Question 1

What UCAT score do I need for Cardiff vs St George's?

Accepted Answer

Cardiff's typical home cut-off is around 1700, while St George's sits at approximately 1950 — a 250-point spread. That's a meaningful gap; Cardiff is materially more accessible for an average-to-good UCAT, while St George's expects performance closer to the top 28% of test-takers. Cut-offs change year on year and vary by tier — check each school's latest published threshold before submitting your UCAS form.

Question 2

How do interviews differ between Cardiff and St George's?

Accepted Answer

Cardiff uses Multiple Mini Interviews: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). St George's uses Multiple Mini Interviews: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). The format is the same, so the same prep approach applies — practise ethics frameworks, NHS hot topics, and (for MMI) structured 5-7 minute station answers. Interview windows: December - February (Cardiff); November - February (St George's).

Question 3

What A-Level grades do Cardiff and St George's require?

Accepted Answer

Cardiff requires AAA including Chemistry and Biology.

St George's requires AAA including Chemistry and Biology.

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.

Question 4

How are GCSEs weighted at Cardiff vs St George's?

Accepted Answer

Cardiff — Top 9 GCSEs scored out of 27 points (must include Maths, English Language, Biology, Chemistry). A*/8/9 = 3 pts, A/7 = 2, B/6 = 1. St George's — GCSE performance considered as part of the broader academic profile; specific scoring not published.

Question 5

How does each school actually shortlist applicants?

Accepted Answer

Cardiff's selection methodology: GCSE points + A-Level achievement points + UCAT combined. Lowest UCAT invited to interview varies year-to-year (1980-2690/3600 in recent cycles). St George's's selection methodology: shortlisting weight not fully disclosed; check the official admissions page. Understanding each school's exact algorithm is the single highest-leverage piece of pre-application research — it tells you whether your profile is competitive before you spend an application choice.

Question 6

Which has a higher post-interview offer rate, Cardiff or St George's?

Accepted Answer

Cardiff: International (2024): 60/146 = 41%; Welsh: 232/349 = 66%; RUK: 347/664 = 52%; ~600 offers from 1000 interviews in 2025. St George's: Home Undergrad (2024): 247/677 = 36% (or 423/686 = 62% inc. deferred); Overseas Undergrad: 25/146 = 17% (or 58/152 = 38% inc. deferred).

Post-interview odds give you the clearest signal of how competitive each school is at the final stage — a school with a 60% post-interview success rate is structurally easier to convert than one at 25%, even if the interview thresholds look identical on paper.

Question 7

Where are Cardiff and St George's located, and how does that affect cost?

Accepted Answer

Cardiff is in Cardiff, UK. St George's is in London, UK. Tuition is £9,250/year at both for UK home applicants; the main cost difference is accommodation (London accommodation typically runs 30-50% above the national average).

Question 8

When does each school release decisions?

Accepted Answer

Cardiff typically releases medicine decisions March onwards. St George's releases medicine decisions Rolling-basis after Interviews have finished. If one is earlier than the other, you may need to hold a decision while waiting for the second school — be ready to compare in real time.

Question 9

Should I apply to both Cardiff and St George's?

Accepted Answer

You can — UCAS allows 4 medicine/dentistry choices in total, so listing both is feasible if your profile fits each school's selection algorithm. Apply to both only if your UCAT, GCSE and predicted-grade profile is competitive against each school's published weighting. A common mistake is using two of your four slots on similar schools when a more spread-out portfolio (one safe + one stretch) would maximise overall offer probability.

Comparison field	CardiffCardiff	St George'sLondon
Quick comparison
Location	Cardiff, UK	London, UK
A-Level offer	AAA at A-level including Biology and Chemistry	A*AA or AAA at A-level (offer depends on cohort strength). Predicted AAA required including Chemistry and Biology / Human Biology.
TrueScore	1700	1950
UCAT home cut-off	~1700+ /2700 (Welsh-domiciled - UCAT bar much lower; low priority over GCSE)	~1950+ /2700 (2025 entry cut-off ≈ 1950; 2024 entry was 2018)
Interview format	Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)	Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)
Post-interview chance	International (2024): 60/146 = 41%; Welsh: 232/349 = 66%; RUK: 347/664 = 52%; ~600 offers from 1000 interviews in 2025	Home Undergrad (2024): 247/677 = 36% (or 423/686 = 62% inc. deferred); Overseas Undergrad: 25/146 = 17% (or 58/152 = 38% inc. deferred)
Decision date	March onwards	Rolling-basis after Interviews have finished

Cardiff vs St George's

Side-by-side comparison

Cardiff

St George's

Cardiff vs St George's - in detail

UCAT thresholds compared

A-Level and academic profile

Interview formats

Post-interview offer rate

What makes each distinctive

Which is right for you?

Common questions

Where to go next

Other medical school comparisons