Reapplying To Medical School

Where Can I Reapply?

Certain universities allow candidates to reapply for Medicine if they were unsuccessful previously. This table lists what the university websites currently say about reapplying, where details are available. For the most accurate, up-to-date information, you should always contact the medical school directly and check with them.

How Do I Reapply For Medicine?

If you’ve applied to medical school before, you still need to register with UCAS again. The username and password that you previously used won’t work, so you’ll need to create a new account.

The rest of the application process is the same – you need to sit the UCAT (your score from last year won’t count), submit a personal statement and select your medical school choices. When making your choices, double-check which Medical Schools allow reapplications, because you don’t want to waste an application choice!

Don’t forget to update your personal statement from last year, e.g. with any new work experience or volunteering experience you now have and with information on how you have made the most of your gap year.

If you’re resitting any A-Levels, remember to include your new predicted A-Level grades in your application – and only apply to medical schools which will accept your A-Level resits.

How Can I Improve My Application This Time?

If you didn’t get into med school last time, you’ll naturally want to improve your application and boost your chances of getting in this time. Some universities specifically ask that reapplicants show new evidence of improvement in their application.

Ways of improving your application could include:

• Resit your A-levels

If you were disappointed with your A-Level results, you might want to resit them. With some subjects, you might even have the option to only retake specific units. You could also choose to revise independently, without going back to lessons, and sit the exam at your school in the summer.

Speak to your teachers about which option is best for you, considering your grades – and make sure you check medical school A-Level resit policies, because some might not consider your application if you are resitting.

• Improve your work experience

Getting more work experience is a great way to make the most of your gap year, add more to your personal statement and strengthen your application. The admissions team want to see that you’re eager to study Medicine and wants to make sure you understand what it means to be a doctor.

You could also consider a Medicine summer school, which will provide you with placements and practical experience.

• Do extra prep for the UCAT

If you aren’t studying for all of your A-Levels this year, you should have some more time to prepare for admissions tests. Make the most of this time to maximise your UCAT prep and try to boost your score!

• Practise for interviews

Start your interview prep early (if you get an invite, you might find you only have a small window to get ready) and familiarise yourself with common interview questions and the NHS hot topics which often come up. You’ll have to improve your interview skills to stand out amongst a large pool of applicants.

Alternative Options

Finally, if reapplying to Medicine doesn’t seem to be a viable option anymore or if you’re unsuccessful on the second attempt, you can consider existing alternatives.

• Explore Related Healthcare Programs

If you’re still passionate for healthcare, you may wish to explore related programs such as Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology, Nursing, or Physiotherapy. These programs offer valuable knowledge and skills that can lead to rewarding careers in the healthcare field.

• Consider Medicine Programs Abroad

Another option is to explore studying Medicine in other countries. Many countries offer medical programs taught in English, and some may have different admission requirements or more available spots for international students.

• Look Into Graduate Entry Medicine Programs

Some UK universities offer Graduate Entry Medicine programs, which are designed for students who have already completed a Bachelor’s degree in a related field. Students can pursue a relevant undergraduate degree and then apply for these programs.

FAQ: Reapplying To Medical School

Can you reapply to medical school UK?

Yes, most UK medical school allow you to reapply without issues. Note that some schools, however, do not accept reapplications f a student was rejected after an interview. Refer to the table above for details on each individual UK medical school.

How many times can you apply for Medicine?

Generally, there is no limit on the number of times you can reapply to study Medicine. However, dedicating multiple years of your life to reapplications, tests and preparations may negatively impact your professional and personal development, so set a personal ‘limit’ for yourself and stick to it.

Can I re-use my admissions test results?

No, none of your previous admissions test results, such as the UCAT, would be valid (except for school qualifications like A-levels, GCSEs, IB, etc.) You will need to resit the required tests. However, there are some qualifications that are valid for multiple years (for example, IELTs for foreign students), so make sure to check how long your results are valid for.

Can I reapply to medical school after dropping out?

It is extremely unlikely for a medical school to consider someone who had studied Medicine in the past but failed to complete the course. In case of struggles during the programme, it’s recommended to temporarily suspend studies, extend your time limit or transfer to another school instead of fully dropping out (that is, if you still intend to do Medicine in the future).

Do medical schools accept gap years?

Yes, many medical school accept gap year students, especially if you spent that time developing your skills and growing your interest in Medicine (which you should typically be able to demonstrate).