Entry requirements
The Graduate Course in Medicine (A101) is open only to applicants who qualify for home fee status. See Tuition Fee Status for more information.
Applicants must have:
- a good Honours degree (2.1 or above) in any discipline
- passes at A Level (or equivalent) – see course requirements below. Competitive applicants will have A*A*A (if you graduated with a 2.1 or have yet to complete your first degree) or ABB (if you have graduated with a 1st class degree)
Please note that you must complete a separate Graduate Course in Medicine application form in addition to your UCAS application to apply for this course.
- Applications for 2024 entry can be submitted from 1 September 2023.
- The deadline for receipt of your UCAS application is 16 October 2023.
- The deadline to email your Graduate Course in Medicine application is 23 October 2023.
If you are eligible to apply for the Graduate Course in Medicine (A101) you may also apply for the Standard Course in Medicine (A100). This is the only instance when it's possible to apply for more than one course at the University. If you choose to do so, you must apply to the same College for both courses (ie Lucy Cavendish, St Edmund's or Wolfson).
It is not possible to apply for deferred entry to the Graduate Course in Medicine.
Applications for the Cambridge Graduate Course in Medicine are collectively assessed by all four admitting Colleges (Hughes Hall, Lucy Cavendish, St Edmund’s and Wolfson) and the Clinical School. Whilst original College choice will be taken into account where possible, applicants may be offered a place at any of these four Colleges. In order to ensure that the number of admitted students is evenly distributed, successful offer holders may be admitted by a different College to that making the original offer.
You may enter up to four medical courses in your UCAS application. Your remaining choice can be used for an alternative course without prejudice to your commitment to medicine.
Course requirements
All undergraduate admissions decisions are the responsibility of the Cambridge Colleges. College-specific information on this website has been provided by the individual Cambridge Colleges – please contact the relevant College admissions office if you have any queries about College-specific requirements. See also Entrance requirements and
The Subject Matters for additional advice about general requirements for entry, qualifications and offers.
Please note that in the following ‘science/mathematics subjects’ refers to Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics. It does not include Psychology.
A Levels
- Applicants must have A Level Chemistry (normally passed at grade A or above within seven years of entry) and one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics (at A or AS Level).
International Baccalaureate
- A Level subject requirements also apply to the IB.
- Higher Level subjects will satisfy A Level subject requirements.
Other examination systems
We expect applicants taking other recognised examinations to demonstrate a level of understanding in science and mathematics roughly equivalent to those applying with A Levels. Refer to the Entrance requirements page for details of other qualifications and please consult any College Admissions Tutor for further advice.
Work experience
To develop understanding of what a career in Medicine involves and your suitability for your intended profession, you are strongly advised (though not required) to undertake some relevant work experience, either paid or voluntary, in a health or social care organisation. We are not prescriptive about how this is obtained, recognising the widely differing opportunities available.
Admission assessment
Applicants for the Graduate Course in Medicine (A101) are not required to take an admission assessment. However, if you wish to apply to both the Standard Course (A100) and Graduate Course (A101), you’re required to take the Biomedical Admission Test (BMAT) – see the Standard Course (A100) entry requirements information for details of the BMAT.
Selection requirements
You must be a keen scientist, with a sound scientific understanding. As selection for medical school implies selection for the medical profession, admissions decisions are informed by national guidance on what makes a good doctor, for example, the Medical Schools Council's Consensus Statement on the Role of the Doctor and Guiding Principles for the Admission of Medical Students.
Applications from students who have failed at or been excluded from another medical school will not normally be considered for entry to Medicine at Cambridge.
Professional expectations
The GMC has certain expectations regarding the attitudes, behaviour and performance of medical students. Trainee doctors at Cambridge must satisfy the GMC's fitness to practise requirements, both when applying and throughout the course. These requirements are in place to ensure the safety of patients.
Disclosure and Barring Service check
All offers of a place on a Medicine course are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or equivalent overseas check.
Applicants that have lived in the UK for the whole of the last 5 years will need to complete a DBS check which will be arranged through the University.
Applicants that have lived outside of the UK for 6 months or more in the last 5 years will still need to complete a satisfactory enhanced DBS check but will also have to provide relevant overseas checks to cover these periods of time and complete a self-declaration form.
Applicants who have not lived in the UK at all in the last 5 years will have to provide relevant overseas checks to cover these periods of time and complete a self-declaration form.
Overseas checks need to be obtained by the applicant, the University will not apply for overseas checks on the Students’ behalf.
Further guidance on overseas checks can be found on the Government website.
Applicants will be responsible for paying the costs of DBS and/or criminal record checks.
Minor misdemeanours will not necessarily prevent you from entering the medical profession but you should declare these in your UCAS application and you will be sent the relevant forms to complete if you are offered a place.
More details can be found on the University's Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) webpage and on the Faculty of Biology website.
Your health
Doctors, even as students and trainees, have a responsibility to be honest and open about their own health and all successful applicants are required to complete a confidential occupational health assessment. A questionnaire will be included with your offer letter and, once completed, should be returned directly to Occhealth@admin.cam.ac.uk.
Your answers to the health questionnaire help to ensure that your medical training will not place your own or others' health at risk and determine, in terms of fitness to fulfil the requirements of the General Medical Council (GMC), your suitability to work as a doctor. Further information from the General Medical Council (GMC) can be found on the GMC website.
The assessment is also to identify any long-term health conditions or disabilities that you may have, which require specific support. Where necessary, you will be contacted by Occupational Health for further information in order for support to be appropriately considered and implemented.
Vaccinations for medical school
The University requires all prospective medical students be immunised against certain infectious diseases in order to comply with national guidelines. You will be sent details of the vaccination programme with your offer.
Blood-borne infections
In accordance with Department of Health guidelines and NHS requirements, you will be offered blood tests to check that you are not infected with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV infection before you can be cleared to participate in certain surgical procedures, known as exposure prone procedures (EPPs). Additional information can be found on the government website.
In the event that any test shows infection, following discussion with OH, you will be able to continue with the course but your practice may be restricted EPPs unless the infection can be eradicated or satisfactorily suppressed. It will not prevent you from qualifying or practising as a doctor, except for a restriction on EPPs.
Disability, neurodiversity and health conditions
A disability, specific learning difficulty (SpLD) or long-term health condition needn't prevent you from becoming a doctor if you can satisfy the professional fitness to practice requirements.
In these circumstances, please contact a College Admissions Tutor as early as possible to discuss your needs and the course requirements. Such disclosures are considered independently of academic qualifications and the interview process.
The University's Disability Resource Centre (DRC) can provide general advice and guidance to prospective and current students with a disability, SpLD or long-term health condition.
For further information about studying the Medicine (Graduate course) at the University of Cambridge see the School of Clinical Medicine website.