Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry

Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry is located in Whitechapel (central London) and is one of the multiple prestigious London medical schools.

Barts is currently ranked as the 16th best medical school in the UK and the 55th best in the world. Ranked 6th by the Complete University Guide, Barts offers a five-year Medicine programme that is driven by a problem-based learning teaching style.

About The Course

Barts undergraduate medicine course is five years long and is split up into three phases, each focusing on different learning outcomes. You begin by learning biological sciences through PBL sessions and lectures, then progress to develop your learning through a series of clinical placements in a variety of hospitals in London and Essex.

The Medicine course at Barts is split into three phases.

Structure Of The Course

Year 1-2

Phase 1

Phase 1 focuses on learning clinical sciences, particularly physiology, pharmacology, public and global health, and the musculoskeletal system. You will also begin to learn patient-doctor communication skills and history-taking. You will also have early clinical experience in a GP surgery.

Year 3-4

Phase 2

This phase focuses on building the knowledge gained in Phase 1 through a series of clinical placements. Hospitals included in the catchment area for Barts are based either in London or Essex. This phase, like Phase 1, also includes three SSCs per year, however, these will be more patient-focused in Phase 2.

Year 5

Phase 3

Students will shadow foundation doctors on placement during this phase to prepare them for life after graduation. This is also the phase in which students can arrange a four-week elective placement in a speciality of their choosing. Students will sit their final exams and complete their Intermediate Life Support qualification in this phase.

Academic Requirements

GCSEs: Minimum of 6 GCSEs at grades 777666/AAABBB including Biology and Chemistry (or double award science), English Language (or English Literature) and Maths. GCSEs are not required for graduates.

A-levels: A*AA To include Chemistry or Biology, another science subject plus any third A level excluding Critical Thinking, General Studies and Further Maths.

Scottish Higher: Minimum of three Scottish Highers at grades AAA To include Biology and Chemistry plus grades AA in Advanced Highers including Chemistry and/or Biology.

Scottish Advanced Higher: AA Chemistry and/or Biology

International Baccalaureate: 36 points Three Higher Level subjects at 666 including Chemistry or Biology plus one further science subject from (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths). Three further subjects at Standard Level including Chemistry or Biology if not both offered at Higher Level.

IELTs (International applicants only): Score of 7.0 overall with 6.5 in writing and 5.5 in other components.

Bachelor's Degree (Graduates only): Minimum of a 2:1 in any subject. Degree subjects are split into categories and some categories require additional A level requirements.

Mitigating Circumstances

Resits policy: Only considered in conjunction with serious extenuating circumstances- see below.

Extenuating circumstances: Resits will only be considered if the student has had serious extenuating circumstances of disability, gender reassignment or pregnancy/ maternity (as these circumstances are protected until the Equality Act 2010). If these circumstances apply to you, you must apply for ECs by the 1st of October to have a guaranteed decision made by the 15th of October (Medicine application deadline).

Deferred entry: Available, but only guaranteed to be approved if deferred entry is requested via UCAS before the application deadline. Deferred entry that is requested after the UCAS deadline will be considered on a case by case basis.

Transfers: Medical students from Oxford or Cambridge who have successfully complete their pre-clinical programme and wish to complete their medical training in London can apply for transfer under the common application procedure for the clinical transfer scheme agreed between Oxford, Cambridge, and London.

Further Entry Requirements

Work experience: Barts values students who understand the reality of a career in medicine, and so it is likely you will need to draw from your work experience during the interview. There is no preference for whether this is a voluntary experience in a care role or shadowing.

Personal statement: The personal statement will not be scored as part of the selection process but may be used by your interviewers. You should be comfortable talking about anything you have discussed in your personal statement with your interviewer.

Admissions Process

The admissions process for Barts is as follows:

1. Applications to UCAS must be made by 16th of October.
2. Applicants who are predicated/ have achieved the minimum entry requirements and achieve an overall UCAT score within the fourth decile and an SJT band 1-3 will pass the first shortlisting at this stage.
3. Applicants who have passed the first shortlisting will then be given a weighted score based on UCAT score and academics. Any applicants who don’t meet the minimum weighted score will be rejected at this point, and all who do meet the threshold will pass the second shortlisting and be invited to interview.
4. Selection after interview is based on all assessment factors plus performance at interview. This third shortlisting is when offers will be given out.

Admissions Tests:

UCAT ✅
UCAT scores will be considered both before and after selection for interview. To be considered for an interview you must have a UCAT score above or equal to the fourth decile. For 2023, this was a score of 2440 or above. This is a minimum cut off and applicants scoring above the fourth decile will not be guaranteed an interview. SJT Band 4 will not be considered.

Interview Type: Traditional

Interview Topics:

Motivation to study medicine
Teamwork and communication
Initiative, resilience, and maturity
Organisation
Problem solving
Contribution to university life

Barts has a waiting list for candidates who did not receive an offer after interview but may be considered after summer examination results.

Admissions Statistics

Total number of applicants:	2620
Total number of places:	332
Total number of entrants:	646
Acceptance rate:	24.66%

Fees

Home students:	£9248 pa
Rest of UK:	TBC
International students:	£48700 pa

Teaching Methods

Teaching style: The teaching methods at Barts focus on a problem-based learning style of teaching. These methods include:
– Lectures
– PBL sessions
– Clinical skills sessions/ labs
– Communication skills
= Lectures
– Formative assessments
– Student Selected Components (SSC)
– OSCEs

There is a high level of support for students, both pastoral and academic, whenever required.

Graduate Prospects

Most graduates from Barts will follow the standard training programme after graduation. Some students choose to defer their foundation training to study specialist postgraduate degrees. Graduates from Barts have recently been hired by key London hospitals such as Guys and St Thomas’, Royal Free and St George’s.

Barts also provides interview coaching, feedback on job applications, and support in finding internships for their medical students to help with the transition from medical school to working life.

FAQs

Is Barts the same as Queen Mary’s?

‘Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry’ is part of Queen Mary University of London.

What is Barts Medical School ranked?

The Barts Medicine course is ranked 55th in the world, 16th in the UK, and 3rd in London.

What is the lowest UCAT score needed for Barts?

Barts put a lot of emphasis on UCAT scores. For 2023 entry, the lowest UCAT score of a home applicant invited to interview was 2720. Candidates with a UCAT score below the fourth decile and/or with a band 4 in the SJT will be automatically rejected.

Is Queen Mary a Russel Group University?

Yes, Queen Mary is a Russel Group University.

Is Queen Mary hard to get into for Medicine?

In 2023, 1207 candidates were invited to interview from 2500 applicants. Of the 1207 candidates interviewed, 646 candidates were made an offer. This means the success rate of applicants is approximately 26%. More details are available on our Barts Medicine Interview page.