Which medical schools give contextual offers?

21 UK medical schools record a reduced contextual A-level offer: Aston University (AAB), Barts and The London (Queen Mary) (AAA), Birmingham (AAB), Brighton & Sussex (BSMS) (AAB), Bristol (ABB), Exeter (AAB), Hull York (HYMS) (ABB), Keele (AAA), Lancaster (AAB), Leeds (ABB), Leicester (ABB), Lincoln Medical School (AAB), Manchester (AAB), Newcastle (ABB), North Wales (Bangor) (AAB), Nottingham (AAB), Peninsula (Plymouth) (AAB), Sheffield (AAB), Southampton (AAB), St Andrews (AAB) and UCL (AAB). Others adjust the UCAT or the shortlisting score instead — the table gives each school's rule.

What is the usual contextual offer for medicine?

AAB is the most common reduced offer (14 of the 21 schools with a reduced offer). The standard offer column shows what each school reduces from, which is A*AA at some schools and AAA at others.

Do contextual applicants get a lower UCAT threshold?

At 17 schools the record states a contextual rule at the UCAT stage — a lower threshold, a score uplift, or ranking contextual applicants separately: Aberdeen, Anglia Ruskin (ARU), Aston University, Birmingham, Brighton & Sussex (BSMS), Edinburgh, Exeter, Hull York (HYMS), Imperial College London, Keele, Lancaster, Lincoln Medical School, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, St Andrews and UCL.

Which UK medical schools have a foundation or gateway year?

The records name a foundation, gateway or extended route at Bristol (A108), Edge Hill (A104), Hull York (HYMS), Keele, King's College London (KCL) (A101), Lancaster (A104), Leeds, Leicester and Nottingham (A108). Each route has its own eligibility rules, set out on the school's course page.

Contextual offers for medicine: every UK medical school compared (2027 entry)

For 2027 entry, 21 of the 48 UK medical schools with a home intake record a contextual A-level offer below their standard offer — most often AAB (14 schools) — and 17 record a contextual rule at the UCAT stage — a lower threshold, a score uplift or a separate ranking. 9 schools' records also name a foundation, gateway or extended route into medicine.

New to contextual admissions? Our guide to contextual offers for medicine explains the flags (POLAR, IMD, care experience, free school meals) and how to check whether you qualify. This page is the school-by-school table.

Contextual A-level offers and UCAT rules by medical school

Standard and contextual A-level offers, contextual UCAT treatment and scheme details at 46 UK medical schools, 2027 entry. International-only courses excluded. Alphabetical.
School	Standard offer	Contextual offer	Contextual UCAT	How the scheme works	Last checked
AberdeenAberdeen	AAA	Not published	SIMD20 and care-experienced school leavers receive a 10% uplift on their UCAT score; SIMD40 school leavers receive 5%.	Aberdeen applies uplifts to the UCAT score itself rather than running a separate contextual threshold: 10% for SIMD20 and care-experienced school leavers, and 5% for SIMD40 school leavers. Because UCAT is scored relative to the rest of Aberdeen's applicant pool, an uplift moves you up the ranking rather than past a fixed bar.Scottish-domiciled applicants meeting minimum academic requirements and scoring in the top 75% of applicants are guaranteed an interview. Quintile 1 postcode or care leaver: 10% UCAT uplift. Quintile 2: 5% uplift.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
Anglia Ruskin (ARU)Chelmsford	AAA	Not published	1960+ East of England, 1920+ WAMS or Essex, 1870+ East of England + WAMS, 1830+ Essex + WAMS. FSM/care-experienced applicants invited regardless of UCAT (provided academic + band 1–3 SJT)	ARU has a distinctive widening-participation focus - significant proportion of intake from non-traditional backgrounds.Widening Access to Medicine Scheme (WAMS) gives a 5% UCAT uplift. East of England (Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire) gives 2.5%. Essex residents get 5%. Free School Meals or care-experienced applicants are auto-invited to interview if they meet academic + band 1–3 SJT.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
Aston UniversityBirmingham	A*AA	AABAAB at A-level for Aston Ready (WP) applicants, with AA in Chemistry + Biology	Aston Ready contextual applicants are ranked in their own Home Widening Participation group rather than against other home applicants.	Aston has a distinctive widening-participation focus - significant proportion of intake from non-traditional / first-in-family backgrounds.Aston Ready widening-participation programme: contextual offer AAB (with AA in Chemistry + Biology). Eligibility includes specified Birmingham/local-area + low-progression-area criteria.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
Barts and The London (Queen Mary)London	A*AA	AAAAAA at A-level for standard or enhanced contextual applicants. AAB for care-leavers.	Not published	Queen Mary contextual scheme: lower offers and UCAT threshold for East London / first-in-family applicants.	Unverified (school site blocked our check)
BirminghamBirmingham	AAA	AABAAB under the Contextual Offer scheme (one grade below standard), or ABB on completing a Pathways to Birmingham programme (two grades below), both including Chemistry and a second science from Biology/Human Biology, Physics or Mathematics	No cut-off. Contextual applicants gain up to 1.5 extra points on the application score, scaled to their POLAR4 quintile, which lets a lower UCAT decile still reach the interview threshold.	Two separate schemes. The Contextual Offer scheme lowers the offer by one grade to AAB and is applied automatically at the point of application. Completing a Pathways to Birmingham programme earns an alternative offer two grades below standard, at ABB. Contextual applicants also receive up to 1.5 extra application-score points based on POLAR4 quintile, so they can reach interview from a lower UCAT decile.POLAR Q1/Q2 postcode + WP indicators give 0.6–1.5 contextual score uplift. Standard offer AAA → AAB for contextual.	Checked 11 Sept 2026
Brighton & Sussex (BSMS)Brighton	AAA	AABAAB at A-level for UKWPMED-eligible (contextual) applicants, including Biology and Chemistry	~1810+ /2700 (UK WP)	BSMS Widening Participation: lower contextual offers and UCAT threshold for eligible applicants.UKWPMED scheme guarantees an interview if academic requirements met. Standard offer AAA → AAB for contextual; GCSE 5s accepted with contextual data.	Partly checked 14 Aug 2026
BristolBristol	AAA	ABBABB at A-level for contextual / WP-eligible applicants	Not published	ABB including A in Chemistry and B in one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics, against a standard AAA. The contextual IB offer is 32 points with 16 at Higher Level, including 6 in HL Chemistry and 5 in one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics.A108 Gateway to Medicine programme + standard contextual offer (ABB) for WP-eligible applicants. Lowest invited contextual UCAT has historically reached well below the standard cut-off (1790–1890 /3600 i.e. 1340–1420 /2700) for severely contextualised candidates.	Checked 11 Sept 2026
Brunel Medical SchoolUxbridge	AAA	Lower contextualised offer available for Widening Access Criteria applicants - exact grades not published	Not published	Brunel Widening Participation: lower contextual offers for eligible applicants from West London / outer-London boroughs.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
BuckinghamBuckingham	ABB	Not published	Not published	Limited contextual scheme - being a private fee-paying school, intake skews toward fee-paying applicants.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
CambridgeCambridge	AAA	Not published	Not published	Each college has its own approach to contextual offers; some accept lower predicted grades from widening-participation backgrounds.GCSE used contextually (less heavily than Oxford). No formal contextual UCAT uplift, but college-level holistic review can adjust for circumstance. Mean offer-holder GCSE around 9.7 A*s historically.	Checked 11 Sept 2026
CardiffCardiff	AAA	Not published	Not published	Contextual route via Welsh national widening-access schemes.Welsh-domiciled and contextualised applicants get up to 3 extra GCSE points and additional consideration in initial selection. UCAT bar significantly lower for Welsh applicants - in some years effectively no UCAT minimum.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
Chester Medical School (GEM)Chester	Not published	Not published	Not published	Chester/North-West regional contextual focus.Graduate-entry programme with regional focus on north-west England. Standard 2:1 + work experience requirements; no formal contextual UCAT uplift but small-cohort holistic review possible.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
DundeeDundee	AAA	Not published	Not published	Dundee's widening-access route admits at a materially lower bar than the standard RUK route. Any specific figures you find from cycles up to 2025 entry were measured on the retired /3600 four-subtest scale and cannot be restated on the current /2700 scale, as Dundee itself warns on its admissions statistics page.Widening Access scheme reduces UCAT bar substantially - 2025 entry contextual lowest invited 1590 /2700 vs ~1700 non-contextual Scottish.	Partly checked 14 Aug 2026
Edge HillOrmskirk	AAA	Not published	Not published	Edge Hill widening-participation route - substantial proportion of intake from regional applicants.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
EdinburghEdinburgh	AAA	Not published	Plus Flag applicants are exempt from the cut-off entirely and are considered with any UCAT total, and they receive a 10% uplift on their UCAT score.	Edinburgh's Plus Flag is the key contextual marker: flagged applicants get a 10% uplift on their UCAT total and are considered with any UCAT score, bypassing the 1,850 cut-off entirely. No flag exempts an applicant from the Band 4 SJT rejection. Scottish, RUK and international applicants are assessed in separate pools against separately funded intakes.Plus Flag applicants receive a 10% uplift on their UCAT total and are considered with any UCAT score, bypassing the 1,850 cut-off. No flag exempts an applicant from the Band 4 SJT rejection.	Checked 11 Sept 2026
ExeterExeter, Devon, England, UK	A*AA	AABAAB at A-level for contextual / WP-eligible applicants	~1820+ /2700 with AAA* (4th decile) OR ~2010+ /2700 with AAA (7th decile)	Contextual offer AAB (vs AAA standard). Contextual UCAT cut-off lowered: 4th decile AAA (~1820 /2700) or 7th decile AAA (~2010) accepted. Personal statement not scored.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
GlasgowGlasgow	AAA	Not published	Not published	Glasgow's adjusted entry route is for Scotland-domiciled widening-access applicants and requires successful completion of the Reach programme. The adjusted Higher offer is AAABB or AAAAC in S5 (the C may not be in Chemistry) plus BC at Advanced Higher in S6, against the standard AAAAB plus BB.294 home places (269 standard + 25 Widening Participation). WP applicants face a lower UCAT bar in practice. International ranked separately with a higher cut-off.	Checked 11 Sept 2026
Hull York (HYMS)Hull/York	AAA	ABBABB at A-level for widening-access applicants	~1700+ /2700 with WP eligibility (4th decile minimum + minimum entry requirements)	HYMS widening-participation route - strong Yorkshire and Humber focus.Up to 15 contextual points (UK school leavers only) for meeting at least 2 of: POLAR Q1/Q2 home postcode, no parental higher-education experience, UCAT bursary recipient. WP applicants on recognised programmes need only minimum entry requirements + 4th decile UCAT.	Checked 11 Sept 2026
Imperial College LondonLondon	A*AA	AAAAAA - the same grades as the standard offer, but the A* may be in any subject rather than in Biology or Chemistry	2170+ /2700 (2026 entry official contextual cut-off)	Widening-participation applicants are shortlisted against a lower UCAT threshold - 2,170 for 2026 entry against 2,320 for other home applicants. The A-level offer is not reduced: it stays AAA, but the A may be in any subject rather than having to sit in Biology or Chemistry. A separate, lower interview-score threshold also applies.Contextual UCAT threshold 150 points lower than standard home (2,170 against 2,320 for 2026 entry), plus a lower interview-score threshold. The grade offer is NOT reduced - it remains AAA, with the A allowed in any subject instead of having to be in Biology or Chemistry. Eligibility covers applicants flagged as widening participation at application and those who declare and evidence carer status by the published deadline. 74 of the 345 places are overseas.	Checked 11 Sept 2026
KeeleStaffordshire	A*AA	AAAAAA at A-level for contextual applicants	~1700+ /2700 with up to 3 contextual points (UCAT bursary, postcode, local school)	Keele Health Foundation Year (Y0): non-traditional entry route with reduced UCAT requirement and full degree pathway.Up to 3 contextual points: 1pt for UCAT bursary, 1pt for other contextual factors, 1pt for local school. Standard offer A*AA → AAA contextual.	Checked (date not recorded)
Kent and Medway (KMMS)Canterbury/Medway	AAB	Not published	Not published	Kent & Medway contextual route - substantial proportion of intake from regional widening-participation applicants.GCSE Attainment 8 score is contextualised against the applicant's school average - students from independent schools face higher effective thresholds for the same grades. KMMS does not use predicted A-level grades.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
King's College London (KCL)London	A*AA	Not published	Not published	King's lists contextual requirements for A100 as "not specified" - there is no separate reduced contextual offer for the standard course, though achievement is read in the context of educational background. The POLAR/ACORN/IMD, care-experienced and K+ criteria often quoted against King's are the eligibility rules for the separate Extended Medical Degree Programme (A101), not for A100.	Checked 11 Sept 2026
LancasterLancaster	AAA	AABAAB at A-level for contextual / WP applicants. Predicted ABB also acceptable for those who completed Lancaster Access Programme.	1870+ /2700 (2026 entry contextual)	Lancashire & Cumbria contextual route for local widening-participation applicants.Lancaster Access Programme completers receive guaranteed interview (excluded from cut-off rules). Contextual UCAT cut-off ~50 points lower than non-contextual. A small borderline pool (up to 10 points below the cut-off) is reviewed in academic order if interview slots remain.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
LeedsLeeds	AAA	ABBABB for Access to Leeds applicants. Chemistry and Biology must both be taken, with an A in either Chemistry or Biology.	Not published	Access to Leeds is the contextual scheme and carries a reduced offer of ABB against the standard AAA. Extra shortlisting points go to applicants who live in an area of low higher-education participation, received the UCAT bursary, or attended a school scoring below the national average Attainment 8. A separate Gateway Year to Medicine exists for widening-participation applicants who do not meet standard entry requirements - you cannot apply to both it and the MBChB in the same cycle.WP+ scheme has substantially lower UCAT cut-off (~80 below standard) and Foundation Year route is WP-only with even lower bar (~1730). Contextual offer reduces academic requirement.	Checked 11 Sept 2026
LeicesterLeicester	A*AA	ABBPredicted ABB acceptable for UKWPMed (widening-access) applicants	Not published	Leicester Foundation Year & contextual route - lower offers and UCAT thresholds for eligible widening-participation applicants.UKWPMed scheme reduces both the academic prediction (ABB instead of AAB) and the effective UCAT bar, and the contextual route tolerates a weaker GCSE profile. Leicester does not publish split contextual/non-contextual UCAT cut-offs on the current /2700 scale, so none is quoted here - an earlier version of this entry showed an identical figure for both tiers, which drew a distinction it could not support.	Partly checked 14 Aug 2026
Lincoln Medical SchoolLincoln	AAA	AABAAB for contextual offers, still including Biology (or Human Biology).	~1500+ /2700 with WP uplifts (MEM2 Q1 = 8pts; care experienced = 15pts; UCAT bursary = 6pts)	Lincoln/Lincolnshire contextual route - reduced offers for local widening-participation applicants.Substantial WP uplifts: care experienced or refugee status = 15pts each; MEM2 Q1 (Polar4) = 8pts; LMS summer school = 8pts; MEM2 Q2 = 6pts; UCAT bursary = 6pts; Lincolnshire local authority = 1pt.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
LiverpoolLiverpool	AAA	Not published	Not published	Liverpool has used contextual data in medicine admissions since the 2015-16 cycle to give extra consideration at specific stages of the process. It does not publish a separate contextual UCAT threshold.Liverpool runs A100 with contextual reductions for WP applicants - contextual UCAT lowest invited has historically been ~150-200 below non-contextual. GAMSAT used for graduate applicants (≥55 with no section <50 competitive).	Checked 11 Sept 2026
ManchesterManchester	AAA	AABAAB at A-level for WP+ contextual applicants. ABB for refugee or care-experienced (WP++) applicants.	1960+ /2700 (WP+, 2026 entry threshold)	WP+ applicants are shortlisted against a lower UCAT threshold - 1,960 against 2,060 for 2026 entry - need only six GCSEs at grade 7+, and receive a reduced AAB offer. Applicants who are care-experienced or hold refugee status (including the Ukraine schemes), or who complete a Manchester widening-participation programme, are offered ABB.WP+ scheme: six GCSEs at grade 7+ accepted (against seven standard), offer reduced from AAA to AAB, and a lower UCAT threshold - 1,960 against 2,060 for 2026 entry. An ABB offer goes to applicants who are care-experienced or have refugee status (including the Ukrainian schemes), and to those who complete a Manchester widening-participation programme. Eligibility is set by the University's Contextual Data tool.	Checked 11 Sept 2026
NewcastleNewcastle	AAA	ABBABB at A-level for contextual / Partners applicants. BBB for those entering through supported entry programmes.	Same points table, but contextual applicants are ranked as a separate stream from standard applicants.	Newcastle advertises contextual and alternative offer routes worth up to three grades below the typical requirement, with contextual data drawn from your UCAS form. PARTNERS is the supported-entry programme and carries its own eligibility conditions plus a compulsory summer school. Contextual applicants are ranked in a separate stream from standard applicants rather than against them.Partners contextual programme has very generous eligibility (all Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi heritage applicants including those at private school). Same 50/100 cut-off but ranked separately. ABB contextual offer (vs AAA standard).	Checked 11 Sept 2026
North Wales (Bangor)Bangor	AAA	AABAAB for Welsh-speaking applicants (who must also hold a first-language Welsh GCSE) and for others meeting Bangor's contextual criteria.	Not published	North Wales contextual focus - substantial proportion of intake from local widening-participation applicants. Welsh-domiciled applicants prioritised.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
Norwich (UEA)Norwich	AAA	Not published	Not published	UEA Widening Participation Programme: lower contextual offers and UCAT threshold for eligible applicants.UEA does not heavily contextualise - but the relatively low pre-interview cut-off (down to ~1640 in 2024) means lower-UCAT applicants can reach interview, although offer chances drop sharply for sub-1900 scores.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
NottinghamNottingham	AAA	AABTwo contextual tiers, both requiring at least an A in Biology or Chemistry: standard contextual AAB, enhanced contextual ABB.	Not published	Nottingham Advantage Award (Widening Participation) provides reduced offers for eligible applicants.A108 WP Foundation Year route has substantially lower UCAT cut-off. Contextual offer reductions and supported entry programme available.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
OxfordOxford	A*AA	Not published	Not published	GCSE component is contextualised - top-A* applicants from low-performing schools rank as well as top-A* from grammar schools.GCSE contextualised to school average. ~30 students interviewed each year with <90% A* grades (school context). Borderline 80 + tutor nominations + extenuating-circumstances review can lift lower-statistic applicants.	Checked 11 Sept 2026
Pears Cumbria (GEM)Carlisle	Not published	Not published	Not published	Contextual applicants sit lower admission-test thresholds (UCAT 1910 vs 1960; GAMSAT 53 vs 59).	Checked (date not recorded)
Peninsula (Plymouth)Plymouth	A*AA	AABAAB at A-level for UKWPMED widening-access applicants	Not published	South-West/Cornwall contextual route - significant proportion of intake from regional widening-participation applicants.AAB offer/prediction allowed for UKWPMED-eligible applicants (vs AAA standard). Contextual UCAT bar significantly lower than non-contextual.	Partly checked 14 Aug 2026
SheffieldSheffield	AAA	AABAAB for Access Sheffield (widening-access) applicants, including Chemistry or Biology at grade A plus a second science. AAB with an EPQ at grade A is also accepted.	1800+ /2700 - Access to Sheffield (Medicine) and university pathway students who clear the minimum go straight to interview.	Access Sheffield: ABB prediction + lower UCAT threshold (1800+/2700). Available to applicants from recognised state schools / Bradford / Sheffield Hallam.Access Sheffield / WP routes accept ABB prediction with lower UCAT bar (1800+). Applicants from University of Bradford or Sheffield Hallam University get the lower 1800 threshold.	Checked 11 Sept 2026
SouthamptonSouthampton	AAA	AABAAB at A-level (offer and prediction) for contextual / WP applicants	Not published	Southampton Widening Participation provides lower contextual offers for eligible applicants.WP route lowers UCAT bar substantially (2024 lowest invited 1778 contextual vs 1958 standard). Southampton graduates applying for BM4 also get a lower threshold than non-Southampton graduates.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
St AndrewsSt Andrews	AAA	AABAAB at A-level for widening-access applicants	Widening-access applicants receive a 10% uplift on their UCAT score.	Scottish widening-access schemes (REACH, Access St Andrews) provide reduced offers and lower UCAT thresholds.Widening Participation applicants get a 10% UCAT uplift, effectively lowering the threshold by ~10%. Scottish applicants face a much lower bar than RUK (mean offer-holder ~2024 vs ~2236).	Partly checked 14 Aug 2026
St George'sLondon	A*AA	Not published	Not published	St George's is generous with deferred-entry offers - borderline applicants often receive deferred offers in place of rejection. WP routes available with reduced thresholds.	Partly checked 14 Aug 2026
SunderlandSunderland	AAA	Not published	Not published	Strong North-East contextual focus - significant proportion of intake from regional widening-participation applicants.AAB offer for applicants who are both local and contextual (vs AAA standard). Sunderland does not accept international students.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
Surrey (GEM)Guildford	Not published	Not published	Not published	Surrey/South-East regional contextual focus.New graduate-entry programme with technology-forward teaching focus. No specific contextual scheme published.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
Swansea (GEM)Swansea	Not published	Not published	Not published	Welsh widening-participation route - Welsh-domiciled applicants prioritised.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
UCLLondon	A*AA	AABAAB at A-level for Access UCL contextual applicants - Biology and Chemistry both at grade A	2080+ /2700 (Access UCL, 2026 entry threshold)	Access UCL, UCL's contextual scheme, flags eligible applicants automatically and reviews their UCAT scores as a separate pool against a lower threshold - 2,080 for 2026 entry against 2,190 for other home applicants. Eligible applicants also receive a reduced offer of AAB with Biology and Chemistry both at grade A. Only A-levels, the IB Diploma, Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects and Scottish Advanced Highers qualify for the lower offer.Access UCL contextual scheme: AAB offer with Biology and Chemistry at A (against A*AA standard) and a lower UCAT threshold (2,080 against 2,190 for 2026 entry). The advantage sits at the shortlisting stage - UCL reviews Access UCL interview scores as a separate pool and states it does not apply a specific uplift when making offers.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
Ulster University Medical SchoolLondonderry	Not published	Not published	Not published	Northern Ireland contextual route - significant proportion of intake from NI widening-participation applicants.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
Warwick (GEM)Coventry	Not published	Not published	Not published	Contextual route via socio-economic and care-experienced criteria; reduced UCAT threshold available.Graduate-entry programme - no contextual offers per se. International applicants accepted at higher threshold.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
Worcester Medical SchoolWorcester	Not published	Not published	Not published	West Midlands widening-participation route.	Checked 14 Aug 2026

Not listed because their records hold no contextual information: Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). Not listed because they currently take international applicants only, so UK contextual schemes do not apply: Hertfordshire, St Mary's Twickenham and University of Greater Manchester.

How to read this table

Contextual offer is the reduced A-level offer the school records for eligible applicants. A grade string in green is lower than that school’s standard offer; one in black is the same grades with a different condition (for example, an A* allowed in any subject).
Contextual UCAT quotes the school’s rule. Some schools lower a threshold, some add a percentage to your score, and some rank contextual applicants in a separate pool — these are not interchangeable, so compare the wording, not just the number.
Eligibility differs at every school. A flag that qualifies you at one school may not at another; the scheme column and the school’s own page are the test.
Not published means the school’s record in our catalogue holds no figure or statement for that cell. We leave the gap visible rather than estimate it; check the school’s own admissions page.
Last checked reports what our verification ledger records for that school: the date its record was checked against the school’s own page, a partial check, or that no check has been completed. Policies change between cycles, so the school’s own page is always the final word.

Medicine with a foundation, gateway or extended year

9 UK medical schools’ records name a foundation year, gateway year or extended programme leading into medicine (UCAS codes such as A104 and A108 where the record gives one). The sentences below are quoted from each record; the school’s own course page sets the eligibility rules.

Foundation, gateway and extended routes into medicine named in 9 UK medical school records, with the course code where stated.
School	Code	What the record says	Last checked
Bristol	A108	A108 Gateway to Medicine programme + standard contextual offer (ABB) for WP-eligible applicants.A108 Gateway to Medicine: 63/88 = 72%	Checked 11 Sept 2026
Edge Hill	A104	Foundation Year programme has a lower UCAT bar (~1750 /2700 vs ~1900 standard).Foundation Year (A104) route available with lower UCAT bar (~1750 /2700).	Checked 14 Aug 2026
Hull York (HYMS)	Not published	Points system out of 100: UCAT decile /35 + SJT /15 + best six achieved GCSEs /35 + contextual /15 (best five GCSEs on the Gateway Year route).	Checked 11 Sept 2026
Keele	Not published	Keele Health Foundation Year (Y0): non-traditional entry route with reduced UCAT requirement and full degree pathway.Keele's contextual route (Keele Health Foundation Year) provides extensive support for North Midlands widening-participation applicants.~150 home + ~10 international places per year (5-year MBChB) + ~30 Health Foundation Year places.Keele's Health Foundation Year route is one of the most established widening-participation pathways in UK medicine.	Checked (date not recorded)
King's College London (KCL)	A101	The POLAR/ACORN/IMD, care-experienced and K+ criteria often quoted against King's are the eligibility rules for the separate Extended Medical Degree Programme (A101), not for A100.	Checked 11 Sept 2026
Lancaster	A104	A104 Foundation 1870+.	Checked 14 Aug 2026
Leeds	Not published	A separate Gateway Year to Medicine exists for widening-participation applicants who do not meet standard entry requirements - you cannot apply to both it and the MBChB in the same cycle.WP+ scheme has substantially lower UCAT cut-off (~80 below standard) and Foundation Year route is WP-only with even lower bar (~1730).	Checked 11 Sept 2026
Leicester	Not published	Leicester Foundation Year & contextual route - lower offers and UCAT thresholds for eligible widening-participation applicants.	Partly checked 14 Aug 2026
Nottingham	A108	A108 WP Foundation Year route has substantially lower UCAT cut-off.A108 WP Foundation Year: 61/188 = 32%	Checked 14 Aug 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which medical schools give contextual offers?: 21 UK medical schools record a reduced contextual A-level offer: Aston University (AAB), Barts and The London (Queen Mary) (AAA), Birmingham (AAB), Brighton & Sussex (BSMS) (AAB), Bristol (ABB), Exeter (AAB), Hull York (HYMS) (ABB), Keele (AAA), Lancaster (AAB), Leeds (ABB), Leicester (ABB), Lincoln Medical School (AAB), Manchester (AAB), Newcastle (ABB), North Wales (Bangor) (AAB), Nottingham (AAB), Peninsula (Plymouth) (AAB), Sheffield (AAB), Southampton (AAB), St Andrews (AAB) and UCL (AAB). Others adjust the UCAT or the shortlisting score instead — the table gives each school's rule.
What is the usual contextual offer for medicine?: AAB is the most common reduced offer (14 of the 21 schools with a reduced offer). The standard offer column shows what each school reduces from, which is A*AA at some schools and AAA at others.
Do contextual applicants get a lower UCAT threshold?: At 17 schools the record states a contextual rule at the UCAT stage — a lower threshold, a score uplift, or ranking contextual applicants separately: Aberdeen, Anglia Ruskin (ARU), Aston University, Birmingham, Brighton & Sussex (BSMS), Edinburgh, Exeter, Hull York (HYMS), Imperial College London, Keele, Lancaster, Lincoln Medical School, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, St Andrews and UCL.
Which UK medical schools have a foundation or gateway year?: The records name a foundation, gateway or extended route at Bristol (A108), Edge Hill (A104), Hull York (HYMS), Keele, King's College London (KCL) (A101), Lancaster (A104), Leeds, Leicester and Nottingham (A108). Each route has its own eligibility rules, set out on the school's course page.

Sources

Each row is drawn from that school’s record in our catalogue, which is checked against the school’s own admissions or course page listed here.

More school-by-school tables

Each table lists every school we hold a record for, links to that school’s guide and says when its row was last checked.