UCAT 900 to 1,330: where can you apply for Medicine?
Every total here is below 1,640, the lowest line any UK medical school publishes for a standard rest-of-UK applicant, and it misses the confirmed line at all 16 schools that publish one. It is the 1st decile on the preliminary 2026 boundaries. It is also below every figure any school has published for any route at all, contextual schemes included. Medicine is still your decision to attempt, but read the alternatives first. Every verdict comes from the same rules as the school finder, which adds your grades, GCSEs, SJT band and contextual indicators.
This band, across all 34 schools
Read at 900, the bottom of the band, for a standard rest-of-UK applicant
- 0
- competitive
- 0
- possible
- 34
- out of reach
- 14
- read against no published line
If Medicine this cycle does not work out
A score in this band is below every UCAT line published for a standard rest-of-UK applicant, which means the schools that use a threshold would not reach your application at all, and the schools that rank would place it near the bottom. Contextual and home-nation routes are the exception and are set out below. Applying anyway is your decision and people do get in from unlikely positions, but going in with a plan for the other outcome is the sensible thing to do.
A gap year and reapply
The UCAT is sat fresh every year and is the part of the application most open to improvement, so a second attempt with a year of preparation behind it is the most direct route back to Medicine.
The catch. Only worth it if the year is productive: paid work in a caring role, sustained volunteering, or something that strengthens the application. If you are resitting A-levels as well, check each school's resit policy first, because several will only consider a resit applicant who met a minimum at the first sitting, and others will not consider resits at all.
Study Medicine abroad
European and other international medical schools admit on different criteria, often without the UCAT, and a primary medical qualification from a recognised school can be registered with the GMC after the licensing assessment.
The catch. Check GMC recognition and the licensing route before you commit, along with fees, language of teaching and how clinical placements work. Coming back to the UK to practise is a process, not a formality.
An allied health course, then graduate-entry Medicine
Biomedical science, pharmacology, nursing, physiotherapy, paramedic science and similar degrees give a strong scientific and clinical foundation, and graduate entry is a real route in with that behind you.
The catch. Two catches, both real. Allied courses generally have lower job prospects and earning potential than Medicine if you stop there, so you have to be willing to do the degree for its own sake. And graduate-entry Medicine is more competitive than standard entry, with far fewer places.
A different degree entirely
If Medicine is not the only thing that interests you, a degree you actually want to do, at a university you want to be at, is a better three years than a holding pattern.
The catch. Graduate entry to Medicine from a non-science degree is possible but harder, and the decision is effectively final in a way the other three are not.
Ranked as we would rank them, not as a rule. Which one fits depends on why the score came out where it did and on what you want from the next three years. The schools that rank rather than screen are listed further down this page: read those too before you decide.
If you have a contextual flag, this is not the whole picture
Every verdict on this page is read for a standard, non-contextual rest-of-UK applicant. Some schools invite very low scores through their contextual and widening-access routes, so a low UCAT is not the end of it if you qualify. BSMS set no contextual threshold at all for 2026 entry and interviewed a contextual applicant on 1,340; Cardiff, Dundee and St Andrews all interviewed below 1,640 on one route or another. No school has published a figure as low as this band, so there is nothing to point at here — but the lowest that exist, from 1,340 up, are on the band above. Each school confirms eligibility itself, and the finder checks your indicators against each school’s own criteria.
Unlikely28
Under the line, or so far under a decile rule that only a shift in the final deciles would help.
Competitive from 2,377 to 2,407 · 1,477 to 1,047 under the low end
900 to 1,330 is below anything this school's own figures show reaching an interview (nothing under 2,000). That is not a published rule, but it is a very long shot.
Competition (2025 entry, all applicants): 20–25% interviewed · about 45% of those interviewed
Confirmed line 2,320 · 1,420 to 990 under it
900 to 1,330 is below the 2,320 cutoff for 2026 entry.
Competition (2025 entry, Home applicants): interviews not published · 37% of applicants offered
Confirmed line 2,240 · 1,340 to 910 under it
900 to 1,330 is below the 2,240 cutoff for 2026 entry.
Competition (2025 entry, Home applicants): 59% interviewed · 90% of those offered
Confirmed line 2,190 · 1,290 to 860 under it
900 to 1,330 is below the 2,190 cutoff for 2026 entry.
Competition (2025 entry, Home applicants): 66% interviewed · 67% of those offered
Competitive from 2,150 to 2,300 · 1,250 to 820 under the low end
Below the 2,150 low end of the typical range.
Competition (2025 entry, all applicants): 75–85% interviewed · about 28% of those interviewed
8th decile and above competitive
Birmingham scores the UCAT decile out of 4.0 against GCSEs out of 4.5 and a contextual score, then ranks the total. For 2025 entry its standard interviewees ranged from 2,680 to 3,460 out of 3,600 with a median of 2,940; contextual interviewees went down to 2,430.
900 to 1,330 is below even the 1,900 to 2,010 the lowest interviewee works out at on our conversion of those figures to the current scale, so our reading is that chances here are slim.
Competition (2025 entry, Home applicants): 71% interviewed · 80% of those offered
8th decile and above competitive
Queen's scores the UCAT centile band out of 9 against nine GCSEs out of 36, so the GCSEs carry four times the weight. It has never published applicants' UCAT scores, only the points threshold, which ran from 30 to 38 out of the old 42 between 2015 and 2025.
A score in the 1st decile is near the bottom of the ranking, so chances here are slim whatever the rest of the application looks like.
Competition (2023 entry, all applicants): interviews not published · 43% of those offered
Confirmed line 2,060 · 1,160 to 730 under it
900 to 1,330 is below the 2,060 cutoff for 2026 entry.
Competition (2026 entry, Home applicants): 64% interviewed · 59% of those offered
7th decile and above competitive
Cardiff scores eight GCSEs out of 24 and adds only 1 to 3 points for the UCAT decile, so GCSEs decide and the 7th decile already earns full marks. For 2026 entry, already on the current scale, its Home interviewees ranged from 1,880 to 2,630 and averaged 2,017.
900 to 1,330 is below even the 1,880 the lowest interviewee works out at, so our reading is that chances here are slim.
Competition (2026 entry, all applicants): 41% interviewed · 76% of those offered
Confirmed line 2,010 · 1,110 to 680 under it
900 to 1,330 is below the 2,010 cutoff for 2026 entry.
Confirmed line 1,990 · 1,090 to 660 under it
900 to 1,330 is below the 1,990 cutoff for 2026 entry.
Competition (2026 entry, Home applicants): 54% interviewed · 84% of those offered
Confirmed line 1,990 · 1,090 to 660 under it
900 to 1,330 is below the 1,990 cutoff for 2026 entry.
Competition (2025 entry, rest-of-UK applicants): 21% interviewed · 64% of those offered
Confirmed line 1,960 · 1,060 to 630 under it
900 to 1,330 is below the 1,960 cutoff for 2026 entry.
Competition (2025 entry, Home applicants): 95% interviewed · 37% of those offered
Confirmed line 1,920 · 1,020 to 590 under it
900 to 1,330 is below the 1,920 cutoff for 2026 entry.
Competition (2025 entry, UK applicants): 63% interviewed · 56% of those offered
Confirmed line 1,900 · 1,000 to 570 under it
900 to 1,330 is below 1,900, the lowest score invited for 2026 entry.
Competition (2024 entry, Home applicants): 35% interviewed · 40% of those offered
Competitive from 1,900 to 2,000 · 1,000 to 570 under the low end
Below the 1,900 low end of the typical range.
Competition (2024 entry, all applicants): 64% interviewed · 69% of those offered
St George's, University of London
Confirmed line 1,880 · 980 to 550 under it
900 to 1,330 is below the 1,880 cutoff for 2026 entry.
Competition (2025 entry, Home applicants): 60% interviewed · 74% of those offered
Competitive from 1,840 to 1,870 · 940 to 510 under the low end
Below the 1,840 low end of the typical range.
Competition (2025 entry, Home non-contextual applicants): 70% interviewed · 74% of those offered
Confirmed line 1,720 · 820 to 390 under it
900 to 1,330 is below 1,720, the lowest score invited for 2026 entry.
Competition (2026 entry, rest-of-UK school leavers): 74% interviewed · 83% of those offered
Confirmed line 1,640 · 740 to 310 under it
900 to 1,330 is below 1,640, the lowest score invited for 2026 entry.
Competition (2025 entry, rest-of-UK applicants): 36% interviewed
No published figure
Aston scores the UCAT out of 12 against six GCSEs out of 24, so the GCSEs decide and the UCAT cannot make up for them. For 2025 entry its Home interviewees ranged from 2,460 to 3,500 out of 3,600 and averaged 2,743, but none of them scored under 22 of 24 on GCSEs.
900 to 1,330 is below even the 1,750 to 1,850 the lowest interviewee works out at on our conversion of those figures to the current scale, so our reading is that chances here are slim.
Ranked by decile
Dundee weighs academics 60% and the UCAT decile 40%, with no minimum. For 2026 entry, already on the current scale, its lowest rest-of-UK applicant interviewed had 1,610 and they averaged 1,963.
900 to 1,330 is below even the 1,610 the lowest interviewee works out at, so our reading is that chances here are slim.
Competition (2026 entry, rest-of-UK applicants): 38% interviewed · 69% of those offered
Ranked by decile
Exeter's score moves 4 points per UCAT decile against 10 points per A-level grade, out of 90. It has released no applications, interviews, offers or cut-off score at all, so there is nothing to compare a score against.
A score in the 1st decile is near the bottom of the ranking, so chances here are slim whatever the rest of the application looks like.
Ranked by decile
HYMS awards 35 of its 100 selection points for the UCAT decile, with 35 for GCSEs, 15 for the SJT band and 15 contextual. It records only your decile, never your score, and says historical scores are of no relevance; the score that reached interview for 2025 entry was 62.67 of 100.
A score in the 1st decile is near the bottom of the ranking, so chances here are slim whatever the rest of the application looks like.
Competition (2025 entry, Home applicants): 57% interviewed · 87% of those offered
Ranked by decile
King's scores the UCAT as a percentile among its own applicants, worth 100 of its 150 points, so the score does most of the work but there is no line. In the 2024 cycle its UK interviewees ranged from 2,340 to 3,510 out of 3,600 and averaged 3,007, against 2,759 for all UK applicants.
900 to 1,330 is below even the 1,660 to 1,760 the lowest interviewee works out at on our conversion of those figures to the current scale, so our reading is that chances here are slim.
Competition (2024 entry, Home applicants): 40% interviewed · 77% of those offered
No published figure
Nottingham bands each UCAT subtest into points (Verbal doubled) for 50 points against 32 for GCSEs, and says it cannot predict where the line will fall. For 2025 entry its Home applicants ranged from 2,200 to 3,460 out of 3,600 with a median of 2,740, and 844 of 1,216 were interviewed.
900 to 1,330 is below even the 1,560 to 1,650 the lowest interviewee works out at on our conversion of those figures to the current scale, so our reading is that chances here are slim.
Competition (2025 entry, Home applicants): 69% interviewed · 75% of those offered
No published figure
Peninsula sets a threshold once applications are in and will not confirm it in advance. Its published Home cut-offs were 2,680, 2,210 and 2,600 out of 3,600 for 2023, 2024 and 2025 entry, a swing of 470 in three years.
900 to 1,330 is below even the 1,570 to 1,660 the lowest interviewee works out at on our conversion of those figures to the current scale, so our reading is that chances here are slim.
Competition (2025 entry, Home applicants): 76% interviewed · 67% of those offered
University of East Anglia (UEA)
No published figure
UEA has no cut-off and ranks on the total twice: once for the interview, then again with the interview score for the offer. For 2025 entry the lowest non-contextual Home applicant interviewed had 2,080 out of 3,600 and interviewees averaged 2,743.
900 to 1,330 is below even the 1,480 to 1,560 the lowest interviewee works out at on our conversion of those figures to the current scale, so our reading is that chances here are slim.
Competition (2025 entry, Home applicants): 69% interviewed · 86% of those offered
Impossible6
Far enough under a published line that the school would not consider the application.
Barts and The London (Queen Mary)
9th decile and above competitive
Queen Mary rejects anything below the fourth national decile, then adds the UCAT to the UCAS tariff for your predicted grades and ranks the sum 50/50, so a strong prediction can carry a lower score. Its 2023-cycle Home line was 2,720 out of 3,600, and its example pairs show a tariff of 260 getting an interview on 2,410 while a tariff of 166 needed 3,050.
Below the 4th decile is not considered here, and 900 to 1,330 is 941 under the 4th-decile boundary (1,841).
Competition (2023 entry, Home applicants): 53% interviewed · 57% of those offered
Confirmed line 2,120 · 1,220 to 790 under it
900 to 1,330 is below the 1,800 minimum published for 2027 entry. Applications under it are not considered.
Competition (2025 entry, all applicants): 55% interviewed · 65% of those offered
Minimum 1,850 (confirmed), competitive from 2,100 · 1,200 to 770 under the competitive figure
900 to 1,330 is below the 1,850 minimum published for 2027 entry. Applications under it are not considered.
Competition (2025 entry, rest-of-UK applicants): 45% interviewed · 68% of those offered
6th decile and above competitive
Leicester rejects the bottom two deciles, then scores the UCAT out of 48 against eight GCSEs out of 48. For 2026 entry, already on the current scale, its lowest Home interviewee had 1,820 and they averaged 2,051; the score that guaranteed an interview was 79 of 96.
Below the 3rd decile is not considered here, and 900 to 1,330 is 851 under the 3rd-decile boundary (1,751).
Competition (2026 entry, Home school leavers with predicted grades): 77% interviewed · 53% of those offered
3rd decile and above competitive
Sunderland uses the UCAT as a threshold only — the top eight deciles, with SJT Band 1 to 3 — and does not rank on it at all; a 14-point work-experience tool decides who is interviewed. Its own conversions of its past minimums to the current scale were 1,650 to 1,690.
Below the 3rd decile is not considered here, and 900 to 1,330 is 851 under the 3rd-decile boundary (1,751).
Competition (2026 entry, Home applicants): 66% interviewed · 63% of those offered
Confirmed line 1,700 · 800 to 370 under it
900 to 1,330 is below the 1,700 minimum published for 2027 entry. Applications under it are not considered.
Competition (2025 entry, Home applicants): 42% interviewed · 53% of those offered
Compiled 17 September 2026 from the universities’ published statistics and Freedom of Information responses; each school’s page says when its figures were last confirmed. Check the school’s own admissions page before you apply. If a figure here is out of date, tell me and I will fix it.