Medicine entrance requirements and expectations

Please note that in the following 'science/mathematics subjects' refers to Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Further Mathematics. It does not include Psychology.

Pre-medical requirements

These regulations are the minimum requirements for beginning the Medical and Veterinary Science Tripos.

Students wishing to study Medicine or Veterinary Medicine must obtain the following examination passes (or their equivalents from an approved examination board):

GCSE requirement
Passes at grades A, B or C in: Double Award Science and Mathematics
Note: Two single awards in GCSE Biology and Physics may be substituted for Double Award Science.

AS and A level requirement
Passes in three of the following: Biology; Chemistry; Physics; Mathematics. One of the subjects must be Chemistry and at least one pass must be at A level.

Other examination systems
If you are taking a different examination system, you should discuss your position with an Admissions Tutor as early as possible. If you are not taking A and AS levels you will need to provide evidence that you have reached the equivalent standard in Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Biology.

Mature/Graduate applicants
Certain Access and Open University courses may meet the GCSE and/or A level requirements, in whole or part. You should discuss any courses you have taken or are considering taking, with a Cambridge Admissions Tutor. Achievement in the BMAT may meet the GCSE science requirement for the Cambridge Graduate Course in Medicine (A101).

If you have a good science honours degree and meet the pre-medical requirements, you may apply for a place as an affiliated student at Lucy Cavendish, St Edmund’s or Wolfson Colleges.

Typical A level offer

The agreed minimum A level offer is A*AA.

Please note that most applicants for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge have at least three science/mathematics A levels. Applicants with two science/mathematics A levels will be expected to have scientific ability comparable with those who are taking three and will, wherever possible, be considered equally with them. Such applicants may be asked to take a third science/mathematics subject to AS level.

All Colleges strongly prefer applicants to have Chemistry A level and this is essential for St John’s.

The following Colleges prefer applicants to have three science/mathematics subjects at A level: Christ’s, Jesus, Magdalene, Newnham, Peterhouse, St John’s, and Trinity. In the case of Magdalene, this must also include A level Mathematics.

Colleges (except Christ’s, Magdalene, St John’s and Trinity) will, exceptionally, consider applicants taking only one science subject at A level, provided this subject is Chemistry. In this case you will still be expected to show a very high level of scientific ability. You are likely to be disadvantaged in all Colleges when compared with those of comparable ability taking more science/mathematics A levels.

The Bio-Medical Admissions Test (BMAT)

All applicants for Medicine (A100) or Veterinary Medicine (D100) are required to sit the BMAT. Please note that it is not essential for applicants to the Cambridge Graduate Course in Medicine (A101) to sit the BMAT, although applicants could use a successful result as part of their pre-medical requirements. See the BMAT pages for further details.

Your health

Doctors, even as students and trainees, have a responsibility to be honest and open about their own health.

Disabilities and Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs)
An illness, physical disability or SpLD need not prevent you from becoming a doctor if you can fulfil the rigorous demands of professional fitness to practice. However, if you have a chronic illness, physical disability or SpLD, this should be disclosed as early as possible so that we can discuss your needs and the requirements of the course. Any disclosed disability will be evaluated independently of your academic qualifications and the interview process.

If you suffer from a disability which may affect your ability to study or practice medicine, you are strongly advised to contact a College Admissions Tutor and the University’s Disability Resource Centre for advice before applying. Successful applicants will be asked to complete a confidential occupational health questionnaire, which will ask for such information, but early disclosure gives more time for any evaluation and adjustments which may need to be carried out.

Occupational Health
The University also requires all prospective medical students to provide proof that they have satisfactorily completed a full course of immunisation against the Hepatitis B virus or, in the case of those who fail to respond to the vaccine, that they are not infectious carriers of the virus. The immunisation process can take up to nine months and applicants are therefore advised to consult their GP about this at the earliest opportunity. The University will accept as documentary proof an authenticated UK laboratory report showing either the presence of Hepatitis B surface antibody or, if you have failed to produce antibody after a full course of immunisation, that you are negative for Hepatitis B surface antigen and Hepatitis B e antigen. Under new Department of Health guidelines, tests performed abroad must be repeated in the UK, as only UK test results are acceptable. The University reserves the right to re-test any or all of its medical students for any or all markers of Hepatitis B virus. In future this obligation may be extended to include other infectious diseases.

Any other infectious diseases should be disclosed to the College you apply to/are allocated to and discussed with the University’s Occupational Health Service. All students will be required to undergo appropriate Occupational Health Screening, which will include the Department of Health’s recommended screening for exposure to TB, HIV (antibody negative) and Hepatitis C (antibody negative or, if positive, negative for Hepatitis C RNA).

Criminal record check

All offers of a place on these courses for UK students will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau. You will be sent the relevant forms to complete if you are offered a place. From 2011 entry, where courses may involve regular access to children and/or vulnerable adults, students will be legally required to register with the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS), which is administered by the Independent Safeguarding Authority. The University will send further instructions on registering with the VBS as part of the admissions process. Overseas students will be asked to provide similar evidence. More details can be found on the University's Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosures webpage at: www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/students/crb/.