Here is a comprehensive reference table. This condenses everything into a clear school-by-school overview so you can quickly compare medical schools across the UK. Ping me any questions you have!
UK Medical Schools: Shortlisting Emphasis Table
| Medical School | GCSE Weight | A-Level / UCAS Tariff Weight | UCAT Weight | Other Factors | Notes |
| Aberdeen | ✔ (academic profile) | ✔ (part of 30%) | ✔ (20%) | Interview 50% | 30% academics + 20% UCAT + 50% interview. |
| Anglia Ruskin (ARU) | Min. only | Min. only | Primary | – | UCAT ranking once minimum academics met. |
| Aston | ✔ (heavily weighted in points) | ✔ | ✔ (less weighted) | – | GCSEs/A-Levels strongly emphasised. |
| Bangor (North Wales) | Min. only | Min. only | ✔ (no fixed cut-off) | Context | Part of a selection matrix. |
| Barts (QMUL) | ✔ (tariff derived from GCSE + A-Level) | 50% | 50% | – | UCAT and tariff combined equally. |
| Birmingham | Heavy | ✔ | ✔ | Context | Complex weighting; GCSEs often ~45% of shortlist score. |
| Bristol | Min. only | Min. only | Primary | – | UCAT ranking sets interview threshold. |
| Brighton & Sussex (BSMS) | Min. only | Min. only | ✔ | – | UCAT considered for interviews. |
| Brunel (International only) | Min. only | Min. only | ✔ | – | Uses UCAT for MBBS (international). |
| Buckingham (Private) | N/A | ✔ | ✖ | Interview + test | UCAT not routinely central. |
| Cambridge | ✔ (very high GCSEs expected) | ✔ (predicted/achieved AAA) | ✔ | Interviews, admissions tests | UCAT now required post-BMAT; but still secondary to academics + interview. |
| Cardiff | Very heavy | ✔ | Used minimally | – | Top GCSE scorer among UK schools. |
| Dundee | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | – | UCAT required; no cut-off; holistic review. |
| Edinburgh | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ (deciles, SJT) | Context | Uses UCAT deciles + SJT; minimum ~1650 overall. |
| Exeter | Min. only | 75% | 25% | – | One of the most A-Level heavy. |
| Glasgow | Min. only | Min. only | Primary | Context | Interviews allocated by UCAT threshold. |
| Hull York (HYMS) | 30 pts | ✔ | 40 pts | SJT (15 pts) | Clear points-based system. |
| Imperial | Min. only | Min. only | ✔ | Academic screening | UCAT replaces BMAT; combined with academic checks. |
| Keele | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ (quintiles) | Personal Statement | Shortlisting blends UCAT with PS review. |
| Kent & Medway (KMMS) | ✔ (contextualised) | ✔ (contextualised) | ✔ | Context | Uses contextualised scoring algorithm + UCAT. |
| King’s College London | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Personal Statement | Very holistic; no fixed weighting. |
| Lancaster | Min. only | Min. only | ✔ | – | UCAT used post-BMAT removal. |
| Leeds | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | – | Combines achieved/predicted grades + UCAT. |
| Leicester | ✔ | ✔ | 50% | – | 50:50 weighting between academics and UCAT. |
| Lincoln (Nottingham at Lincoln) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | – | Same points system as Nottingham. |
| Liverpool | Heavy (best 9 GCSEs) | ✔ | ✔ | – | GCSEs are scored explicitly. |
| Manchester | Min. only | Min. only | Primary | – | UCAT threshold set yearly for interviews. |
| Newcastle | Min. only | Min. only | Primary | – | Known for UCAT dominance. |
| Nottingham | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | – | Points-based: GCSEs + UCAT combined. |
| Oxford | ✔ (high GCSEs expected) | ✔ (AAA predictions typical) | ✔ | Interviews | UCAT replaces BMAT, but academics remain key. |
| Plymouth | Min. only | Min. only | Primary | – | UCAT ranking used. |
| Queen’s Belfast (QUB) | Heavy | ✔ | ✔ | – | GCSE points + UCAT points added. |
| Sheffield | Min. only | Min. only | Primary | – | UCAT threshold published each year. |
| Southampton | Min. only | Min. only | Primary | – | UCAT score decides Selection Day invites. |
| St Andrews | Min. only | Min. only | Primary | – | Interview shortlist based on UCAT. |
| St George’s (City St George’s) | Min. only | Min. only | Primary | SJT | Requires minimum UCAT subtest scores. |
| Sunderland | Min. only | Min. only | ✔ | Interview selection tool | Top 8 UCAT deciles considered. |
| UCL | Min. only | Min. only | Primary | – | UCAT ranking after academics check. |
| UEA (Norwich) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | – | No cut-off; UCAT + academics used together. |
| UCLan | Min. only | Min. only | ✔ (UK applicants) | – | UCAT required since 2024 for home applicants. |
| Warwick (GEM) | – | Degree required | Primary (UCAT) | – | GEM only; UCAT must meet VR mean. |
| Swansea (GEM) | – | Degree required | ✖ | GAMSAT only | UCAT not used. |
| Ulster (GEM) | – | Degree required | ✔ (or GAMSAT) | – | Accepts either UCAT or GAMSAT. |
| Surrey (GEM) | – | Degree required | ✔ (or GAMSAT) | – | Accepts either exam. |
| Three Counties (Worcester GEM) | – | Degree required | ✔ (or GAMSAT) | – | Flexible entry tests. |
| Cumbria (Pears School, GEM) | – | Degree required | ✔ (or GAMSAT) | – | UCAT or GAMSAT accepted. |
Key:
- Heavy = scored/weighted explicitly (important determinant of shortlist ranking).
- Min. only = must meet basic requirement (e.g. AAA at A-level, passes at GCSE) but not scored further.
- Primary = main determinant of shortlisting (UCAT-led).