Keele University Medicine Entry Guide

Keele University Medical School is situated in Staffordshire and is one of the top medical schools in England. It has experienced teaching staff with excellent research experts to guide students’ learning. Facilities include seminar rooms, lecture theatres and an anatomy suite for the early years. The location of Keele is a short train ride away from the bustling cities of Manchester and Birmingham. The town of Newcastle-under-Lyme is extremely close and is home to museums, restaurants, cafes and architectural buildings. Read further to find out more about Keele University Medicine Entry requirements and what makes it such a good medical school!

Keele University Medicine Entry Requirements

Academic

GCSEs	5 GCSEs at Grade 7/A with at least Grade 6/B in English Language, Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics
A Levels	A*AA or AAA with A in EPQ Subjects must be as follows: 1) Biology or Chemistry 2) Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Maths, Physics or Psychology 3) Any subject except General Studies, Critical Thinking or Citizenship studies
Scottish Highers	AAAAA including Chemistry/Biology plus a second science (Chemistry/Biology/Physics)
Advanced Highers	AB from two subjects (both sciences: Chemistry/Biology/Physics)
Welsh Baccalaureate	Grade A + two full science A-levels at grade A*A. Subjects must have Chemistry or Biology + one subject from: Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Maths/Further Maths/Statistics, Physics, Psychology
International Baccalaureate	IB Diploma with a score of at least 37 points including 7 or 6 in Higher Level Biology or Chemistry + 7 or 6 at Higher Level in Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Maths (any), Physics or Psychology
Irish Leaving Certificate	Six H1 or H2 grades at Higher level including Biology or Chemistry + two of the subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Agricultural Science and Mathematics/Applied Mathematics

Admissions Test

Keele Medical School requires all applicants to sit the UCAT. There are different requirements for Home and International applicants.

Home	A total UCAT score below 2,280 or with an SJT score in Band 4 will not be considered. Applicants are shortlisted using a combined score of their UCAT and personal statement (total out of 25). UCAT – 10 points Personal Statement – 15 points
International	UCAT total score must be 2,600 or higher and SJT must be band 3 or better

The UCAT score of Home applicants will be calculated as follows:

UCAT quintile	Points	UCAT SJT Band	Points
1st (top 20%)	5	1	2
2nd	4	2	1
3rd	3	3	0
4th	2	4	–
5th (2,280 and below)	1

Work Experience

Keele Medical School would like applicants to understand the role of a doctor to gain realistic insight into the career. This does not mean they require shadowing or in-person work experience. However, it is a good idea to gain some virtual work experience such as ObserveGP and the BSMS work experience. This is also important because Keele scores personal statements and a good personal statement is incomplete without reflecting on your work experiences.

Personal Statement

The selection process of Keele Medical School is unique as it scores personal statements. Out of the 25 points, the personal statement accounts for 15 points.  It must provide examples of ways in which you have demonstrated the characteristics listed in the person specification.

• Awareness of the roles of a doctor within the healthcare team, community and society
• Ability to engage meaningfully with people who have some need of care, support and/or help
• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of people
• Willingness to take on responsibility and fulfil it to the best of your ability
• Ability to maintain one or more significant activities alongside your academic studies over a prolonged period
• Evidence of having made a positive difference to another person’s life

Interview

Interviews will take place during the period December 2024 to April 2025. Applicants chosen will be interviewed online via Microsoft Teams. The interview will emphasize attributes from the person specification, including the broader responsibilities of doctors and their ethical and social awareness in healthcare. Interviewers will conduct two 15-minute sessions spaced about two hours apart. You may receive pre-reading materials 1–2 days prior, which are given to minimize reading during the interview itself. These materials may differ from those provided to applicants being interviewed in other sessions.

Graduate Entry at Keele University Medical School

Applicants applying with an undergraduate degree must achieve the following:

GCSE	Grade 6/B in English Language, Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics
A level	BBB including Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics, Psychology
Degree	Honours degree 1st or 2:1 in any subject
UCAT	Scores above 2,280 will be ranked and Band 4 in SJT will be rejected

How many places are there for Home and International students at Keele University Medical School?

Home	154 places
International	10 places

Keele University Medical School Ranking

Keele Medical School is ranked 18th, according to Medicine Rankings 2025 by The Complete University Guide. This shows that medical school scores highly in terms of course and student satisfaction. It is also ranked 5th for Medicine in England by the Guardian University Guide 2025.

It’s important to keep in mind that university rankings are subjective and can be based on different criteria. These rankings must only be one of your deciding factors. It is important to have a holistic approach when making your decisions and consider which universities you would thrive in the most.

Keele University Medical School Fees

Home	£9,250
International	£46,700

Keele University Medical School Acceptance Rate

	Applications (2024 entry)
Home	2748
International	440

In terms of acceptance rates, 1 in 18 Home applicants receive an offer whereas 1 in 44 International applicants receive an offer.

Keele University Medical School Course Structure

Year 1	A variety of modules will be studied like immunity, health and disease, pregnancy, brain and lifestyle.
Year 2	Previous modules will be revisited but looked at from a pathological angle.
Years 3 & 4	Clinical placements such as surgery, mental health, paediatrics, neurology and women’s health.
Year 5	Preparation for foundation years as a junior doctor. Placements in GP and critical care.

Keele University Medical School Teaching Style

Keele has a spiral curriculum where previous topics are revisited to help build on your knowledge. The teaching style at Keele Medical School has varied components such as PBL (Problem-Based Learning), placements, lectures and anatomy. The main part is PBL where students work in small groups to discuss a scenario. During clinical years, the PBL sessions will revolve around patient cases. The teaching of anatomy will take place in the dissecting room. Each week, the anatomy topic will be linked to the PBL scenario to help give you an in-depth understanding of that module.

Keele University Medical School Teaching Hospitals

Clinical placements at Keele Medical School are spread through Staffordshire and Shropshire. Examples of teaching hospitals include:

• Harplands Hospital
• Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
• County Hospital
• St George’s Hospital

Keele University Medical School Interview Format

Keele Medical Schools use a panel-style interview. Each interview lasts 20 minutes exactly. The interview panel comprises three interviewers and one of them will chair the interview. Students will assessed on the following:

• Ability to communicate well
• Why medicine?
• Outside interests/hobbies
• Previous caring experiences
• Current issues

Keele University Medical School Interview Questions

• Why do you want to study medicine?

This question will assess how genuine your interest in medicine is and what fuelled it. It requires an honest, passionate answer but not overdramatic. It is ok to share a personal experience that you may have had first-hand or with a family member. You should begin by mentioning what sparked your initial interest towards a healthcare career – e.g. was it your passion for science but also wanting a career that enables a lot of communication? Then, you should explain in chronological order how you gained further insight into medicine to confirm that this is the career for you.

• How do you like to spend your free time?

Interviewers want to know that you aren’t someone who just thinks about medicine 24/7 and they want to see if you can manage a good work-life balance. In this question, you should talk about your hobbies and how that helps you relax and unwind. It is also a good idea to mention work-life balance and how you maintain it to earn brownie points.

• Tell me about something you have recently read related to medicine

This type of question really has no right answer. It tests your ability to simply discuss a current issue with the interviewer. Be prepared for any follow-up questions asking about your opinion or thoughts. Therefore, it is a good idea to be reading healthcare-related news, closer to your interview date.

More Keele University Medicine Interview Questions

1. What qualities did you observe in doctors during your work experience?
2. Is Keele University’s medicine course a good fit for you?
3. What are some disadvantages of a career in medicine?
4. Why do you believe you are a good candidate for this course?
5. What differentiates sympathy from empathy? Is one of them more important than the other in medicine?
6. Discuss the values of the NHS, and what makes them important.

Life as a Medical Student at Keele Medical School

Social Life at Keele Medical School

Keele University is located in the countryside of Staffordshire. This makes it easily accessible from Manchester and Birmingham. The closest town is Newcastle-under-Lyme which provides a range of bars, cafes and entertainment. There are many attractions for students to visit as well including Chester Zoo, Alton Towers and the Peak District!

Societies and Clubs at Keele Medical School

Studying medicine does not mean that you will have to give up on your extracurriculars. Keele University has over 150 societies for students to join. Societies and clubs are a great way to meet new students and have a good work-life balance. Whether it is sports, arts or culture, there is something for everyone at Keele. In terms of medical societies as well, there are multiple opportunities for volunteering, exploring your interests in specialties and networking with other medical students!

Intercalated Degree at Keele Medical School

Keele Medical School offers a range of intercalation degrees for medical students. These can be BSc or MSc. Some examples include:

• BSc Natural Sciences
• BSc Medical Humanities
• MSc Clinical Education
• MSc Biomedical Engineering
• MSc Medical Ethics and Law

FAQs

Does Keele University offer a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree?

Yes, Yes Keele University does offer BSc degrees on their own and also the medical school offers it as part of their intercalation programme.

How Much of the Keele University Medicine Entry Course is Clinical vs Preclinical?

The 5-year course is quite balanced. The first 2 years are mostly preclinical with some placements and contact with patients. The final 3 years are fully clinical with students rotating through specialties within medicine.

Is Keele Medical School a Good Medical School?

Keele Medical School ranks highly as a medical school and it produces excellent and well-trained doctors. It is ideal for all medical students however, it depends on what your priorities are when selecting a medical school. It is best to visit the university on its Open Days to gain a realistic idea of the place and speak to the friendly staff!

Support with Keele University Medicine Entry

UCAT Tutoring

Due to Keele Medical School having an acceptance rate of below 10%, it is considered very competitive. So, it’s a good idea to get a UCAT tutor to help you score more points during the selection process. When looking for a good tutor, it’s wise to consider someone who has recently achieved an excellent UCAT score themselves and who has experience with tutoring. Your tutor should be able to assess your strengths and weaknesses to focus your lesson time on improving the areas you need improvement in.

Personal Statement Tutoring

Keele Medical School gives a lot of weighting to your personal statement, as a Home student. Therefore, perfecting your personal statement will maximise your chances. You can work with a personal statement tutor who will review your personal statement and offer suggestions to improve it. This can be a medical student who received an offer or was offered an interview from Keele Medical School. They can help tailor your personal statement according to Keele’s requirements.

Medicine Interview Tutoring

With only 1 in 14 applicants receiving an offer post-interview, the interview process is competitive. A large part of the admissions process is the MMI, which you’ll need to thoroughly prepare for if you’re serious about getting into Keele. We recommend booking in with a medicine interview tutor at Keele to get their most realistic preparation for the unique interview process. An interview tutor can help you to gain interview confidence, competence, and the knowledge base you need to stand out from the crowd.