Skip to main content
NextGen MedPrep logoNextGenMedPrep
Back to Medical School Compare
Medical school comparison

Aston University vs Chester Medical School (GEM)

Aston University and Chester Medical School (GEM) are both UK medical schools, but the path to an offer at each is meaningfully different. Both sit in England, so location and clinical-placement breadth are similar — the differentiation comes from selection methodology, interview style and curriculum philosophy.

Side-by-side comparison

Aston University

Birmingham

Quick comparison

Location
Birmingham, UK
A-Level offer
A*AA at A-level (A* must be in Chemistry or Biology)
TrueScore
1950
UCAT home cut-off
~1950+ /2700 (non-WP - 2024 lowest invited 2600/3600 ≈ 1950)
Interview format
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)
Post-interview chance
All Applicants: 306/363 = 84% (2025); Non-Contextual: 182/214 = 85%
Decision date
March onwards

Chester Medical School (GEM)

Chester

Quick comparison

Location
Chester, UK
A-Level offer
Graduate entry - degree required
TrueScore
1820GEM
UCAT home cut-off
-
Interview format
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)
Post-interview chance
-
Decision date
March onwards
Compare different schools

Aston University vs Chester Medical School (GEM) - in detail

A-Level and academic profile

Aston University requires A*AA including Chemistry and Biology (A* in Chemistry or Biology).

Chester Medical School (GEM) requires Graduate entry - degree required.

GCSE profile matters at both schools — Aston University: Min 5 GCSEs at grade 6 (B) including Maths, English Language, dual-award Science. Chester Medical School (GEM): Not applicable - graduate-entry programme. Requires a 2:1 honours degree.

Interview formats

Both Aston University and Chester Medical School (GEM) use MMI interviews, so the underlying prep approach is the same — practise ethics frameworks, NHS hot-topic answers and (for MMI) structured station responses against a timer.

Interview windows: Aston University interviews in December - March; Chester Medical School (GEM) in December - March.

Curriculum and teaching style

Both schools deliver a PBL-style curriculum, so day-to-day study habits will feel similar across years 1-3.

Specifics: Five-year MBChB with PBL. Clinical placements across Birmingham NHS sites (UHB, Sandwell, Walsall, Heart of England). Four-year accelerated graduate-entry MBChB. Cheshire-based with regional NHS placements.

Intake size: Aston University — ~110 places per year.; Chester Medical School (GEM) — ~30-50 places per year (small newer cohort).. A larger cohort means more peer breadth; a smaller cohort means more tutor contact.

What makes each distinctive

Aston University: UCAT and GCSE used heavily post-interview (academic:UCAT:interview ratio = 2:1:1). Interview is just 25% of final scoring, so post-interview chances are excellent for high-stat applicants. SJT not used - band 4 is fine.

Chester Medical School (GEM): Graduate entry programme with focus on serving local communities. Newer course with a regional commitment to north-west England.

Which is right for you?

Both schools sit in the same England foundation-programme catchment, so post-graduation training paths overlap heavily. Your firm/insurance choice should ultimately weight: where your UCAT and predicted grades sit relative to each school's threshold, which interview format you can prepare for most credibly, and where you'd actually want to live for five or six years.

Common questions

Where to go next

Aston UniversityEntry requirements, interview format and key dates in fullChester Medical School (GEM)Entry requirements, interview format and key dates in full

Other medical school comparisons

School data reviewed by the NextGen MedPrep editorial team — last reviewed 4 August 2026.