Where to Apply with a Low UCAT Score

Applying to medical school or university with a low UCAT score can feel daunting, but many UK universities adopt a holistic approach. They consider factors like academic performance, personal statements, and interviews alongside your UCAT score. At these universities, you may still be accepted even with a disappointing UCAT result.

This guide will help you identify the best universities to apply for with a low UCAT score.

Medical Schools That Consider Applicants with Low UCAT Scores

Please note that universities change their entrance procedures regularly. We recommend checking the latest entry requirements before applying.

Nonetheless, the list below should be a good place to start if you’re looking for medical schools which consider low UCAT scores.

Keele University

Selection Process

Keele uses a minimum UCAT cut-off (1700 for home applicants, 1950 for international). SJT results in band 1-3 will be considered. Keele places significant emphasis on the Roles and Responsibilities (R&R) form. This form evaluates your healthcare-related experiences and personal suitability for medicine.

Key Tip

Focus on meaningful experiences in healthcare or volunteering. Ensure your R&R form demonstrates a deep commitment to helping others.

University of Sunderland

Selection Process

Sunderland is a university which considers low UCAT scores. It requires applicants to be within the top 8 UCAT deciles and have an SJT band between 1 and 3. Additional factors include a detailed personal statement and strong references.

Key Tip

Tailor your personal statement to reflect your commitment to medicine and highlight relevant experiences. Prepare thoroughly for interview.

Cardiff University

Selection Process

Cardiff places a strong emphasis on academic results, particularly GCSE performance. They do not have a minimum threshold for the UCAT. GCSEs and A Levels are scored with 3 points for an 8/9 or A*, 2 for an A or 7, and 3 for a B or 6.

Key Tip

Focus on achieving top GCSE and A-Level grades to ensure your application is competitive.

University of Exeter

Selection Process

Another medical school which may accept applicants with low UCAT scores is Exeter. Although the UCAT is used as part of the selection for interview, strong academic performance at A Level will be enough to offset a lower UCAT result.

Key Tip

Emphasise your academic achievements and ensure your A-Level grades meet or exceed the required thresholds.

Queen’s University Belfast

Selection Process

Queen’s combines UCAT scores with GCSE results. It uses a points-based system to decide who to invite to interview, 36 points allocated to GCSE performance (80%) and only 9 points to UCAT performance (20%). This means exam results play a much larger role in the application. substantial role.

Key Tip

If your GCSE grades are good, Queen’s Belfast is still an option. Prepare thoroughly for interviews to enhance your chances.

University of Birmingham

Selection Process

Birmingham’s selection process weighs UCAT scores (40%), academic achievements (45%), and contextual factors (15%). There is no strict UCAT cut-off, so applicants with lower UCAT scores may get into this university.

Key Tip

Highlight your academic performance. If relevant, consider how contextual factors, such as socio-economic background, may have impacted your application, and ensure you make this explicit to the admissions team.

Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS)

Selection Process

KMMS considers a mix of academic achievements and UCAT scores but has historically applied a relatively low UCAT threshold (47th percentile for the most recent data). SJT banding is also important, and Band 4 applicants are usually rejected.

Key Tip

If you managed to avoid a Band 4 in the SJT and your UCAT score was middling, you have a chance with KMMS. Predicted A Levels don’t matter to if your GCSEs were good, they may carry you through.

Bangor Medical School

Selection Process

Bangor use the UCAT as part of the selection process but there is no threshold. You may be able to offset a low UCAT score if the rest of your application is strong.

Key Tip

Focus on presenting a compelling application through exam results and your personal statement.

University of Liverpool

Selection Process

Liverpool does have a UCAT cut-off, though this changes from year to year and is sometimes forgiving. For 2025 entry, Liverpool estimated that UCAT scores as low as the 40th percentile could still be considered.

Key Tip

UCAT cut-off is unpredictable and can be relatively low, so don’t necessarily be put off applying if the rest of your application is strong.

How to Get Into Medical School with a Low UCAT Score

Securing an offer from a university to study medicine is possible even with a low UCAT score. Keep the following in mind to improve your chances:

Excel in Your Exam Results

Universities like Cardiff, Exeter, and Birmingham heavily weight academic achievements. Ensure your GCSEs and A-Levels are as strong as possible.

Craft an Outstanding Personal Statement

For schools like Keele and Sunderland, a compelling personal statement can offset a lower UCAT score. Highlight relevant experiences, motivations, and your commitment to medicine. Dukes Plus offers personal statement reviews for medical school applicants – get detailed feedback on your statement from a trained tutor or med school admissions tutor.

Prepare for Interviews

Many universities place significant weight on interview performance. Practise common questions, articulate your passion for medicine, and refine your ability to think critically. For expert medicine interview preparation, including tutoring and courses, take a look at our comprehensive range of performance-enhancing support.

Leverage Contextual Factors

If you qualify for contextual offers, ensure the relevant information is included in your application to increase your chances.

Consider Other Routes Into Medicine

Some universities offer foundation or gateway programmes for students with lower UCAT scores or those from underrepresented backgrounds. You can also apply for Biomedical Science or a similar course, and then take a graduate route into medicine.

Finally, you may wish to consider applying to the University of Buckingham. It does not require the UCAT at all – instead it uses its own assessment. However, Buckingham is a private university so you would have to fund your own studies without access to a student loan.

Want to Improve Your Score?

If you underachieved first time around, our world-leading UCAT preparation can help you improve your score. Designed by doctors and education experts, our UCAT prep packages and tutoring are tailored to meet your needs and help you excel.

Here’s how we can support you:

UCAT Prep Packages

Our UCAT preparation packages include a rigorous e-learning course plus access to our UCAT Question Bank with hundreds of realistic UCAT questions.

Personalised UCAT Tutoring

Our one-to-one UCAT tutoring is designed by qualified doctors and education experts to offer comprehensive prep for every aspect of the test. With more than a decade’s experience tutoring medicine applicants, we know exactly how to get you ready for test day. Learn from tutors who have excelled in the UCAT themselves and have a deep understanding of the test. We offer tutoring from hand-picked, highly experienced tutors, or fully qualified doctors. Our students rate our tutors 4.9/5 on average and score in the top 10% of test-takers.

FAQs

What is considered a low UCAT score?

Scores below 1900 are generally considered low, but competitiveness varies by university. If you would like to know how your raw score in each section of the UCAT is scaled to give your final marks, try our UCAT score calculator.

Can I still get into medical school with a low UCAT score?

Yes, some universities accept candidate with low UCAT scores. This is because they consider other factors like academic performance, personal statements, and interviews.

Which universities accept low UCAT scores?

If you achieved a low UCAT score, you may wish to apply to universities like Keele, Exeter, Sunderland, and Brunel. Their admissions processes mean that applicants with lower UCAT scores can still be considered if they perform well in other aspects of the application.

How important are work experience and references?

This varies from one university to another. But for schools like Keele and Sunderland, these are critical components of the selection process.

Are there medical schools that don’t require the UCAT?

The University of Buckingham does not require the UCAT. Instead, it uses its own assessment to test candidates who meet its other academic requirements. Some medical schools, like Brunel, don’t require the UCAT for international applicants.

Should I retake the UCAT?

If you have the time and believe you can improve significantly, retaking the UCAT might be beneficial. However, you would need to wait another year to re-apply to medical schools.

What else can strengthen my application?

Volunteering, shadowing healthcare professionals, and gaining insights into the medical field can enhance your personal statement and interview responses.