What A-Levels do you need to be a doctor
If you’re aiming to study Medicine, you’re probably wondering: what A-Levels do you need to be a doctor? You’ve come to the right place! After GCSE, it’s important that you select the right A-Level subjects to study – and we’re here to help.
This page will give you the answer to ‘what qualifications do you need to be a doctor?’ and will show you which A-Levels different universities require, so you can select your subjects accordingly. To compare different universities’ A-Level requirements (as well as other entry requirements, interview formats and BMAT scores), you can use our medical school comparison tool. You might also find it useful to read our blog on How To Choose Your A-Levels for Medicine.
This page was last updated: 01/02/2018.
What A-Levels do you need to be a doctor?
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. | General Studies or Global Perspectives & Research |
| Aston | Chemistry and Biology. The third subject can be any other subject, excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking. A pass in the practical element of your science A Levels is required. | General Studies and Critical Thinking |
| Barts and The London | Chemistry/Biology + Science or Maths (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or Maths) + any other subject (General studies/critical thinking not acceptable). Biology and Chemistry to AS at minimum of B. | General Studies or Critical Thinking. Further Maths only acceptable to AS if taken with Maths |
| Birmingham | Chemistry and Biology (or Human Biology). | General Studies and Critical Thinking. Further Maths is not considered separately to Maths. |
| Brighton and Sussex | Biology and Chemistry mandatory. No specified third subject (encourage humanities/arts for broadening academic horizons). | General Studies and Critical Thinking |
| Bristol | Chemistry and another lab-based science. | General Studies and Critical Thinking. Certain combinations of subjects are not accepted: Bio & PE, Bio & Sport, Maths & Further Maths |
| Buckingham | Chemistry, one from Maths 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 AS level (or equivalent) and achieved at least a grade B. | General Studies and Critical Thinking. |
| Cambridge | Chemistry and one of Biology/Human Biology/Physics/Maths. At least one pass must be at A-Level. | Critical Thinking, General Studies |
| Cardiff | Chemistry and Biology. If you have not been able to take Chemistry and Biology at A2 you will need both subjects in some form, with a minimum of one of the subjects at A2 Level. | General Studies, Critical Thinking and Further Maths |
| Dundee | Chemistry and another science (Biology, Physics or Mathematics). Third subject can be anything except General Studies. | General Studies |
| Edinburgh | Chemistry and one subject from Human Biology/Biology (preferred), Mathematics and Physics. Only one of Mathematics or Further Mathematics will be considered. | General Studies |
| Exeter | Biology and Chemistry at grade A. | 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. Human Biology/Biology and Maths/Further Maths are not considered separate subjects. Applications from students studying a third arts or humanities subject are strongly encouraged. | General Studies, Applied Science, Citizenship or Critical Thinking. |
| Imperial | Chemistry, Biology and any third subject (excluding vocational subjects, General Studies and Critical Thinking) | Vocational subjects, General Studies and Critical Thinking |
| Keele | Biology or Chemistry and another science subject from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths/Further Maths/Statistics). | Citizenship Studies, Critical Thinking, General Studies or any Applied A Levels are not accepted. |
| KCL | Biology and Chemistry | General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives |
| Lancaster | Biology and Chemistry are mandatory. | - |
| Leeds | Chemistry and two other subjects. 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 Biology/Human Biology | General Studies and Critical Thinking. |
| Liverpool | Chemistry, Biology and a third academic A level. | Most (see exceptions below) of the non-clinical programmes welcome General Studies as one of three A levels upon which we make an offer. However, applicants may offer only one of General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies among their three A levels.
General Studies is not considered for: Diagnostic Radiography, Life Sciences, Management School, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Orthoptics, Physiotherapy, Radiotherapy or Veterinary Science. |
| Manchester | Chemistry or Biology/Human Biology; and
One of the following subjects from Chemistry; Biology/Human Biology; Physics; Mathematics or Further Mathematics. | Critical Thinking, Citizenship, General Studies or EPQ |
| Newcastle | Chemistry and/or Biology (including a pass in the practical element for lab-based sciences) | Critical Thinking or General Studies. |
| Norwich | Biology/Human Biology, one further science (Chemistry or Physics), with a third A level subject of the applicant’s choice. | General Studies and Critical Thinking |
| Nottingham | Chemistry and Biology, the third subject can be in any area. | Global Perspectives, Critical Thinking, Citizenship, General Studies |
| Oxford | Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Maths | Critical Thinking or General Studies. |
| Plymouth | Biology and one of Chemistry, Physics, Maths and Psychology | General Studies. |
| Queen's Belfast | Chemistry and at least one from Biology, Physics and Maths. | Critical Thinking and General Studies. |
| Sheffield | Chemistry and one of Maths, Physics, Biology or Psychology | Critical Thinking and General Studies are not accepted. Further Mathematics for candidates who hold Mathematics A Level are not considered. |
| Southampton | Chemistry and Biology. | Critical Thinking and General Studies, plus subjects with material that overlaps (e.g. Human Biology/Sports Studies/Physical Education) will not be accepted in combination |
| St Andrews | Chemistry and one of Biology/Human Biology, Maths/Further Maths or Physics | General Studies, Critical Thinking and Global Perspectives & Research. Only one of Mathematics or Further Mathematics will be considered for the 3 subjects required at Advanced Level. |
| St George's | Chemistry and Biology/Human Biology | General Studies and Key Skills. |
| 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 | - |
Subjects To Take: What A-Levels do you need to be a doctor?
Different universities, as you’ve seen above, require different A-Level subjects. Broadly speaking, most require Chemistry and Biology at A2 Level, so these are good subjects to take. Some medical schools, like Birmingham and Aberdeen, allow Biology to be substituted for Human Biology.
A popular choice for many students is to take these two subjects with Physics, as the three in combination will be suitable for almost all UK medical schools. Taking Chemistry and Biology without Physics should leave most medical school options open to you.
However, some medical schools do not specify their requirements beyond Chemistry and Biology. Brighton and Sussex, for example, state that for the third A-Level choice they encourage humanities or arts subjects to broaden academic horizons. Hull York, however, considers all third A-Level subjects to have ‘equal merit’.
It’s also important to remember that individual courses will have a range of different requirements (for example, courses at Swansea vary), so it’s a good idea to check the specifics before selecting a university or your subjects.
Subjects To Avoid: What A-Levels do you need to be a doctor?
A good general rule is that most medical schools do not accept A-Levels in Critical Thinking, General Studies or Citizenship Studies – so it may be best to steer clear of those!
At Liverpool, many of their non-clinical programmes welcome General Studies as one of three A-Levels – but they only allow one of these subjects from the pool of General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship Studies. General Studies is not considered for a variety of their programmes, including Diagnostic Radiography, Life Sciences, Management School, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Orthoptics, Physiotherapy, Radiotherapy or Veterinary Science.
It is 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. Remember this when selecting your subjects!
What A-Levels do you need to be a doctor and how can you find out which schools require certain subjects? To find out more on comparing medical schools in terms of entry requirements, try visiting our comparison tool here.
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