Kent and Medway
Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS) is a new medical school founded in 2020 as a partnership between the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University. Their first cohort of 64 students graduated in September 2025 and their intake for 2026 has increased to 109 students. Due to being a relatively new medical school, KMMS is not currently in the rankings for UK medical schools.
About The Course
KMMS’s course is based on Brighton and Sussex’s degree, tailored to KMMS’s unique facilities and opportunities. KMMS’ BMBS degree is jointly awarded by the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University. The five-year course takes an integrated systems-based approach that will prepare its students for patient-centred Medicine.
KMMS delivers a curriculum that utilises a range of pedagogies and learning activities.
The first two years focus on systems-based learning, working individually and in groups for both academic and clinical teaching. Students learn the core knowledge and clinical skills of a doctor using lectures, tutorials, clinical seminars, workshops, cadaveric dissection, e-learning and clinical simulation. Students are based primarily at both the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University campuses.
They have access to purpose-built teaching facilities including a modern anatomy laboratory, clinical simulation spaces, and IT resource centres. KMMS offers six one-week clinical placements in Year 1 and six in Year 2.
In Years 3, 4 and 5 students are mainly based in and around an acute care hospital trust in Kent and Medway, learning through clinical placements in a range of medical and surgical specialties, mental health care, primary care and community services.
KMMS’s course follows Brighton and Sussex’s structure.
Structure Of The Course
Year 1-2
Students study the normal and abnormal functioning of the human body using a system-based approach, with integrated modules covering the core biomedical and psychosocial sciences. Student-Selected Components (SSCs) allow them to undertake individual studies and explore selected topics in depth, informed by the latest research.
Weekly clinical symposia, focusing on specific medical problems or diseases, emphasise the importance of problem-solving and the integration of clinical and scientific information from different disciplines. There is an emphasis throughout on small group teaching, in addition to core lectures and symposia, with most Year 1 and 2 classes in small groups.
KMMS also includes 6 weeks of placement throughout year 1 and 6 in year 2.
Year 3-5
Students are based in and around an acute care hospital trust in Kent and Medway, learning on placement. Year 3 follows more general placements in medicine, surgery and A&E; Year 4 focuses on specialties; and Year 5 on preparation for practice.
Academic Requirements
GCSEs: KMMS does not use predicted grades at any point during their application process, instead, the most recently achieved qualifications are used for example, GCSEs, A-levels or undergraduate degree.
Five subjects at Grade 9-6 (or A*-B under the old grading system). Must include English Language, Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics (or GCSE Double Science and one other subject). If only 2 separate GCSE sciences are offered, an extenuating circumstances application will be required.
A-levels: None if applying as a school leaver, as KMMS do not consider predicted grades. However, for pre-A-level applicants, offers will be conditional on obtaining usually AAB in their A-levels including the subject requirements outlined below. This must include Chemistry and/or Biology. If only one of Chemistry and Biology are offered, there must be one other subject from Physics, Maths, Psychology or Computer Science. Critical Thinking and/or General Studies are not accepted.
If applying with achieved A levels, the typical offer must be achieved.
Scottish Higher: AAABB minimum Must include Chemistry and/or Biology. If both Chemistry and Biology are not offered there must be one other from Physics, Maths, Psychology or Computing Science. As KMMS does not have data on Scottish schools to contextualise them, Scottish applicants may be asked to complete an additional CASPer test. References and PS will also be taken into account for this group.
Scottish Advanced Higher: AAB Must include Chemistry and/or Biology. If both Chemistry and Biology are not offered there must be one other from Physics, Maths, Psychology or Computing Science.
International Baccalaureate: 34 points Must include Chemistry and/or Biology at Higher Level. If both are not offered at Higher Level, there should be a second science offered which must be one from Physics, Maths, or Psychology. A minimum score of 6 in both Higher level science subjects should be achieved.
If applying with achieved IB, the typical offer must be achieved.
IELTs (International applicants only): Band 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in each section, or other acceptable English tests (Cambridge English, TOEFL or PTE Academic).
Bachelor's Degree (Graduates only): None if applying before graduating, as KMMS do not consider predicted grades. Their standard offer is a 2.1.
Mitigating Circumstances
Resits policy: KMMS does not accept A-level resits, with the exception of consideration through the extenuating circumstances process if there were issues affecting the first A-level sitting.
Extenuating circumstances: If an applicant had extenuating circumstances which have affected, currently affect, or potentially will affect (before admission) their studies or application, then it is possible to flag these issues through the Extenuating Circumstances process. It is mandatory to use this process if the application does not meet minimum requirements, otherwise the application will be automatically rejected.
Extenuating Circumstances include:
1. Significant caring responsibilities, or recent bereavement or serious illness within the immediate family
2. Significant estrangement from family or key family members, including family breakdown.
3. Significant health issues that might affect or that have affected academic achievements (past, present, or in the near future)
4. Serious disruption to the provision of education at School or College
5. Other serious disruptions where the school/college/doctor or social worker feels that this information should be considered.
Deferred entry: KMMS does not accept deferred entry applicants.
Transfers: KMMS does not accept transfers from other degrees or medical schools.
Second (repeat) applications are considered. If an applicant is applying for the third time, the application will only be considered if they have not been previously interviewed. Fourth-time (or greater) applications will not be considered.
Further Entry Requirements
Work experience: KMMS does not explicitly score work experience for interview and they have not historically asked about it at interview.
KMMS recognises that not all students will have the same access to work experience and that clinical work experience can be hard to come by. However, they feel applicants should aim to get a variety of experiences in order to demonstrate a commitment to medicine as well as an understanding of what a career in medicine entails. These should also allow students to demonstrate some of the skills and attributes required by doctors.
Personal statement: KMMS does not normally score the personal statement or use it in selection. It may be used if students’ academic achievement cannot be contextualised.
Admissions Process
KMMS’s selection process comprises four stages before decisions are made. The first stage is checking candidates meet the minimum achieved academic requirements as outlined above, then candidates’ UCAT scores are assessed and a cutoff is selected. Applicants who meet the cutoff score are then contextualised compared to their school average. Finally, successful candidates are invited to a mini-multiple interview before decisions are made.
Admissions Tests:
UCAT ✅
Unfortunately, the most recent data available regarding UCAT cutoff scores are from 2023, however it is unlikely that the threshold will change dramatically year by year. In 2023, the cutoff was 2470 (44th centile), as the 2026 cohort is the first year to sit the UCAT without the Abstract Reasoning component, a comparable threshold score would be 1817. Additionally, candidates are required to have an SJT band of 3 or above.
Interview Type: MMI
Interview Topics: KMMS will run their Multiple-Mini-Interviews (MMIs) in person for 2026 applicants. They will consist of six stations which focus on the following topics; data handling, problem analysis, situational judgement, roleplay, task, and values-based, each lasting 7 minutes with 3 minute intervals. Next, candidates will take part in a 40 minute group station in which they will be individually assessed.
KMMS states they do not commit to the same number or type of stations for 2026 entry, although they will likely retain the same time formats.
Through the MMI process, they are attempting to identify applicants with some or all of these qualities:
- A resilient all-rounder
- A realistic and committed attitude to medical training
- A commitment to quality of care, compassion and improving lives
- Ability to communicate effectively and to work well in a team for the benefit of others
- Ability to treat others with dignity and respect
- An empathetic ability to appreciate and regard other points of view
- A willingness to accept responsibility
- Academic ability and potential
You can learn more about KMMS interviews in our guide.
Admissions Statistics
| Total number of applicants: | 1763 |
| Total number of places: | 100 |
| Total number of entrants: | 100 |
| Acceptance rate: | 5.67% |
Fees
| Home students: | £9535 pa |
| Rest of UK: | TBC |
| International students: | TBC |
Teaching Methods
Teaching style: KMMS uses individual patient studies to help you underpin the knowledge, skills and professional values of a doctor. Patient educators are involved throughout their programme to give students a critical understanding of the patient’s journey and feedback on their skills.
Students use an ePortfolio as part of continual professional development, which will continue for the rest of their professional medical career. To help develop students’ skills, patient educators are involved throughout the programme to give critical understanding and feedback.
Intercalation mode: KMMS does not offer any intercalated degrees, but students can apply to intercalate at another university to undertake BSc, MSc, or PhD level programmes.
Graduate Prospects
With the first cohort of students graduating KMMS in September 2025, data regarding post-graduate employment and average earnings are not yet available. However the 2025 National Student Survey reported 86% satisfaction regarding teaching on the course, with 92% feeling the course developed the knowledge and skills needed for their future.
FAQs
What are the GCSE requirements for KMMS?
Five subjects at Grade 9-6 (or A*-B under the old grading system). Must include English Language, Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics (or GCSE Double Science and one other subject). If only 2 separate GCSE sciences are offered, an extenuating circumstances application will be required.
GCSEs are the main criteria for scoring applicants for interview, using a method that contextualises GCSEs to school attainment data. KMMS do not publish how they contextualise and score GCSEs, but one imagines that high GCSE attainment relative to your school is needed.
What is the UCAT cut-off score for KMMS?
In 2023, the UCAT score cutoff was 2470, which for 2026 applicants sitting the UCAT without the AR component is 1817. Additionally, candidates with an SJT band of 4 will be rejected.
What facilities does KMMS have?
KMMS’s degree is split across the University of Kent and Christ Church Canterbury University, so students can use facilities at both universities. Students have access to cadaveric dissection and purpose-built teaching facilities including a modern anatomy laboratory, clinical simulation spaces, and IT resource centres.
Does KMMS have the lowest requirements for medicine in the UK?
KMMS has one of the lowest typical A level offers of any UK medical school, but that doesn’t mean it’s not selective!
KMMS has an acceptance rate of around 10%, and it is vital to meet their grade and UCAT requirements as well as succeeding at interview to stand a chance of an offer.
School Details
- Website
- https://kmms.ac.uk/
- admissions@kmms.ac.uk
- Phone
- 01227 768896
School Details
- Website
- https://kmms.ac.uk/
- admissions@kmms.ac.uk
- Phone
- 01227 768896
