University of Manchester - Medicine

Admission Highlights

• Duration of the degree is 5 years
• University of Manchester A100 medicine does not accept any one that has started post secondary studies
• As long as minimum academic threshold is met, UCAT will be the sole basis in determining who gets shortlisted for interviews
• Turn 18 before 2^nd year

Subject requirements

• 2 sciences
• 1 Biology or Chemistry

GCSE

• seven GCSEs at Level 7 or 8+
• GCSE/IGCSE English Language, Mathematics and at least two science subjects, at a minimum of grade 6
• GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.

A level: AAA

• Math or Further Math / Biology and Human Biology can be counted as 1 but not 2 Sciences
• Will only take 3 A levels into consideration

IB: 36 points overall

• 6,6,6, in Higher Level subjects and 2 of the subjects must be sciences.
• one higher level must be biology or chemistry
• The other higher level could be Physics, Psychology or Mathematics
• Accept both Maths options as part of the Diploma.

• An upper second (2:1) honours degree + a minimum of BBB at A-level (32 IB) in your first sitting + Level 6 in GCSE Math and English.
• A level or IB must have at least two science subjects, one being chemistry or biology
• Applicants with a relevant science degree (i.e. Biomedical and Life Sciences disciplines or professions allied to medicine) are exempted from our subject specification at A-Level or IB, but must still meet the BBB / 32 standard.

Do not consider applicants who achieve Band 3 or 4 in the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) of UCAT.

• 2025 Median UCAT for A100 shortlisted: 2880
• 2025 Median UCAT for A101 shortlisted: 2900

• IGCSE English first language at grade 6 or second language at grade 7;
• International English Language Testing Service (IELTS): A minimum average score of 7.0 and with not less than 6.5 in any one component taken at the same sitting;
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic: An overall score of 65 with no less than 65 in each of the communicative skills domains taken at the same sitting;
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE), or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE): An overall score of 185 with no less than 185 in each of the scoring domains taken at the same sitting;
• A score of 5 at Standard or Higher level as part of the International Baccalaureate diploma.

• At Year 3, you will have 5 clinical placements with an opportunity to self select one of your placements in an area that aligns with your clinical interest
• Year 4 consists of 1 clinical placements in the following specialties
  • general practice and clinical public health;
  • mental health, neurology and special senses;
  • musculoskeletal health;
  • ageing and complex health;
  • women's health;
  • child health;
  • oncology and breast health;
  • dermatology and infectious diseases.

• At Year 5, you will be placed in general medical and surgical placements, general practice and acute medicine
• Where will clinical placement take place?
  • Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
  • Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Northern Care Alliance Foundation Trust
• Demographics of the NHS serving:
  • Largest NHS
  • significant South Asian, Black, and other minority groups, as well as areas of socioeconomic deprivation and high health need
• Top spending diseases: Cardiovascular, Cancer, Diabetes, Paediatrics and women’s health

For A101

• Resit of GCSE or A level is not accepted

For A100

• GCSE resit is accepted
• A level may only re-sit either Year 12 or Year 13.
• A level resit is for those with ABB at the first sitting and achieve A*A*A

Format: 5 MMI for both in person and online candidates and each station is 8 minutes long

Ethical and other issues

• A classmate asks you for answers to an upcoming test because they’re struggling.?
• You discover a friend has posted a patient photo on social media during work experience.
• In cases like Archie Battersbee, who should decide whether to withdraw life-sustaining treatment: parents, doctors, or the courts?
• What lessons should the NHS learn from the Lucy Letby case to improve patient safety?
• Do you think doctors should refuse treatment based on conscientious objection? Why or why not?
• How should the NHS allocate resources when treating patients with self-inflicted conditions?
• Discuss the ethical implications of using AI in healthcare for making diagnoses and treatment decisions.
• What ethical considerations arise from the use of CRISPR technology in genetic editing?
• What would you do if a patient disclosed they were a victim of abuse?

Matters of a medical interest

• AI is increasingly being used to diagnose diseases such as cancer. What are the potential benefits and risks of relying on AI in medicine?
• An increasing number of patients are using the internet for medical advice. How might this affect the doctor–patient relationship?
• The NHS faces challenges in funding and staffing. How should the government prioritise healthcare spending?
• What are the most significant challenges facing doctors today, and how do you plan to navigate them?
• If you had the opportunity to lead a medical research project at Manchester, what would you focus on and why?

Why do you want to be a doctor?

• why you want to study medicine rather than nursing or another caring profession.
• Studying medicine can be emotionally and academically demanding. What strategies will you use to maintain your wellbeing and motivation?
• Why have you chosen medicine as a career, and what personal experiences have reinforced your decision?
• Why do you believe Manchester’s problem-based learning (PBL) approach suits your learning style?
• How do you plan to manage the emotional challenges of being a doctor?

Care Experience

• Can you discuss a moment where you saw the importance of teamwork in healthcare?
• What did observing a doctor’s communication style teach you about patient care?
• What did your experience teach you about balancing empathy and objectivity?

Ability to communicate

• A 15-year-old patient refuses a vaccination that their parents consented to.
• A patient has missed several GP appointments for their blood pressure review.
• You’re working in a busy A&E and a relative becomes angry about the waiting time. How would you respond while maintaining professionalism?
• You’re leading a volunteer project, and a team member keeps arriving late. How would you deal with this while maintaining team morale?
• You’re given conflicting instructions from two senior team members.
  How would you resolve this professionally?
• Tell me about a time you supported someone in distress.
• Describe a time you worked as part of a team under pressure. How did you contribute, and what did you learn?
• How would you handle a situation where a team member disagrees with your approach during a clinical task?
• Provide an example of when you supported a weaker team member to achieve success.
• How do multidisciplinary teams in healthcare improve patient outcomes?
• Tell me about a time you led a team. How did you balance leadership with inclusivity?
• How do you address conflicts in a team setting while prioritizing patient care?
• How would you explain to a patient that you accidentally prescribed the wrong dosage of medication?
• A patient’s family is upset about a delayed surgery. How would you apologize and reassure them?
• How would you address a colleague behaving unethically in a clinical setting?
• A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion for religious reasons. How would you discuss their concerns?
• How would you explain a complex procedure to a non-medical person?