Lancaster

Lancaster University was established in 1964 and accepted its first cohort of medical students as recently as 2011. It is located in the North West of England in Lancashire.

Lancaster is currently rated the 13th best medical school in the UK according to the Complete University Guide.

About The Course

Lancaster University runs a five-year medicine course that is split into five blocks. Lancaster teaches anatomy, physiology and clinical medicine through a series of many PBL modules which provides students with the potential to become effective independent learners.

Lancaster’s medical school is relatively small, which means the Medicine programme has a robust student-focused environment. Students get plenty of guidance during the transition to university and clinical training.

The medicine course at Lancaster is split into 5 parts: one for each year. Lancaster uses a PBL approach to teaching and utilises early clinical exposure.

Structure Of The Course

Year 1

Students will have 11 two-week PBL modules and will spend most of their time at the university. There will also be extensive teaching of clinical skills and human anatomy alongside these modules. Students will also have small group sessions with a GP to learn about care in the community.

Year 2

Year 2 is focused around learning to manage and diagnose illness and consists of spending two days per week on hospital placement. There are also 15 PBL modules in Year 2.

Year 3

Students will undertake five rotations in Year 3 in women and sexual health, care of the elderly, chronic conditions (GP placement), paediatrics and community mental health. There is also two main pieces of coursework in Year 3 focusing on professionalism and ethics and health, culture and society.

Year 4

Year 4 is split into two blocks: acute adult care and the specialities. At the end of Year 4, students will sit their finals and then undertake their electives afterwards. At Lancaster, students who wish to intercalate will do so between Years 4 and 5.

Year 5

The final Year consists of five clinical attachments, two of which are partially decided by the student.

Academic Requirements

GCSEs: Minimum score of 13 points from 8 subjects (A or A* or 7-9 = 2 points; B or 6 = 1 point). The 8 subjects must include Core & Additional Science (or Biology, Chemistry and Physics), Maths and English Language (grade B/6 or above). If Biology or Chemistry is not studied at A-level, then GCSE must be at least grade A/7.

A-levels: AAA To include any two of Biology, Chemistry and Psychology, or AAB with a B in a fourth subject or EPQ.

Scottish Higher: AAAAB A in Biology and Chemistry

Scottish Advanced Higher: AA Biology and Chemistry

International Baccalaureate: 36 points At least 6 in 3 Higher Level subjects including any 2 of Biology, Chemistry and Psychology.

IELTs (International applicants only): Minimum overall score of 7.0 with no component scoring less than 7.0.

Bachelor's Degree (Graduates only): Graduate applicants must meet one of the following criteria: 65% transcript average in Biomedical/Health Sciences plus BBB at A-Level including two of Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. 65% transcript average in any subject plus AAB at A-Level including two of Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. Please note: all graduate applicants must meet the minimum GCSE requirements.

Mitigating Circumstances

Resits policy: A-level resits will be considered if the applicant meets the GCSE requirements and the non-academic entry requirements. However, applicants must have achieved a minimum of CCC plus AS grade B in the first sitting regardless of mitigating circumstances.

Extenuating circumstances: Lancaster has a contextual offers scheme for students who have experienced circumstances that have impacted their studies. The offer is two A-Level grades lower than the standard offer. Students will also receive £1000 per year via the Lancaster Opportunity Scholarship if they are accepted into this scheme.

Deferred entry: Applications for deferred entry via UCAS are welcomed.

Transfers: Lancaster will not consider transfers from any other undergraduate programme onto medicine. Transfers from another institution’s medicine course to Lancaster will only be considered in the case of mitigating circumstances.

Further Entry Requirements

Work experience: You should undertake relevant work experience/voluntary work to demonstrate your commitment to medicine and to explore your suitability for the profession.

Personal statement: Your personal statement will be read as part of the application process and should contain information about your work experience, voluntary work and why you are suitable for a career in medicine. The statement should be well-written and insightful to display your communication skills.

Admissions Process

Admissions Tests:

UCAT ✅
Lancaster will be switching to the UCAT from 2025, but so far, there is no information of their cut-off scores.

Interview Type: MMI

Interview Topics: The MMI consists of 12-15 stations, each being 5 minutes long plus one 20-minute station where you will work with a small group of other applicants to complete a task.

Interview Topics:

Common interview topics at the Lancaster MMI include:

Motivation for medicine
Work experience
Suitability (qualities and attributes)
Teamwork
Problem-based learning
Communication

Admissions Statistics

Total number of applicants:	1270
Total number of places:	128
Total number of entrants:	129
Acceptance rate:	10.16%

Fees

Home students:	£9250 pa
Rest of UK:	TBC
International students:	£45315 pa

Teaching Methods

Teaching style: Lancaster Medical School uses a problem-based learning teaching style that values early clinical exposure. The first two years see students undertaking many different PBL modules before becoming more placement-based in the final three years. Finals are sat at the end of year 4 to allow students to focus on clinical practice in their final year.

Intercalation mode: Students have an opportunity to intercalate between Years 4 and 5 should they wish to do so.

Graduate Prospects

Data shows that for students graduating from the medicine course at Lancaster in 2021, 100% are either employed or pursuing further study (or both) and are earning an average of £34,000 15 months after graduation.

FAQs

What hospitals will you be placed at while studying medicine at Lancaster?

During your medicine studies at Lancaster, you can be sent on placement to Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Furness General Hospital, Royal Blackburn Hospital, Blackpool Victoria Hospital and Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Is Lancaster a top 10 university?

Lancaster does not feature in the list of the 10 best universities in the UK in 2024.

How easy is it to get into Lancaster Medical School?

For the 2023 entry, Lancaster gave offers to roughly 14% of its applicants. Lancaster has very similar academic requirements to the majority of UK medical schools.

Is Lancaster a Russel Group University?

Lancaster is not a member of the Russel Group of universities.

What is the interview-to-offer offer ratio for Lancaster Medicine?

For the 2023 entry, Lancaster received 1270 applications for the medicine course, 381 of which resulted in an offer to attend an interview and 180 offers being sent out post-interview. This is an interview-to-offer ratio of 127:60 or roughly 2:1.