25th October 2024
Choosing the right A-Levels doesn’t just impact your next couple of years at college but also where you can go in the future. It’s a lot to ask of a 16 year old, to choose their career, but if you have your heart set on studying medicine, there are specific A-Levels you will need to take.
In this guide, we take a closer look at what the A-Level requirements for medicine are and how they differ from med school to med school.
Although medical schools have different requirements when it comes to A-Levels for medicine, it is a general consensus that Biology and Chemistry are important subjects to consider when choosing your A-Levels. Most universities that offer a medicine degree in the UK specify that they will only accept applicants that have these particular A-Levels. That’s why we recommend you take a look at the entry requirements for your favourite universities before you choose your A-Levels to avoid disappointment when it comes to applying to medical schools.
It’s not just about the A-Level subjects you choose either. To study medicine, most universities also require that you achieve at least three A grades at A-Level but they can be more lenient on this when it comes to results day. You should choose subjects that you feel comfortable doing as it’s not just about the subject itself but also your grades!
As we have mentioned, most med schools require you to take Biology or Chemistry. In fact 13 medical schools in the UK clearly state you must have Biology and Chemistry as two of your A-Levels. These medical schools are:
If Biology isn’t your strong suit and you would prefer not to take it as an A-Level, you can choose from these 19 medical schools that ask for Chemistry and either Physics or Maths:
Although it is strongly recommended that you choose Chemistry as an A-Level, there are some universities that do not require it as an A-Level. These 16 medical schools will accept Biology with another science subject such as Physics or Maths:
If you are interested in Psychology and would like to take that as one of your subjects, you are in luck. 8 medical schools including Keele, Leicester, Manchester and Sheffield accept Psychology as a second science subject.
As you can see, the range and combination of subjects you can choose from at A-Level to get onto a medicine course at university can differ greatly from medical school to medical school. We recommend you look at the entry requirements for your desired universities to ensure you choose subjects that are in line with their criteria.
When it comes to your third A-Level, universities are generally more lenient so you can use this A-Level subject to pursue almost anything you would like as long as the university still recognises it as an A-Level. For example, Newcastle University does not recognise General Studies, Critical Thinking or Communication and Culture as A-Levels.
However, if you are planning on applying to the medicine course at the University of Cambridge, you are expected to have A-Levels in Chemistry plus two of Biology, Physics or Maths.
A-Level Chemistry is arguably the most sought after A-Level as 24 medical schools in the UK deem it as an essential A-Level. A background in chemistry allows students to start on the right foot and have a better understanding of the modules within the medicine course. A Chemistry A-Level also showcases a student’s ability to think critically and solve more complex problems, which are key attributes that are needed in a medicine degree.
A-Level Biology is another subject that is required by the majority of medical schools in the UK. As you can imagine, having an already established knowledge of the human body can give you a slight edge when it comes to understanding the content of a medicine degree. However, as we have seen, a Biology A-Level is not an essential requirement for most universities.
If you don’t particularly like maths, there’s no need to panic as it is not an essential A-Level to have to apply for medical school. Although it is still favoured, there are many universities that accept applicants that do not have a Maths A-Level. For example, Brighton and Sussex Medical School even accept applicants that have a third A-Level in a subject outside of maths or science.
A Physics A-Level is another subject that is not required by universities but can still be favourable. Physics is a hard subject that tests a student’s ability to understand scientific principles, critical thinking and problems solving skills. This can be useful in a medical degree, particularly in areas such as radiology.
Now you know what A-Levels are typically required or preferred by universities, let’s take a look at the A-Levels you should avoid. Most universities, especially medical schools, will only accept students that have at least three A-Levels. But these A-Level must be recognised by the university. For example, some universities do not recognise General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies or Global Perspectives as A-Levels.
You should also consider whether your chosen universities accept Human Biology or Further Maths as another separate A-Level in addition to Biology and Maths. The only way to find this out is to check the university’s medicine course page for the entry requirements.
With the need to choose three A-Levels for medicine, it can be difficult to work out what combination of A-Levels you need to have to apply to your chosen universities. The A-Level combinations we recommend are:
Remember, if your heart is set on applying for a medicine course at university, you should do your research and explore the entry requirements of different universities to ensure you have the right combination of A-Levels. In most cases, you will still be able to apply for a medicine course at university if you have either a Chemistry or Biology A-Level.
Although your A-Level subjects and grades form a large portion of your medical school application, you should also ensure the rest of your application is completed to the best of your ability to maximise your chances of getting into med school. From work experience to your personal statement and UCAT, each element must be to a high standard for a successful med school application.
At PreMed, we have a range of medical work experience days, both in the UK and abroad to help you tick off one of the med school application criteria. Take a look at our available work experience today and apply now!
This depends on the universities you are applying to but generally you will need at least one or two of Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics. Some universities also accept other science or non-science subjects. To understand what A-Levels you will need for your chosen med schools, head to their website and look for the entry requirements.
If you are planning to apply to a medicine degree in the UK, you will need to have at least three A-Levels. You should check what subjects your chosen universities recognise as A-Levels as some, like Newcastle University, do not accept General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies and more. You can take four A-Levels but remember, you will still need to achieve at least AAA in most cases.
Although still favourable, maths is not an essential A-Level subject to have when applying for a medicine course at university. You should check the entry requirements of your chosen course before deciding whether or not to take maths.
Biology is one of the most preferred subjects to take at A-Level when applying to study medicine. However, there are still 19 medical schools in the UK that accept applicants that have not taken Biology as one of their A-Levels. You will instead have to have an A-Level in Chemistry and at least one of Maths or Physics.
Although chemistry offers you more options when choosing a med school, there are still some universities where it is not needed. For example, Leeds, East Anglia, Brunel and Sunderland are just a few of the medical schools in the UK that accept applicants without a Chemistry A-Level. You will, however, need A-Levels in Biology and either another science or Maths.
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