A-Level and academic profile
Brunel Medical School requires AAA including Chemistry and Biology. Hertfordshire requires AAA offer including chemistry or biology, completed in one sitting across a maximum of two years. Applicants encouraged to consider arts/humanities for their 3rd A-level. GCSEs: minimum 5 subjects at grade 6 including English, maths, biology, chemistry and physics (or dual award).. Both demand the same A-Level grade band, so academic prediction is unlikely to differentiate your application between them — provided you meet the required subject combination at each. GCSE profile matters at both schools — Brunel Medical School: Min 5 GCSEs at grade 6 including Maths, English Language, dual-award Science. Hertfordshire: Min 5 GCSEs at grade 6 including Maths, English Language, dual-award Science.
Interview formats
Both Brunel Medical School and Hertfordshire 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: Brunel Medical School interviews in December - March; Hertfordshire in December - March.
Curriculum and teaching style
Brunel Medical School runs a Integrated curriculum; Hertfordshire runs a PBL curriculum. The teaching philosophies are different — Brunel Medical School delivers more didactic lectures with structured systems-based progression, while Hertfordshire centres learning around clinical cases. Specifics: Five-year MBBS with integrated theory and early clinical practice. Brunel partners with NHS West London for clinical placements (Hillingdon, Northwick Five-year MBChB. Hertfordshire-based with East-of-England NHS placements. Intake size: Brunel Medical School — ~95 places per year (small newer cohort).; Hertfordshire — ~50-100 places per year (newer cohort).. A larger cohort means more peer breadth; a smaller cohort means more tutor contact.
What makes each distinctive
Brunel Medical School: New medical school still under GMC accreditation (Buckingham acts as contingency). Refused to publish UCAT cut-offs - anecdotally low. International offers are notably high in volume relative to home places. Hertfordshire: For international students only and new this year - can apply directly in addition to your 4 UCAS medical choices, so no harm in giving it a try. New medical school actively seeking links with international applicants.