University College London: UCAT and Course Entry Information (2021 Update)

Thinking about studying Medicine at the University College London but unsure of what you need to do? Well, you can sit back and relax! This article explains everything you need to know.

This article explains the requirements, clinical placement opportunities and rankings of the University College London’s Medicine degree — find out what they have to offer and what you need in terms of academic achievements, UCAT results and work experience!

 

In this article on the University College London,

 

Overview of the University College London

The University College London is a public research university and is a member of the University of London. Medicine is taught at three central clinical campuses: Bloomsbury, Royal Free and Whittington. In fact, the Royal Free Hospital was used to provide clinical training to students from the London School of Medicine for Women — the first medical in the United Kingdom to train women as doctors.

UCL has a range of accommodation options for undergraduate students:

Rankings

Times Higher Ed RankQS RankingsAcademic Ranking of World Universities 
996

 

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If you want to be able to pick and choose which medical school you are going to, you’ll need to crush UCAT. Downloading our FREE UCAT Cheatsheet is your first step to campus.

 

University College London medical courses

 

Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (BSc MBBS)

Course CodeLengthCampus
A1006 Years Full TimeBloomsbury campus, Royal Free campus, Whittington campus

 

Academic requirements:

A Levels:

  • A*AA
  • Biology and Chemistry required.
  • GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6.

IB:

  • 39
  • Must include a total of 19 points in three higher level subjects including Biology and Chemistry, each with a minimum score 6.
  • Must not score below 5 in any subject.

Access to HE Diploma:

  • Pass in Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) from the College of West Anglia.
  • Minimum of 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit, all from Level 3 units.
  • Other courses may also be approved, but you need to contact the university directly before applying.

Cambridge Pre-U:

  • D2, D3, D3 in three Principal Subjects, including Chemistry and Biology.

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

  • 1,A,A at Advanced Highers OR A1,A at Advanced Higher and A,A,A at Higher
  • Must include Chemistry and Biology at Advanced Higher

 

If you are eligible for the Access UCL Scheme, these lowered entry requirements will apply for you:

A Levels:

  • AAB
  • Biology and Chemistry required.
  • GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade B or 6.

IB:

  • 36
  • Must include a total of 17 points in three higher level subjects including Biology and Chemistry.
  • Must not score below 5 in any subject.

 

Other international qualifications may be accepted. Check here with the drop-down menu under International applications.

 

Entry Requirements:

UCAT:

  • UCAT is NOT considered for your admission into the UCL medical programme.

BMAT:

  • There is no cut-off score for BMAT, however, entry into the medical programme is highly competitive and higher BMAT scores will improve the applicant’s chance of receiving an interview offer.
  • Average BMAT scores of UCL applicants interviewed (2021): 5.7, 5.8, 3.4A
  • Average BMAT scores of UCL applicants offered a position (2021): 5.7, 5.8, 3.4A
  • Note: BMAT scores are only valid for one year.

Work Experience:

  • The university does not require successful applicants to have any specific clinical work experience, but they advise applicants to refer to the Medical Schools Council’s work experience guide.
  • On their website, UCL states: “The ability to demonstrate and reflect on what you learn, about yourself and about medicine, through work experience is the main factor we are looking for when assessing your work experience. This ability to reflect on what you learnt from your work experience will be assessed via your personal statement, and may be assessed at interview.”
  • They have acknowledged the difficulty of finding clinical work experience during COVID-19 and have recommended the Medical Schools Council’s new work experience guide.
  • UCL may request applicants to provide references or letters to verify their work experience, so ensure that you keep records of such documents and be prepared to submit them if asked to.

Age

  • Minimum 18 years of age at the start of the medical programme (due to the early clinical contact).
  • Younger applicants will be considered for a deferred place or advised to reapply.

Other:

 

Application Process: 

  1. Ensure that you meet all the academic and non-academic entry requirements.
  2. Submit a UCAS application before the deadline.
  3. Register and sit the BMAT.
  4. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview and you must respond within 5 calendar days.
  5. Within 4 weeks of your interview, UCL will notify you whether your application is successful or not.

 

Interview Criteria and Structure: 

UCL invites their applicants for an interview based on the following factors:

  • Predicted and actual grades
  • Evidence of independent learning skills, e.g. taking Open University modules, qualifications such as the EPQ, extra-curricular reading and research
  • Previous volunteering and work experience (particularly if it involved healthcare or laboratory work, or contact with the sick, disabled, very young or elderly)
  • A positive attitude and motivation to study medicine
  • Other interests that “broaden the general education of the candidate”, e.g. music, travel, sports
  • Evidence of teamwork, leadership and communication skills
  • The referee’s assessment
  • BMAT score

Interview structure and timing:

  • Interviews are conducted between December and March
  • For entry in 2022, interviews will be held online.
    • There will be two interviewers in the panel and the interview should last for around 20 minutes.
    • Applicants will be asked a series of structured questions and scored based on the criteria listed below.

During the interview, applicants will be assessed and scored for the following qualities:

  • Academic curiosity and interest in healthcare
  • Motivation for and understanding of the course and career in medicine
  • Problem-solving and reasoning ability
  • Professional attitudes and values (e.g. flexibility, integrity, empathy, honesty, conscientiousness and compassion)
  • Teamwork, leadership, resilience and individual strengths
  • Communication skills (e.g. verbal ability, listening skills, eye contact)

 

Clinical placement information

Years 1 to 2

Students will undertake Clinical and Professional Practice (CPP) modules that involve clinical placements in general practice or community health settings.

Year 3

Third-year UCL medical students will complete their integrated Bachelor of Science, so they will focus on investigating research and scientific techniques in their chosen topics.

Year 4

Students will spend time in hospitals, community health and general practices settings in three clinical attachments. They will have the opportunity to learn about community-based care, ward-based care and emergency care.

Year 5

For each of the three modules, students will attend a twelve-week clinical placement. They will have the chance to learn about specialities in child and family health; breast, dermatology, obstetrics and gynaecology; sexual health, urology; cancer medicine, ophthalmology, palliative care and psychiatry.

Year 6

Students should be able to apply their prior learning to their growing clinical experience, and reach the standards expected of a Foundation Doctor in their final sets of longer clinical attachments.

 

Associate teaching hospitals

  • Barnet Hospital
  • Basildon University Hospital
  • Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital
  • Heart Hospital
  • Lister Hospital
  • Luton and Dunstable University Hospital
  • National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
  • North Middlesex University Hospital
  • Royal Free Hospital
  • Watford General Hospital
  • Whittington Hospital
  • University College Hospital

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