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

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) vs Sheffield

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and Sheffield are both UK medical schools, but the path to an offer at each is meaningfully different. Queen's University Belfast (QUB) is based in Belfast (Northern Ireland) while Sheffield sits in Sheffield (England), and the regional context shapes everything from fee status to NHS-deanery destination. On UCAT alone there is roughly a 420-point gap between them — a substantial difference that should shape which you list as firm choice vs. insurance.

Side-by-side comparison

Queen's University Belfast (QUB)

Belfast

Quick comparison

Location
Belfast, UK
A-Level offer
A*AA at A-level including Chemistry and Biology (or Maths/Physics - see subject rules)
TrueScore
1700
UCAT home cut-off
~1700+ /2700 with 9× grade 9s GCSE (~35/45 target). Lower UCAT viable with stronger GCSE.
Interview format
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)
Post-interview chance
Home: 332/778 = 43%; International: 51/214 = 24%
Decision date
April onwards

Sheffield

Sheffield

Quick comparison

Location
Sheffield, UK
A-Level offer
AAA at A-level including Chemistry or Biology, plus one of Biology / Chemistry / Mathematics / Physics / Psychology
TrueScore
2150
UCAT home cut-off
2120+ /2700 (2026 entry official cut-off)
Interview format
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)
Post-interview chance
All Students (2024): 722/1029 = 70%; International: 55/104 = 53%
Decision date
March onwards
Compare different schools

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) vs Sheffield - in detail

UCAT thresholds compared

Queen's University Belfast (QUB)'s published UCAT threshold for home applicants is around 1700, while Sheffield sits at approximately 2120. That's a 420-point gap — large enough to put the two schools in completely different competitiveness tiers. An applicant scoring in the 1800-2000 band would be competitive at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) but borderline at Sheffield. Contextual / widening-participation cut-offs differ — Queen's University Belfast (QUB): ~1500+ /2700 (with strong GCSE); Sheffield: 1800+ /2700 (Access Sheffield / Bradford / Sheffield Hallam). Eligible applicants should weight this heavily when choosing.

A-Level and academic profile

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) requires AAA including Chemistry and Biology. Sheffield 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.

Interview formats

Both Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and Sheffield 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: Queen's University Belfast (QUB) interviews in January - February; Sheffield in November - February.

Post-interview offer rate

Queen's University Belfast (QUB): Home: 332/778 = 43%; International: 51/214 = 24%. Sheffield: All Students (2024): 722/1029 = 70%; International: 55/104 = 53%. 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.

What makes each distinctive

Queen's University Belfast (QUB): Less weight on NHS hot topics than most schools. Stronger emphasis on reflective examples of personal qualities. SJT may be used if borderline before or after interview, but in 2025 anyone with 30/42 received an interview regardless. Sheffield: SJT used post-interview as a virtual MMI station rather than in shortlisting. Sheffield prioritises balanced performance - applicants achieving 3/5 or more in every section are favoured over those who peak in some and dip in others.

Which is right for you?

If your UCAT lands below the UK median (~2500/3600), Queen's University Belfast (QUB) is the more realistic firm-choice option. Regionally, the choice often comes down to cost of living and NHS-deanery preferences — Queen's University Belfast (QUB) feeds into the Northern Ireland foundation programme network; Sheffield into the England network. 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

Queen's University Belfast (QUB)'s typical home cut-off is around 1700, while Sheffield sits at approximately 2120 — a 420-point spread. That's a meaningful gap; Queen's University Belfast (QUB) is materially more accessible for an average-to-good UCAT, while Sheffield expects performance closer to the top 41% 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.

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) uses Multiple Mini Interviews: Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). Sheffield 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: January - February (Queen's University Belfast (QUB)); November - February (Sheffield).

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) requires AAA including Chemistry and Biology. Sheffield requires AAA including Chemistry and Biology. Most successful applicants achieve these grades on first sitting with strong predicted grades from their school.

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) — GCSE performance considered as part of the broader academic profile; specific scoring not published. Sheffield — Minimum 5 GCSEs at grade 7 (or 5×6 for Access Sheffield). Grade 6 in Maths, English Language and 3 sciences (or dual-award 6-6).

Queen's University Belfast (QUB)'s selection methodology: shortlisting weight not fully disclosed; check the official admissions page. Sheffield's selection methodology: Once GCSE minimums are met, shortlisting is solely by UCAT (1800/2700 minimum threshold for consideration - 2120+ in 2026). SJT used post-interview as a 9th 'virtual' MMI station. 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.

Queen's University Belfast (QUB): Home: 332/778 = 43%; International: 51/214 = 24%. Sheffield: All Students (2024): 722/1029 = 70%; International: 55/104 = 53%. Post-interview odds tell you how competitive each school is at the final stage. Two schools with similar UCAT thresholds can have very different post-interview rates — a school with a 60% post-interview success rate is structurally easier to convert than one at 25%.

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) is in Belfast, UK. Sheffield is in Sheffield, 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).

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) typically releases medicine decisions April onwards. Sheffield 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.

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.

School data reviewed by the NextGen MedPrep editorial team — last reviewed 20 June 2026.