Barts and The London School of Medicine Medicine Entry Requirements

Getting Into Barts and The London School of Medicine — What You're Up Against

Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, part of Queen Mary University of London, is one of the most sought-after medical schools in the country. It receives thousands of applications each year for approximately 270 places on its standard MBBS programme, making the competition fierce even by London standards. What separates successful applicants is rarely grades alone — virtually everyone applying holds or is predicted A*AA or above. The real differentiators are a strong UCAT score, a personal statement that demonstrates genuine clinical insight, and performance in a Multiple Mini Interview that rewards composure, ethical reasoning, and communication under pressure. Understanding how Barts weights each of these elements is the first step to building an application that actually stands a chance.

A-Level and Academic Requirements

The standard offer for Barts and The London School of Medicine is A*AA at A-Level, with Chemistry as a required subject. Biology is strongly recommended and, in practice, the vast majority of successful applicants hold both Chemistry and Biology at A-Level. The third subject is flexible, though it should be a rigorous academic discipline — humanities, mathematics, and the physical sciences are all well regarded.

If you are studying Scottish Highers, the equivalent offer is typically AAAAB or AAAAA at Advanced Higher level. For the International Baccalaureate, Barts generally requires 38 points or above, with 6,6,6 at Higher Level including Chemistry.

Predicted grades matter significantly at the shortlisting stage. Barts uses a combination of academic performance and UCAT score to decide who is invited to interview, so a candidate predicted AAA rather than A*AA may find themselves at a disadvantage even if their UCAT score is competitive. If your school has concerns about your predicted grades, address this early and directly with your teachers — there is rarely room for underestimation at this level of competition.

GCSEs are also considered. While there is no formal minimum, a strong GCSE profile — particularly in science and mathematics — signals academic consistency. Applicants with several grade 9s or A*s at GCSE tend to be better placed, especially when UCAT scores are close between candidates.

UCAT Strategy for Barts and The London School of Medicine

Barts and The London School of Medicine uses the UCAT as a significant shortlisting tool, and it is one of the most competitive London schools in terms of the scores it expects. While the school does not publish a fixed cut-off, applicants who are invited to interview typically score in the upper deciles — a combined score below 2700 or 2750 is unlikely to be competitive, and many successful candidates score considerably higher than this.

The UCAT is sat in the summer before application, usually between July and September. Sitting earlier in the window is generally advisable — you will be fresher from exam season, and you leave time to resit if your score falls short of expectations (though you can only sit the UCAT once per admissions cycle, so preparation before your first attempt is essential).

Barts considers all five UCAT subtests, including the Situational Judgement Test. Do not neglect SJT preparation on the assumption that it is easier to score well in — a Band 4 SJT result can undermine an otherwise strong application. Aim for Band 1 or Band 2 as a minimum target.

Structured, consistent preparation over six to eight weeks tends to produce better results than intensive cramming. Use official UCAT practice materials alongside timed mock tests to build both accuracy and speed across all subtests.

The Barts and The London School of Medicine Interview — Format, Style, and How to Prepare

Barts and The London School of Medicine uses a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. This means you rotate through a series of short, timed stations — typically around eight to ten — each presenting a different scenario or question type. You are assessed by a different interviewer at each station, which means a poor performance at one station does not define your overall score.

Stations at Barts MMIs commonly include ethical dilemmas, role-play scenarios, questions about your motivation for medicine, and tasks that assess communication or empathy. You may be asked to respond to a scenario involving a patient, a colleague, or a member of the public — the assessors are looking at how you think through problems, not whether you arrive at a predetermined answer.

Preparation should focus on the following areas:

• Understanding core medical ethics principles — autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice — and being able to apply them to realistic scenarios
• Practising structured responses under timed conditions, ideally with a partner or tutor who can give honest feedback
• Reflecting on your work experience so you can speak fluently and specifically about what you observed and what it taught you
• Staying current with NHS issues and healthcare policy, particularly as they relate to London and urban healthcare settings
• Developing the ability to listen carefully in role-play stations — many candidates talk too much and miss what the scenario is actually asking them to address

Barts interviews are conducted in person. Dress professionally, arrive early, and treat every interaction — including with administrative staff — as part of how you present yourself.

Building a Barts and The London School of Medicine-Worthy Application

Your personal statement needs to do more than list what you have done — it needs to show what you understood from your experiences and how those insights have shaped your decision to study medicine. Barts is a research-active institution with strong links to Barts Health NHS Trust, one of the largest NHS trusts in England. Demonstrating awareness of what it means to train in a large urban teaching hospital environment, and showing genuine curiosity about the science underpinning clinical practice, will resonate with the admissions team.

Work experience does not need to be exotic, but it does need to be reflective. Shadowing a GP, volunteering in a care home, or working as a healthcare assistant are all valuable — what matters is that you can articulate what you witnessed and what questions it raised for you. Barts values applicants who have thought seriously about the realities of the profession, not just its appeal.

Extracurricular activities should be mentioned where they demonstrate relevant qualities — leadership, resilience, teamwork — but do not pad your statement with activities that have no connection to your development as a future doctor. Every sentence should serve a purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I sit the UCAT if I am applying to Barts and The London School of Medicine?

Aim to sit the UCAT in July or early August. This gives you the best chance of performing well while your exam preparation mindset is still active, and it ensures your score is ready well before the UCAS deadline in mid-October. You cannot resit the UCAT within the same admissions cycle, so thorough preparation before your sitting is essential.

What UCAT score is actually competitive for Barts?

Barts does not publish a formal threshold, but based on the competitiveness of the school, a combined cognitive score of around 2750 or above is a reasonable target. Candidates scoring in the top 20–25% of all UCAT sitters are generally better placed. A strong SJT result — Band 1 or Band 2 — is also important and should not be treated as an afterthought.

What does Barts and The London look for in a personal statement?

Barts wants to see evidence of genuine reflection on clinical experience, intellectual curiosity about medicine as a science, and a clear understanding of what working in a large NHS trust environment involves. Statements that read as a list of achievements without analysis are unlikely to stand out. Focus on what you learned, what surprised you, and what questions your experiences left you with.

Do predicted grades affect whether I am shortlisted for interview?

Yes. Barts uses predicted grades alongside UCAT scores to shortlist applicants for interview. Being predicted AAA rather than A*AA can put you at a disadvantage, even with a strong UCAT score. If you believe your predicted grades do not accurately reflect your ability, speak to your school as early as possible — ideally before the end of Year 12 — to ensure your teachers have the evidence they need to predict you accurately.

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