The Pears Cumbria School of Medicine — a new four-year Graduate Entry Medicine (A102) launched in 2023 as a collaboration between the University of Cumbria and Imperial College London — is one of the most accessible GEM routes in the UK. Students graduate as doctors of medicine from Imperial College London.
Its defining feature: to widen access to under-represented groups, this programme has no GCSE or A-level requirements at all. Entry centres on a bachelor’s degree, the UCAT or GAMSAT, and a genuine commitment to serving Cumbria and North West England, where students train throughout.
| UCATScore expertise — Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine Prepared by the UCATScore admissions team — graduate-entry medicine specialists — and verified against Pears Cumbria School of Medicine (University of Cumbria with Imperial College London)’s official guidance for 2027 entry. Looking for the admissions-test threshold? See our dedicated Pears Cumbria UCAT cut-off page. Our UCAT and GAMSAT preparation is built for graduate-entry applicants. |
Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine: Pears Cumbria GEM Entry Requirements – Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine at a Glance (2027 Entry)
| Course | MBBS Graduate Entry Medicine (A102), 4 years |
| Delivered by | University of Cumbria with Imperial College London (degree awarded by Imperial) |
| Who it’s for | Graduates — with a strong widening-access mission |
| First degree | A bachelor’s degree (confirm classification/subject on the Pears Cumbria page) |
| GCSEs & A-levels | NONE required — a deliberate widening-access feature |
| Admissions test | UCAT or GAMSAT |
| Places | ~58 students (initial cohort) |
| Competition | ~11 applications per place (2025) |
| Location | University of Cumbria Fusehill Street campus, Carlisle, + placements across Cumbria |
| Mission | Improving health outcomes for the people of Cumbria and North West England |
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) Course
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) Course: The complete guide to applying for Graduate Entry Medicine in the UK – course selection, admissions tests, personal statement, work experience and interview, built for graduates.
Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine: Pears Cumbria GEM Entry Requirements – How Pears Cumbria Selects Graduate Entry Applicants
Pears Cumbria is built around widening access: it deliberately has no GCSE or A-level requirements, focusing instead on your degree, admissions test and commitment to Cumbria. This makes it one of the most accessible routes for graduates who don’t have strong school qualifications.
Selection uses the UCAT or GAMSAT (your choice), alongside your degree and Pears Cumbria’s selection process. Students graduate from Imperial College London, so it combines an accessible entry route with a prestigious award.
The programme is distinctively local — students train throughout Cumbria, and the school’s mission is to produce doctors committed to serving the local community and relieving the region’s GP shortage.
Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine: Pears Cumbria GEM Entry Requirements – Pears Cumbria GEM Degree & Academic Requirements
Pears Cumbria has NO A-level requirements — a deliberate widening-access feature:
- No A-level requirements at all — the programme removes this barrier by design
- Your bachelor’s degree is the academic qualification
- This makes Pears Cumbria ideal for graduates without strong school qualifications
Pears Cumbria has NO GCSE requirements either:
- No GCSE requirements — removed to widen access
- Your degree and admissions test are the decisive elements
- Confirm the exact degree classification/subject rules on the Pears Cumbria page
Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine: Pears Cumbria GEM Entry Requirements – Pears Cumbria GEM entry routes at a glance
| Route / requirement | Detail |
| Degree | A bachelor’s degree (confirm classification/subject on the Pears Cumbria page) |
| A-levels | None required |
| GCSEs | None required |
| Admissions test | UCAT or GAMSAT (your choice) |
| Award | MBBS from Imperial College London |
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) Course
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) Course: The complete guide to applying for Graduate Entry Medicine in the UK – course selection, admissions tests, personal statement, work experience and interview, built for graduates.
Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine: Pears Cumbria GEM Entry Requirements – Pears Cumbria GEM Admissions Test (UCAT or GAMSAT)
Pears Cumbria accepts either the UCAT or the GAMSAT.
- UCAT or GAMSAT accepted — you choose whichever suits you
- Used alongside your degree and Pears Cumbria’s selection process
- No GCSE or A-level requirements to meet — the test and degree are the academic elements
- Confirm the current threshold on the Pears Cumbria page
| Route | What you need |
| UCAT | A qualifying score |
| GAMSAT | A qualifying score |
| Academic | A bachelor’s degree — no GCSEs or A-levels required |
| UCATScore admissions-test strategy Pears Cumbria is arguably the most accessible GEM route in the UK: no GCSE or A-level requirements, your choice of UCAT or GAMSAT, and an Imperial College London degree at the end. If your school qualifications held you back but your degree is strong and you’re genuinely drawn to serving Cumbria, this is a route worth serious consideration. See our Pears Cumbria UCAT cut-off page. |
Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine: Pears Cumbria GEM Entry Requirements – Pears Cumbria GEM Work Experience Requirements
Pears Cumbria values reflective healthcare experience and local commitment.
- Relevant healthcare or caring experience strengthens your application
- Genuine commitment to serving Cumbria and under-served communities is valued
- Reflection on what you learned matters more than the setting
Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine: Pears Cumbria GEM Entry Requirements – Pears Cumbria GEM Interview Format
Pears Cumbria uses a values-based selection process.
- A structured, values-based selection process / MMI
- Assesses motivation, communication, empathy, ethics and commitment to Cumbria
- Widening-access values are central
- Confirm the exact format on the Pears Cumbria page
Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine: Pears Cumbria GEM Entry Requirements – Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine — Places & Competition
| Metric | Detail |
| Places | ~58 (initial cohort) |
| Applications per place | ~11:1 (2025) |
| Award | Imperial College London MBBS |
| Focus | Cumbria & North West England |
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) Course
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) Course: The complete guide to applying for Graduate Entry Medicine in the UK – course selection, admissions tests, personal statement, work experience and interview, built for graduates.
Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine: Pears Cumbria GEM Entry Requirements – Pears Cumbria GEM Entry Requirements for International Students
Pears Cumbria takes Home students as part of its widening-access mission.
- Pears Cumbria is a Home-student programme (per medical-school listings)
- Its mission focuses on widening access and serving Cumbria
- Confirm the current eligibility details on the Pears Cumbria page
Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine: Pears Cumbria GEM Entry Requirements – Prepare Your Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine Application with UCATScore
Graduate entry is the most competitive route into medicine, and Pears Cumbria has its own distinctive requirements. UCATScore helps graduate applicants get every element right:
- GAMSAT and UCAT preparation with graduate-entry score targets
- Pears Cumbria-format interview coaching (MMI / panel / Selection Centre as applicable)
- Personal statement review for graduate applicants — why medicine, why now
- Work-experience and application strategy tailored to graduate entry
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) Course
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) Course: The complete guide to applying for Graduate Entry Medicine in the UK – course selection, admissions tests, personal statement, work experience and interview, built for graduates.
Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine: Pears Cumbria GEM Entry Requirements – Frequently Asked Questions — Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine
What are the entry requirements for Pears Cumbria Graduate Entry Medicine?
A bachelor’s degree and the UCAT or GAMSAT. Distinctively, Pears Cumbria has NO GCSE or A-level requirements — a deliberate widening-access feature. Students graduate as doctors from Imperial College London.
Does Pears Cumbria require GCSEs or A-levels?
No — to widen access, the four-year A102 programme has no GCSE or A-level requirements. Your degree and admissions test are the academic elements.
Does Pears Cumbria use the UCAT or GAMSAT?
Either — Pears Cumbria accepts the UCAT or the GAMSAT, so you can apply with whichever suits you.
Who awards the Pears Cumbria degree?
Imperial College London — the four-year programme is delivered in Cumbria in collaboration with the University of Cumbria, and students graduate as doctors of medicine from Imperial.
How competitive is Pears Cumbria?
In 2025 the ratio was around 11 applications per place, for an initial cohort of roughly 58 students.
Where do Pears Cumbria students train?
At the University of Cumbria’s Fusehill Street campus in Carlisle, with placements throughout Cumbria — the programme is distinctively local.
Prepared by the UCATScore admissions team — medicine and dentistry graduate-entry specialists. Verified against official Pears Cumbria School of Medicine (University of Cumbria with Imperial College London) admissions guidance and the Medical Schools Council for 2027 entry. Graduate-entry requirements and admissions tests change between cycles — always confirm the current-cycle requirement on the official Pears Cumbria School of Medicine (University of Cumbria with Imperial College London) website before booking a test or applying.