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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 If you spot something that looks out of date, tell us and we will check it.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
New Medical School: Sunderland is one of the UK's newest medical schools. As such, admissions data is limited. Check directly with the university for the most current information.
Considering Sunderland Medicine? Here's a complete breakdown of entry requirements, admissions criteria, and the application process for 2026 entry.
The University of Sunderland School of Medicine was established to help address the significant shortage of doctors in the North East of England. The programme has a strong focus on community medicine, primary care, and the health needs of the local population.
As a newer medical school, Sunderland offers the opportunity to be part of a developing programme with small cohort sizes and close relationships with teaching staff. Clinical placements are primarily within NHS trusts across the North East.
| Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| A-Level Grades | AAA |
| Required Subjects | Biology or Chemistry, plus another science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths/Further Maths/Statistics), plus a third academic subject |
| Contextual Offers | AAB for applicants who meet one or both of Sunderland's widening participation requirements (free school meals within the last six years, or a UCAT bursary). ABB for firm-choice applicants who also meet the North East / Cumbria postcode criteria — see the Contextual & Widening Participation section below. |
| GAMSAT Alternative | If you do not meet the A-level subjects or grades, or lack the science GCSEs, Sunderland may consider you on GAMSAT instead: either 55 overall with a minimum 58 in Section III, or 58 overall with a minimum 55 in Section III. No section score below 50 is accepted. |
| Sittings | A-Level grades must be achieved in one sitting |
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| UCAT Required | Yes |
| Cut-off Score | UCAT total must fall within the top 8 deciles of the cohort (the exact figure varies each year) |
| SJT Band | Must be in bands 1–3; band 4 results in automatic rejection |
| Contextual UCAT Threshold | None. "Applicants must still meet the normal entry requirements, including the required UCAT score." |
Sunderland publishes the adjusted minimum total score for the past five years, restated on the post-2025 scale after Abstract Reasoning was removed:
| Year | Minimum score (adjusted) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1670 |
| 2023 | 1680 |
| 2022 | 1650 |
| 2021 | 1670 |
| 2020 | 1690 |
These are historical and derived from the top-8-deciles rule, not a published target for 2027 entry.
"Newer medical schools like Sunderland can offer real advantages - smaller class sizes, enthusiastic faculty, and often more opportunities to stand out. The North East has a strong sense of community, and Sunderland is committed to training doctors who understand and serve the local population."
— 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.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | MMI (Multiple Mini Interview), conducted in person |
| Number of Stations | Not published |
| Interview Period | December and early January — interviews for 2027 entry run from the week commencing 7 December 2026. All interviews are in person, at the School of Medicine in the Murray Health building. Offers are issued in February. |
| How Shortlisting Works | "Shortlisting for interview is based on our interview selection tool, academic requirements, and UCAT score." |
| Interview Selection Tool | A survey issued after your application arrives, about your work or care-giving experience over the past two years. For 2027 entry the deadline is 22 October 2026, 6pm GMT. Significant caring responsibilities for family count as work experience. |
| Rescheduling | Interview slots are limited; Sunderland will only consider rescheduling under extenuating circumstances with supporting evidence. Contact medicineapplications@sunderland.ac.uk immediately if you cannot attend. |
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Annual places | Not published |
| Applications per place | Not published |
| Interview invitations | Not published |
| Offers made | Not published |
| When | Stage |
|---|---|
| September – November | Phase 1 — academic screen: all applications checked against the minimum academic requirements |
| 15 October | UCAS application deadline |
| 22 October, 6pm | Interview selection tool deadline |
| November – December | Phase 2 — shortlisting for interview |
| December – January | Phase 3 — Multiple Mini Interviews |
| February | Offers issued |
Not eligible
Sunderland states that it is unable to accept international applicants to the MBChB. The programme is open to home fee status applicants only.
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.
Sunderland runs two tiers, and the criteria for each are different. Read them carefully, because the deeper reduction has an extra condition attached.
Tier 1 — AAB. For applicants who fulfil one or both of Sunderland's widening participation requirements:
Tier 2 — ABB. This needs all three of the following:
If you meet any of those conditions, Sunderland will lower the grades it asks of you — by one grade for the AAB tier, by two for the ABB tier. Nothing else about the process changes.
| How it helps | What that means for you |
|---|---|
| A one-grade lower offer (AAB) | AAB instead of AAA, with the usual science subject requirements unchanged. No firm-choice condition is attached to this tier. |
| A two-grade lower offer (ABB) | ABB instead of AAA. The A grade must be in Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics. Only available if Sunderland is your firm choice. |
| A softer resit rule at each tier | Sunderland publishes the resit position tier by tier. On the standard AAA offer: if you are awarded AAB you re-sit the B grade subject only (one attempt, same subject) to reach an A. On the AAB contextual offer: if you are awarded ABB you re-sit one of the B grade subjects. On the ABB contextual offer: if you are awarded BBB you re-sit one of the B grade science subjects. So the contextual tier moves your resit safety net down with it. |
| A route in without the standard A-levels | Not a contextual scheme as such, but worth knowing: if you do not meet the A-level subjects or grades, or lack the science GCSEs, Sunderland may consider you on GAMSAT instead. That is a genuine second door for career changers and applicants whose school options were limited. |
Every school does this differently, and the differences are worth knowing before you build your shortlist — see every UK medical and dental school's widening participation scheme.
| Fee Status | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|
| Home (UK) | £9,790 as published — but treat as unconfirmed for 2027/28 (see note) |
| International | Not accepted — "we're unable to accept international fee-paying applicants" |
The fee figure on this course needs checking. Sunderland's MBChB page is headed "MBChB Medicine September 2027/28" and displays "Fee (UK) £9,790". But the explanatory note on the same page says: "If you're a Home fee-paying student, the fee for your first year of study for 2026/27 will be £9,790." The statutory England fee cap for 2027/28 is £10,050. Sunderland has not published an unambiguous 2027/28 figure, so we are showing you what it publishes and flagging the conflict rather than guessing. Confirm with medicineapplications@sunderland.ac.uk before you budget.
Fee assessment is made at the point of application; you must be assessed as a home fee payer for your application to be considered. Sunderland notes that undergraduate fees "are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation" and "may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index". You pay tuition fees for every year of the course.
Integrated biomedical sciences with early clinical exposure. Strong emphasis on community medicine and public health.
Hospital and community placements across North East NHS trusts. Significant time in primary care and community settings.
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.
Sunderland requires AAA at A-Level, achieved in one sitting, including Biology or Chemistry plus another designated science and a third academic subject. You also need five passes at GCSE grade A (grade 7), with grade B/6 or above in maths, English language, biology, chemistry and physics. Contextual offers are AAB for eligible North East and Cumbria widening participation students, or ABB for firm-choice applicants who also meet the local postcode criteria.
Sunderland requires your UCAT total to fall within the top 8 deciles of the applicant cohort, with an SJT result in bands 1 to 3 (band 4 is an automatic rejection). The exact decile boundary varies each year, so aim for a strong score across all sections while also strengthening the rest of your application.
New schools can offer excellent opportunities - smaller cohorts mean more personalised attention, and you can help shape the school's culture. Sunderland has full GMC accreditation and follows the same standards as all UK medical schools.
Sunderland was established specifically to address doctor shortages in the North East and runs two contextual tiers. AAB goes to applicants who receive free school meals (or were eligible within the last six years) or received a UCAT bursary. ABB goes to applicants who make Sunderland their firm UCAS choice, live in the North East or Cumbria, and meet at least one widening participation criterion (POLAR4 quintile 1–2, refugee status, free school meals, UCAT bursary, or a UK armed forces family). Neither tier lowers the UCAT requirement or guarantees an interview, and the ABB tier is lost if you hold Sunderland as insurance rather than firm.
Sunderland is an affordable city with good transport links to Newcastle. The cost of living is significantly lower than southern cities, and there's a strong community feel.
Sunderland uses the MMI format with 6-8 stations, typically held between January and March. Stations assess communication, ethics, problem-solving, and motivation, with focus on community healthcare values.
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. As a new school, verify all information directly with the University of Sunderland.
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