University of Plymouth: UCAT and Medical Course Entry Requirements

• Students who are planning to apply with an ATAR must email Plymouth University directly

UCAS Tariff:

• A*AA – AAB

A-Level:

• A*AA – AAB

GCSE:

• 7 GCSE passes at grades A-C/9-4

IB:

• Overall, 36-38 points

Cambridge Pre-U Diploma:

• D3, D3, D3 – D3, D3, M2

Scottish Advanced Highers:

• AAA-AAB

Prerequisite:

ATAR:

• Biology
• Second Science from:
  • Chemistry
  • OR Physics
  • OR Maths

A-Level (A*AA-AAA):

• Biology (Grade A)
• Second Science from (Grade A):
  • Chemistry
  • OR Physics
  • OR Maths
  • OR Psychology

GCSE:

• English Language
• Mathematics
• GCSE Double Award Science OR 2 single award science (Chemistry, Biology, and/or Physics)

IB:

• Higher Level 6:
  • Biology
  • Second science from:
    • Chemistry
    • OR Physics
    • OR Maths
    • OR Psychology

Cambridge Pre-U Diploma:

• Biology (D3)
• Second science from (D3):
  • Chemistry
  • OR Physics
  • OR Maths
  • OR Psychology

Scottish Advanced Highers:

• Biology (Grade A)
• Second Science from (Grade A):
  • Chemistry
  • OR Physics
  • OR Maths
  • OR Psychology
• Note: Scottish Highers are not accepted

Entry Requirements:

Acceptance is based on students’ academic results and UCAT results.

UCAT:

Students’ academic and UCAT results are used alongside each other and ranked to determine possible interview candidates. However, students still need to meet the minimum overall UCAT score requirement that is set annually by the Admissions Advisory Panel. Here is the cut-off UCAT mark from the previous years:

• 2018: 2400
• 2019: 2330
• 2020: 2390

Note: The University of Plymouth does not use students’ Situational Judgement scores in this process.

Personal Statements:

Personal statements aim to demonstrate students’ motivation and commitment to the medical profession. It should also demonstrate your understanding of the realities of the course and profession and your enthusiasm.

Application Process:

• Students are required to achieve the minimum academic standards covered above
• Students also need to sit the UCAT exam and score a high mark
• Students will need to write a Personal Statement to demonstrate their wide range of skills and attributes

Interview Criteria and Structure:

Students who achieved a high UCAT score and academic results will be invited for an interview.

• Criteria: Students are assessed on their personal attributes that allow them to become doctors. This includes integrity, honesty, motivation, and commitment to the medical profession, empathy, team-work, communication skills, problem-solving skills, reflectiveness, self-awareness, and leadership skills.
• Structure: The interview is structured into Multiple Mini Interviews. There will be 7 stations, each assessing different capabilities. These stations are not testing students’ medical or scientific knowledge, but instead, aims to explore students’ attributes, way of thinking and perspectives. The interview will take approximately 50 minutes.

Other options to entry:

• Non-direct school leavers (more than 5 years since achieving school-leavers qualifications):
  • The University of Plymouth uses the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) to offer Medical positions at the school. This is a 5.5 hour written test that assesses student’s reasonings in Humanities, Social Science, Biological Science, Physical Science, and Written Communication.
    The overall cut-off marks for each year changes, depending on the students’ marks.
    Note: Students who are invited to the interview rounds generally do well in across all sections.
    • 2016: 65
    • 2017: 63
    • 2018: 63
    • 2019: 63
  • Successful applicants will also need to sit the interviews. Information about the interviews is covered above.

• Students who are planning to apply with an ATAR must email University of Plymouth directly

A-Level:

• A*AA – AAB

GCSE:

• 7 GCSE passes at grades A-C/9-4

IB:

• Overall, 36-38

Cambridge Pre-U Diploma:

• D3, D3, M1

Scottish Advanced Highers:

• AAA-AAB

Prerequisite:

ATAR:

• Biology
• Second Science from:
  • Chemistry
  • OR Physics
  • OR Maths

A-Level:

• Biology (Grade A)
• Second Science from (Grade A):
  • Chemistry
  • OR Physics
  • OR Maths
  • OR Psychology

GCSE:

• English language
• Mathematics
• GCSE double award science OR 2 from single award (Chemistry, Biology, or Physics)

IB:

• Biology
• Second Science from:
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Maths
  • Psychology

Cambridge Pre-U Diploma:

• Biology (D3)
• Second Science from (D3):
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Maths
  • Psychology

Scottish Advanced Highers:

• Biology (Grade A)
• Second Science from (Grade A):
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Maths
  • Psychology

Entry Requirements:

Acceptance is based on students’ academic results and UCAT results.

UCAT:

Students’ academic and UCAT results are used alongside each other and ranked to determine possible interview candidates. However, students still need to meet the minimum overall UCAT score requirement that is set annually by the Admissions Advisory Panel. Here is the cut-off UCAT mark from the previous years:

• 2018: 2230
• 2019: 2190
• 2020: 2280

Note: The University of Plymouth does not use students’ Situational Judgement scores in this process.

Personal Statements:

Personal statements aim to demonstrate students’ motivation and commitment to the dentistry profession. It should also demonstrate your understanding of the realities of the course and profession and your enthusiasm.

Application Process:

• Students are required to achieve the minimum academic standards covered above
• Students also need to sit the UCAT exam and score a high mark
• Students will need to write a Personal Statement to demonstrate their wide range of skills and attributes

Interview Criteria and Structure:

Students who achieved a high UCAT score and academic results will be invited for an interview.

• Criteria: Students are assessed on their personal attributes that allow them to become dentists. This includes integrity, honesty, motivation, and commitment to the dentistry profession, empathy, team-work, communication skills, problem-solving skills, reflectiveness, self-awareness, and leadership skills.
• Structure: The interview is structured into Multiple Mini Interviews. There will be 7 stations, each assessing different capabilities. These stations are not testing students’ medical or scientific knowledge, but instead, aims to explore students’ attributes, way of thinking and perspectives. The interview will take approximately 50 minutes.

Other options to entry:

• Non-direct school leavers (more than 5 years since achieving school-leavers qualifications):
  • The University of Plymouth uses the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) to offer Medical positions at the school. This is a 5.5 hour written test that assesses student’s reasonings in Humanities, Social Science, Biological Science, Physical Science, and Written Communication.
    The overall cut-off marks for each year changes, depending on the students’ marks.
    Note: Students who are invited to the interview rounds generally do well across all sections.
    • 2016: 48
    • 2017: 54
    • 2018: 49
    • 2019: 56
  • Successful applicants will also need to sit the interviews. Information about the interviews is covered above.
• Graduates from University of Plymouth BSc (Hons) Dental Therapy and Hygiene (DTH):
  • Distinctions: Join Year 2 of BDS
  • Not distinction: Sit GAMSAT and join Year 1 of BDS