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Learn About Our Programme See How We Can Support Your Application →Wales' leading graduate entry medical school, offering one of the UK's largest GEM programmes in a stunning coastal location
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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 If you spot something that looks out of date, tell us and we will check it.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
Key Point: Swansea accepts either the GAMSAT or the UCAT for Home applicants (and GAMSAT, UCAT or MCAT for international applicants). The GAMSAT route remains popular and lets you apply alongside GAMSAT-accepting universities in Australia, but you can now also apply with a UCAT score.
Considering Swansea Medicine? Here's a complete breakdown of entry requirements, admissions criteria, and the application process for 2027 entry.
Swansea University Medical School is one of the UK's leading graduate entry medicine providers, offering a unique opportunity for graduates from all degree backgrounds to pursue a career in medicine. Located on the stunning Gower Peninsula in South Wales, the school combines excellent clinical training with an exceptional quality of life.
What sets Swansea apart is its commitment to graduate entry medicine. It accepts either the GAMSAT or the UCAT, giving applicants flexibility over which admissions test they sit. Swansea does not publish an intake number for the programme, so treat any figure you see quoted elsewhere with caution.
The medical school works closely with NHS Wales, providing students with extensive clinical placements across hospitals and community settings throughout South and West Wales. The curriculum emphasises patient-centred care, clinical skills development, and preparation for the realities of modern medical practice.
Considering Swansea University 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.
UCAS Code: A101 | 4 years
The four-year graduate entry MB BCh at Singleton Park Campus, starting September 2027. Accepts any degree subject. Swansea does not publish an intake number.
You are viewing this course| Route | UCAS Code | Length | Typical offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine (Graduate Entry) MB BCh | A101 | 4 years, campus based at Singleton Park | Minimum 2:1 honours degree in any subject (or merit in an integrated master's, or a 2:2 plus a pass in a postgraduate higher degree), plus GCSE Maths and English/Welsh at grade C, plus an admissions test |
| Five-year school-leaver MBBCh | Not offered. Swansea Medicine is graduate entry only. If you are a school leaver, Swansea has no medicine route for you — Cardiff and Bangor are the Welsh alternatives. | ||
| Gateway / foundation route into Medicine | Not published — Swansea does not run one. | ||
Swansea Medicine is a single graduate entry programme. All applicants must sit an admissions test before applying: Home applicants can sit either the GAMSAT or the UCAT, while international applicants can sit the GAMSAT, UCAT or MCAT.
| Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Degree Classification | One of: 2:1 (hons) undergraduate degree in any subject; Merit in an integrated master's in any subject; or a 2:2 (hons) degree plus a Pass in a postgraduate higher degree (Master's or PhD) in any subject |
| Accepted Degree Subjects | Any discipline (science and non-science) |
| Degree Status | Completed or in final year at application |
| Pending results | Must be confirmed no later than 31 July in the year of entry |
| Deferred entry | Not accepted. Swansea states that because entry is highly competitive it does not accept applications for deferred entry on this course. Offer-holder deferral requests are considered only case by case in exceptional circumstances — bereavement, becoming sole carer for an immediate family member for more than 3 months, personal ill-health unlikely to resolve within 3 months, or other circumstances the admissions leads deem suitable — and only ever for the following academic year. |
| Late or direct applications | Not accepted. All applications must be submitted via UCAS before 6pm (BST) on the stated closing date, for UK, EU and international applicants alike. |
Swansea publishes no science GCSE requirement for graduate entry medicine — your degree classification and admissions test score are the academic gates.
Unlike many graduate entry programmes that require science degrees, Swansea actively welcomes applications from graduates of all disciplines. Whether you studied English, History, Law, or Fine Art, you can apply to Swansea, provided you meet the GCSE requirements and perform well in your chosen admissions test.
"Swansea is one of my top recommendations for non-science graduates looking to get into medicine. The fact that they accept any degree subject, and now accept either the GAMSAT or the UCAT, creates a genuine pathway for arts and humanities graduates. If you can write well and think analytically, the GAMSAT in particular plays to your strengths and lets you make a strong application to Swansea."
— Dr. Ash, Future Doc
Swansea requires all applicants to sit an admissions test. Home applicants can sit either the GAMSAT or the UCAT; international applicants can sit the GAMSAT, UCAT or MCAT. Many graduates choose the GAMSAT because its reasoning and essay focus suits non-science backgrounds, but the UCAT is now a fully accepted alternative.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Accepted Tests | GAMSAT or UCAT (Home); GAMSAT, UCAT or MCAT (international) |
| GAMSAT Minimum Score | 50 overall and 50 in Paper 3 — Swansea's published "minimum score considered" |
| UCAT Minimum Score | 1900 total |
| MCAT Minimum Score | 500 (international applicants) |
| Cut-Score for Interview | A cut-score is set each cycle to select candidates for interview, and may be higher than the published minimum score |
| Situational Judgement (SJT) Band | Swansea states that Situational Judgement bands will not be considered |
| Score Validity — GAMSAT | Only scores from the last four test sittings before the UCAS October deadline are considered |
| Score Validity — UCAT | Only scores from tests completed in the year of application |
| Score Validity — MCAT | Only scores from tests undertaken within 24 calendar months of the closing date |
| If you sit more than one test | Swansea considers one score only. It asks you which when it acknowledges your application. If you do not reply, it takes, in order: your highest GAMSAT from the last four sittings; then your most recent UCAT; then your highest MCAT within 24 months (international applicants only). |
| Interview slot allocation | Slots are allocated in proportion to how many applicants took each test — so choosing a less crowded test does not get you a better chance |
| After shortlisting | Swansea states that following selection for interview, admissions test results are considered no further. Any offer "will be based solely on performance at interview." |
| Pending results | Applications with pending results are accepted for tests sat before the UCAS October deadline. Swansea cannot consider applicants planning to sit a test after that date. |
What this means in practice: your admissions test gets you into the room and then stops mattering entirely. Every offer at Swansea is decided on the interview. Budget your preparation accordingly — a monstrous GAMSAT will not rescue a weak interview here, and a borderline one will not sink a strong one.
The GAMSAT is no longer split into Section 1, 2 and 3. It now has two parts:
Preparing for your Swansea University 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.
Swansea does not run a conventional short-station MMI. Shortlisted candidates are invited to attend in person at the Swansea campus for three face-to-face stations of 20–30 minutes each, which take the form of interviews, presentations or role-play scenarios.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | 3 face-to-face stations (interviews, presentations or role-play scenarios) |
| Number of Stations | 3 stations |
| Station Duration | 20–30 minutes per station |
| Interview Period | Swansea calls it an assessment day, held "early in the New Year" |
| Location | Swansea University campus, in person |
| Who assesses you | A trained panel of clinicians, academics, medical students and members of the public |
| Personal statement | You may be questioned on its content in one or more of the stations |
| Weight in the decision | Everything. Swansea states that after shortlisting, admissions test results are considered no further and any offer "will be based solely on performance at interview." |
| Stability of the format | Swansea reserves the right to change the format of stations and the competencies assessed between admissions cycles, without notice. Do not rely on last year's account of the day — read your invitation. |
Tip: As a graduate applicant, be prepared to discuss your previous degree and career experiences, and how they've prepared you for medicine. Swansea values the diverse perspectives that graduates bring.
Preparing for your Swansea interview stations? Future Doc's interview preparation sessions has helped students achieve a 93% success rate at securing offers. Our doctors know exactly what Swansea interviewers are looking for. Learn more about our programme.
Swansea does not publish A101 admissions statistics on its course pages. We have removed the figures that previously appeared here rather than keep publishing numbers we cannot trace to Swansea's own source.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Annual places | Not published on the course page |
| Applications per place | Not published |
| Interview rate | Not published |
| Post-interview success rate | Not published |
| Admissions test cut-score | Not published in advance. Swansea states a cut-score "will be determined annually based on the number of applications received" and "may be higher than the set minimum score". |
Swansea does describe entry as "highly competitive" — which is why it does not accept applications for deferred entry on this course.
Swansea expects applicants to have gained insight into the medical profession through relevant experience. While there is no strict minimum hours requirement, they are looking for evidence of:
Swansea recognises that clinical experience may not always be accessible and considers alternative evidence of commitment to understanding healthcare and patient care.
Accepted
Swansea welcomes applications from graduates of all disciplines, including arts, humanities, social sciences, and vocational degrees. Your degree subject does not limit your eligibility.
Limited places
A small number of places may be available for international students. Check current availability directly with the admissions team.
Considered on individual basis
Applicants who have retaken qualifications may be considered. Strong mitigating circumstances should be explained in your application.
Yes
Re-applicants are welcome to apply again. Demonstrate how your application has strengthened since your previous attempt.
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.
You need to know this before you spend a UCAS choice here: Swansea Medicine publishes no socioeconomic contextual offer scheme at all. There is no contextual grade reduction, no lower admissions test threshold for widening access applicants, and no separate widening participation ranking pool. Swansea's faculty-level contextual offer scheme exists — it is just not open to Medicine.
Part of the reason is structural. Swansea Medicine is graduate entry only, so the A-Level-based contextual machinery used elsewhere has nothing to attach to: there are no predicted grades to reduce.
The one published route that carries an admissions benefit is Pathways to Medicine, and it is an academic progression route rather than a socioeconomic one. You may be eligible if:
If you meet those conditions, Swansea will guarantee you an interview for Graduate Entry Medicine in your final undergraduate year. It will not lower the degree classification or admissions test score it asks of you, and it will not reduce the interview standard — and since every Swansea offer is decided on interview performance alone, a guaranteed interview is worth more here than at most schools.
| How it helps | What that means for you |
|---|---|
| A guaranteed interview (Pathways to Medicine) | You skip the admissions test cut-score lottery entirely. Normally a cut-score is set annually based on application volume and may be well above the published minimum; Pathways completers are interviewed regardless. Because Swansea bases offers solely on interview performance, getting into the room is most of the battle. |
| Usable once, in your final year | The guarantee applies to one application, made in the final year of your Swansea BSc. Plan the timing of your GAMSAT or UCAT around that single shot. |
| Bespoke preparation built into your degree | The Pathway provides dedicated modules, health or related observational experience, and specialist preparation for the GEM application — structured work experience as part of your course rather than something you have to chase. |
| Practical support for Welsh clinical students (not an admissions advantage) | The medical school runs a widening access summer school, provides free laptops through a partnership with HEIW, and offers the Dr Sharon James Bursary — four awards of £1,200 for Welsh female clinical students. Worth having; none of it changes your odds of an offer. |
| A lower fee than England | Not a widening participation scheme as such, but worth naming: the Welsh rate of £9,790 is £260 a year below the English cap, for every UK student, on a four-year course. That is a little over £1,000 across the degree. |
One sourcing note, in the interests of honesty: Swansea's university-wide contextual offers page could not be located at a stable URL — several candidate paths 404 or redirect in a loop. The faculty-level inclusivity and widening access page is the authoritative source used here, and it is explicit that Medicine is not among the eligible courses. If you believe you should qualify, ask the medical school in writing.
For how every other school handles this, see see every UK medical and dental school's widening participation scheme.
Swansea is in Wales, where tuition fees are capped by the Welsh Government, not Westminster. The English cap of £10,050 does not apply here — and Swansea's published figure is lower.
| Fee Status | Annual Tuition (September 2027 start) |
|---|---|
| UK students (all UK domiciles — Welsh, English, Scottish and Northern Irish) | £9,790 |
| International | £50,750 |
Both figures come from Swansea's own A101 course page, which lists the Year 1 tuition fee as £9,790 for a September 2026 start and £9,790 again for September 2027 — the Welsh rate has been held flat. The international fee rises from £48,350 for September 2026 to £50,750 for September 2027. Swansea states that UK fees "may increase in subsequent years of study in line with the maximum regulated fee level set by the Welsh Government", and that international fees "will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study". Because Swansea Medicine is graduate entry only, there is no separate Welsh-domiciled and rest-of-UK split to represent: one UK rate covers everyone. Welsh-domiciled students apply to Student Finance Wales for a tuition fee loan; English, Scottish and Northern Irish students apply to their own funding body.
The 4-year graduate entry programme is structured to maximise clinical exposure from the outset:
Core biomedical sciences alongside early clinical skills development. You'll begin patient contact from the first term, building the foundation for clinical practice.
Systems-based learning covering major body systems and their pathology. Increased clinical placements and development of clinical reasoning skills.
Extensive clinical rotations across hospital specialties including medicine, surgery, paediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics and gynaecology.
Final clinical rotations, student assistantship, and preparation for foundation training. Elective period available for study abroad or special interest exploration.
Students benefit from clinical training across NHS Wales:
"The Swansea campus is genuinely special. You're training in a city with beautiful beaches and the Gower Peninsula on your doorstep. It's a very different experience from London medical schools, more community-focused, less competitive pressure, and with excellent work-life balance. The clinical training is first-rate, and the smaller cohort means you get to know your peers and tutors really well."
— 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.
Yes. Swansea now accepts either the GAMSAT or the UCAT for Home applicants (and the GAMSAT, UCAT or MCAT for international applicants), so you can apply with a UCAT score. Many graduates still choose the GAMSAT because its reasoning and essay focus suits non-science backgrounds, but the UCAT is a valid alternative.
Yes, absolutely. Swansea welcomes applications from graduates of all disciplines. Whether you studied English Literature, Economics, or Engineering, you can apply, provided you meet the GCSE requirements and sit an accepted admissions test (GAMSAT or UCAT).
Swansea sets a minimum acceptable GAMSAT score of 50, including a minimum of 50 in the Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences paper. In practice the de facto cut-off has run higher, so competitive applicants typically aim for the mid-50s and above. Strong, balanced performance across the essays and both reasoning papers matters.
Swansea does not publish a place number for its graduate entry programme on the course page, and we are not going to repeat a figure we cannot trace to Swansea itself. What Swansea does say is that entry is highly competitive — competitive enough that it will not accept deferred entry applications. Ask the admissions team for the current intake size if the number matters to your decision.
Yes, Swansea offers an excellent graduate entry programme with strong clinical exposure across NHS Wales. The school is known for its supportive environment, community-based learning approach, and exceptional quality of life in a coastal location.
Yes. Because Swansea now accepts the UCAT as well as the GAMSAT, a single UCAT score can support applications to Swansea and to other UCAT medical schools. Remember you only have 4 UCAS choices for medicine, so strategic selection is important.
Focus on achieving a strong admissions test score (the GAMSAT essays in particular reward confident writers), gaining meaningful healthcare experience, and preparing thoroughly for Swansea's three long interview stations. 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.
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Admissions email | Not published on the course page. Swansea refers applicants to "the Admissions Team" for deferral and application queries but does not print an address on the A101 page. |
| Course page | swansea.ac.uk — Medicine (Graduate Entry) MB BCh |
| Campus | Singleton Park Campus, Swansea. Clinical placements at NHS sites including hospitals, GP surgeries and community health facilities. |
| Welsh-medium study | Swansea publishes Welsh-medium module options (for example Meddyg fel Gweithiwr Proffesiynol) and signposts Academi Hywel Teifi for Welsh-language scholarships and bursaries. |
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 Swansea University admissions pages and Medical Schools Council guidance.
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