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If you’re aiming to study Medicine, you’re probably wondering: what A-Levels do you need to be a doctor? This guide outlines the Medical School requirements for A-Levels.
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Broadly speaking, most Medical Schools require Chemistry and Biology at A-Level. Some medical schools, like Birmingham and Aberdeen, allow you to swap Biology for Human Biology.
If you want to have the broadest choice of Med Schools, it’s a good idea to take A-Level Physics alongside Biology and Chemistry.
But opting for a humanities or art subject at A-Level certainly won’t rule you out of getting a place to study Medicine. Some universities, like Brighton and Sussex, encourage this to broaden academic horizons – and Hull York considers all third A-Level subjects to have equal merit.
Most medical schools do not accept A-Levels in Critical Thinking, General Studies or Citizenship Studies – so you should avoid these subjects.
It’s also important to remember that subjects with overlapping content are often not considered – or only considered as one. This includes Maths and Further Maths, or PE and Biology, or Biology and Human Biology.
Below we’ve compiled a table of UK universities’ A-Level requirements. As you can see below, most schools require Chemistry and Biology, as well as one other science or subject of your choice.
| University | Which A-Levels does this school require? | Which A-Levels are not acceptable? |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | Chemistry is required. One subject from Biology/Human Biology, Maths and Physics is required. One further A-Level in most other subjects. Check with Medical Admissions Office if in doubt about suitability of a subject. Combinations of Chemistry, Biology plus a Non-Science subject are as acceptable as all-science combinations. | General Studies or Global Perspectives & Research |
| Anglia Ruskin | Chemistry or Biology; and one of either Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics, plus one other. We require a pass in the practical element | General Studies and Critical Thinking |
| Aston | Chemistry and Biology. The third subject can be any other subject. A pass in the practical element of your science A Levels is required. | General Studies and Critical Thinking |
| Barts (Queen Mary) | Two of Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Maths. | General Studies or Critical Thinking. Further Maths (if Mathematics is included in your A-levels) |
| Birmingham | Chemistry and Biology (or Human Biology). | General Studies and Critical Thinking. Other non-standard subjects may not be accepted |
| Brighton and Sussex | Biology and Chemistry are mandatory. No specified third subject (encourage humanities/arts for broadening academic horizons). | General Studies |
| Bristol | Chemistry is mandatory and either Biology, Physics or Maths. Third A-Level can be any other academic subject. | Not Specified |
| Buckingham | Chemistry and/or Biology and a third subject. In the case of applicants who do not have Biology at A-Level, they should have studied the subject to GCSE level and achieved at least a grade B. | General Studies |
| Cambridge | Chemistry and one of Biology/Physics/Maths. Most applicants have at least three science/mathematics A-Levels and some Colleges require this and/or particular subjects. See College websites for details. | Not Specified |
| Cardiff | Chemistry and Biology. Applicants undertaking Science GCE A levels where a separate practical endorsement is reported, will require a pass in this element. | General Studies, Critical Thinking and Further Maths |
| Dundee | Chemistry and another science (Biology, Physics or Mathematics). Third subject can be your own choice, there is no preference. | General Studies |
| Edge Hill | Biology and Chemistry mandatory, with passes in the physical elements of both. T | General Studies, Critical Reasoning, Citizenship and Key Skills |
| Edinburgh | Chemistry and one subject from Biology/Human Biology, Mathematics and Physics (Biology preferred). Only one of Mathematics or Further Mathematics will be considered. Human Biology may replace Biology. | General Studies |
| Exeter | Biology and Chemistry. | General Studies |
| Glasgow | Chemistry and one of Maths, Physics or Biology. Human Biology/Biology and Maths/Further Maths are not considered separate subjects at A Level. | General Studies, Critical Thinking and Global Perspectives & Research |
| Hull York | Biology and Chemistry. with a pass in practical experiments for reformed A levels completed in 2017 or later. For the third subject, all subjects considered equally apart from Further Maths and Human Biology. | General Studies,Applied Science, Citizenship or Critical Thinking. |
| Imperial | Chemistry, Biology and any third subject. | General Studies and Critical Thinking |
| Keele | To include Chemistry or Biology and a second science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths/Statistics/Further Maths) plus a third academic subject. Any science A level (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) completed in England from 2017 must include a pass in the practical endorsement. | General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship. A-Level Maths/Further Maths/Statistics in combination. |
| Kent and Medway | Must include Chemistry and/or Biology. If both Chemistry and Biology are not offered there must be one other from Physics, Maths, Psychology or Computer Science. Critical | Critical Thinking and/or General Studies |
| King's College London | Biology and Chemistry. NOTE: If you are taking linear A levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all science subjects. | General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives |
| Lancaster | Any 2 of Biology, Chemistry and Psychology | General Studies, Critical Thinking and native language A-Levels. |
| Leeds | Chemistry or Biology. If Chemistry is not offered then Biology must be offered with either Physics or Maths at A-Level. Human Biology/Biology and Maths/Further Maths are not considered separate subjects. | While General Studies and Critical Thinking are welcomed as a 4th A2, they do not typically form part of an offer. |
| Leicester | Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Psychology. If you study Mathematics and Further Mathematics, you may only count one of these grades towards your potential offer. If a modern language is one of your A-level subjects, we will ask for a declaration as to whether you are a native or home speaker of that language. | General Studies, Critical Thinking, Global Perspectives (Cambridge Pre-U) or the Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate. |
| Lincoln | Biology (or Human Biology) and Chemistry (a pass is required in science practical tests, where assessed separately). The third A-Level can be in any subject | Global Perspectives, Critical Thinking, Citizenship, General Studies |
| Liverpool | Chemistry together with either Biology, Physics or Mathematics and a third academic subject. | General Studies |
| Manchester | Chemistry or Biology/Human Biology; and one of the following subjects: Chemistry; Biology/Human Biology; Physics; Mathematics or Further Mathematics. A combination of three sciences is equally acceptable at A-level. However, our offer will not include combinations of very similar subjects, for example, Biology and Human Biology or Maths and Further Maths together. Where the science offered includes a practical element that must also be passed. | Critical Thinking, Citizenship, EPQ, Key Skills or General Studies |
| Newcastle | Chemistry and/or Biology (including a pass in the practical element for lab-based sciences). If only one of Biology and/or Chemistry is offered at A level, the other should be offered at GCSE grade A or 7 (or Dual Award Science grade A or 7). | Critical Thinking or General Studies. |
| Norwich (UEA) | Three As including Biology/Human Biology. Science A levels must include a pass in the practical element. | General Studies and Critical Thinking |
| Nottingham | Biology (or Human Biology) or Chemistry (a pass is required in science practical tests, where assessed separately). The third A-Level can be in any subject | Global Perspectives, Critical Thinking, Citizenship, General Studies |
| Oxford | Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics, Maths or Further Maths. If a practical component forms part of any of the A-levels taken, we expect candidates to have taken it and passed. | Critical Thinking or General Studies. |
| Plymouth | Biology and one of Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Psychology. Third GCE A level can be from any subject area including the humanities, languages, music, sport, science and the social sciences. | General Studies. |
| Queen's Belfast | Chemistry and at least one from: Biology/Human Biology, Physics or Maths. A maximum of one VCE/Applied subject. A-level Mathematics and Further Mathematics cannot be counted together at A- Level. | Critical Thinking and General Studies. |
| Sheffield | Chemistry or Biology and one other science (Maths, Physics, Biology/Human Biology or Psychology). The combination of Chemistry and Biology is acceptable. | Critical Thinking and General Studies. Further Mathematics for candidates who hold Mathematics A-Level. |
| Southampton | Biology and one additional science (with a pass in the practical element where it is separately endorsed). Acceptable science subjects are Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Studies or Geography. | Critical Thinking and General Studies, plus subjects with material that overlaps (e.g. Human Biology/ Sports Studies/ Physical Education). |
| St Andrews | Chemistry and one other from Biology, Mathematics or Physics. No preference for the third Advanced Level subject. Human Biology may replace Biology. | General Studies, Critical Thinking and Global Perspectives & Research. Only one of Mathematics or Further Mathematics will be considered. |
| St George's | Three subjects to include Chemistry and Biology or Human Biology. | General Studies and Key Skills. |
| Sunderland | Biology or Chemistry plus another designated science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths/Further Maths/Statistics) and a third academic subject. Any science A Level (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) completed in England from 2017 must include a pass in the practical endorsement. | Citizenship Studies, Critical Thinking, General Studies, any AQA Applied A-Level, any Edexcel Applied A-Level. Check their site for details |
| Swansea | Graduate only. | - |
| UCL | Chemistry and Biology. The third subject is the student’s own choice. | General Studies or Critical Thinking. |
| UCLan | At least two science subjects, to include Chemistry, and a third academic subject. | - |
| Warwick | Graduate only. | - |
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