Best Universities for Medicine in the UK: All Medical Schools Ranked

Medicine is one of the most sought-after and competitive degrees. If you’re an ambitious Medicine applicant, you’ll want to know which are best universities for Medicine in the UK before deciding where to apply.

In this guide, we rank the best medical schools in the UK based on official league tables. Our top five includes Oxford, Imperial College London, Cambridge, Leicester and Bristol. Read on to discover how these compare and to see our ranking of all other UK universities for Medicine.

How many medical schools are there in the UK?

There are 53 medical schools in the UK registered with the Medical Schools Council.

Of these, six are graduate-entry only:

• Chester
• Pears Cumbria
• Three Counties
• Surrey
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Ulster

Three are new medical schools which have been announced but have not yet had their first intake of students:

• Black Country (first intake from 2027/8)
• Hertfordshire (first intake from 2026/7)
• St Mary’s (first intake from 2026/7)

And one, the University of Greater Manchester, is currently in its first year of existence.

These four new medical schools do not yet feature on any league tables as there is no student data to rank them against. Combined with the six postgraduate-only medical schools, that leaves 43 universities for Medicine in the UK which can be ranked.

Our ranking methodology

There are several league tables which rank the best universities for Medicine in the UK. To arrive at our ranking, we have used two of the most trusted and prestigious: the Complete University Guide (CUG) and the Guardian.

We take the position of each medical school in the CUG and Guardian league tables and average it to give an overall ranking.

How do rankings work?

Before we dive into our own ranking, it’s important to note that university league tables are not an absolute, objective measure of truth.

Each publication that produces a league table measures various pieces of data – things like a university’s budget per student, staff:student ratio, entry requirements, student satisfaction scores, the amount and quality of research the university produces, and the percentage of graduates in work within a set timeframe (often 18 months).

They then rank the universities by these metrics and decide how to weight each one of them in order to produce their overall league table.

Because there are differences in what metrics each publication uses and in how they collect and weight their data, there are often discrepancies – sometimes big ones – between how a university performs in one league table versus another.

Finally, league tables are designed with the ‘average’ student in mind. But, of course, no such thing exists. Each student will have their own unique preferences and requirements which a league table can’t capture. Perhaps you care a lot about graduate outcomes but not very much about staff:student ratios. A university that comes above another in the overall league table on the strength of its high numbers of staff might not be the best fit for you for this reason. And that’s to say nothing of the fact that there are non-measurable, but very important, factors that will affect which university you should choose – things like its atmosphere, extra-curricular opportunities, or specialisms in certain areas of your subject.

So, while league tables are a great starting point, we recommend that they remain just that. You will need to supplement them with your own research; speak to teachers, ex-students, or advisors; and visit as many as possible before you decide where to apply.

Ranking All Medical Schools in the UK

Here is how all 43 medical schools in the UK rank in official league tables.

University	Guardian	CUG	Overall Ranking
Oxford	1	2	1
Imperial College	2	3	2
Cambridge	5	1	3
Leicester	8	6	4
Bristol	11	7	5
St Andrews	4	14	5
Dundee	10	11	7
Hull York Medical School	3	18	7
Swansea	9	12	7
Exeter	12	10	10
Glasgow	18	5	11
Cardiff	15	9	12
Queen’s, Belfast	20	4	12
UCL	17	8	14
Keele	7	21	15
Aberdeen	6	28	16
Edinburgh	22	13	17
Liverpool	14	24	18
UEA	16	22	18
Manchester	25	15	20
Lancaster	26	16	21
King’s College London	27	17	22
City St George’s, London	Not ranked	23	23
Warwick	13	33	23
Leeds	22	26	25
Brighton Sussex Medical School	19	31	26
Sheffield	30	20	26
Queen Mary	32	19	28
Southampton	21	30	28
Newcastle	29	25	30
Nottingham	28	29	31
Sunderland	24	35	32
Birmingham	33	27	33
Anglia Ruskin	31	34	34
Plymouth	34	32	35
Aston	35	36	36
Kent and Medway Medical School	Not ranked	37	37
Lancashire	36	39	38
Edge Hill	Not ranked	38	39
Buckingham	Not ranked	40	40
Brunel	Not ranked	Not ranked	n/a
North Wales, Bangor University	Not ranked	Not ranked	n/a
Lincoln	Not ranked	Not ranked	n/a

Based on these rankings, we can see that the best universities for medicine in the UK are Oxford, Imperial College London, and Cambridge. Oxford and Cambridge each take first place in one of the rankings, with Imperial recording one second and one third place.

Perhaps surprisingly, Leicester is ranked as the fourth best UK medical school, ahead of big names like UCL in both the Guardian and CUG league tables. The top five is rounded out by Bristol, due to its solid performance in both rankings.

There are major discrepancies between the two publications’ ranking of some medical schools:

• St Andrews is fourth in the Guardian league table but 14^th in the CUG
• Hull York is third in the Guardian but 18^th in the CUG
• Aberdeen is sixth in the Guardian but 28^th in the CUG
• Keele is seventh in the Guardian but 21^st in the CUG
• Queen’s Belfast is fourth in the CUG but 20^th in the Guardian
• Glasgow is fifth in the CUG but 18^th in the Guardian

These serve to reinforce the point made earlier, that league tables can only ever be a guide as each one may rank the same medical school in a very different position.

In the next section, we will explore the best universities for Medicine in more detail.

Top Five Best Universities for Medicine in the UK

1. University of Oxford

Oxford takes first place on our list of the best universities for medicine in the UK. It comes top in the Guardian ranking and second in the CUG league table.

University Overview

The oldest university in the UK and one of the most prestigious in the world, Oxford is known for its history and traditions, its organisation into semi-autonomous colleges, and small-group tutorial teaching system.

Course Overview

Oxford’s medical course is a six-year programme split into a distinct three-year pre-clinical stage and a three-year clinical stage, run through a relatively small School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences that fosters close staff-student relationships. The college tutorial system is central to teaching, with students taught weekly in small groups (often just two) alongside lectures and practicals. The course places particular emphasis on the basic science underpinning medicine, training students to think both critically and creatively while gaining a thorough intellectual grounding.

The pre-clinical stage begins with the First BM (five terms), covering the body’s major systems, disease processes, and population health, with early clinical work introduced through regular GP visits. This is followed by a four-term BA Honours in Medical Sciences, where students specialise in an area such as systems neuroscience, cardiovascular science, or molecular pathology, and undertake a hands-on research project, gaining experience in primary literature, lab techniques, or data analysis. Eligible students then progress to the three-year clinical stage, where teaching shifts to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust clinicians and local GPs, applying their scientific knowledge directly to patient care.

Entry Requirements

A Level: A*AA (including Chemistry and eat least one other Science or Maths)

IB: 39 points (with 766 at HL) (including HL Chemistry and at least one other HL Science or Maths)

UCAT: Ranks students based on UCAT score and GCSE grades as part of interview selection process. SJT not considered at shortlisting stage. Mean score for shortlisted candidates was 2377.5 in 2025.

Interview: Traditional panel-style interview. (Learn more about Oxbridge interviews or practise with sample Oxford Medicine interview questions.)

2. Imperial College London

Imperial comes second in the Guardian and third in the CUG league table for Medicine.

University Overview

Founded in the early 20^th century, Imperial is a specialist STEM university in London. It is a member of the Russell Group and G5 group of some of the best universities in the UK. The origins of its medical school can be traced back to Charing Cross Hospital Medical School in 1823.

Course Overview

Imperial’s medicine course is a six-year integrated MBBS/BSc programme delivered by one of Europe’s largest medical schools, with campuses across north and west London and strong NHS partnerships. The curriculum is designed around current and future NHS practice, blending research-led teaching with early clinical exposure.

The course runs in three phases. Phase 1 (years 1-3) builds foundational knowledge through case-based learning across body systems, alongside early clinical skills training and a focus on lifestyle medicine and disease prevention. Phase 2 centres on a mandatory intercalated BSc, where students choose a specialism (from options like cardiovascular sciences, global health, neuroscience, or biomedical engineering) and complete a supervised research project, building research skills alongside clinical training. Phase 3 (years 5-6) shifts toward full clinical practice, covering end-to-end patient care and pathology, and culminates in a Pre-Foundation Assistantship designed to prepare students for their foundation doctor posts. Exceptional students may also have the option to incorporate a PhD into their studies.

Entry Requirements

A Level: A*AA (including an A* and A in Biology and Chemistry, in any combination)

IB: 38 points (including 6 in HL Chemistry and Biology)

UCAT: Threshold for interview was 2320 and SJT Band 3 for 2026 entry

Interview: MMI

3. University of Cambridge

Cambridge takes first place in the CUG league table but ranks third in our list of the best universities for Medicine in the UK, as its fifth place in the Guardian ranking drags it below Imperial overall.

University Overview

Often compared with Oxford, Cambridge is also known for its medieval history and architecture, division into colleges, and teaching in small-group supervisions. It is one of the most prestigious and high-ranking universities in the world.

Course Overview

Cambridge’s medicine course is a six-year programme (MB, BChir) split into a three-year pre-clinical stage and a three-year clinical stage, combining rigorous scientific grounding with hands-on clinical practice. Teaching in the early years is intensive, with 20-25 hours weekly across lectures, practical classes, and small-group College supervisions, and notably includes a full-body dissection, a feature few medical schools still offer. Years 1 and 2 cover core medical science (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, neurobiology, and reproduction) alongside a clinical strand introducing evidence-based practice, ethics, and patient contact from the very first year. Year 3 allows students to intercalate, specialising in a related or unrelated subject, after which successful students are awarded a BA (Hons) degree.

The final three years shift to clinical studies, split across the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, NHS hospitals, and GP practices throughout the East of England, with progression dependent on passing pre-clinical exams to honours level. Each year has a distinct focus, moving from core clinical practice (Year 4) to specialist practice (Year 5) and applied practice (Year 6), all underpinned by weekly small-group supervisions with junior doctors. Graduates finish with an MB, BChir qualification, having built consistently on their scientific foundation through themes like diagnostic reasoning, therapeutics, professionalism, and patient safety.

Entry Requirements

A Level: A*A*A (including Chemistry, and one or two other Sciences or Maths) – exact requirements vary by college

IB: 42 points (776 at HL) (including Chemistry, and one or two other Sciences or Maths) – exact requirements vary by college

UCAT: Used as part of interview selection. No formal cut-off. Past data of interviewed/offered applicants not published, but expected to be similar to Oxford.

Interview: Traditional panel-style interview. (Learn more about Oxbridge interviews or practise with sample Cambridge Medicine interview questions.)

4. University of Leicester

Leicester outranks many better-known medical schools, coming in the top ten of both the Guardian and CUG league tables.

University Overview

Founded in 1957, Leicester is a campus university located a mile from the centre of Leicester, a city in the midlands of England. Its medical school opened in 1971.

Course Overview

Leicester’s medicine course is built around an integrated, patient-focused curriculum delivered through lectures, small-group work, cadaveric dissection, and clinical teaching, with students working hands-on with real patients from the start. The course draws on Leicester’s strong research, with teaching shaped by academics and NHS practitioners active in fields like cardiology, oncology, and genetics. A distinctive emphasis on compassionate care is backed by the dedicated Centre for Empathic Healthcare, and all first-year students receive an iPad loaded with course material, alongside access to full-body dissection and a state-of-the-art Clinical Skills Unit.

In Phase 1, students gain a Health Care Certificate and hospital ward experience (qualifying them to work as a Healthcare Assistant), while developing consultation and examination skills with actors and patients through the Compassionate, Holistic, Diagnostic Detective course. Phase 2 (years 3-5) moves students full-time into hospital, general practice, and community placements across Leicester’s hospitals and sites throughout the Midlands, Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire. Students can also pursue an intercalated research degree, and the course ends with an elective placement that can be taken anywhere in the world.

Entry Requirements

A Level: A*AA (including Chemistry or Biology, and one other Maths, Science or Psychology)

IB: 34 points (766 at HL) (including HL Chemistry or Biology, and one other Maths, Science or Psychology)

UCAT: SJT Band 4 and scorers in bottom two deciles are rejected. Candidates are awarded points based on their UCAT score and GCSEs, with 50/50 weighting.

Interview: MMI

5. University of Bristol

The University of Bristol completes our top five best medical schools in the UK for 2026.

University Overview

A member of the Russell Group, Bristol received its royal charter in 1909. It is a campus university located in the city of Bristol in the west of England. The medical school was founded in 1833 and later merged with the university.

Course Overview

Bristol’s medicine course is a five-year programme with an optional intercalation year. Teaching integrates basic science with clinical learning throughout, combining lectures, case-based learning, and practical work. Students practise cadaveric prosections in the university’s state-of-the-art anatomy facilities. They benefit from early and sustained clinical exposure across hospital, community, and primary care settings, inter-professional placements alongside allied health students, and a substantial student choice programme allowing them to explore their personal interests, career options, and research or audit work.

Year 1 builds core knowledge through case-based learning on health and wellbeing, while Year 2 explores disease processes and differential diagnosis, both alongside placements. Year 3 moves students into clinical academies where they have contact with patients, with an optional intercalated degree (Bachelors or Masters) available. Year 4 covers care across the life course in preparation for final exams. The fifth year begins with an elective placement of the student’s choosing anywhere, followed by a foundation-focused period working within clinical teams, explicitly designed to prepare graduates for their first job as a foundation doctor.

Entry Requirements

A Level: AAA (including Chemistry and one other science or Maths)

IB: 36 points (18 at HL) (including 6 in HL Chemistry and one other science or Maths)

UCAT: Threshold for interview for 2026 entry was 2240.

Interview: MMI

Find the Best University for Medicine for You

We hope you find this ranking a useful starting point. When it comes to selecting your four UCAS choices for Medicine, you should make sure to do plenty of your own research. The best course or university for your unique interests and preferences will be different.

For personal advice from an expert, consider working with one our Medicine admissions consultants. They have advised hundreds of budding students applying to the best universities for Medicine. If you’re aiming for a top medical school, you may also benefit from our medicine personal statement reviews, UCAT preparation, and interview preparation.

We’re the UK’s most popular provider of Medicine interview prep, trusted by thousands of students and hundreds of top schools, and our average UCAT tutee scores in the top 10% of all test-takers. Discover how we can optimise your Medicine application, book a free consultation with our friendly team today.