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.

Accept all cookies Reject all non-essential cookies Find out more

Medicine: Requirements

Student carrying out lab work © Medical Sciences Division and John Cairns

Academic entry requirements

Our standard entry requirements are:

A-levels: A*AA in three A-levels (excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies) taken in one academic year. Candidates are required to achieve at least grade A in both Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics.

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

Details of academic entry requirements for other qualifications can be found on the academic entry requirements page.

AGE REQUIREMENT

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

BioMedical Admissions Test

All applicants to Medicine are required to take the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) in their own school or college, or in a registered test centre, as part of their application.

The test will take place in October this year. Applicants can register to sit the test from early September. See: https://www.admissionstesting.org/for-test-takers/bmat/bmat-november/dates-and-costs/

You can find further information on the BMAT on the BMAT page or the Admissions Testing Service website.

Selection criteria

The personal characteristics we look for applicants to the A100 course (both the pre-clinical and clinical parts) are listed below.

Personal characteristics: suitability for medicine

  • Empathy: ability and willingness to imagine the feelings of others and understand the reasons for the views of others
  • Motivation: a reasonably well-informed and strong desire to practise medicine
  • Communication: ability to make knowledge and ideas clear using language appropriate to the audience
  • Honesty and integrity
  • Ethical awareness
  • Ability to work with others
  • Capacity for sustained and intense work
  • Alignment with the values of the NHS Constitution

Academic potential

  • Problem-solving: critical thinking, analytical approach
  • Intellectual curiosity: keenness to understand the reason for observations; depth; tendency to look for meaning; enthusiasm and curiosity in science
  • Communication skills: willingness and ability to express clearly and effectively; ability to listen; compatibility with tutorial format

Health & fitness to practise

The University is required by the General Medical Council to ensure that students who graduate with degrees of BMBCh are fit to practise Medicine. This is a matter in which conduct and health, and not simply academic standing, are relevant. Medical students must display similar standards of behaviour to qualified doctors (including honesty and integrity), a professional attitude towards patients and colleagues, an ability to communicate with patients and gain their trust, and an ability to cope with the emotional pressures associated with the study and practice of Medicine. For information and help visit the University of Oxford's Occupational Health Service website.

We also provide further information on health & fitness to practise matters.

Further information for graduate and international applicants

We also provide further advice for:

 

Pre-clinical