All applicants are considered on an individual basis.
A Levels
AAA at A Level taken within five academic years prior to the time of application, to include Chemistry or Biology and one of either Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics. For the third A Level*, please note that we do not accept General Studies and Critical Thinking. For Biology, Chemistry and Physics A Levels, we require a pass in the practical element.
Predicted A Level resit grades of AAA (or ABB for those eligible under the Widening Access to Medicine Scheme) will be accepted taken within five academic years prior to the time of application. At first sitting, applicants must have achieved at least AAB (or BBB for those eligible under the Widening Access to Medicine Scheme).
For applicants with A Level resit grades already achieved at point of application, AAA will be accepted (or ABB for a Widening Access to Medicine application). All grades must be achieved within five academic years prior to the time of application and the first sitting requirement does not apply to applicants with achieved resit grades (ie if applicant achieved CDD from first sitting and has since achieved AAA, they can be considered for the course).
- First A Level Biology; and Chemistry or Physics or Maths; and any* third A Level
- First A Level Chemistry; and Biology or Physics or Maths; and any* third A Level
T Levels
Distinction (with a minimum grade A in the core component and minimum merit in specialism) in Health or Healthcare Science, taken within five academic years prior to the time of application.
Accepted specialisms:
- Supporting the Adult Nursing Team
- Supporting the Midwifery Team
- Supporting the Mental Health Team
- Supporting the Care of Children and Young People
- Supporting the Therapy Teams
- Assisting with Healthcare science
GCSEs
A minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade A*-B (9-6) required including English Language, Maths and two science subjects.
Scottish qualifications
Advanced Highers: ABB from Scottish Advanced Highers with grades AB to come from Biology and/or Chemistry and another science subject. We also require National 5 Grade B or above or GCSE in English Language and Maths.
Highers: AAAAA at Higher Grade including Biology and/or Chemistry and another science subject. We also require National 5 Grade B or above or GCSE grade B (5) or above in English Language, two science subjects and Maths.
Must be taken within five academic years prior to the year of entry.
International Baccalaureate
A minimum of 36 points is accepted. 666 at Higher Level in Biology and/or Chemistry plus one other science and including Mathematics or English.
Must be taken within five academic years prior to the year of entry.
Irish Leaving Certificate
Three Higher level subjects at H1 including Biology or Chemistry.
Three Higher level subjects at minimum H2 including Chemistry or Maths or Physics or Biology.
Must be taken within five academic years prior to the year of entry.
European entry requirements
See our European entry requirements by country.
Must be taken within five academic years prior to the year of entry.
Cambridge Pre-U
D3, D3, D3 in Principal Subjects. Subjects should include Biology and/or Chemistry. If only one of Biology and/or Chemistry is offered, the other should be offered at A Level grade A (or Dual Award Science grade A).
IELTS
For applicants who do not have English as a first language, we require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading).
IELTS: 7.5 overall (minimum 7.0 in each component) taken within two academic years prior to the time of application.
Other qualifications
BTEC qualifications are not accepted. If you have qualifications that are not listed under the Main Academic Entry Requirements, please contact [email protected]
Requirements for graduates
There is no graduate entry programme. Applicants who have an undergraduate degree will start in Year 1 and will be required to complete all five years of the course. We recommend that applicants seek advice on funding prior to starting their application.
A minimum 2:1 honours degree awarded within the last five years is required. All graduate applicants will need to provide their transcripts, which will be evaluated and put to a panel decision. The minimum requirement for GCSEs will have to be met. The UCAT will also have to be completed by graduate applicants; GAMSAT will not be accepted.
We will accept the following degree topics from any UK institution:
- Anatomy/Anatomical Science
- Biochemistry
- Bioengineering
- Biology (at least half of modules must be related to human biology)
- Biomedical Science
- Cell and/or Molecular Biology
- Clinical Sciences
- Dentistry
- Genetics
- Medical Sciences
- Microbiology
- Natural Science (at least half of modules must be related to human biology)
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacy
- Pharmacology
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Physician Associates
- Physiology
- Sports Science
- Optometry
- Veterinary Science/Medicine
Internal ARU Transfer Scheme
The School of Medicine considers applications to transfer to the first year of our MBChB degree programme from students registered on the first year of our undergraduate programmes. Students may have the possibility of transferring to this undergraduate Medicine course from the following courses:
- BSc (Hons) Medical Science (Chelmsford campus)
- BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science (Cambridge campus)
- BOptom (Hons) Optometry (Cambridge campus)
This is a highly competitive option and there is limited availability, so applicants must fulfil the same criteria as all other applicants to the course before being made an offer.
Find out more about our internal transfer scheme.
East of England region
We aspire to recruit promising and motivated students from the East of England region*. If your home address or school/college address is in the East of England region* up to one academic year prior to the time of your application, you will be allocated shortlisting points for the region and further points if the address is in Essex.
*Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and the North East London Boroughs.
Download the East Anglia Region map.
Download the North East London Boroughs map.
Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE)
We accept Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) in Pre-Medical Studies, delivered by Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) 120 credits FHEQ level 4, must achieve at least 75% overall grade with no modules less than 65%.
Must be taken within five academic years prior to the year of entry.
A minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade A*-B (9-6) required including English Language, Maths and two science subjects.
Non-academic entry requirements
Personal statement
While we do not directly use your personal statement in the selection process, you should be prepared to discuss or use aspects of your statement at the MMIs.
We will be looking to understand your motivation to study medicine, your appreciation of the role and responsibilities of being a doctor, as well as evidence of any work experience you have undertaken to support your application. From your personal statement, we’ll be looking for realistic expectations of what studying medicine entails and that you fully understand the high level of commitment involved. We want to see that you have researched all the aspects of the course and subsequent roles and have a clear view of where you intend the degree to take you.
We are adhering to the Medical Schools Council (MSC) ‘Selecting for Excellence’ recommendations.
The MSC also provides guidance on the personal qualities which are desirable in a prospective student. We strongly recommend that you read these documents before making your application.
Work experience
It is desirable for applicants to have undertaken work experience in the healthcare sector, whether that be shadowing, volunteering, paid-work or observing. Clinical and non-clinical experience are important, which could be in a nursing home, nursery, charities, voluntary organisations, pharmacy as well as GP surgeries and hospitals. The purpose of the work experience is to give you an insight in to the working day of a healthcare professional, to challenge any preconceptions that you may have and give you a realistic view of the job roles you wish to pursue.
The Medical Schools Council (MSC) has guidance on work experience for applicants to medicine.
We will also consider other forms of work experience where you will have gained transferable skills such as communication, problem solving, care, working with others and professionalism.
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) previously known as UKCAT
All applicants are required to take the UCAT Medical Admissions Test in the summer prior to submitting their application, i.e. in July-September. See the UCAT website for full details of the test, timescales and the location of test centres.
While we include the UCAT score within our selection process, we do not have a standard cut-off value. Applicants will be ranked by their UCAT score and a certain number will be invited to an Interview Day, provided they meet our main academic entry requirements. Applicants with an SJT score of Band 4 (lowest band) will not be invited for interview. Please note that the UCAT score of those applicants invited to interview is expected to vary year on year, and as such, it is not possible to give applicants an indication of the score that is required to attend an Interview Day
Applicants are encouraged to see if they are eligible for the UCAT bursary, which covers the full test fee. Please check the UCAT website.
For applicants meeting our Widening Access to Medicine Criteria, an uplift of 5% will be applied to UCAT test scores. Applicants who have received Free School Meals or have experienced care will be invited to interview regardless of UCAT score (provided they meet the academic requirements and score Band 1-3 in the SJT.
Applicants who reside within the East of England (Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and North East London boroughs) will have a 2.5% uplift applied to their UCAT score. Applicants who reside in Essex will have a 5% uplift applied to their UCAT score.
Selection process
Our selection process is designed to identify students who have the academic ability and characteristics that would allow them to become excellent doctors. We expect applicants to be familiar with the NHS, NHS constitution and the General Medical Council (GMC) requirements of medical students. We will be looking for applicants to demonstrate throughout the process their professional attitude and commitment to the values of healthcare professionals.
Once you have submitted your UCAS form and are predicted to meet the main academic entry requirements, we will send you a WAMS Eligibility Questionnaire. You will need to complete and return the Questionnaire to the Admissions Team to be considered for WAMS.
Your UCAT Score will be ranked and shortlisting points allocated for living or studying up to one academic year prior to the time of your application in the East of England region, with further points for Essex. We will invite all the shortlisted applicants to interview.
Selection Process – 3 phases
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Phase 1: Academic Screen
All applications are checked to ensure that they meet the minimum academic entry requirements.
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Phase 2: Shortlisting
All applicants meeting the main academic entry requirements with predicted grades of AAA or WAMS applicants with a lower Conditional offer of ABB, will be ranked on their UCAT Score, with shortlisting points for living or studying in the East of England region, with further points for Essex.
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Phase 3: Interviews (MMI)
After the interview, applicants will receive the University's decision via UCAS. All offers will have conditions of satisfactory DBS and Occupational Health checks attached to them.
Interview Day
The Interview Day will consist of Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs), which are designed to gain further insight into your personal qualities and cognitive skills. They are comprised of a series of six mini-interviews, each lasting seven minutes, with one minute reading of instructions outside each station. The interviews will typically be assessing:
- Interpersonal and communication skills (including empathy)
- Teamwork and leadership
- Preparation and motivation
- Critical thinking
- Ethical/moral reasoning
- ‘Integrity’
The interviews will be carried out by members of the course team, healthcare professionals, junior doctors and service users. While we do not directly use your personal statement in the selection process, you should be prepared to discuss or use aspects of your statement.
Offers are based solely on MMI ranking, as all applicants who have reached this stage will be considered to be academically able to complete the course.
Age
Due to the early clinical contact in the first months of the course, students must be a minimum of 18 years of age by 1 November, in the year their course starts. Applicants who apply but would be under 18 by 1 November will be advised to reapply for the following year.
Applicants with learning support needs
We welcome all students. If you have study support needs, such as a specific learning difficulty, a medical condition or a disability, please do let us know. If you would like to discuss your requirements before an offer is made or would like to speak to a Study Support Adviser, please contact: [email protected]. It helps to declare a learning support need as early as possible (on your UCAS application) so that support can be arranged. We seek to balance the requirements of both disability legislation and the General Medical Council’s Fitness to Practise policy.
The School of Medicine will consider all requests for adjustments in line with the UK Equality Act 2010. Any such requests are considered separately from decisions to offer places. Places are offered solely on MMI ranking following interview.
Professional behaviour and Fitness to Practise: Conditions of any offer made
You must be able to fulfil the duties of a doctor as stated by the General Medical Council in their document Good Medical Practice. Registration on the course is conditional on satisfactory occupational health and Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. We will also verify all applicant details against the Medical Schools Council database to ensure no Fitness to Practise findings have been registered against an applicant.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
An Enhanced DBS check is a compulsory requirement of any offer to study on courses which requires you to be on placement and work with children and/or vulnerable adults. This check will confirm whether you have any criminal convictions, cautions or reprimands registered against you, and is necessary to protect both you and the public against people who are unsuitable to work with children and/or vulnerable adults.
The Admissions Team will send you the necessary paperwork to complete and you will be asked to return the completed forms when invited to attend the Interview Day. Please note that you will need to meet the cost of the check yourself, currently £44 (2018 fee).
Offers for international applicants will be confirmed on the basis of a letter from either the British High Commission of their local constabulary, confirming that they have no criminal convictions and are of good character. Successful applicants will complete and submit their Enhanced DBS application as soon as a UK address is secured and will not be permitted to attend placement until a satisfactory DBS Disclosure certificate is received and verified.
Further details on DBS disclosures can be found on the Gov.UK website, by contacting the DBS information line on 0870 9090 844 or by contacting Anglia Ruskin University's DBS Officers on 01245 68 4984 or [email protected]
Occupational health
You must have a satisfactory occupational health clearance in order to be allowed out on placement. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust/IDC (Industrial Diagnostics Company) will undertake the vaccinations on behalf of ARU. However, if this is undertaken by a third party (your own GP), ARU is unable to reimburse the cost.
If you can produce acceptable evidence of already having the vaccinations you won’t need to have them again. However if you have not previously had the vaccinations you can expect to have the following.
- Measles immunity blood test
- Rubella immunity blood test
- Varicella (chicken pox) immunity blood test
- Hepatitis B immunity blood test
- IGRA blood test (TB screening)
- Hep B surface antigen blood test (Hep B surface antigen screening)
- Hep C blood test (Hep C screening)
- HIV blood test (HIV screening)
- Three or four Hep B vaccinations
- Two MMR vaccinations
- Two varicella (chicken pox) vaccinations
- One BCG (TB) vaccination
You’ll be contacted by the occupational health provider after you have firmly accepted your offer (minimum of six months before your course starts), who’ll first ask you to complete a medical questionnaire and arrange a meeting with the nurse.
Covid and flu vaccine
As your course has placements in care homes and/or NHS environments to fulfil Professional Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements, we continue to strongly recommend Covid and flu vaccination. This is to protect both yourself and the vulnerable people that you’ll come into contact with throughout your placements.
Please also be aware that if you were to catch either Covid or flu during your course, it may result in significant disruption to your studies. If you are unsure about vaccines, we suggest you seek evidenced-based information on vaccines from reputable sources.
Dr Gemma Conn
Baroness Lorna Rowe
Aaron Trinidade
Dr Babar Vaqas
Dr Chirag Parikh