A Level Requirements for Medicine: What A Levels for Medicine? Best A Levels for Medicine: Subjects Required
- The Medic Life
- Feb 28
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Message from the Founder -> "Welcome! I’m Dr. Bakhtar Ahmad, founder of The Medic Life and a practising UK doctor. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about A Level Requirements for Medicine!"
Aspiring medical students should plan their A-level subjects carefully. Most UK medical schools expect high grades in science A-levels, especially Chemistry and Biology. In practice, this means taking Chemistry and Biology plus a third subject (often Physics or Mathematics) to keep your university options as wide as possible. Entry is highly competitive – typical offers are AAA or AAA* – so choose subjects you excel in to maximise your chances.
Chemistry: Nearly all UK medical schools list Chemistry as essential. About 24 schools explicitly require a Chemistry A-level. It’s common for top universities to demand an A or A* in Chemistry because of its importance in medical science.
Biology: Biology is also a core requirement for many courses. Most schools either require Biology or one of Biology/Chemistry. In around 14 schools you must take both Biology and Chemistry. Even if some schools are flexible, having Biology keeps nearly every option open.
Physics/Maths (Third Science): Taking Physics or Mathematics as your third A-level is highly advantageous. These subjects sharpen analytical and quantitative skills useful in medicine, and top universities (like Cambridge) strongly prefer applicants with three science/maths A-levels. For example, Cambridge encourages A-levels in Chemistry plus two of Biology, Physics, or Mathematics.
Other Sciences: Some applicants take Psychology or Computer Science as alternatives. About 8 medical schools will count Psychology as a science subject. However, a non-science subject (like a language or humanities) is usually only taken as a third choice. These can broaden your education, but most schools prefer three science/maths subjects. Non-science A-levels (e.g. History, English) may limit your choices and often require a foundation course if you lack sciences.
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A Level Requirements for Medicine: Grades and Entry Requirements
Medical courses expect top grades in your A-levels. The standard offers are usually AAA (three A’s) or A*AA (one A*, two A’s). Many top medical schools ask for an A* in Chemistry or Biology. For example:
University of Oxford typically requires A*AA, including Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics.
University of Cambridge usually asks for AAA, with Chemistry plus one of Biology, Physics or Maths.
Imperial College London expects AAA–A*AA, with an A* in Biology or Chemistry.
University College London (UCL) requires A*AA (Chemistry and Biology).
King’s College London requires A*AA (Chemistry and Biology).
Most other UK medical schools also set AAA to AAA offers. (One exception is the private University of Buckingham, which has a lower requirement of ABB, but this is uncommon.) In general, aim for at least AAA or better. Falling to AAB or lower usually means you would miss the standard offers, unless you qualify for a contextual or widening participation offer.
A Level Requirements for Medicine -> Additional Advice and Alternatives
Plan Your Subjects Early: If you’re at GCSE level or just starting A-levels, choose subjects that you enjoy and can excel in. Meeting the requirements is crucial, so if you haven’t chosen yet, make sure to include Chemistry and Biology. Top candidates often take Chemistry, Biology and a strong third science or Maths.
Foundation/Gateway Courses: If you’re missing a key science A-level (or your grades are below requirement), check for foundation or gateway medicine courses. Schools like King’s College London and the University of Nottingham offer one-year preparatory courses for applicants who need to improve science foundations. These still typically require at least Chemistry or Biology A-level (often with lower grade thresholds).
Deferred Entry/Gap Year: Don’t panic if you don’t get the grades first time. You can take a gap year to retake exams or strengthen your application. The Medic Life recommends planning for options like graduate-entry medicine or retaking A-levels if you narrowly miss AAA.
Non-accepted A-Levels: Avoid General Studies, Critical Thinking, World Development, Communication and Culture, or Thinking Skills as part of your med-school application. Medical schools routinely do not accept these for entry. They can’t substitute for the science A-levels.
Practical Endorsements: Make sure you pass the practical assessment (“practical endorsement”) for science A-levels. For example, universities like Newcastle and UCL require that you have passed the practical exams in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. In short, sit all required practicals and aim to pass them, as they are often mandatory.
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A Level Requirements for Medicine: Top Medical Schools (Examples)
Here are a few example requirements to illustrate what the leading medical schools want:
Oxford University: A*AA with Chemistry and one of Biology/Physics/Maths.
Cambridge University: AAA with Chemistry and one of Biology/Physics/Maths.
Imperial College London: AAA–AAA (with an A in Biology or Chemistry).
UCL (University College London): A*AA (Chemistry and Biology).
King’s College London: A*AA (Chemistry and Biology).
Edinburgh, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow, etc.: Usually AAA with Chemistry and Biology (often with an A* in a key subject).
Meeting these high offers typically requires A* or A grades in your science subjects. Alongside grades, don’t forget to build a strong application: work experience in healthcare and a compelling personal statement are also crucial for medicine admissions.
A Level Requirements for Medicine: Frequently Asked Questions
What A-levels are needed for medicine?
Most medical schools require Chemistry and Biology at A-level. These two subjects are considered fundamental for medicine. Typically, you’ll also take a third subject (often Physics or Maths) to strengthen your application.
Can you get into medicine with A A B?
An AAB offer is generally below the standard requirement (which is usually AAA or AAA). Only a few courses allow lower grades (for example, Buckingham accepts ABB). With A*AB, you would likely need special consideration (contextual offer) or aim for a foundation course or retake an A-level to reach AAA.
What A-levels do you need for Oxford Medicine?
Oxford’s typical offer is A*AA in your first sitting, with Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics. (Many Oxford applicants take Chemistry, Biology and Maths/Physics.)
How many A’s do you need to be a doctor?
Generally, three A’s at A-level (AAA) are the minimum for medical school. Many top programs want at least one A* (e.g. AAA or AA*A). So plan to achieve straight As (or better) in your three A-levels.
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