Hardest and Easiest UK Medical Schools to Get Into
UK medical and dental schools ranked on what actually decides an application, computed from each school's own published figures across all 68 courses.
By Jayden Sammut and Rowan, MedAdmit's co-founders. How we source every figure
These are not league tables. The published ones rank things like research and student satisfaction, which tell you nothing about whether you can get in, and they are somebody else's data. Every table below is computed from the admissions facts on this site: 51 medicine and 17 dentistry courses, each read from the university's own admissions pages.
The gaps matter as much as the order. Most schools publish no application counts and no UCAT threshold, so most tables here rank a minority of the 68. Where a school is missing, it published nothing, and the count under each table says how many that is. Anyone showing you a complete ranking of every school on these measures is filling the silence with estimates. Read from the bottom, each table answers the opposite question, which schools are the least contested on that one measure, with the same gaps. None of them is a forecast for any one applicant.
Hardest to get an interview
UK applications divided by the number interviewed, with separately counted Scotland-domiciled and rest-of-UK applicants added back together. At schools that rank applicants on the UCAT, the interview gate is where it does its work, so this is the table your score is competing in.
| # | School | Applications per interview |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of LiverpoolDentistry1,681 applications, 359 interviewed, 2026 entry | 4.7 applications per interview |
| 2 | Queen Mary University of LondonDentistry900 applications, 227 interviewed, 2026 entry | 4 applications per interview |
| 3 | King's College LondonDentistry1,170 applications, 299 interviewed, 2024 entry | 3.9 applications per interview |
| 4 | University of SheffieldDentistry1,188 applications, 343 interviewed, 2025 entry | 3.5 applications per interview |
| 5 | University of ManchesterDentistry981 applications, 319 interviewed, 2026 entry | 3.1 applications per interview |
| 6 | Aston UniversityMedicine1,066 applications, 363 interviewed, 2020/21 entry | 2.9 applications per interview |
| 7 | University of DundeeDentistry687 applications, 276 interviewed, 2023-24 entry | 2.5 applications per interview |
| 8 | King's College LondonMedicine1,981 applications, 796 interviewed, 2024 entry | 2.5 applications per interview |
| 9 | University of AberdeenDentistry235 applications, 97 interviewed, 2026 entry | 2.4 applications per interview |
| 10 | University of WarwickMedicine1,326 applications, 549 interviewed, 2026 entry | 2.4 applications per interview |
| 11 | University of DundeeMedicine1,582 applications, 763 interviewed, 2023-24 entry | 2.1 applications per interview |
| 12 | Brighton and Sussex Medical SchoolMedicine1,338 applications, 715 interviewed, 2026 entry | 1.9 applications per interview |
| 13 | University of EdinburghMedicine1,223 applications, 741 interviewed, 2025 entry | 1.7 applications per interview |
| 14 | University of St AndrewsMedicine752 applications, 440 interviewed, 2025-26 entry | 1.7 applications per interview |
| 15 | St George's, University of LondonMedicine1,279 applications, 773 interviewed, 2025-26 entry | 1.7 applications per interview |
| 16 | Lancaster UniversityMedicine926 applications, 581 interviewed, 2025 entry | 1.6 applications per interview |
| 17 | University of ManchesterMedicine2,607 applications, 1,667 interviewed, 2026 entry | 1.6 applications per interview |
| 18 | University of GlasgowMedicine1,433 applications, 1,009 interviewed, 2025 entry | 1.4 applications per interview |
| 19 | University of East AngliaMedicine1,012 applications, 699 interviewed, 2025 entry | 1.4 applications per interview |
| 20 | University of BirminghamMedicine1,633 applications, 1,219 interviewed, 2026 entry | 1.3 applications per interview |
| 21 | University of LeicesterMedicine1,977 applications, 1,493 interviewed, 2026 entry | 1.3 applications per interview |
| 22 | Queen Mary University of LondonMedicine1,732 applications, 1,294 interviewed, 2026 entry | 1.3 applications per interview |
| 23 | University of AberdeenMedicine1,177 applications, 1,003 interviewed, 2026 entry | 1.2 applications per interview |
45 of 68 courses publish nothing for this measure and are not ranked. That is their position, not a low score.
Hardest to get an offer
UK applications divided by offers made, from each school's own published admissions statistics. Where a school counts Scotland-domiciled and rest-of-UK applicants separately, both are added back together here, because this table is about the school rather than about you. The figure for one group of applicants can be far apart from it: Dundee Dentistry offered places to 35 per cent of Scotland-domiciled applicants and 3.5 per cent of rest-of-UK applicants in the same year. This is the closest thing to a real difficulty ranking, and it is not the same as prestige.
| # | School | Applications per offer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of LiverpoolDentistry1,681 applications, 63 offers, 2026 entry | 26.7 applications per offer |
| 2 | University of SheffieldDentistry1,188 applications, 143 offers, 2025 entry | 8.3 applications per offer |
| 3 | University of DundeeDentistry687 applications, 88 offers, 2023-24 entry | 7.8 applications per offer |
| 4 | King's College LondonDentistry1,170 applications, 155 offers, 2024 entry | 7.5 applications per offer |
| 5 | University of ManchesterDentistry981 applications, 139 offers, 2026 entry | 7.1 applications per offer |
| 6 | University of AberdeenDentistry235 applications, 35 offers, 2026 entry | 6.7 applications per offer |
| 7 | Queen Mary University of LondonDentistry900 applications, 179 offers, 2026 entry | 5 applications per offer |
| 8 | University of WarwickMedicine1,326 applications, 311 offers, 2026 entry | 4.3 applications per offer |
| 9 | Aston UniversityMedicine1,066 applications, 263 offers, 2020/21 entry | 4.1 applications per offer |
| 10 | St George's, University of LondonMedicine1,279 applications, 369 offers, 2025-26 entry | 3.5 applications per offer |
| 11 | King's College LondonMedicine1,981 applications, 609 offers, 2024 entry | 3.3 applications per offer |
| 12 | University of DundeeMedicine1,582 applications, 515 offers, 2023-24 entry | 3.1 applications per offer |
| 13 | Lancaster UniversityMedicine926 applications, 325 offers, 2025 entry | 2.8 applications per offer |
| 14 | University of ManchesterMedicine2,607 applications, 985 offers, 2026 entry | 2.6 applications per offer |
| 15 | University of LeicesterMedicine1,977 applications, 799 offers, 2026 entry | 2.5 applications per offer |
| 16 | University of St AndrewsMedicine752 applications, 306 offers, 2025-26 entry | 2.5 applications per offer |
| 17 | University of GlasgowMedicine1,433 applications, 622 offers, 2025 entry | 2.3 applications per offer |
| 18 | Brighton and Sussex Medical SchoolMedicine1,338 applications, 607 offers, 2026 entry | 2.2 applications per offer |
| 19 | University of EdinburghMedicine1,223 applications, 593 offers, 2025 entry | 2.1 applications per offer |
| 20 | University of BirminghamMedicine1,633 applications, 985 offers, 2026 entry | 1.7 applications per offer |
| 21 | Queen Mary University of LondonMedicine1,732 applications, 991 offers, 2026 entry | 1.7 applications per offer |
| 22 | University of East AngliaMedicine1,012 applications, 599 offers, 2025 entry | 1.7 applications per offer |
| 23 | University of AberdeenMedicine1,177 applications, 776 offers, 2026 entry | 1.5 applications per offer |
45 of 68 courses publish nothing for this measure and are not ranked. That is their position, not a low score.
Lowest published UCAT threshold
Every school in this dataset that publishes a minimum UCAT score, lowest first. Most publish none at all, and a threshold is a floor rather than a target: clearing it rarely guarantees an interview.
| # | School | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keele UniversityMedicine2027 entry (not cycle-labelled) | 1,700 |
| 2 | University of SheffieldMedicine2027 entry | 1,800 |
| 3 | University of EdinburghMedicine2027 entry | 1,850 |
| 4 | University of GlasgowMedicine2026 entry | 1,870 |
| 5 | St George's, University of LondonMedicine2026 entry | 1,880 |
| 6 | Swansea UniversityMedicine2026 entry | 1,900 |
| 7 | University of WarwickMedicine2026 entry | 1,910 |
| 8 | Lancaster UniversityMedicine2026 entry | 1,920 |
| 9 | Pears Cumbria School of MedicineMedicine2026 entry | 1,960 |
| 10 | Anglia Ruskin UniversityMedicine2026 entry | 2,010 |
| 11 | Queen Mary University of LondonMedicine2026 entry | 2,030 |
| 12 | University of ManchesterMedicine2026 entry | 2,060 |
| 13 | University College LondonMedicine2026 entry | 2,190 |
| 14 | University of ManchesterDentistry2026 entry | 2,200 |
| 15 | Queen Mary University of LondonDentistry2026 entry | 2,210 |
| 16 | Imperial College LondonMedicine2026 entry | 2,320 |
52 of 68 courses publish nothing for this measure and are not ranked. That is their position, not a low score.
Schools you can reach without a UCAT score
A disappointing UCAT is less final than it looks. These schools either ask for no UCAT at all, take a different test instead, or accept the GAMSAT alongside it, and a GAMSAT score stays valid for two years at UK schools, or four at Ulster.
| # | School | Admissions test |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of BuckinghamMedicine | No UCAT required |
| 2 | University of Greater ManchesterMedicine | No UCAT required |
| 3 | Ulster UniversityMedicine | GAMSAT instead of the UCAT |
| 4 | Brunel University LondonMedicine | UCAT or GAMSAT |
| 5 | Pears Cumbria School of MedicineMedicine | UCAT or GAMSAT |
| 6 | University of SurreyMedicine | UCAT or GAMSAT |
| 7 | University of WorcesterMedicine | UCAT or GAMSAT |
Where the personal statement still counts
Schools that score or formally assess the statement. Everywhere else it is screened for red flags, used only at interview, or not used at all, which is why writing for the strictest school on your list is the safest strategy.
| # | School | How it is used |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keele UniversityMedicineKeele scores the personal statement. Home applicants are ranked on a combination of UCAT and personal statement scores, so the statement carries direct weight in whether an interview happens at all. International applicants are shortlisted on UCAT ranking alone. | Scored |
| 2 | University of LancashireMedicineLancashire scores the personal statement, and is the most explicit school in this directory about how. It states that the personal statement and academic reference will be evaluated and scored to determine whether an interview is offered, and publishes the criteria: motivation for medicine, academic preparation, and practical experience covering caring roles, teamwork, initiative and work-life balance. It also says it can only assess an application on the information given, so anything left out is simply absent. | Scored |
| 3 | Pears Cumbria School of MedicineMedicineWork experience with service users is strongly recommended and is assessed at interview together with other information from the personal statement, so the statement feeds the interview rather than the shortlisting. | Assessed |
| 4 | University College LondonMedicineNot scored. UCL states plainly that it does not score personal statements to select candidates for interview, while encouraging applicants to use the space to evidence the attributes and values needed to work in healthcare. | Assessed |
| 5 | University of AberdeenDentistryUsed, and used twice. Aberdeen tells BDS applicants 'you need to submit an excellent personal statement' and says that on receipt of the UCAS form 'we carefully considers all aspects of the remaining application and score your form objectively, based upon three categories: Practical experience and knowledge of career implications; Knowledge of core qualities required of a dentist ... including team work; Practical skills'. Personal Statement is then a named MMI station domain for BDS, alongside Manual Dexterity, Professionalism & Ethics and Article Comprehension. Aberdeen separately publishes a pre-interview weighting of academic attainment/predictions 60% and UCAT 40%, and says BDS offer decisions rest on interview performance alone - so the statement has no published share of the shortlisting score, but it is directly examined at the interview that decides the offer. | Assessed |
| 6 | University of AberdeenMedicineReviewed before shortlisting and assessed again at interview. Aberdeen states: 'All Personal Statements will be reviewed prior to interview invites being sent out. If you are invited to interview, your Personal Statement will be assessed during the interview.' It recommends structuring the statement around Commitment to Medicine, Knowledge of core qualities required of a doctor, and Teamwork - the same domains the MMI examines. Aberdeen separately publishes a weighting of academic attainment/predictions 30%, UCAT 20% and interview performance 50%, which leaves the statement no named percentage, but its application-process page lists 'the UCAS written application' among the aspects that are scored. | Assessed |
| 7 | University of BristolDentistryNot a weighted component, but it is the last tie-break. Bristol states: 'We no longer use the personal statement or reference as a weighted component of our selection criteria. Should we need to differentiate between applicants who have identical scores at interview when making offers, UCAT scores will be used as our primary differentiator.' Bristol also publishes what it looks for in that case: 'Should we need to differentiate between applicants who have identical scores in the UCAT, we may use the personal statement to help make final decisions. In these cases, we look for: Evidence of Work Experience & motivation and understanding of dentistry; Evidence of team work or Non academic achievement; Evidence of contribution to society.' Shortlisting for interview is still 100% UCAT once the academic requirements are met. | Assessed |
| 8 | University of CambridgeMedicineCambridge publishes a section headed 'How we use personal statements'. It says 'We use personal statements to help us identify applicants with the most academic potential' and 'We will read your personal statement in full', while also stating 'We don't give personal statements a formal score.' Read in full and used to judge academic potential, but never marked. | Assessed |
| 9 | University of Greater ManchesterMedicineThe personal statement is assessed during the shortlisting process when determining whether an applicant will be invited to interview. The university adds that it thinks work experience of some form before applying is beneficial, and that elements from it will be used during the selection process. | Assessed |
| 10 | University of ManchesterDentistryManchester's dentistry pages state: 'You will be required to write a personal statement as part of your UCAS application, which will be used in the admissions process. The admissions team reserves the right to review your personal statement at any stage of the admissions process.' A positive claim of use, with no stage or score attached to it. | Assessed |
| 11 | University of PortsmouthDentistryRead as part of a combined assessment, but never described as scored. Portsmouth's BDS page says: 'Applications will be assessed using a combined approach that includes personal statement review, UCAT scores and academic achievement at Level 2 and 3 (GCSE and A level), therefore it is possible that higher achievement in other areas could compensate partially for a lower UCAT score.' On what it is read for, Portsmouth says: 'For health care, social care and dental care courses, we screen personal statements for particular criteria', pointing applicants at its guidance on demonstrating the NHS values; the course page adds that 'when you apply for this course, we'll expect you to demonstrate how your values align with the values of the Constitution.' All shortlisted applicants are then invited to an interview, individual online or on campus, 'which will be used alongside your application to determine your suitability for this course'. | Assessed |
| 12 | University of SheffieldDentistryAssessed, and then used again at interview, which is the opposite of the position Sheffield Medicine takes. The dental school initially assesses the academic record, evidence of career exploration, and the personal qualities and values demonstrated in the personal statement and academic reference. Assessors then interview with reference to the information given in the statement, expecting candidates to show they are well informed about choosing dentistry. | Assessed |
56 of 68 courses publish nothing for this measure and are not ranked. That is their position, not a low score.
How to use these
Read the interview table first. At schools that rank applicants on the UCAT, the interview gate is where it does its work, so that ratio is the one your score is competing against. It will always be the gentler of the two numbers, because everybody who received an offer was interviewed first: the drop from interview to offer is a second cut, not the one your UCAT is fighting.
Then read the two tables that widen your options rather than narrow them. A school that takes the GAMSAT, or no admissions test at all, changes what a disappointing UCAT means for the four medicine courses UCAS allows you. So does knowing which schools still score the personal statement, because that is effort worth spending in one place and wasted in another.