08 May 2012

A-Level requirements for Medicine

UPDATED: 08/05/2012

Hola chicas!

It's been a while since I've done an application friendly post, so here is a post all about the A-levels and grades required by Universities, enjoy my darlings.
Note: Essentially no Universities accept General Studies or Critical Thinking as an A-level, and most Universities require Chemistry A-Level. Any exceptions to this rule will be underlined below.

Some general tid-bits:

  • Take A-Level Chemistry, unless you are okay with a slightly restricted choice.
  • Avoid taking subjects with similar content (Maths/Further Maths, Biology/Human Biology, Biology/Sports Science) because Universities seem to disregard the extra subject slightly.
  • Research my friends! 


Aberdeen: AAA in 2 years of study. Chemistry + one of Bio, Maths or Physics.
Barts&London: Possibly the only University not requiring A-level Chemistry! AAAb in 2 years of study. Your A-Levels much include one of Chemistry or Biology. If Chemistry or Biology are dropped at AS, you must have achieved at least a B in them. Further Maths is not accepted if A-Level Maths has been taken.
Birmingham: AAA or A*AA (must be predicted AAA)You need Chemistry and another science. If you third A-Level is an Arts subject, or if you are doing Psychology, Sports or PE with Biology, you must have achieved AAAA at AS.General Studies
Brighton and Sussex: AAA including Chemistry and Biology . However they "reserve the right to make alternative offers where appropriate".
Bristol:  AAA or A*AB in Chemistry and one other lab based science subject (I'm guessing this excludes Maths). These should be completed in 2 years. Biology and sports, Biology and PE, and Maths and Further Maths are not accepted.
Cambridge: A*AA, most applicants (97%) have 3 or more sciences to A-Level. It is stated on the website that applicants with only 2 science A-Levels have a much lower success rate (21%).
Cardiff: Does not require A-Level Chemistry. AAAc including 2 science subjects. If Chemistry or Biology are only taken to AS, you must achieve an A in them.
Dundee: AAA including Chemistry and one other science, taken in 2 years and at first sitting.
Durham: Does not require A-Level Chemistry. AAA including Biology or Chemistry. Biology and Chemistry must be A at AS.
East Anglia (Norwich Medical School): Does not require A-Level Chemistry. AAAb which must include Biology.
Edinburgh: AAAb including Chemistry and another science, completed at first sitting. Biology AS is required. For both AS and A-Level, only one of Maths and Further Maths will be considered.
Glasgow: AAA including Chemistry + one other science subject. If Biology is not taken to A-Level, you must achieve an A at AS. Maths and Further Maths are not considered separate subjects.
Hull-York: AAAb including Biology and Chemistry, must be taken in a single sitting (you must be predicted AAB to be considered). A-levels taken in Y11 and earlier will not be accepted. If you take an A-Level in Y12, you will still be expected to take 3 A-Levels in Y13. Further Maths is not accepted.
Imperial: AAAb including Chemistry and/OR Biology with one other science. If you are offering 4 A-Levels, the would be AAAC. If Biology is dropped it must have had at AS grade B. Vocational subjects are excluded.
Keele: Does not require A-Level Chemistry. AAAb or A*ABb including Chemistry and / or Biology, with another science subject and another rigorous subject. Only one subject from Maths and Further Maths will be considered, along with only one subject from these combinations; Biology/Human Biology and PE. They have a massive list of subjects which aren't accepted on their website. It basically covers vocational and applied subjects.
Kings College London: Does not require A-Level Chemistry. AAAb or AAaab including Chemistry or Biology, if one of these subjects is not taken to A-Level, it must be taken to AS.
Lancaster: AAAb including Chemistry AND Biology. Only one subject out of the combination from Maths and Further Maths are considered. The extended project can sometimes be used to replace a 4th A-Level.
Leeds: AAA including Chemistry. A 4th A-Level is not seen as an advantage.
Leicester: AAA including Chemistry. You must study 4 AS levels including Biology and Chemistry. Taking 4 A-Levels is no advantage, and only one of Maths and Further Maths is considered in the offer.
Liverpool:  AAAb including Chemistry AND Biology. General studies and Critical Thinking can be considered as a 4th subject.
Manchester: AAA including Chemistry and another science. It is expected that you take 4 AS-Levels, however if your school only lets you take 3, if you contact the Medical school and provide evidence, your application will still be considered.
Newcastle: Does not require A-Level Chemistry. AAA including Chemistry and/or Biology. If only one offered at AS, must be achieved at A grade.
Nottingham: AAA including Biology AND Chemistry. 3rd A-Level can be any academic subject.
Oxford: A*AA including Chemistry and another science. If you take more than 3 A-Levels you may have an offer including these, you cannot drop theses extra A-Levels after application.
Peninsula: A*AAc-AAAc including Chemistry and Biology or Physics.
Queens Belfast: AAAa including Chemistry and another science. If not offered at A2, AS Biology must be offered at grade B.
Sheffield: AAA including Chemistry and another science subject.
Southampton: AAA including Chemistry and Biology. If Chemistry or Biology are not taken to A2, they must be achieved to A grade at AS (this is a bit confusing on their website, you may want to check it). Subjects with similar material may not be considered in the offer: maths/further maths, biology/sports science.
St. Andrews: AAA including Chemistry and another science. Only one of Maths and Further Maths will be considered as a 3rd subject.
St. Georges: AAAb including Chemistry and Biology.
UCL: AAA including Chemistry and Biology. General studies and critical thinking are only available as a 4th A-Level subject. Applicants who offer a contrasting subject will be given some preference, such as a language or art rather than a traditional science subject.

Good luck with choosing! I will do a post on resit policies soon.