Manchester Medical School Guide

Manchester Medical School is the largest medical school in the UK but has some of the smallest class sizes. This means a wider cohort but focussed attention is given to all students. The University of Manchester is one of the red-brick universities, founded along with the medical school in 1824. The city has lots to do and there is something for every student! Manchester is home to the Curry Mile which is the biggest concentration of South Asian restaurants in the UK. Manchester is especially famous for its architecture and music. Read more to find out about what Manchester has to offer and how to get into Manchester Medical School.

Manchester Medical School Entry Requirements

Academic

Category	Grade	Subjects
GCSE	Minimum seven GCSEs at grade A (7) or A* (8+).	English Language, Maths and minimum 2 science subjects at grade B (6). NB: grades 66 (BB) are required for a Dual Award Science
A-Level	AAA	1) Chemistry or Biology/Human Biology 2) One from Chemistry, Biology/Human Biology; Physics; Psychology; Mathematics/ Further Mathematics
Scottish Highers	AAAAB	English Language and any science subject (Maths, Chemistry or Biology)
Scottish Advanced Highers	AAA	Chemistry or Biology; a second science (from Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Psychology, or Physics); plus one other rigorous academic subject.
IB	36 points required	At least 666 required at Higher Level Subjects must include Chemistry/Biology, plus another science (one from Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Psychology, or Mathematics) and one further subject at Higher Level.

Admissions Tests

The University of Manchester uses the UCAT to select for interviews. They do not consider applicants who achieve Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test. The selection process favours applicants with Band 1 or 2 in the SJT. The medical school will rank all applicants to determine a threshold. Those above the threshold will be invited to interview. The UCAT threshold was 2750 in 2023, making Manchester a competitive medical school.

Work Experience

The medical school recommends all applicants to have taken some type of work experience. This can be in a medical environment, online or even volunteering! This will allow you to gain a realistic insight of what studying medicine is like. MedicHut runs a residential work experience for aspiring medical applicants. This enables you to see the life of a doctor in a busy London hospital!

Personal Statement

All applicants must complete a NAIF (non-academic information form). This will be used instead of the personal statement to assess the applicant holistically. Also, it can also be used at interview to ask about your experiences. Therefore, it is good to reflect well on your experiences and use this form to prepare your interview answers.

Interview

Manchester Medical School gives all selected applicants the option to either have an online interview via Zoom or on campus. However, there are a limited number of spaces so preferences are considered on a first come, first served basis.

The interview process is quite friendly and aims to assess the applicant in terms of values and behaviours. Applicants are encouraged to have a natural conversation and display their interpersonal skills.

Applicants may be asked about the following:

• Why medicine?
• Communication skills
• Caring experiences
• Ethics
• Current medical news

Graduate Entry at Manchester Medical School

Manchester Medical School offers a fast-track 4 year programme for graduates. There are approximately 450 places out of 1500 applicants.

Here are the minimum entry requirements:

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

Home	369 places
International	28 places

Manchester Medical School Ranking

University of Manchester is ranked 20th for medicine by the Complete University Guide in 2024.

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.

Manchester Medical School Fees

Home	£9,250
International	£38,000 (Year 1 and 2) £58,000 (Year 3 onwards)

Manchester Medical School Acceptance Rate

For 2023 entry, there were 2181 Home applications. 1248 applicants were invited to interviews. This means the interview rate is 57%. Out of these, 733 offers were made. Therefore, overall, there is an acceptance rate of 34%.

Manchester Medicine Course Structure

Year 1	4 modules + anatomy + pharmacology
Year 2	2 modules + anatomy + pharmacology
Year 3	5 clinical placements
Year 4	Clinical placements in 14 specialties such as GP, mental health, women’s health and child health There is also the medical elective at the end of Year 4.
Year 5	Clinical Placements in surgery, GP and acute medicine. Preparation for finals

Manchester Medical School Teaching Style

The course uses a variety of teaching methods. It is focused on problem-based learning with some elements similar to integrated-style courses. This is an independent style of learning compared to traditional courses. This will enable students to develop their initiative, teamwork and interpersonal skills. Manchester uses whole-body dissection as well as prosections to teach anatomy. There are themed case discussions at the end of every week to put learning into perspective.

Manchester Medical School Interview Format

The medical school uses a 5-station MMI. Each station will be 8 minutes long with a 2-minute gap between stations. There will be no reading or writing part of the interview.

Interviews are held between December and March.

Manchester Medical School Interview Questions

What steps have you taken to further your interest in Medicine?

Work experience is a great way to demonstrate an interest in medicine, and this question is the ideal situation to discuss this. What did you do or see that inspired you to pursue a medical career? Other ways of demonstrating an interest in medicine include attending talks/conferences, talking to current or former medical professionals about their careers, and engaging in research.

What motivates you to study Medicine?

This is another great opportunity to discuss work experience or any other experience that inspired you to pursue a medical career. Make sure to demonstrate an understanding of the realities of a medical career – discussing articles you’ve read or discussions you’ve had with medical professionals can help with this. It is also good to briefly talk about the struggles of medicine and how you will tackle them.

Should COVID-19 vaccines be mandatory?

This question tests your ability to consider multiple points of view and express your own opinion. It is important to demonstrate a good understanding of both sides of the mandatory vaccination debate when answering – use the four pillars of medical ethics as a base for these arguments. Make sure to present your own beliefs on the subject after considering these viewpoints, and use your earlier arguments to justify this.

Life as a Medical Student at the University of Manchester

In preclinical years you will have at least half a day of contact hours. There is ample time to study, socialise and participate in extra-curricular activities. There is a wide range of societies available for every student from academics, and sports to culture. For medical students, there are many societies for medical specialties, volunteering and to help with revision!

In terms of the city, Manchester has so much to offer. From shopping centers such as the Trafford Centre to diverse food places on Wilmslow Road, there will be something for everyone. Transport links across the city are also great with options like buses, trains and trams.

FAQs

How much of the Manchester Medicine Course is Clinical vs Preclinical?

Year 1 and 2 are considered preclinical as they mainly have problem-based teaching along with anatomy. Year 3-5 are clinical because you will be on clinical placements majority of the time.

Is Manchester Medical School a Good Medical School?

The University of Manchester is a red-brick university and ranks good as a medical school. 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 insight into the place and speak to the friendly staff!

Support With Getting Into Manchester Medical School

UCAT Tutoring

As Manchester Medical School has high UCAT requirements, it’s a good idea to get a UCAT tutor to help you exceed the threshold. 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.

Medicine Interview Tutoring

With an acceptance rate under 35%, entry to Manchester is competitive. A large part of the admissions process is the MMI, which you’ll need to thoroughly prepare for. We recommend booking a medicine interview tutor at Manchester to get the most realistic preparation for the Manchester interview. An interview tutor can help you to gain interview confidence, competence, and the knowledge base you need to stand out from the crowd.