Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

A-levels

A*AA in three A-levels (excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies, and the international A-level in Thinking Skills) taken in the same academic year.

Candidates are required to achieve at least grade A in both Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics.

NB: If a practical component forms part of any of the A-levels taken, we expect candidates to have taken it and passed.

standard offer (A-level)

Grades A*AA at A-Level, including Grade A in Chemistry and Grade A from Biology, Physics, Mathematics, or Further Mathematics.

No specification of the subject in which the A* is to be achieved should be made.

For an applicant offering four subjects, the third subject of the offer should not be specified.

4 A grade offers should not be made.

If the applicant has already achieved Grade A at A-Level in one or more of these subjects, the offer should be revised accordingly, but the candidate should still be required to achieve Grades A*AA in one academic year.

International Baccalaureate

Overall score of 39 (including core points), and scores of 7, 6 and 6 in subjects taken at Higher Level

Applicants are required to offer the following subjects at Higher Level:

  • Chemistry (compulsory) AND
  • At least one from Biology, Physics and Mathematics. If you choose to offer Mathematics at HL as part of fulfilling our requirements, note that we have no preference for either the Analysis and Approaches (AA) course or the Applications and Interpretation (AI) course.

Cambridge Pre-U

D2D3D3 in Three Principal Subjects taken in the same academic year

  • Chemistry (compulsory) AND
  • At least one from Biology, Physics, Mathematics, or Further Mathematics.

A D2 grade in a Principal Subject at Cambridge Pre-U equates to an A* grade at A-level (and a D3 equates to an A grade), so if one principal subject is being taken in place of an A-level a D2 or D3 grade will be used as an equivalent.

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

Our requirements for an applicant taking Scottish qualifications would typically be:

AA in Advanced Highers (taken in the same academic year) and AAAAA in Highers (taken in the same academic year)

Applicants are required to offer Chemistry (compulsory) and one (or more, if desired) from Biology, Physics or Mathematics as Advanced Highers.

BTEC LEVEL 3 EXTENDED DIPLOMA

Our requirements for an applicant taking BTEC qualifications would typically be:

  • BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Applied Science (to include Unit 13 - Applications of Inorganic Chemistry and Unit 14 - Applications of Organic Chemistry)
  • BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Applied Science (to include Unit 13 - Applications of Inorganic Chemistry and Unit 14 - Applications of Organic Chemistry) plus 1 A-level
  • BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Applied Science (to include Unit 13 - Applications of Inorganic Chemistry and Unit 14 - Applications of Organic Chemistry) plus 2 A-levels (one of which must be Biology, Physics or Mathematics)
  • BTEC Level 3 Extended Certificate or Subsidiary Diploma in Applied Science plus 2 A-levels (one of which must be Chemistry)

We also accept applications from candidates with 2 A-levels in Chemistry and another science (Biology, Physics, Mathematics, or Further Mathematics) plus a BTEC Level 3 qualification in another subject.

Applicants will be required to achieve grades of D*DD or the equivalent.

We do not accept BTEC qualifications of any level in Health & Social Care or Sport & Exercise Science in place of Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics.

IRISH LEAVING CERTIFICATE

For an applicant taking Irish qualifications, our entrance requirements translate to:

Leaving Certificate with a minimum of grades: H1H1H2H2H2H2 at Higher level; a strong academic track record would be expected in Chemistry (compulsory), plus at least one of Biology, Physics or Maths.

For those applying with qualifications gained prior to 2017: Leaving Certificate with a minimum of grades AAAAB1B1 at Higher / Honours level; a strong academic track record would be expected in Chemistry (compulsory), plus at least one of Biology, Physics or Maths. 

WELSH BACCALAUREATE

Applicants taking the Advanced Diploma in the Welsh Baccalaureate are expected to have studied three subjects at A Level as part of their qualification. Offers are conditional on achievement in the A Levels within the qualification rather than the overall Baccalaureate award.

European Baccalaureate

Average of 85% or more, with marks of 8 to 9 required in relevant subjects

Applicants are required to offer:

  • Chemistry (compulsory) AND
  • At least one from Biology, Physics and Mathematics.

We would also recommend that applicants take one of the practical science courses (Physics, Chemistry or Biology) as a complementary subject.

Italian: Diploma di Esame di Stato (Liceo Scientifico) 

Applicants are required to offer the Liceo Scientifico and achieve an overall score of at least 95%; a strong academic track record would be expected in Chemistry (compulsory), plus Biology and/or Physics and/or Mathematics.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT TESTS, ACT AND SAT

Applicants are required to offer the following:

EITHER

  •  Four APs at grade 5, completed in the same academic year. Applicants would need to achieve a 5 in Chemistry and a 5 in either Biology, Physics or Calculus, but these subject requirements can be met across academic years.

OR

  • Three APs at grade 5, completed in the same academic year plus a score of 32 or above in the ACT or 1470 or above (out of 1600) in the SAT. Applicants would need to achieve a 5 in Chemistry and a 5 in either Biology, Physics or Calculus, but these subject requirements can be met across academic years. We do not require the optional essay for either the ACT or the SAT.

 Calculus AB and Calculus BC cannot be counted as two separate subjects for the purposes of meeting your offer, whether taken as separate tests or by receiving the AB sub-score when taking Calculus BC.

 You should take Calculus BC if you are able to do so. However, we will accept Calculus AB if you are unable to take Calculus BC.

  The following combinations of Physics courses can be counted as two separate qualifications for the purposes of meeting your offer:

  • Physics C: Mechanics, and Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
  • Physics 1 and Physics 2
  • Physics 1and Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
  • Physics 2 and Physics C: Mechanics

 If you are taking both Physics C courses, or both Physics 1 and Physics 2, you will not be able to count any additional Physics courses towards your offer requirements. In addition, only the specified combinations of Physics 1/2 and Physics C are permitted.

Other qualifications

We welcome applications from those studying towards qualifications other than those listed here, as long as they are considered equivalent to A-levels - in terms of both content and achievement.

We advise all non-A-level applicants to make it clear on their UCAS application form that they meet our requirements i.e. all subjects studied, and at what level, should be specified.

The University has provided some guidance on qualifications required from international applicants, see the  University listing of international qualifications.

Please note that, regardless of qualifications, we will require applicants to achieve particular excellence in Chemistry (compulsory), plus at least one from Biology, Physics, and Mathematics.

Any applicants unsure of their eligibility for the course should contact the Pre-Clinical Admissions Office for guidance.

ACCESS AND FOUNDATION COURSES

Access and Foundation courses can meet the basic requirements for entry to the Oxford pre-clinical course, with certain provisos. They will only be acceptable alternatives to A-level where you can demonstrate that:

  • The course covers the same content as the A-levels we ask for in our entry criteria (and to an equal standard), particularly for Chemistry (which is compulsory).
  • Entry to the course is competitive in nature.
  • The syllabus is assessed by formal written examination.
  • The result is classified (a pass at Distinction level will be required).

Realistically, only an applicant who is performing consistently well across all elements of an Access or Foundation course would be capable of competing for a place on an even playing field with other applicants who are taking A-levels or the IB.

Please note that it will be your responsibility to demonstrate to us that your course is a suitable alternative to A-levels. 

The Oxford Medical School does not recommend any particular Access or Foundation courses.

english language requirements

All teaching at Oxford University is carried out in English (with the exception of some language-specific teaching) and tutors must be convinced that you have sufficient fluency in written and spoken English to cope with your course from the start.

The University has set certain entry standards concerning proficiency in the English language for those applying from non-English speaking countries; see the English language requirements website.

AGE REQUIREMENTS

Oxford Medical School now requires all applicants to be 18 years old by 1st November in the year they intend to start the course. Please see our FAQs for further details.