Medical school comparison

Exeter vs University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)

Exeter and University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) 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. Their A-Level requirements (Applicants vs AAB) place them in slightly different academic-strictness tiers.

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Exeter

Exeter, Devon, England, UK

University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)

Preston

Location

Exeter, Devon, England, UK, UK

Preston, UK

A-Level offer

A*AA at A-level including A in Chemistry and A in Biology

AAB at A-level including Biology and Chemistry (home applicants)

TrueScore

1900

UCAT home cut-off

~1880+ /2700 with A*A*A* (5th decile) OR ~2100+ /2700 with A*A*A (8th decile). Points cut-off 74+/100.

UCAT used for home applicant shortlisting; no published cut-off

Interview format

Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)

Post-interview chance

International (2026 policy): ~33% (10 places, ~30 interviews); UK Undergrad: 366/696 = 53%

Decision date

March onwards / mid-May

March - April

Compare different schools

Exeter vs University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) - in detail

A-Level and academic profile

Exeter requires Applicants need to apply via UCAS by 15 October; academic profile + admissions test used to determine interview invite. Typical A-Level offer A*AA (contextual AAB) for 2026 entry.. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) requires AAB at A-level including Biology and Chemistry (home applicants). University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is the stricter A-Level offer; Exeter is slightly more forgiving. If your predicted grades are borderline, Exeter carries the lower academic-rejection risk pre-interview.

Interview formats

Both Exeter and University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) 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: Exeter interviews in December – March; University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in December - February.

What makes each distinctive

Exeter: Focus on non-academic qualities including communication, empathy, role-play and realistic insight into the course and career. Points-based shortlisting combining A-level prediction + UCAT decile (75% academic / 25% UCAT). SJT not used - band 4 is fine. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan): One of the first UK universities to run a privately-funded medical school open to international students; substantial international cohort blended with a smaller home intake. Strong Lancashire regional placement network.

Which is right for you?

For applicants with predicted A-Level grades at the lower end of the AAA-A*AA range, Exeter is the lower-risk academic option. 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

What UCAT score do I need for Exeter vs University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)?+

Neither school publishes a single fixed UCAT cut-off; both use UCAT as part of a composite shortlisting score alongside GCSE and personal-statement weighting. Exeter guidance: ~1880+ /2700 with A*A*A* (5th decile) OR ~2100+ /2700 with A*A*A (8th decile). Points cut-off 74+/100.. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) guidance: UCAT used for home applicant shortlisting; no published cut-off.

How do interviews differ between Exeter and University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)?+

Exeter uses Multiple Mini Interviews: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) 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 – March (Exeter); December - February (University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)).

What A-Level grades do Exeter and University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) require?+

Exeter requires Applicants need to apply via UCAS by 15 October; academic profile + admissions test used to determine interview invite. Typical A-Level offer A*AA (contextual AAB) for 2026 entry.. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) requires AAB at A-level including Biology and Chemistry (home applicants). Most successful applicants achieve these grades on first sitting with strong predicted grades from their school.

Where are Exeter and University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) located, and how does that affect cost?+

Exeter is in Exeter, Devon, England, UK, UK. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is in Preston, 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).

When does each school release decisions?+

Exeter typically releases medicine decisions March onwards / mid-May. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) releases medicine decisions March - April. 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.

Should I apply to both Exeter and University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)?+

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.