How to Get into Cambridge Medicine: Requirements, UCAT & Personal Statement Tips
You’ve got the brains, we’ve got the tips. Here’s your ultimate guide to getting into the coveted Cambridge Medicine.
What’s covered
Understanding the course and grade requirements
Understanding the admissions deadlines
Preparing for the UCAT effectively
Writing a standout personal statement for Medicine
Getting relevant work experience
Cambridge Medicine is one of the most competitive courses in the world.
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Number 1 in the UK for Medicine (The Complete University Guide 2025)
Understanding the course and grade requirements
Entrance requirements:
A level: A*A*A
IB: 41-42 points, with 776 at Higher Level
Course duration:
3 years (BA); 6 years (BM BChir)
Required subjects:
For most of Cambridge’s colleges, you will need A level/IB Higher Level or the equivalent in:
Chemistry (in which you’ll need an A*/7)
2 other science or mathematics subjects from:
Mathematics
Biology or Human Biology
Physics
Further Mathematics
Cambridge functions a little differently to Oxford in that its colleges have more autonomy in the application process. This means that some colleges might absolutely require certain subjects or even higher grade requirements.
The above applies if you’re applying to: Corpus Christi, Gonville and Caius, Fitzwilliam, Girton, Homerton, Murray Edwards, Newnham, Robinson, or Selwyn.
Pre-clinical annual course fees:
Home £9,535
Overseas £46,600
Clinical annual course fees:
Home £9,535
Overseas £61,560
Cambridge Medicine has a strong interest in clinical exposure (unlike, say, Oxford, which is more invested in the scientific theoretical underpinnings of Medicine). This preference for practical learning is generally more prevalent in Cambridge than Oxford.
With a larger cohort compared to Oxford, Cambridge Medicine maintains a collaborative and supportive environment, encouraging peer learning and interdisciplinary interaction.
The course is split into a three-year pre-clinical phase, focused on biomedical sciences, and a three-year clinical phase at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and other NHS sites. In the third year, students pursue a specialist Part II subject, usually involving research.
Understanding the admissions deadlines
You should also have an understanding of the general timeline for the admissions process, so that you don’t miss anything important.
Pay special attention to the UCAT registration and booking deadlines. Missing the UCAT deadline means automatic disqualification, so register early!
Cambridge Medicine Admissions Deadlines for 2026 entry
| Cambridge Medicine | Deadline | Work needed |
|---|---|---|
| Apply for funding (international only) | Depends on student’s home country | Submit on time |
| Register for UCAT | 19 September 2025 | Submit on time |
| UCAT (Admissions Test) | 8 July – 26 September 2025 | 2–3 months, ideally begin in May |
| UCAS Personal Statement | 15 October 2025 | 2–3 months, begin late July |
| My Cambridge Application | 22 October 2025 (6:00 PM) | Submit on time |
| Interview (if applicable) | Mid–late December 2025 (varies) | 1–2 months |
Admissions statistics*
Applications: 1,791
Interviewed: ~75-85%
Intake: ~280
Success Rate: ~16%
*In 2024
Please note that the number of international fee status medical students at each medical school in the UK is subject to a government quota. For Cambridge this quota is currently a maximum of 22 per year across both the standard entry A100 and A101 graduate-entry/accelerated Medicine courses.
Naturally, Cambridge Medicine is a coveted course globally, so if you’re an international student, you should expect fierce competition.
Cambridge Medicine is one of the most competitive courses to get into. Maximise your chances with TS Admissions experts - specialists in elite university applications.
Preparing for the UCAT effectively
Don’t miss the registration deadline, or you won’t be able to continue with your application! You can register to sit the UCAT by creating a UCAT account (from 13 May 2025) and then booking a test from 17 June 2025. The test is usually taken between July and September.
Effective preparation includes using official practice materials, timed mock exams, and focusing on strategies for each section. Make sure to start preparing well in advance – we recommend at least three months – in order to give yourself the best chance of a high score.
The UCAT is meant to be an extremely challenging test. Cambridge says:
“Some strong applicants may not even complete the paper in the time given. Almost no one gets full marks.”
To guarantee effective revision, get in touch with us any time, and we’ll put you in contact with one of our expert tutors.
The structure of the UCAT
The UCAT is a two-hour test that consists of 228 multiple-choice questions across five separately timed sections. It's designed to test aptitude, not academic knowledge. The UCAT includes sections on:
Verbal Reasoning – Assesses your ability to critically evaluate information in a written text.
Decision Making – Tests your logical reasoning and decision-making skills alongside data.
Quantitative Reasoning – Measures numerical problem-solving ability.
Abstract Reasoning – Evaluates your ability to identify patterns and relationships.
Situational Judgement – Assesses your approach to ethical scenarios and decision-making in medical contexts.
You can find out more about the exam, and what our UCAT tutors offer, on our UCAT page.
Writing a standout personal statement for Medicine
Your personal statement is one of the most important aspects of your Cambridge Medicine application. It’s your chance to demonstrate how fantastic you are, and that you deserve a spot! Cambridge places a lot of emphasis on academic excellence and practical experience, so make sure to highlight these aspects of your suitability for the course.
Try to avoid saying ‘I’ve always wanted to be a doctor because I want to help people’ (it’s overdone, and a little cliche). Since Cambridge prioritises the practical side of Medicine, you’ll want to show that you’ve undertaken clinical experience. Don’t freak out just yet – this doesn’t have to be anything too official. You could shadow a doctor, nurse or pharmacist, for example.
You do still want to show the admissions tutors that you genuinely care about the power of Medicine to change, and save, lives. Prove it by discussing the most important part of any Oxbridge personal statement:
Super-curriculars
Unlike extracurriculars, which could be sports or hobby-based, super-curriculars are more academically-inclined. Examples in the field of medicine could include:
Wider reading – books like The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee or Bad Science by Ben Goldacre can help you develop critical thinking.
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are free online courses on platforms like Coursera or FutureLearn that can show proactive learning.
Research or projects like extended essays, science competitions, or independent research on medical topics help you stand out.
Everyone who applies has great grades, so that’s simply not enough anymore. Make no mistake: super-curriculars are your key to Cambridge Medicine.
Getting relevant work experience
One of the best ways to gain experience is shadowing doctors in hospitals or GP surgeries. If you don’t have personal connections, try contacting local NHS trusts (if you’re in the UK), GP practices, or hospital education departments to ask about formal work experience schemes. Persistence is key – sending polite, well-worded emails explaining your interest in medicine can sometimes open doors.
If clinical placements are hard to secure, volunteering in care homes, hospices, or charities like St John Ambulance can still provide invaluable patient-facing experience.
Virtual work experience is another option. Programs like Observe GP or Brighton and Sussex Medical School’s Virtual Work Experience provide insight into patient interactions and the NHS structure. Attending medical lectures or online conferences can also help you engage with current issues in healthcare, giving you strong material for your personal statement and interviews.
If in-person opportunities are limited, consider international medical programs like Gap Medics or Projects Abroad, which offer placements in hospitals and clinics worldwide. These can be expensive, but they provide experience in different healthcare systems, which can be valuable when discussing medicine on a global scale in your application.
Then the crucial step: Did you notice any ethical dilemmas? What did you observe about patient-doctor relationships?
Cambridge is not solely impressed by a long list of placements – anyone can sign up to things. Not everyone can critically reflect on them: they want to see thoughtful reflection on what you gained.
Ask yourself:
What did I learn about the challenges of medicine?
How did this experience shape my understanding of the profession?
Did it raise any ethical or scientific questions that I explored further?