Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Oxford University Medicine Acceptance Rate & Admissions Statistics

Oxford Medicine is among the most competitive and prestigious medical programmes in the world — ranked number one globally by Times Higher Education for clinical, pre-clinical and health sciences. If you are serious about becoming a doctor and want to understand exactly what it takes to secure a place, this guide covers every requirement in detail: A-levels, GCSEs, the UCAT, the IB, graduate entry, international student requirements, the interview process, and the latest admissions statistics.

The UCATScore admissions team has broken down the 2026 entry requirements for both the six-year standard A100 course and the four-year Graduate Entry A101 course, sourced directly from the University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division. Bookmark this page — this is the most up-to-date and comprehensive guide to Oxford medicine entry requirements available.

UCATScore expert note Oxford changed from BMAT to UCAT for 2025 entry onwards — one of the most significant shifts in Oxford’s admissions history. Students who prepared for the BMAT need to completely reset their approach; the UCAT requires different strategies, particularly around speed and decision-making under pressure. The move also means Oxford now shortlists using UCAT combined with GCSE performance, contextualised against your school’s data — so your GCSEs matter more than ever at Oxford.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: At a Glance

A quick-reference summary of the key entry requirements for the six-year undergraduate Medicine course (UCAS code A100) at the University of Oxford for 2026 entry.

A-levels	A*AA in one academic year — Chemistry (A) + one of Biology, Physics, Maths or Further Maths (A)
GCSEs	No formal minimum, but high grades 8/9 expected; used in shortlisting alongside UCAT
UCAT	Required — all applicants must sit; combined with GCSE score for shortlisting
Oxford UCAT cut-off	No fixed cut-off; mean score for shortlisted (2025 round) was 2,377.5 / 2,700
IB	39 points overall (inc. core); 7,6,6 at Higher Level incl. Chemistry + one science/maths
Scottish qualifications	AA in Advanced Highers (inc. Chemistry) + AAAAA in Highers
Age requirement	Must be 18 by 1 November in the year the course begins
Oxford Medicine Interviews	Each shortlisted candidate is interviewed by two colleges (panel-style)
Offer basis	Interview performance — colleges rank all candidates after interview, blind of UCAT score
UCAS deadline	15 October 2025 at 6pm BST (for 2026 entry)
International quota	Maximum 14 international places per year (A100 + A101 combined)

Oxford Medicine Acceptance Rate & Admissions Statistics (2025 Round — 2026 Entry)

The University of Oxford publishes detailed admissions statistics for medicine every year. Here is the data from the 2025 admissions round for 2026 entry — sourced directly from Oxford’s Medical Sciences Division.

Metric	2025 round (2026 entry)
Total UCAS applications received (A100)	1,156
Eligible applicants shortlisted for interview	~41%
Candidates invited to interview	~425 (~2.5 per place)
Total offers made (quota + open + deferred)	175
Mean UCAT — shortlisted candidates	2,377.5 / 2,700
Mean UCAT — offer holders	2,407.1 / 2,700
Mean UCAT — all eligible applicants	2,217.5 / 2,700
Approximate overall success rate	~15–17%

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: 2025 Round Key Facts

• 1,156 UCAS applications received (down slightly from 1,164 in 2024)
• 1,026 applicants were eligible (had sat UCAT, met requirements, not withdrawn)
• 41.4% of eligible applicants were shortlisted for interview
• ~425 candidates invited to interview — approximately 2.5 per available place
• 158 quota offers, 16 open offers, and 1 deferred offer made
• 8 international fee-status applicants received an offer for 2026 entry
• 55.9% of eligible applicants were female; 76.3% offered A-levels
• 80 additional candidates added to the shortlist after tutor review

UCATScore perspective The 41% shortlisting rate can feel reassuring — but this is 41% of eligible applicants only, after ~130 applicants had already been removed for not meeting requirements. The real success rate across all who apply is closer to 15–17%. Oxford is one of the most selective medical schools in the world; every element of your application must be at the highest level.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Oxford Medicine Course Options: A100 vs A101

Oxford offers two undergraduate medicine pathways. Choosing correctly matters — you cannot apply to both in the same UCAS cycle.

Feature	A100 — 6-Year Medicine (BMBCh)	A101 — 4-Year Graduate Entry
Duration	6 years (3 pre-clinical + 3 clinical)	4 years (1 pre-clinical + 3 clinical)
For	School leavers, graduates, mature students	Science graduates only
Degree requirement	Not required	2:1+ in applied or experimental science
A-level requirement	A*AA (Chemistry + one science/maths)	AAB with A/A* in Chemistry
Admissions test	UCAT	UCAT
International	Open — max 14 places total across A100+A101	Open — included in 14-place quota
UCAS code	A100	A101

Oxford Medicine A-Level Entry Requirements (A100 — 2026 Entry)

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Standard A-Level Offer

• A*AA in three A-levels — all achieved in one academic year (one sitting)
• Chemistry is compulsory — must be achieved at grade A or A*
• At least one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics at grade A or A*
• The A* does not have to be in a specific subject
• If four A-levels are offered, the third subject of the offer is not specified
• Four-A grade offers (AAAA) are not made — three A-levels are the standard
• If a practical component forms part of any A-level taken, it must have been taken and passed

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Subjects Excluded from the A*AA Requirement

• Critical Thinking (A-level)
• General Studies (A-level)
• International A-level Thinking Skills

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Resit Policy

Oxford does consider applicants who have resat examinations, but only where sufficient extenuating circumstances are provided. Simply wanting a better grade is not considered sufficient. Applicants must declare any resits on their UCAS application and, where applicable, submit an extenuating circumstances form. A-levels must still be achieved in one academic year.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Do I Need 4 A-Levels for Oxford Medicine?

No — Oxford does not require four A-levels and does not give applicants with four any advantage. The standard offer is A*AA in three A-levels. Deepening your understanding of Chemistry, Biology and Physics is a far better use of your time than adding a fourth A-level.

UCATScore tip A common misconception is that you need four A-levels for Oxford Medicine. You do not. What Oxford cares about is the depth of your scientific understanding — reflected in your A-levels, GCSEs, and most critically your interview. An A* in Chemistry with deep conceptual mastery will take you further than a fourth A-level.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Oxford Medicine GCSE Requirements — What You Really Need

Oxford has no formal GCSE grade minimum for medicine — but this does not mean GCSEs are unimportant. They are a key component of Oxford’s shortlisting process, used in combination with your UCAT score to determine who is invited to interview.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: How Oxford Uses GCSEs in Shortlisting

• Oxford uses GCSE grades combined with UCAT scores to rank applicants and determine interview invitations
• Grades 8 and 9 contribute to your GCSE score; Grade 7 (A) does not contribute a positive score
• Oxford contextualises your GCSE grades against your school’s performance data (GB and NI) — high performance at a lower-achieving school is recognised
• Applicants who took GCSEs in summer 2020 or 2021 (teacher-assessed) had their UCAT double-weighted instead
• Applicants with fewer than 5 GCSEs also have their UCAT score double-weighted
• For applicants without GCSEs (e.g. most international students), UCAT is the sole shortlisting measure

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: What GCSE Grades Does Oxford Expect?

• Aim for as many Grade 9s and 8s as possible across all subjects
• Science subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Mathematics and English are especially important
• A basic understanding of Biology, Physics and Mathematics at GCSE level is expected of all applicants
• Oxford recommends at least a grade C/4 in Biology, Physics and Mathematics as a foundation — but competitive applicants score 8s and 9s

UCATScore tip Grades 7, 8 and 9 used to be treated as broadly equivalent at Oxford. That has changed — only Grades 8 and 9 now contribute positively to your shortlisting score. A student with six Grade 9s will outrank a student with six Grade 7s in Oxford’s algorithm, even with identical UCAT scores. If you are still at school, push for 9s.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Oxford Medicine IB Requirements

• 39 points overall, including core points (Extended Essay + Theory of Knowledge)
• Scores of 7, 6 and 6 in subjects taken at Higher Level
• Chemistry compulsory at Higher Level
• At least one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics at Higher Level
• For Mathematics HL, both Analysis & Approaches (AA) and Applications & Interpretation (AI) are accepted

IB students without GCSE equivalents will have their UCAT score used as the sole shortlisting measure — Oxford confirms this does not disadvantage your application.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Other Qualifications

Qualification	Oxford Medicine Requirement
Cambridge Pre-U	D2D3D3 in three Principal Subjects (same year) — Chemistry + one of Biology, Physics, Maths, Further Maths
Scottish Highers/AH	AA in Advanced Highers (Chemistry + one science/maths) + AAAAA in Highers — all in one academic year
BTEC L3 Extended Diploma	Applied Science (incl. Units 13 & 14) at D*DD or equivalent — specific combinations accepted
Irish Leaving Certificate	H1H1H2H2H2H2 at Higher Level; strong Chemistry + one science/maths
European Baccalaureate	Average 85%+ with 8–9 in Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics
AP Tests (USA)	Four APs at grade 5 in one year (inc. Chemistry + Biology/Physics/Calculus) OR three APs at 5 + ACT 32+/SAT 1470+
Access & Foundation	Accepted if content equals A-levels (incl. Chemistry), competitive, formally examined, at Distinction level

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Oxford UCAT Requirements & Cut-Off Score (2026 Entry)

Oxford switched from the BMAT to the UCAT for 2025 entry onwards. All applicants — both A100 and A101 — must now sit the UCAT.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Key UCAT Rules at Oxford

• All applicants to both A100 and A101 must register for and sit the UCAT
• UCAT must be sat in the year of application
• Oxford does NOT use a fixed UCAT cut-off score for shortlisting
• UCAT is used in combination with GCSE scores to produce a combined shortlisting ranking
• Oxford does not currently use the SJT prior to interview for shortlisting (2026 entry)
• The SJT band IS disclosed to colleges after interviews when ranking candidates
• Abstract Reasoning was removed from 2025 — all scores are now out of 2,700 (previously 3,600)

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: What Is the Oxford UCAT Cut-Off Score?

There is no published fixed Oxford UCAT cut-off. Oxford’s shortlisting algorithm combines UCAT score with contextualised GCSE score to produce a ranking; the threshold moves each year with the applicant pool. Oxford’s own published statistics for the 2025 round (2026 entry):

Group		Mean UCAT (out of 2,700) — 2025 Round
All eligible applicants		2,217.5
Shortlisted for interview		2,377.5
Received an offer		2,407.1
International shortlisted applicants		2,537.2
All UCAT test-takers nationally (2025)		1,891 (final cognitive mean)
	UCATScore UCAT advice The UCAT score needed to be shortlisted at Oxford is meaningfully higher than at most UK medical schools. In 2025 the shortlisted mean was 2,377/2,700 — roughly the 80th–85th percentile of all test-takers. Target a minimum of 2,350 to be competitive, and 2,450+ for a strong position. Verbal Reasoning and Decision Making reward speed and accuracy under pressure — practise daily from July at the latest.

Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine (A101) — Entry Requirements

The Oxford Graduate-Entry Medicine course (A101) is an intensive four-year accelerated programme for graduates who have trained in applied or experimental science. It is not a route for non-science graduates.

Degree Requirement

• A degree in applied or experimental science — Oxford publishes a list of qualifying subjects
• Degree class of 2:1 or above (or GPA above 3.5 for international degrees)
• The degree should demonstrate a scientific approach and intellectual rigour

A-Level & IB Requirements for A101

• A-levels of at least AAB with A/A* in Chemistry (if taken within the last 5 years)
• Applicants whose A-levels were taken >5 years prior are assessed carefully at shortlisting
• Must have one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics at A-level
• Chemistry/Biochemistry degree holders (2:1+) are exempt from the A-level Chemistry requirement
• Non-bioscience degree applicants must hold Biology at GCSE or equivalent
• IB: 36 points (incl. core) with 6s at HL incl. Chemistry + one of Biology/Physics/Maths

Admissions Test & Work Experience for A101

• All A101 applicants must sit the UCAT — not GAMSAT
• UCAT decile (predominantly VR, DM, QR) used in shortlisting alongside application-form scoring
• Personal statements and references scored by two independent assessors, combined with UCAT
• Work experience is formally expected — relevant health/social care experience demonstrating maturity, motivation and realistic understanding

A101 Admissions Statistics (2025 Round — 2026 Entry)

• 302 UCAS applications received for A101; 197 complete and met criteria
• ~2.5 applicants per place called to interview
• 41 quota offers and 5 open offers made — 46 total
• Overall success rate approximately 23% (~1 in 4 eligible applicants)
• 59% of applicants who had completed their degree held a First
• 63% of A101 applicants were female; 34% resided outside the EU

UCATScore note A101 has a higher success rate than A100 partly because the eligible pool is smaller and more specialised. But only applicants with qualifying science degrees are eligible in the first place, and competition among this group is fierce. Remember: Oxford A101 uses the UCAT — not GAMSAT — which distinguishes it from many other graduate-entry programmes.

Colleges Accepting A101 Applications

• All graduate colleges accept A101 applications — you may express a college preference
• Green Templeton College is a graduate-only college admitting graduate-entry and clinical students
• Harris Manchester College is a mature-student-only college — applicants must be at least 21 at the start
• Open applications are accepted and assigned a college by Oxford

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: International Students

International students may apply to both A100 and A101, but the government-imposed quota makes Oxford one of the most restrictive UK medical schools for international applicants.

The International Quota

• Maximum of 14 international fee-status places per year across both A100 and A101 combined
• In the 2025 round, over 260 international applicants sat the UCAT for A100; 32 were shortlisted; only 8 received an offer
• Meeting the academic requirements and a competitive UCAT does not guarantee a place given the quota

International Academic & English Language Requirements

• Same A*AA (A100) or AAB (A101) requirements apply — Oxford provides equivalence guidance
• IB: 39 points (A100) or 36 (A101) with specified HL subjects
• AP, European Baccalaureate, Irish Leaving Certificate all accepted with specific requirements
• IELTS Academic: 7.5 overall with minimum 7.0 in each component; TOEFL iBT 110 with component minimums
• Applicants without GCSEs have UCAT used as the sole shortlisting measure — no disadvantage applied

UCATScore advice for international applicants With only 14 international places across both courses, your application must be exceptional across every dimension — realistically a UCAT in the 2,500+ range, near-perfect academics and outstanding interview performance. If your country has strong domestic options, consider carefully whether Oxford is realistic, and plan applications broadly.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Oxford Medicine Selection Criteria — What Oxford Looks For

Personal Characteristics: Suitability for Medicine

• Empathy — imagining the feelings of others
• Motivation — a well-informed, strong desire to practise medicine
• Communication — making ideas clear for the audience
• Honesty and integrity; ethical awareness
• Ability to work effectively with others
• Capacity for sustained and intense work
• Alignment with the values of the NHS Constitution

Academic Potential

• Problem-solving — critical thinking and analytical approach
• Intellectual curiosity — depth and enthusiasm in science
• Communication skills and compatibility with the Oxford tutorial format

UCATScore insight The tutorial system is at the heart of Oxford medicine. Interviews test whether you can thrive in one-to-one tutorial settings — thinking aloud, reasoning through unfamiliar problems, and defending your thinking under pressure. This is fundamentally different from an MMI. You cannot prepare by memorising facts; you must practise scientific reasoning.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: The Oxford Medicine Interview Process

Oxford’s interview process is unique in the UK — modelled on the tutorial system. Every shortlisted applicant is interviewed by two separate colleges, regardless of which college they applied to.

Feature	Detail
Format	Panel-style — typically one or two tutors (at least one practising clinician per panel)
Number of interviews	Each candidate is interviewed by two colleges
First college	College of preference (where possible) or allocated college for open applications
Second college	Randomly assigned by computer to equalise field strength across colleges
What is assessed	Scientific reasoning, problem-solving, intellectual curiosity, communication, ethical awareness
Interview topics	Building on GCSE and A-level science — not knowledge-based; extended to test reasoning depth
Blind interviewing	Colleges interview blind of college choice/allocation AND blind of UCAT score
Timing	Mid-December (online for 2026 entry — check Oxford’s site)
After interview	Colleges rank all candidates; UCAT (incl. SJT band) disclosed before final ranking
Offers	Provisional offers by college; confirmed by Medical Sciences Office; open offers guarantee a place

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: What Do Oxford Medicine Interviews Look Like?

Oxford interviews are not structured around personal-statement discussion. You are presented with scientific problems — often starting at GCSE level and escalating. Interviewers want to see how you think, not what you know. Recent topics include:

• Mechanisms of biological processes (glucose regulation, action potentials, cardiac physiology)
• Graph interpretation and data analysis
• Ethical dilemmas in medicine and resource allocation
• Applied chemistry and biochemistry problems
• Questions on personal-statement content — work experience and wider reading

UCATScore interview strategy The single most important thing about Oxford interviews is that they test reasoning, not recall. When you don’t know the answer, say so — then reason aloud. Interviewers are looking for students who can be taught. Practise thinking aloud and building from first principles rather than freezing.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Work Experience for Oxford Medicine

Work experience is not formally required or scored for A100 shortlisting, but it informs your personal statement (which tutors review and may ask about) and demonstrates the motivation and realistic understanding Oxford’s criteria assess. Oxford advises ‘familiarity with the healthcare system’ rather than a set type or volume — what matters is reflection.

• Clinical shadowing (GPs, hospital doctors, surgeons)
• Volunteering in care settings (hospitals, hospices, care homes)
• Healthcare-adjacent roles working with patients or the public
• Reading widely in biomedical science — intellectual curiosity beyond the curriculum

For A101 Graduate Entry, work experience is formally expected and should be evidenced — health or social care experience demonstrating commitment and maturity is required.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Key Application Dates — Oxford Medicine 2026 Entry

Milestone		Date / Deadline
UCAT Registration Opens		May 2025
UCAT Booking Opens		June 2025
UCAT Test Window		7 July – 26 September 2025
UCAT Registration Deadline		19 September 2025 (12 noon BST)
UCAS Application Deadline		15 October 2025 at 6pm BST
Interviews		Mid-December 2025 (online via video conference)
Offers Released		January 2026 onwards
Course Start		October 2026
	Important Oxford’s UCAS deadline is 15 October 2025 at 6pm BST — not the standard January deadline. This is the same for all Oxford and Cambridge applications. Missing it means your application will not be considered.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Oxford Medicine Fees (2026 Entry)

Course stage	Home	International
Pre-clinical (A100 Yrs 1–3)	£9,535 (2026), rising to £10,050 in 2027/28	~£36,800 (indicative)
Clinical (A100 Yrs 4–6)	Different rate — to be confirmed	~£48,600 (indicative)
A101 Year 1 (pre-clinical)	Pre-clinical rate applies	See above
A101 Yrs 2–4 (clinical)	Clinical rate applies	Clinical international rate applies

Living costs in Oxford for 2026-27 are estimated at £1,405–£2,105 per month. The academic year is three eight-week terms, so pre-clinical students are typically in Oxford ~six months per year; clinical years require longer residence. Financial planning from early in your application is strongly advised.

Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements: Prepare Your Oxford Medicine Application with UCATScore

Oxford Medicine is the most competitive medical programme in the world — getting it right requires a strategy, not just hard work. UCATScore provides tailored support built specifically for Oxford applicants:

• UCAT preparation with Oxford-level score targets
• Oxford Medicine interview coaching — scientific reasoning & tutorial mindset
• Personal Statement review informed by Oxford selection criteria
• Graduate Entry Medicine (A101) application strategy
• International applicant guidance within quota constraints

Frequently Asked Questions — Oxford Medicine Entry Requirements

What are the entry requirements for Oxford Medicine?

For the six-year A100 BMBCh, Oxford requires A*AA at A-level in one academic year, including Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics, Maths or Further Maths — all at grade A. Applicants must also sit the UCAT. There is no formal GCSE minimum, but grades 8 and 9 are used in shortlisting combined with UCAT. Applicants must be 18 by 1 November. IB: 39 points overall with 766 at HL including Chemistry.

Do I need 4 A-levels for Oxford Medicine?

No. Oxford requires A*AA in three A-levels — not four. Offering a fourth gives no advantage. Focus on depth of scientific understanding rather than the number of subjects.

Do you need all 9s at GCSE for Oxford Medicine?

No — but the vast majority of successful applicants have a very high proportion of Grade 9s and 8s. In Oxford’s algorithm, only Grades 8 and 9 contribute positively; Grade 7 does not carry the same weight.

What UCAT score do I need for Oxford Medicine?

There is no fixed cut-off. In the 2025 round, shortlisted candidates averaged 2,377/2,700 and offer holders 2,407; the national average was 1,891. Target 2,350 minimum, with 2,450+ for a strong position. VR, DM and QR are weighted most heavily.

What are the Oxford Medicine GCSE requirements?

No formal minimum, but GCSEs are a key part of shortlisting combined with UCAT. Grades 8 and 9 contribute positively; Grade 7 does not. Grades are contextualised against your school’s data. Applicants with fewer than 5 GCSEs, or 2020/2021 GCSEs, have UCAT double-weighted.

What are the Oxford Medicine requirements for graduate entry?

A101 requires a 2:1+ (or GPA >3.5) in applied or experimental science; A-levels at AAB with A/A* in Chemistry (if within 5 years); one of Biology, Physics or Maths; UCAT (not GAMSAT). Work experience in health/social care is expected. ~23% success rate in 2025 (46 offers from 197 eligible).

What are the Oxford medical school requirements for international students?

Same academic requirements (A*AA or IB 39 for A100) plus IELTS 7.5 (min 7.0 each). Oxford is subject to a government quota of max 14 international places per year across both courses; only 8 international offers were made in the 2025 round.

What is Oxford Medicine’s acceptance rate?

In the 2025 round, 1,156 A100 applications were received; ~41.4% of eligible applicants were shortlisted and ~175 offers made, for an overall success rate of ~15–17%. A101 had ~23% success among eligible applicants.

Prepared by the UCATScore admissions team. Verified against official University of Oxford admissions guidance and the Medical Schools Council for 2026/2027 entry. Requirements and statistics are reviewed annually — always confirm the latest details on the official University of Oxford website before applying.