Question 1

What UCAT score do I need for Hertfordshire vs Pears Cumbria (GEM)?

Accepted Answer

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. Hertfordshire guidance: International students only. SJT not used. New school for 2026 entry - cut-offs will be set as the cycle runs.. Pears Cumbria (GEM) guidance: Applicants may submit UCAT, GAMSAT or MCAT - whichever they performed best on. UCAT used as shortlisting filter only; offers based purely on interview + academic record..

Question 2

How do interviews differ between Hertfordshire and Pears Cumbria (GEM)?

Accepted Answer

Hertfordshire uses Multiple Mini Interviews: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). Pears Cumbria (GEM) 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 (Hertfordshire); December - March (Pears Cumbria (GEM)).

Question 3

What A-Level grades do Hertfordshire and Pears Cumbria (GEM) require?

Accepted Answer

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).

Pears Cumbria (GEM) requires Graduate entry - degree required.

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

Question 4

How are GCSEs weighted at Hertfordshire vs Pears Cumbria (GEM)?

Accepted Answer

Hertfordshire — Min 5 GCSEs at grade 6 including Maths, English Language, dual-award Science. Pears Cumbria (GEM) — Not applicable - graduate-entry programme. Requires a 2:1 honours degree.

Question 5

How does each school actually shortlist applicants?

Accepted Answer

Hertfordshire's selection methodology: Newer programme. UCAT + academic + interview. Hertfordshire-based with strong widening-participation focus. Pears Cumbria (GEM)'s selection methodology: New programme (first cohort 2024). UCAT + degree class + GAMSAT (alternative to UCAT for some routes) + interview. Imperial-affiliated graduate medicine in Cumbria. 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

Where are Hertfordshire and Pears Cumbria (GEM) located, and how does that affect cost?

Accepted Answer

Hertfordshire is in Hatfield, UK. Pears Cumbria (GEM) is in Carlisle, 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 7

When does each school release decisions?

Accepted Answer

Hertfordshire typically releases medicine decisions March onwards. Pears Cumbria (GEM) releases medicine decisions March onwards. 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 8

What curriculum style do Hertfordshire and Pears Cumbria (GEM) use?

Accepted Answer

Hertfordshire runs a PBL curriculum. Pears Cumbria (GEM) runs a PBL curriculum. Both schools deliver teaching in the same broad style, so day-to-day study habits will feel similar. Hertfordshire specifics: Five-year MBChB. Hertfordshire-based with East-of-England NHS placements. Pears Cumbria (GEM) specifics: Four-year accelerated graduate-entry programme. Imperial College London partner. Clinical placements across Cumbria NHS sites (UHMBT, North Cumbria Integrated Care).

Question 9

Should I apply to both Hertfordshire and Pears Cumbria (GEM)?

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	HertfordshireHatfield	Pears Cumbria (GEM)Carlisle
Quick comparison
Location	Hatfield, UK	Carlisle, UK
A-Level offer	AAA at A-level 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.	Graduate entry - degree required
TrueScore	1700intl	1700GEM
UCAT home cut-off	-	-
Interview format	Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)	Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)
Post-interview chance	-	-
Decision date	March onwards	March onwards

Hertfordshire vs Pears Cumbria (GEM)

Side-by-side comparison

Hertfordshire

Pears Cumbria (GEM)

Hertfordshire vs Pears Cumbria (GEM) - in detail

A-Level and academic profile

Interview formats

Curriculum and teaching style

What makes each distinctive

Which is right for you?

Common questions

Where to go next

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