How to apply

The deadline for applications to study MBChB Medicine and Surgery (A100) and MBChB Medicine and Surgery with a Gateway Year (A104) for 2025 entry is 15th October 2024. Applications should be made through UCAS.

Selection process

All applicants to Lancaster Medical School are considered using a four-stage selection process.

In addition to demonstrating an excellent academic track record (see below), you must have engaged in some relevant work experience and undertaken voluntary work, preferably in a caring environment. You must write about these experiences in your personal statement and reflect on what you learned, both about being a doctor and about yourself from these experiences.

Changes to 2025 applications

All 2024 entry applicants for the MBChB course will undertake the BMAT aptitude test, but from 2025 Lancaster Medical School will be using the UCAT as part of our application process. This test must be taken in the year of application. More information on how this will be used in our selection processes can be found in the UCAT tab below. 

Stage One: Academic aptitude

Applications are assessed against our entry requirements, considering prior academic achievement and predicted grades. Only those who meet our academic entry requirements or are predicted at least AAB at A Level (or equivalent in other qualifications) alongside sufficient GCSE qualifications will progress to Stage 2.

All applicants will be expected to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT).

Stage Two: University Clinical Aptitude Test

For 2025 entry onwards, all applicants must take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) to be eligible for consideration at Lancaster Medical School. This must be taken in the summer testing window prior to application. More information about UCAT, how to register, and how to prepare for the test can be found on the

Registration and taking the test

You must register to be able to take UCAT. Registration is separate from the UCAS application process. Account creation opens on 14th May 2024, with tests available to book from 18th June. The testing window will run from 8th July to 26th September 2024.

You can find a timeline of key dates on the

Preparing for UCAT

The UCAT consists of five separately timed subtests in multiple-choice format:

Verbal Reasoning: assesses your ability to critically evaluate information presented in a written form

Decision Making: assess your ability to make sound decisions and judgements using complex information

Quantitative Reasoning: assesses your ability to critically evaluate information presented in a numerical form

Abstract Reasoning: assesses your use of convergent and divergent thinking to infer relationships from information

Situational Judgement: measures your capacity to understand real world situations and to identify critical factors and appropriate behaviour in dealing with them

UCAT has produced a number of resources aimed at helping you to prepare for the test, including tutorials for the different subtests as well as question banks to practice and familiarise yourself with the test.

UCAT recommends that candidates should "use the to support their test preparation". All of the resources on the UCAT webpages are free to access.

How is UCAT used in the selection process?

Lancaster Medical School will be using the UCAT as part of its selection processes for the first time in the 2024-25 admissions cycle.

Applicants will be ranked according to their overall UCAT score. We anticipate selecting from candidates who have an overall score within the top 7 deciles, and with an SJT score between 1 and 3.

We will consider contextual information in cases where a candidate's UCAT score is borderline. If you think you meet our Widening Participation criteria, then please ensure you complete the Initial Applicant Survey (IAS), which will be sent to you following submission of your UCAS application.

Stage Three: Multiple Mini Interviews

No applicant will be offered a place without being interviewed. The Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) will usually be held in January and February and are currently held remotely via Microsoft Teams. The exact timing of the MMI days will vary from year to year.

The MMI consists of 12-15 different 'stations', most of which will be five minutes long. Some stations will consist of a short interview, where you may be asked questions about your career choice, work experience or suitability for a medical career. At others, you may be asked to read a short paragraph or watch a short video clip, take some notes and then discuss at a subsequent station. An additional 20 minute station will involve group work and will assess your suitability for our problem-based learning curriculum. Applicants who are selected for interview will be sent detailed information prior to their interview. The applicant’s performance at each station is assessed by trained interviewers, against clearly defined criteria. Interviewers include members of University staff, NHS clinicians, local GPs, patients and public representatives, and medical students.

Applicants are assessed at each station and given a score for their performance at that station. The station scores are summed and applicants ranked according to their overall MMI score. Those with the highest score will be made an offer of a place to study medicine. All offers are conditional upon being deemed Fit to Practice (stage four).

Stage Four: Fitness to practise

The professional body that governs medical practice in the UK, the General Medical Council (GMC), has specific requirements to protect staff and patient safety. In accordance with these requirements, all medical students must have the ability to function as a fully competent doctor and fulfil the rigorous demands of professional fitness to practise. Applicants are advised to familiarise themselves with the expectations of medical students to ensure that they are able to comply with these requirements before applying.

Fitness to practise

Fitness to Practise Accordion Accordion

Application timeline

Pre-Application

14 May:

UCAT account creation opens. Bursary and Access Arrangement applications open.

18 June:

UCAT test booking opens.

8 July:

UCAT testing begins.

September

15 September

UCAT Access Arrangements application deadline

19 September

Test booking deadline and UCAT account creation closes

26 September

Final UCAT test day

27 September:

UCAT Bursary Scheme application deadline

October

15 October

UCAS deadline for all applications to A100 and A104.

16 October to end of November

Stage One: Academic screening of all applicants. Only those who meet our minimum academic entry requirements will progress to Stage Two.

November

Early November

UCAT test results are delivered to universities

Stage Two: Applicants ranked according to UCAT score. Top-ranking applicants progress to Stage Three of the selection process.

January to February

Stage Three: Interview period. Applicants who meet our academic entry requirements (Stage One) and have a competitive UCAT score (Stage Two) are called for interview.

Applicants will be asked to complete our Supplementary Information Form and provide evidence in support of our Widening Participation criteria if applicable.

March onwards

After all interviews are completed, all applicants are ranked according to their Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) score. Offers are made to those with the highest MMI scores.

Conditional and Unconditional offers are confirmed on UCAS.

June

Unconditional and Conditional offer holders are sent information about accommodation, finance and registration.

August

A Level results are published.

Conditional offer holders who have achieved the required grades become Unconditional.

September

All Unconditional offer holders are sent further information about beginning their studies at Lancaster Medical School.

Admissions statistics

Find out more about our applicant statistics and how your BMAT score is used in our selection process

Admissions and Biomedical Admissions Test Accordion Accordion

Widening participation

The Lancaster Medical School is committed to recruiting students from all backgrounds, to ensure that our future doctors reflect the diversity within our society. Find out more about the range of different initiatives available at 91社区.

Widening participation

Information for applicants, their parents and advisors, which brings together a variety of different information into one comprehensive document that explains our policy with respect to admissions to Medicine and Surgery.

Our admissions policy changes from time-to-time. You can download the current policy here.

Read our admissions policy

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