The University of Manchester School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the UK, with over 2,500 undergraduate medical students based across four Clinical Education Campuses in the north west. Manchester is ranked 15th in the UK for Medicine in the Complete University Guide 2027, up from 20th in 2026, and 27th out of 40 in the Guardian University Guide 2027, where it scores 99 out of 100 for career prospects.
Manchester School of Medicine's key learning tool is the study of themed case discussions, in which you work within small groups, to encourage you to take a proactive approach to your learning. The programme is also delivered through the following teaching methods:
Throughout the course, you’ll gain the following clinical experience:
The Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) is fully integrated into the course, so you won’t sit extra exams for it, and you’ll be assessed through written exams, Clinical Competency Assessments (Manchester’s name for OSCEs), workplace-based assessments and professional behaviour.
Anatomy is taught in state-of-the-art facilities licensed under the Human Tissue Act, using dissection and prosections alongside imaging, models and technologies such as the Anatomage table. Manchester is one of the only medical schools in the UK still offering whole body dissection, and teaches clinical anatomy with the Manchester Surgical Skills and Simulation Centre.
More information about the teaching and learning, assessment, and course content can be found here.
The four base teaching hospitals (Clinical Education Campuses) used by Manchester School of Medicine are:
In addition to this, you’ll have access to associated teaching hospitals, GP practices and community health services across the north west, including specialist centres such as The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. From Year 3 you’ll need to live within commuting distance of your campus.
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Within your third year, you’ll undertake a student selected clinical placement, allowing you to choose a 4-week clinical placement in an area of interest to you.
Within your fourth year, you’ll undertake an elective placement, which is “commonly an overseas experience of medical practice in a different healthcare system” and can be arranged anywhere in the world.
Research runs through the degree via the Personal Excellence Path (PEP). You’ll start with a group scientific poster, carry out an original project in Year 3 through the Applied Personal Excellence Pathway – research, a service evaluation or an education project – and cover clinical audit in a Quality and Evidence PEP in Year 5.
There is also the option to study an intercalated degree; this allows you to take one year away from your MBChB course to study for a BSc or master’s degree, in addition to your medical degree. There are a range of subject areas that you can choose from and the option to undertake it after your second, third or fourth year of your MBChB programme, or to take an MB-PhD in Cancer Sciences. You’ll find more information here.
Away from the curriculum, the Manchester Medical Society (MedSoc) and subject societies such as the Manchester MedEd Society run social and academic activities, and you can join service learning projects in the community.
Manchester is the largest medical school in the UK, but says it has some of the smallest class sizes, so you get the breadth of a big school with close support. If you’re a graduate with a life science or health degree, it also offers a four-year MBChB Medicine (Graduate Entry) course (A101); you can find more information here.
Other selling points you could mention at interview include:
The typical entry requirements for 2027 entry are:
Manchester expects some relevant work experience, but doesn’t specify a number of hours or require you to shadow a doctor. It doesn’t consider predicted A Level grades and doesn’t normally read your personal statement. Access to HE Diplomas are accepted if you’ve had at least three years out of education, on a science-based course with distinctions in all Level 3 credits, and one Level 2 BTEC at distinction can replace one GCSE. Offers are subject to health screening and an enhanced DBS check. You can find the full requirements on the course page, and compare schools in our guide to medicine entry requirements.
Widening access: eligible applicants can receive a contextual offer of AAB, and care-experienced or refugee applicants an offer of ABB. Contextual (WP+) applicants also have a lower UCAT threshold – 1960 rather than 2060 for 2026 entry – and applicants flagged as WP+ or WP++ need only six GCSEs at grade 7 or above. Students who complete the Manchester Access Programme are guaranteed an interview if they meet the reduced UCAT threshold, and can receive an ABB offer; the Preston Widening Access Programme and other UKWPMED schemes bring similar benefits.
Manchester School of Medicine uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format for its interview.
You’ll have the choice to attend your interview in person on campus or online via Zoom, with a limited number of spaces in each format, allocated first come, first served. The interview consists of five MMI stations, each lasting eight minutes, with two minutes in between stations, and each station is marked by a separate interviewer. Your starting station is allocated at random, no information is provided in advance, and there’s no reading or writing component. Candidates are assessed in exactly the same way whichever format they choose.
On their website they give the following examples of areas that could be assessed:
Manchester stresses that the interview isn’t a test of academic knowledge – it’s about the values and behaviours expected of a medical student. For 2027 entry, interviews will usually be held between December 2026 and early March 2027. You can find more information here.
Most UK medical schools require you to complete an admissions exam as part of the entry criteria and before you’ll be invited to interview.
Admissions exam for Manchester: University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
The UCAT is designed to assess your skills, characteristics and professional behaviours against those required for medical school. The exam now includes 4 subtests: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Situational Judgement (SJT). Abstract Reasoning has been removed from the test.
For 2027 entry, the UCAT is being held between 13 July and 24 September 2026. Manchester medical school uses your overall UCAT score and your SJT band to determine if you’ll be selected for interview. It doesn’t currently consider applicants who achieve Band 3 or 4 in the SJT, so you must perform well in that section as well as achieving a competitive overall score. If you meet the threshold with a Band 1 or 2 and meet the minimum academic requirements, you’ll likely be invited to interview; if there are more high scorers than interview slots, applicants are ranked by total UCAT score and SJT band. The threshold is set only once results arrive in November, so it isn’t published in advance.
| Cycle | Standard (home) | International | WP+ (contextual) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 entry | 2060 | 2250 | 1960 |
| 2025 entry | 2710 | – | 2520 |
Source: University of Manchester application statistics.
The 2025 entry thresholds are on the previous five-subtest format, scored out of 3600, so they aren’t directly comparable with the 2026 figures. For 2026 entry, applicants to the five-year course had a mean UCAT score of 2097, rising to 2193 among those shortlisted.
To help you to prepare effectively, we’ve created a UCAT question bank which adapts to your learning needs. Using artificial intelligence to automatically assess your strengths and weaknesses, our algorithm ensures you’re given questions tailored to your individual needs, so you focus on developing the areas which will make a difference to your UCAT score.
You can also use the question bank dashboard to identify areas which you need to improve.
With your calculated skill level, response time and the number of questions you’ve answered correctly for each subtest, it’s easy to see what you’ve “mastered” and what you need to dedicate more time to if you’re to secure an interview for Manchester medical school.
For more information and support with the UCAT, including the test dates and fees, and tips to help you prepare, visit our UCAT page.
You can also see how other medical schools use the test in our guide to UCAT universities.
Fees for 2027 entry haven’t been set yet. Tuition fees for students starting in 2026/27 are:
From Year 5 onwards, the NHS Business Services Authority currently pays tuition fees for eligible home students, plus means-tested help with living costs. Check the course page for the latest fee information.
Good luck with your application to Manchester! For more help, take a look at our guides to applying to medical school and the best medical schools in the UK.
