University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: Oxford Medicine Graduate Entry Requirements, Admission Rate Statistics & Fees
- The Medic Life
- 5 hours ago
- 16 min read
The University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine course - officially the four-year accelerated/graduate-entry medicine programme (UCAS code A101, degree title BM BCh) - is one of the most prestigious and selective routes into medicine anywhere in the world. Oxford Medical Sciences has been ranked number one in the world for the last ten years in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for clinical, pre-clinical and health sciences.
Designed specifically for graduates who already hold a degree in an applied or experimental science, the A101 course builds on the scientific skills you've already developed, with a strong emphasis on the academic and research basis of medicine taught within a clinical context. With only around 35 places each year (Oxford lists approximately 40–45 places for the course), it is also exceptionally competitive.
This guide, written by Dr Bakhtar Ahmad, The Medic Life's resident admissions expert, is your complete, verified reference for Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine entry requirements, admission rate statistics and fees for 2027 entry (2026 application cycle), sourced directly from the University of Oxford.
"Oxford's A101 is unlike any other graduate medicine course in the UK. It's not just a faster route to a medical degree — it's a science-intensive, research-driven programme that wants graduates who genuinely love the experimental basis of medicine. The pre-clinical teaching is tailor-made for the graduate cohort, not bolted onto the standard course. If you're a strong science graduate who's excited by the 'why' behind clinical practice, this is the course that rewards exactly that mindset." - Dr Bakhtar Ahmad, Admissions Expert, The Medic Life
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine at a Glance — A101 (2026 Application Cycle / 2027 Entry)
Course: Medicine (graduate-entry / accelerated), BM BCh
UCAS code: A101 (course title BMBCh4)
Duration: 4 years
Provider: University of Oxford, Medical Sciences Division
Places: Approximately 35 (Oxford lists around 40–45 places)
First degree: 2:1 or above (or GPA above 3.5) in applied/experimental science
A-levels: At least AAB with an A or A* in Chemistry (if taken within the last 5 years)
Admissions test: UCAT (required for all applicants)
Application: UCAS form plus Oxford supplementary application form (two forms)
Interview: Panel interviews, December
Deadline: 6pm, 15 October (one month earlier than most medical schools)
Deferrals: No deferred applications accepted
Home fees: £9,790 (2026/27, Year 1) — rising to £10,050 for 2027/28 entrants
Admission rate: 41% interviewed, 16% successful (3-year average 2023–25)
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: Does Oxford Offer Graduate Entry Medicine?
Yes. Oxford offers a dedicated four-year accelerated/graduate-entry Medicine course (A101), entirely separate from its standard six-year A100 course. Key facts:
The A101 is a standalone graduate programme with its own application process, entry requirements and selection criteria
It is open only to graduates with a degree in an experimental or applied science subject
The pre-clinical teaching is tailor-made for the graduate cohort — not simply merged with the undergraduate course
The final two years are shared with the six-year course, and A101 students sit the same final exams as the six-year students
You cannot apply to both A100 and A101 at Oxford — you must choose one programme
Dr Bakhtar's tip: "A common mistake is applying to A101 thinking it's just a quicker version of A100. It isn't. Oxford built A101 around graduates who already have experimental science skills, so the whole ethos is more research-led and discussion-based from day one. Choose A101 because it suits how you learn and what excites you scientifically — not just because it's a year shorter."
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine Entry Requirements
To be eligible for Oxford's A101 Graduate Entry Medicine, you must meet all of the following.
1. First degree
A 2:1 Honours degree or above (or a GPA above 3.5) in an applied or experimental science subject
Acceptable fields include bioscience, chemistry, experimental physics and engineering
Oxford publishes a list of typically-acceptable qualifying degrees — if your degree isn't listed or you're unsure, you must follow Oxford's process to check eligibility before applying
2. A-levels (or equivalent)
At least AAB at A-level, with an A or A* in Chemistry (this requirement applies if you have taken A-levels within the last 5 years)
One of your subjects must be Chemistry — unless you hold a degree in Chemistry
You must also have one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics at A-level
3. GCSE Biology condition
Applicants whose degree is in a subject other than bioscience must have a qualification in Biology at GCSE (or equivalent level)
4. UCAT
All applicants must register for and sit the UCAT in the year of application (see UCAT section below)
Dr Bakhtar's tip: "The detail that trips people up most is the Chemistry rule. Unless your degree is in Chemistry, you need an A or A* in A-level Chemistry — and that's a high bar that some science graduates simply don't have from school. Check this before anything else. If you don't have it, Oxford A101 may not be open to you, and we can help you identify graduate routes with different science prerequisites."
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: What Counts as an "Experimental or Applied Science" Degree?
This is the single most important eligibility question for Oxford A101, because the course is built specifically around experimental science graduates. Broadly, acceptable degrees include:
Biosciences (biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, physiology, pharmacology, neuroscience, genetics, microbiology, anatomy and related)
Chemistry
Experimental physics
Engineering
Oxford maintains an official list of qualifying degrees for the graduate-entry course. Because eligibility hinges on the experimental/laboratory content of your degree (not just its title), Oxford provides a specific procedure to check borderline cases. If your degree isn't clearly on the list, you must confirm with the Medical Sciences Division before applying.
Dr Bakhtar's tip: "The word 'experimental' is doing the heavy lifting here. A degree heavy on laboratory and research methods is what Oxford wants to see — that's why research experience, including an undergraduate research project, is so valued for A101. If your degree is more theoretical or non-laboratory, get it checked against Oxford's qualifying-degrees list early, because it's the gateway to everything else."
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: UCAT Requirements for Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine
Oxford switched from the BMAT to the UCAT from 2025 entry onwards — the BMAT is no longer used for Oxford medical admissions.
The rules
All A101 applicants must take the UCAT as part of their application
Separate registration is required, and it is the candidate's responsibility to register and book a test
The test is usually taken between July and September in the year of application
The UCAT must be sat in the same cycle in which you apply
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: How Oxford uses the UCAT for A101
Allocation of places is based on the information on the application form, an appraisal of the referees' statements, the UCAT score, and performance at interview
The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is also evaluated — candidates in Band 4 are generally rejected
Oxford does not publish a single fixed A101 UCAT cut-off; the UCAT is used as one part of a holistic shortlisting process, but a strong, above-average score materially improves your chances of being shortlisted for interview
Dr Bakhtar's tip: "For A101, the UCAT sits alongside your referees' statements and interview, so it's not the sole gatekeeper the way it is at some schools. But don't read that as 'the UCAT doesn't matter' — with 400-plus applicants for around 35 places, a strong UCAT is what gets you into the interview pool. Aim well above average, and make sure your SJT lands in Bands 1–3, since Band 4 is generally a rejection."
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine Application Process
The A101 application process is different from the standard course — and crucially, it requires two separate forms:
1. UCAS form
Complete your UCAS application online, listing Oxford (course code A101) as one of your choices
The deadline is 6pm on 15 October — about a month earlier than most UK medical schools
You may express a college preference on your UCAS form
2. Oxford supplementary application form
In addition to UCAS, you must complete a University application form directly with Oxford
This requires the names and positions of two referees, at least one familiar with your most recent academic performance — and these must be different from your UCAS referee
The form must be completed by 6pm on 15 October
Your referees must submit their references by 6pm on 22 October — applications arriving after this cannot be considered
Critical: Oxford cannot consider incomplete applications. You must complete both the UCAS application and the Oxford supplementary form (with references) by the deadlines.
Other application facts
No written work is required for A101
No student is admitted without interview
No deferred applications are accepted for this course
You must have reached your 18th birthday on or before the first day of full term in Year 1
Successful candidates must meet Oxford's requirements for health and fitness to practise, immunisation status, and a satisfactory DBS check
Dr Bakhtar's tip: "The two-form system and the second set of referees catch a lot of strong applicants out every year. Your Oxford supplementary-form referees must be different from your UCAS referee, and the references have a hard deadline of 22 October. Brief your referees early — an Oxford application has more moving parts than a standard UCAS submission, and a missing reference is a fatal, avoidable error."
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: Which Oxford College Is Best for Graduate Entry Medicine?
Not all Oxford colleges accept graduate-entry medical students. For the A101 course, the following eleven colleges accept applications:
Green Templeton (a graduate-only college, admitting graduate-entry and clinical medical students)
Harris Manchester (a mature-student-only college — applicants must be at least 21 when they start)
Magdalen
Pembroke
St Anne's
St Catherine's
St Edmund Hall
St Hugh's
St Peter's
Somerville
Worcester
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: Is there a "best" college?
There's no single "best" college — the right choice depends on what suits you, and your academic experience and final exams are the same whichever college you join. A few considerations:
Green Templeton is purpose-built for graduate and clinical medical students, so it offers a wholly mature, postgraduate-style community
Harris Manchester is exclusively for mature students (21+), which many graduate applicants find a natural fit
The other colleges admit graduate-entry students alongside undergraduates, offering a more mixed-age community
You can express a preference on your UCAS form, or make an open application and let the University allocate you
Dr Bakhtar's tip: "Applicants agonise over college choice, but here's the reassuring truth: your degree, teaching quality and final exams are identical across colleges. For graduate students, Green Templeton and Harris Manchester are popular because of their mature, postgraduate atmosphere — but a college that accepts A101 and feels right to you is the 'best' one. And if you genuinely don't mind, an open application is completely fine and doesn't disadvantage you."
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: The Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine Interview
Oxford interviews are a defining part of the process — no student is admitted without interview.
Shortlisted applicants are invited to panel interviews in December
Interviews are typically conducted by more than one college, and explore your scientific reasoning, problem-solving, and suitability for medicine
Oxford's selection criteria centre on academic ability, suitability and commitment to medicine, and personal suitability for the Oxford graduate-entry course specifically
Because the course is so science-intensive, expect to be probed on scientific reasoning and the application of science to clinical problems — your ability to think aloud and reason through unfamiliar problems matters more than recall
Dr Bakhtar's tip: "Oxford interviews aren't about reciting facts — they're about how you think. Tutors will give you an unfamiliar problem and watch how you reason through it, often nudging you with new information to see how you adapt. The students who thrive are the ones who think out loud, stay calm when challenged, and show genuine scientific curiosity. Our Oxford-style mock interviews train exactly this kind of live, tutorial-style reasoning."
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
Oxford A101 is extraordinarily competitive. According to Oxford's own published admissions statistics (a three-year average for 2023–25):
Interviewed: 41% of applicants
Successful: 16% of applicants
Intake: 35 students
In other words, roughly one in six applicants ultimately receives an offer, and around four in ten are interviewed. With approximately 35 places and several hundred applicants each cycle, the effective acceptance rate sits around 16% — high relative to some courses, but this reflects a strongly self-selecting applicant pool of high-achieving science graduates who already meet the demanding eligibility criteria.
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: International applicants — a critical quota
The number of international (overseas) fee-status medical students at Oxford is capped by a UK government quota of a maximum of 14 per year across both A100 and A101 combined
This makes international competition for A101 places especially intense — international applicants should be aware that the realistic number of overseas places is very small
Dr Bakhtar's tip: "That 16% success rate can look almost encouraging next to other Oxford courses — but don't be lulled. Everyone in the A101 pool is already a high-achieving science graduate who's cleared the 2:1, the A-level Chemistry hurdle and the UCAT. It's a self-selecting field of strong applicants, so 'competitive' here means competing against the best. For international applicants, the 14-place combined quota makes it tougher still — go in with eyes open and an exceptional application."
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine Fees
Oxford's A101 fee structure differs across the four years. These are the annual fees for students starting in 2026 (2026/27 academic year):
Year 1 (pre-clinical fees)
Home: £9,790
Overseas: £49,400
Pre-clinical fees are charged in Year 1 (though there are clinical elements throughout). For Home students entering in 2027/28, the fee rises to £10,050, in line with the government fee cap.
Years 2, 3 and 4 (clinical fees)
Home: £9,790
Overseas: £65,250
Clinical fees apply in Years 2–4. Fees for later years may differ and usually increase annually.
Important additional cost note
The A101 course has extended terms, so you'll need to budget for higher living costs — especially in Years 2–4 when you are in Oxford much longer than standard terms:
Year 1: 30 weeks
Year 2: 40 weeks
Year 3: 48 weeks
Year 4: 48 weeks (including 10 weeks of elective study)
Living costs for 2026 are estimated at £1,405–£2,105 per month in Oxford. The Year 4 elective (if undertaken abroad) costs on average around £3,000, with limited financial support available (typically £300–£500 towards travel, plus possible college support).
Dr Bakhtar's tip: "The headline Home fee of £9,790 is the same as any UK medical course — but the A101's extended terms mean your living costs are higher than a standard Oxford course, especially in the later years when you're in Oxford for up to 48 weeks. Budget realistically for that. And for graduate applicants, look carefully at NHS Bursary eligibility from Year 2 and Oxford's own generous support packages — funding a second degree needs planning."
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: How Difficult Is It to Get Into Graduate Entry Medicine?
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is among the most competitive routes into medicine in the UK — and Oxford's A101 is at the very top end of that. Several factors make it difficult:
Very few places: Oxford A101 has only around 35 places; GEM courses nationally tend to have small cohorts
A self-selecting, high-achieving pool: Applicants are already graduates, often with first-class or strong 2:1 science degrees
Demanding academic prerequisites: Oxford requires a 2:1 in experimental science, AAB at A-level with A/A* in Chemistry, plus the UCAT
Two-stage, two-form application: The dual UCAS + supplementary form process and December interviews add complexity
Early deadline: The 15 October deadline is a month earlier than most medical schools, compressing preparation time
That said, GEM is absolutely achievable with the right profile and preparation. The applicants who succeed combine a strong degree, the required A-level Chemistry, an above-average UCAT, genuine research/scientific experience, and the ability to reason aloud under pressure at interview. Dr Bakhtar Ahmad and the team at The Medic Life help graduate applicants build exactly this kind of competitive, well-rounded application.
University of Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine: FAQs
Does Oxford offer Graduate Entry Medicine?
Yes. Oxford offers a four-year accelerated/graduate-entry Medicine course (UCAS code A101, degree BM BCh), separate from its standard six-year A100 course. It is open only to graduates with a 2:1 or above in an applied or experimental science (bioscience, chemistry, experimental physics or engineering). The pre-clinical teaching is tailor-made for the graduate cohort, and in the final two years A101 students integrate fully with the six-year course and sit the same final exams. You cannot apply to both A100 and A101 in the same cycle.
What is the acceptance rate for Oxford Graduate Entry Medicine?
Based on Oxford's own published statistics (a three-year average for 2023–25), 41% of applicants are interviewed and 16% are successful, with an intake of around 35 students. So the effective acceptance rate is approximately 16% — roughly one in six applicants receives an offer. While that figure can look relatively high, it reflects a strongly self-selecting pool of high-achieving science graduates who already meet the demanding eligibility criteria. International applicants face additional pressure because overseas medical places at Oxford are capped by a government quota of 14 per year across both A100 and A101 combined.
Which Oxford college is best for Graduate Entry Medicine?
There is no single "best" college — your teaching quality and final exams are identical across colleges, so the right choice is the one that suits you. Eleven colleges accept A101 applicants: Green Templeton, Harris Manchester, Magdalen, Pembroke, St Anne's, St Catherine's, St Edmund Hall, St Hugh's, St Peter's, Somerville and Worcester. Two are particularly popular with graduate applicants: Green Templeton (a graduate-only college) and Harris Manchester (a mature-students-only college, for those 21+). You can state a college preference on your UCAS form, or make an open application and be allocated a college — which does not disadvantage you.
How difficult is it to get into Graduate Entry Medicine?
Very difficult — Graduate Entry Medicine is among the most competitive routes into medicine in the UK, and Oxford's A101 is at the top end. The challenges include very few places (around 35 at Oxford), a self-selecting pool of high-achieving science graduates, demanding prerequisites (a 2:1 in experimental science, AAB with A/A* in Chemistry, and the UCAT), a complex two-form application, and an early 15 October deadline. However, it's achievable with the right profile and thorough preparation: a strong science degree, the required A-level Chemistry, an above-average UCAT (with SJT in Bands 1–3), genuine research experience, and strong tutorial-style interview skills. Expert guidance from The Medic Life can make a decisive difference.
Page authored by Dr Bakhtar Ahmad, Admissions Expert at The Medic Life. Information verified against the University of Oxford Medicine (graduate-entry / accelerated) A101 course page and Medical Sciences Division admissions pages for the 2026 application cycle (2027 entry). Oxford reviews its requirements and statistics annually, and fees and quotas are subject to change — always confirm the most recent requirements directly with the University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division before submitting your application.
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