Graduate Entry Medicine Selection Criteria

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Academic Entry requirements

The Graduate-Entry Medicine course (A101) is open to applicants with:

• A degree in applied or experimental science (see here) – with a degree class of 2.1 or above (or a GPA above 3.5)
• Passes at A-level of at least AAB with an A or A* in Chemistry (grade requirements apply if A-levels were taken within the last 5 years; applicants whose exams were taken more than 5 years prior to the year of application are not required to have AAB, although their grades will be assessed carefully at the shortlisting stage). See “GCSE and A-level requirements” below for further details and equivalent qualifications.
  

GCSE and A-level requirements

• Applicants must have A-level Chemistry (normally passed at A or A* if taken within last 5 years). Applicants with a degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry (2.1 or above) are exempt from this requirement.
• Applicants must also have one from Biology, Physics or Mathematics at A-level.
• Applicants with a degree in a subject other than bioscience must have a qualification in biology at GCSE or equivalent level.
  

International equivalent qualifications

International Baccalaureate:

• Applicants must have an overall score of 36 (including core points) and scores of 6 in subjects taken at Higher Level.
• Applicants are required to offer the following subjects at Higher Level:
  i) Chemistry (unless applicants have a degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry with a 2.1 or above)
  ii) At least one from Biology, Physics or Mathematics
  

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers:

• Applicants must have AAB with an A in Scottish Advanced Higher Chemistry if taken within last 5 years. Applicants with a degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry (2.1 or above) are exempt from this requirement.
• Applicants must also have one from Biology, Physics or Mathematics at Scottish Advanced Higher Level.
  

European Baccalaureate:

• Applicants must have average of 79% or more with marks of 8-9 required in relevant subjects
• Applicants are required to offer Chemistry (unless applicants have a degree in Chemistry or Biochemistry with a 2.1 or above) and at least one from Biology, Physics or Mathematics.
  

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 geadmin@medsci.ox.ac.uk for guidance.

Work Experience

All applicants must show evidence of their genuine commitment and personal suitability to medicine as demonstrated through any relevant work experience in a health or social care setting.

General selection requirements

Statistics from the 2020 Admissions Round (for 2021 Entry)

In 2020 we received 319 UCAS applications of which 286 were complete and met the published selection criteria.

• 60% of applicants were female (63% in 2019).
• 23% of applicants resided outside the EU and 10% resided in the EU outside the UK.
• 41% of applicants had not completed their first degree at the time of application, 27% had, or were completing, a Master’s Degree and 8% had, or were completing, a PhD/DPhil.
• For those that had completed their first degree, 50% had a First Class Classification.
• 29% of applicants had, or were completing, a degree in Biomedical Sciences, 20% in Chemistry or Biochemistry, 13% in Biology, and 12% in Mathematics, Physics or Engineering.

Overall, approximately 28% of applicants who made complete applications were shortlisted.

As part of the process to decide which applicants are called to interview, UCAS forms and Oxford Application forms were scored based on the published selection criteria by two independent assessors. BMAT scores were also used to determine the shortlist: the mean BMAT score (section 1 and 2) for shortlisted applicants was 11.7 versus 9.9 for non-shortlisted applicants. Due to the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic, applications were considered without a BMAT score this year, if it was clear that the applicant had made every reasonable effort to take the test.

The applications of those who were just below the initial shortlist cutoff were reviewed by a Shortlisting Committee, taking into account any individual circumstances - both academic and non-academic – that might indicate that they should be further considered for the shortlist. In addition to information sent directly to the Course Administrator, the Committee considered over 50 notifications of Extenuating Circumstances/Special Considerations submitted via the Oxford or Cambridge Assessment processes. In cases where an applicant’s BMAT was affected (or where it was not possible for an applicant to take the test), decisions regarding shortlisting were based upon their application scores. 

Each shortlisted applicant was interviewed at two colleges: the college of preference, or allocation if an open application was made, and one other. The number of applicants called for interview was set at approximately 2.5 applicants per place available.

Interviewers assessed each applicant against the selection criteria. Following interviews, colleges ranked all the applicants they had seen, on the basis of all information available to them at that time. After disclosure of the candidate rank from the second college, BMAT score and BMAT essays, colleges reviewed their ranking and submitted a final version. On the basis of this final ranking, applicants were provisionally assigned offers at a particular college, with the college the applicant had chosen (or had been allocated to) having first refusal. Admissions decisions were confirmed at a final meeting of college tutors.

Please note that colleges interviewed blind of college of choice (or allocation) and BMAT score.

Colleges made 31 quota offers, 2 deferred offers, and 4 open offers (which means that the applicant is guaranteed a place at Oxford to study Medicine, but will not be assigned to a final college until later in the year). The overall success rate was 13%.

• The overall success rate for male applicants was 15%; the overall success rate for female applicants was 12%.
• For those with an offer of a place, the mean BMAT score (section 1 and 2) was 12.25.
• The success rate for applicants with a First Class degree was 16% (compared to 10% for those with a 2.i)
• UK, EU and Outside of the EU had success rates of 15%, 4% and 11% respectively.
• The success rate for those with a PhD/DPhil was 32% compared with 10% for those with a Masters and 12% for those without a higher degree.
• Success rates for applicants with a Biomedical Sciences degree was 6%, compared with 19% for those with a Biochemistry or Chemistry degree, 19% for those with a Biology degree, 18% for those with a degree in Mathematics, Physics or Engineering.