Medicine & Competitive Courses
Medicine, Dentistry & Competitive Courses in the UK & Ireland
How to apply for Medicine and Dentistry in the UK and Ireland — A-levels, the UCAT admissions test, the HPAT for Irish/EU medicine, interviews, and graduate-entry routes, with every requirement deferred to the official source.
Medicine and Dentistry are among the most competitive courses in the UK and Ireland. These guides explain the standard routes — A-level (and equivalent) subjects, the UCAT for UK medical and dental schools, the HPAT and CAO route for Irish/EU medicine, Multiple Mini Interviews, and graduate-entry programmes for degree-holders. Entry requirements, tests, deadlines, and fees vary by school and change each year, so always verify the current details on each medical or dental school's official pages and the official admissions-test sources. This is general information and is not a guarantee of admission.
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Tests this hub covers
UCAT
UCAT Consortium · Once a year, July to September (2026 window: 13 July – 24 September); one sitting per test cycle
A-Levels
UK exam boards such as AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel, WJEC/Eduqas and CCEA; International A levels from Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel and OxfordAQA · UK exam boards: once a year, in the May–June exam series. Cambridge International AS & A Levels: June and November series.
Guides for United Kingdom & Ireland
10 of 10 guides in this hub are for the UK & Ireland.
How to Study Medicine in the UK
Applying for undergraduate Medicine (MBBS/MBChB/MBBChir) in the UK — A-level subjects, the UCAT admissions test, MMI interviews, the four medicine choices on UCAS, and where to verify each medical school's official requirements.
Read guideHow to Study Dentistry in the UK
Applying for undergraduate Dentistry (BDS/BChD) in the UK — A-level subjects, the UCAT admissions test, interviews, the UCAS process, and where to verify each dental school's official requirements.
Read guideHow to Study Medicine in Ireland
Studying Medicine in Ireland — the undergraduate CAO route with the HPAT for Irish/EU applicants, common routes for non-EU international students, medical schools such as RCSI, UCC, Trinity and UCD, and where to verify each school's official requirements.
Read guideGraduate-Entry Medicine in the UK and Ireland
Graduate-entry Medicine in the UK and Ireland for applicants who already hold a degree — how the route differs from undergraduate entry, the GAMSAT and UCAT admissions tests, and where to verify each programme's official requirements.
Read guideHow to Study Law in the UK
Studying law in the UK as an international student: the LLB route, the LNAT that some universities require, and how qualifying as a solicitor or barrister works.
Read guideLNAT and UK Law Admissions Tests Explained
What the LNAT is, what it assesses, and which UK universities use it for undergraduate law entry — with current details to confirm on the official LNAT site and each university's admissions pages.
Read guideHow to Study Veterinary Medicine in the UK
Applying for veterinary medicine in the UK — the degree route, the high academic and work-experience expectations, interviews, and where to verify each vet school's official requirements.
Read guideOxbridge and University Admissions Tests Explained
A high-level overview of the subject admissions tests some competitive UK courses use — including tests for mathematics and the sciences — with current names, registration, and dates deferred to each university and the official testing body.
Read guideHow to Prepare for Competitive UK Course Interviews
Honest, practical interview preparation for competitive UK courses such as medicine (including MMI formats) and Oxbridge — building structured thinking and clear communication, with no dishonest "gaming" and no guarantee of an offer.
Read guideStudying in the UK & Ireland
Continue exploring the UK & Ireland
Universities, entrance tests, costs and visa facts for the UK & Ireland — all in one place, each linked to its official source.
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