Southampton Medicine 2027: UCAT, Entry Requirements & Interview

Life Sciences Building, University of Southampton Highfield Campus - home of the Faculty of Medicine (BM5, BM4 and BM6 MBBS programmes)

Southampton Medicine (University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine (School of Medicine)) for 2027 entry: entry requirements, A-level and GCSE grades, how it uses the UCAT, admissions statistics, interview format and graduate entry - from MedicHut's medical admissions team.

Last reviewed: August 2026 by MedicHut's medical admissions team.

Southampton Medicine entry requirements (2027 entry)

Southampton Medicine asks for AAA at A-level including A-Level Biology plus one further science (Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths or Psychology). Practical elements must be passed. General Studies and Critical Thinking are not counted at A-level, or 36 points overall with HL 6,6,6 including HL 6 in Biology and one additional HL science (Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology); no SL below 4. BM6: 30 points with HL 5,5,5 including HL 5 in Biology and a second HL science. in the IB. At GCSE: BM5: seven GCSEs at grade 6 (B) or above including Maths, English Language and either Biology and Chemistry, Combined Science or Science + Additional Science. BM4 (Graduate Entry): four GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in the same subjects. BM6: five GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above. Applicants meeting academic requirements are ranked by UCAT score, with the highest-ranked invited to interview.

A-level requirement: AAA at A-level including A-Level Biology plus one further science (Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths or Psychology). Practical elements must be passed. General Studies and Critical Thinking are not counted.
Minimum A-levels: BM5 minimum: AAA. BM4 (Graduate Entry): no A-level minimum - a 2:1 UK Honours degree in any subject is required instead. BM6 (Widening Access): BBB including Biology plus one further science, awarded to applicants who meet the widening-participation eligibility criteria.
IB requirement: 36 points overall with HL 6,6,6 including HL 6 in Biology and one additional HL science (Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology); no SL below 4. BM6: 30 points with HL 5,5,5 including HL 5 in Biology and a second HL science.
GCSE requirement: BM5: seven GCSEs at grade 6 (B) or above including Maths, English Language and either Biology and Chemistry, Combined Science or Science + Additional Science. BM4 (Graduate Entry): four GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in the same subjects. BM6: five GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above.
UCAS code: A100 BM5 (5-yr) · A101 BM4 (4-yr Graduate Entry, Home only) · A102 BM6 (6-yr Widening Access, Home only)
Places: ~210 BM5 Home + ~30 BM5 International, ~40 BM4 (Home only) and ~30 BM6 (Home only) - roughly 310 total places per cycle across the three UCAS-entry programmes.
Applications per place: Home: ~8.2 applicants per place (2025/26); RUK: ~7.1 per place; Overseas: ~9.2 per place
Contextual offers: AAB offer available for school leavers who meet two contextual flags; see Southampton contextual admissions policy
Fees: International: Years 1-2 £32,000 per year, Years 3-5 £61,800 per year

This school makes no use of the SJT, so a weaker band does not count against you.

How Southampton uses the UCAT

Applicants meeting academic requirements are ranked by UCAT score, with the highest-ranked invited to interview

2025 entry cut-off (Home) ~2760 lowest invited, highest 3300 (out of 3,600, pre-2025 scale)

Southampton medicine interview format

Selection Day - a two-part format unique among UK medical schools: (1) a 20-minute Panel Interview with two interviewers who have your personal statement in front of them (expect PS-probing plus motivation, resilience, ethics and NHS-values questions), and (2) a 20-minute Group Interview where ~8 candidates discuss a healthcare topic in front of two assessors with 5 minutes' prep time and a personal reflection at the end. Both stations are scored; offers are ranked on the combined Selection Day score. December 2026 to March 2027 for 2027 entry - Selection Days run in-person at Highfield Campus for Home applicants and virtually for International applicants. Offers rolled out from late February; final decisions typically by end of March.

Sample Southampton interview questions

Why Southampton specifically - what draws you to the BM5 over Bristol, Exeter or Plymouth?
Walk me through the piece of work experience on your personal statement that shaped you most - what did you actually do, and what did you learn?
Southampton was a UK pioneer of early patient contact from Year 1. Why do you think this approach matters for a future doctor?
Group task (example): a hospital ward is short-staffed - discuss how the multidisciplinary team should prioritise care over the next 12 hours.
Ethics: a 15-year-old asks you not to tell her parents she is taking the contraceptive pill. How do you handle it?
Values: what does the NHS Constitution mean to you, and pick one value you find hardest to live up to.
Resilience: describe a time you failed at something significant. What did you change afterwards?
Role-play scenario: a patient's mother threatens to blame you if her child's postponed ultrasound leads to harm. How do you respond as a junior doctor?
Communication: explain the difference between capacity and consent to someone with no medical background.
Teamwork: tell us about a team activity you organised - what went well, what went badly, what would you change?
Personal statement follow-up: you mention volunteering at [X] - what was the most uncomfortable moment, and how did you handle it?
Motivation: why medicine and not nursing, physician associate or biomedical research?

Southampton Medicine FAQs

What UCAT score do I need for Southampton Medical School 2027 entry?

Southampton uses UCAT as a ranked cut-off after academic pre-screening. For BM5, recent Home cut-offs have sat around 2,550-2,650 and International around 2,650-2,750. For BM4 (Graduate Entry), cut-offs have been higher at ~2,850-2,930. Aim for 2,700+ (BM5 Home) or 2,900+ (BM4) to sit comfortably above the interview threshold. SJT is used qualitatively at Selection Day rather than as a Band 4 auto-reject.

Is Southampton a good medical school?

Yes. Southampton is a top UK medical school with 100% graduate prospects in the Complete University Guide, ranks around 30th in the UK for Medicine, and consistently sits in the global top 100 for clinical medicine (QS by subject). It is best known for early patient contact from Year 1, an integrated BMedSci Honours awarded in Year 3 (no extra intercalation year), and one of the largest teaching networks in England - placements span Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, the Isle of Wight and even Jersey.

How competitive is Southampton Medical School?

Competitive but not the tightest. BM5 runs at roughly 8:1 (~1,900 applicants for ~240 places), BM4 at ~10:1 and BM6 at ~6:1. Southampton interviews roughly double the number it has seats for, so once you clear the UCAT ranked cut-off your Selection Day conversion sits around 1 in 2.

Does Southampton Medical School do dissection?

No - Southampton teaches anatomy using prosections, plastination models, imaging and living anatomy sessions rather than full cadaveric dissection. If cadaveric dissection is a hard preference, Bristol, Cambridge and Manchester still offer it.

How many places does Southampton Medical School have each year?

Roughly 310 places per cycle across three UCAS-entry programmes: ~210 BM5 Home + ~30 BM5 International (5-year MBBS), ~40 BM4 (4-year Graduate Entry, Home only) and ~30 BM6 (6-year Widening Access, Home only). BM(EU) and BM(IT) partnership routes have their own separate intakes.

What is the Southampton Medicine interview format?

It's called Selection Day and is unique in the UK: (1) a 20-minute Panel Interview with two assessors who have your personal statement in front of them - expect PS-probing, motivation, resilience, ethics and NHS-values questions, and (2) a 20-minute Group Interview where ~8 candidates discuss a healthcare topic in front of two assessors, followed by a personal reflection. Both stations are scored and combined.

Does Southampton Medical School score the personal statement?

Yes - functionally. Southampton doesn't score the PS during shortlisting (that's driven by UCAT + GCSEs + A-levels), but the Panel Interview at Selection Day is largely PS-driven and the panel has your statement in front of them. Anything vague, embellished or poorly evidenced will unravel under follow-up questioning, so know your PS content cold.

Does Southampton Medical School offer Graduate Entry Medicine?

Yes - BM4 is a 4-year Graduate Entry Medicine programme for Home applicants only with a UK 2:1 Honours degree in any subject. There are ~40 places per cycle, no A-level minimum is required, and applicants must sit the UCAT. Graduates seeking a 5-year route (including International graduates) should apply to BM5 instead.

Does Southampton Medical School accept international applicants?

Yes - BM5 accepts ~30 International applicants per year (BM4 and BM6 are Home-only). International applicants must meet A*AA / IB 36 (HL 6,6,6 including HL 6 in Biology + a second HL science), sit the UCAT and hit IELTS 7.0 overall with no element below 6.5. International interviews are held virtually. 2026 International fees are ~£30,900/yr pre-clinical rising to ~£58,300/yr clinical.

Does Southampton Medical School accept contextual (widening-access) offers?

Yes - BM6 (A102) is the flagship 6-year Widening Access to Medicine programme with a Year 0 Foundation year and a lower BBB A-level offer plus a lower UCAT ranking threshold. Eligibility requires at least one WP flag (POLAR4 Q1-2, free school meals, care-experienced, refugee status, first-in-family to university, or IMD Q1-2 postcode). Successful BM6 students join BM5 students in Year 1 onwards.

Where does Southampton Medical School do clinical placements?

Placements are hosted at University Hospital Southampton (Southampton General, Princess Anne and Southampton General acute site), plus a wide regional network: Basingstoke, Frimley Park, Queen Alexandra (Portsmouth), Royal Bournemouth, Royal Hampshire County (Winchester), Salisbury District, Poole, Dorset County, St Mary's (Isle of Wight), Royal Surrey County and Jersey General. It's one of the largest placement networks of any UK medical school.

How is the Southampton MBBS (BM5) course structured?

The 5-year BM5 is split into 4 phases. Phase 1 (Years 1-2, Fundamentals of Medicine): systems-based pre-clinical teaching (Foundations, Nervous & Locomotor, Cardiopulmonary, Renal, GI, Endocrine & Lifecycle) plus fortnightly GP placements from Year 1 and Healthcare Support Worker shifts in Year 2. Phase 2 (Year 3, Progression into Clinical Practice): 41-week research project (leading to the integrated BMedSci) plus rotations in Medicine & Elderly Care, Primary Care and Surgery. Phase 3 (Year 4 + first half of Year 5): rotations in Paeds, O&G, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Head & Neck, Dermatology, Psychiatry and Acute Care. Phase 4 (second half of Year 5): elective + Preparing for Independent Practice.

When does Southampton Medical School make offers?

Selection Day invitations go out from mid-November for 2027 entry; Selection Days run December to March; successful candidates typically hear from late February to end of March via UCAS Track. UCAS Extra and Clearing places are not routinely available for BM5 or BM4 - if you're unsuccessful, plan a full 2028 reapplication cycle rather than waiting for late movement.

Does Southampton Medical School allow intercalation?

Southampton is unusual because a BMedSci (Hons) is INTEGRATED into every BM5 / BM6 pathway via the Year 3 research project - no additional year is needed to graduate with an intercalated degree. A further optional intercalated Masters (MMedSci) can be taken between Year 3 and Year 4, either at Southampton or externally, and does add an extra year.

Practise the Southampton interview

Book a Southampton medicine mock interview in the exact format Southampton uses, with an interviewer who holds an offer there.

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