UCAS Medicine

How Competitive Is Applying To Medicine?

Lots of people apply to study Medicine every year — but only a small number are successful. It’s very competitive to get into Medical School.

For 2021 entry Medicine, there were 28,690 applicants. This was a 21% increase from the previous year. For 2022 entry, there were 29,710 applicants, which was a 3.5% increase from the previous year.

Learn more about what the rising number of Medicine applicants means for you in this blog.

How Many Medical Schools Can I Apply To?

You can choose up to four Medical Schools on your UCAS form. You also have a fifth UCAS choice which you can fill with a different course and use as a back-up option.

Some universities allow you to write a different Personal Statement for the fifth choice, but many won’t. So it’s normal to use it for something science-related.

How Do I Apply?

Most of you will have help navigating the UCAS form from your schools. They will often walk you through the process and make you aware of key deadlines.

But we recommend that you also take personal responsibility and make sure you are as clued-up as possible about your application.

The closing date for applications to Medical School is usually earlier than for other courses, so it is important that you check the UCAS website for deadlines.

The final submission will be made online and will incur a small administration fee.

Is the Process Different for International Candidates?

Yes, it is. You can read more on that here.

Can I Apply to Medicine if I Am Disabled?

Yes, as long as you are going to be fit to practice Medicine by the end of the course. You can read more on that here.