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Oxford's course page for standard-entry Medicine (A100) says all applicants must take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) as part of their application. The A-level entry qualification is A*AA in three A-levels, with at least an A in Chemistry and in one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics. Oxford shortlists around 425 applicants for interview each year, using GCSE performance and UCAT results.
Grades and subjects Oxford asks for
| Qualification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| A-levels | A*AA in three A-levels (excluding Critical Thinking and Thinking Skills) taken in the same academic year. Applicants are required to achieve at least a grade A in both Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics. |
| Advanced Highers | AA (taken in the same academic year, in Chemistry, and one from Biology, Physics or Mathematics) plus Highers: AAAAA (taken in the same academic year). |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | 39 (including core points) with 766 at HL. Applicants are required to take Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics to Higher Level. |
Required subjects: Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics. Recommended: further subjects in Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics. If a practical component forms part of any of your science A-levels used to meet your offer, Oxford expects you to pass it.
The UCAT
| Test | Test dates | Registration opens | Test booking window |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCAT | 13 July - 24 September 2026 | 20 May 2026 (2pm UK time) | 23 June - 16 September 2026 (15:00 UK time) |
All applicants must take the UCAT as part of their application. The Medical Sciences Division says the UCAT lasts just under 2 hours, is sat under timed conditions, is made up of multiple-choice questions, and has four separately timed sections: verbal reasoning, decision making, quantitative reasoning and situational judgement. It says it uses the UCAT in shortlisting because it is the one measure it has for all applicants, and that if you apply to other universities that require the UCAT you only need to take the test once.
How Oxford shortlists for interview
Around 425 applicants are invited to interview each year. The Medical Sciences Division says it ranks applicants numerically using GCSE performance and UCAT results. For GCSEs it looks at the number and proportion of passes at the top grades (8/9) and relates them to the performance of all students at the school where the GCSEs were taken. For the UCAT it looks at the overall cognitive subtest score and does not use the situational judgement score at this stage. For applicants with GCSEs, the two carry equal weight in the first stage. The division says that because it shortlists the same number of people every year and uses two variables, there is no actual cut-off for either, so it cannot advise on a number of 8/9 grades or an exact UCAT score an applicant would need.
Oxford Medical Sciences Division, shortlisting FAQ
Interview
Oxford says shortlisted candidates will be invited to at least one online interview, and that interviews are expected to take place in December.
Admissions statistics
Oxford's course page gives these figures as a 3-year average for 2023-25: 29% of applicants interviewed, 11% successful, intake 155.
This page is about the standard-entry Medicine course (A100). Oxford has a separate page for its graduate-entry course (A101).
Sources
- Oxford Medicine course page
- Oxford Medical Sciences Division, UCAT page
- Oxford Medical Sciences Division, shortlisting FAQ
- UCAT
Always check Oxford's pages for the current requirements before you apply.
Last verified: 14 October 2026
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FAQs
Do I need to take the UCAT to apply for Medicine at Oxford?
Oxford's course page says all applicants must take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) as part of their application.
What A-level grades does Oxford ask for in Medicine?
Oxford asks for A*AA in three A-levels, with at least an A in Chemistry and in one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics.
Is there a UCAT score cut-off for an Oxford Medicine interview?
The Medical Sciences Division says there is no actual cut-off for the UCAT or for GCSE performance, because it shortlists the same number of people every year using two equally weighted variables.