and UCAT; A101 is scored on UCAT alone. Applicants for each course are ranked separately.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Degree Classification | 2:1 Honours degree in any discipline, or a 2:2 Honours degree in any discipline plus a Merit in a taught master's degree in any discipline |
| Degree Discipline | Any discipline accepted (science or non-science) |
| Completion Status | Degree must be completed by 31 July of entry year |
| A-Level Requirements | None for bioscience degrees. A level Biology at grade B is required for non-bioscience degrees with insufficient biology content. |
Key point: Unlike many other graduate entry programmes, Nottingham GEM does not require specific A-Level subjects or a science-based degree. Your undergraduate degree can be in any field - from English Literature to Economics, from History to Fine Art.
Nottingham GEM has switched admissions test. For 2027 entry, "applicants will also need to take the UCAT aptitude test (not GAMSAT) in the year of application." GAMSAT applied to the 2026 entry cycle only, so check which cycle you are applying to and register for the correct test.
| Aspect | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Test Required (2027 entry) | UCAT, sat in the year of application |
| Test Required (2026 entry) | GAMSAT — the 2026 cycle was the last to use it |
| Minimum Score | No fixed threshold score — thresholds vary from year to year with the applicant pool |
| Situational Judgement Test | Band 4 not accepted — "We do not accept applicants who score a Band 4 on the Situational Judgement Test" |
"The beauty of Nottingham GEM is that they genuinely welcome applicants from all backgrounds. I've worked with successful applicants who studied everything from Philosophy to Music to Law. The move to the UCAT from 2027 entry actually levels the field for non-science graduates, because the UCAT tests reasoning and judgement rather than science knowledge. The key is starting your preparation early and making sure you do not slip into SJT Band 4, which Nottingham will not accept."
— Dr. Ash, Future Doc
Nottingham uses a combination of admissions test performance, academic record, and interview performance to select candidates.
| Stage | What's Assessed |
|---|---|
| Initial Screening | Degree classification (2:1, or 2:2 plus a Merit in a taught master's) and UCAT performance |
| Shortlisting | UCAT performance - no fixed threshold, varies annually; SJT Band 4 not accepted |
| Interview | MMI format - communication, ethics, problem-solving, motivation |
| Final Selection | Combined interview performance and UCAT score |
Nottingham GEM uses the same Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format as the standard programme. Home applicants attend in person; international applicants are invited to attend an interview online via Microsoft Teams.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) |
| Number of stations | Six scenarios for 2027 entry, each taking five minutes, preceded by a one-minute "ice-breaker" that does not contribute to your score |
| Interview mode | Home applicants in person; international applicants online via Microsoft Teams |
| Interview period | 9 December 2026 to 29 January 2027 |
| Photo ID | Required. An applicant without appropriate photo ID at the time of interview will not be interviewed |
| Tie-breaker | UCAT score is the primary differentiator between applicants with identical interview scores |
| Interview feedback | Not provided. Nottingham does not give individual feedback on interview performance |
| Attempt limit | You may be interviewed a maximum of three times across Nottingham's four-, five- and six-year Medicine courses, and after two interviews are usually expected to wait three academic years before applying again |
Preparing for your Nottingham Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) 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 | Not published. Nottingham does not publish A101 application counts |
| Available places | Not published for A101 specifically. Nottingham states that in the event of oversubscription it allocates places under its Oversubscription Policy for Medicine, up to the total Office for Students medical intake target for that cycle |
| Interview invitations | Not published. Nottingham confirms only that it cannot interview all applicants, and that no offers are made without interview |
| UCAT threshold | No set cut-off score. Applicants are scored and ranked, and the top scoring applicants are invited to interview. An SJT Band 4 means you will not be considered and will not be invited to interview |
| What is scored at shortlisting (A101) | UCAT score only. GCSEs are scored for A100 and A108 but not for A101 |
If a published applications-per-place figure matters to your shortlisting, note that Nottingham does not release one for Graduate Entry Medicine. Treat any number you see quoted elsewhere with caution.
As a graduate applicant, you're expected to demonstrate mature insight into healthcare and a commitment to medicine. Quality matters more than quantity.
Given your graduate status, Nottingham also values transferable skills from your previous career or studies - leadership, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork experiences are all relevant.
The 4-year GEM programme is intensive and builds on your graduate-level learning abilities.
Accelerated biomedical sciences with integrated clinical skills. Problem-based learning (PBL) forms the core of teaching. Early patient contact begins in the first semester.
Body systems taught in clinical context. Increased clinical placements and application of foundational knowledge. Preparation for full clinical immersion.
Full-time clinical rotations across all major specialties. Placements at Queen's Medical Centre, Royal Derby Hospital, and community settings throughout the East Midlands. Final year includes preparation for foundation training.
Unlike the 5-year programme, intercalation is not typically available for GEM students due to the condensed nature of the curriculum.
"GEM students bring a wealth of life experience and transferable skills to the programme. Nottingham recognises this and structures the course to build on graduate-level capabilities. The cohort tends to be mature, motivated, and supportive. Many students tell me it's one of the best decisions they ever made - even if the four years are intense, the accelerated timeline means you're working as a doctor sooner."
— Dr. Ash, Future Doc
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.
Nottingham publishes a serious, well-documented contextual admissions scheme — but not for this course. Its School of Medicine Admissions Policy for 2027 entry covers A100, A108 and A101 together, and the Contextual Information section names only the five-year A100 Medicine course. No contextual offer, lower UCAT threshold, interview guarantee or separate ranking pool is published for A101 Graduate Entry Medicine.
That is worth knowing before you build a strategy around it. If you are a graduate whose circumstances would qualify you contextually elsewhere, Nottingham GEM is not where that will be recognised.
| How it helps | What that means for you |
|---|---|
| Standard contextual offer | AAB (one grade below standard) with at least an A in Biology or Chemistry, for UK applicants who meet the University of Nottingham contextual criteria and are successful at interview. A100 only. |
| Enhanced contextual offer | ABB (two grades below standard) with at least an A in Biology or Chemistry, for UK applicants meeting additional criteria. A100 only. |
| Medicine with a Foundation Year (A108) | A six-year route entered at BBC with five GCSEs at grade 6, open only to UK applicants who meet the contextual criteria, have not previously studied at a university, and do not meet the A100 grades. Closed to graduates by definition. |
| Elite Athlete route | Identified Elite Athletes are offered an interview if they meet the minimum academic and UCAT requirements and are confirmed by 1 December. For A100 the offer is AAB if Nottingham is the firm choice. This is a sporting route, not a widening participation one. |
| Contextual recognition on A101 | Not published. The 2027 admissions policy's contextual section does not name A101. |
For a side-by-side comparison, see every UK medical and dental school's widening participation scheme.
| Fee Status | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|
| Home (UK) students | £10,050 per year |
| International students | £48,900 per year |
Both figures are published on Nottingham's own Graduate Entry Medicine course page for 2027 entry, which states that £10,050 "is the UK undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 27/28" and that it may increase for 2028/29. Verified October 2026.
Note: plan the first year carefully. NHS bursary support does not begin until Year 2.
Home and international applicants
Nottingham GEM is open to both home and international applicants. Nottingham publishes an international tuition fee for the programme, and international applicants are invited to attend an interview online via Microsoft Teams while home applicants interview in person.
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.
From 2027 entry, Nottingham GEM requires the UCAT, not GAMSAT: "applicants will also need to take the UCAT aptitude test (not GAMSAT) in the year of application." GAMSAT applied to the 2026 entry cycle only. There is no fixed UCAT threshold score and thresholds vary from year to year, but Nottingham does not accept applicants who score Band 4 on the Situational Judgement Test.
No, Nottingham GEM accepts graduates from any degree discipline. Whether you studied arts, humanities, social sciences, or science, you can apply as long as you hold a 2:1 Honours degree (or a 2:2 Honours degree plus a Merit in a taught master's) and sit the UCAT. Note that non-bioscience degrees with insufficient biology content also require A level Biology at grade B.
Nottingham does not publish a fixed UCAT threshold score for GEM — thresholds vary from year to year with the strength of the applicant pool. The one hard rule is the Situational Judgement Test: "We do not accept applicants who score a Band 4 on the Situational Judgement Test."
Yes. International applicants are eligible for Nottingham GEM (A101). Nottingham publishes an international tuition fee for the programme, and international applicants are invited to attend their interview online via Microsoft Teams, while home applicants interview in person.
Nottingham does not publish application, interview or place numbers for A101, so there is no honest applications-per-place figure to give you. What it does publish is the mechanism: applicants are ranked on UCAT score alone, the top scorers are invited to interview, it cannot interview everyone, and no offer is made without an interview. A strong UCAT score and a strong interview are what decide it.
Focus on achieving a strong UCAT score (and on avoiding Situational Judgement Test Band 4, which Nottingham does not accept), gain meaningful healthcare experience that you can reflect on articulately, and prepare thoroughly for the MMI. 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.
From 2027 entry, Nottingham GEM applicants take the UCAT in the year of application, on the standard UCAT testing timetable, rather than GAMSAT. GAMSAT (sat in March or September) applied to the 2026 entry cycle only, so make sure you are preparing for the test that matches your application cycle.
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: March 2026. Information verified against University of Nottingham admissions pages and Medical Schools Council guidance.
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