Entry Requirements 2021

Stage 1. KMMS operate minimum admission requirements , which are interpreted strictly. We don’t accept any variances from these, except through the extenuating circumstances process (see below).

KMMS does not accept predicted grades at all. Only achieved grades are considered; this will be GCSE for group A. KMMS accepts GCSE resits that enable applicants to meet our minimum requirements.  However, the resits must be completed prior to application.

Stage 2a.  All applicants will need to have sat the UCAT examination in the year of application.

KMMS operated a selection threshold of total UCAT score 2420 or above (corresponding to the 40th centile of 2019 UCAT candidates) and UCAT SJT band 3 or above, in 2019. We believe this was amongst the most generous UCAT thresholds in the UK.

KMMS does not necessarily commit to the same, or similar threshold for selection for 2021 entry.

Please note that because there is a stage 2b after the UCAT selection, high UCAT scorers will not necessarily be selected over lower scorers who still pass the threshold.

Stage 2b. KMMS introduced the concept of contextualising all applicants in groups A and B during 2019-20. The underlying concept is to consider academic attainment relative to the average for the applicant’s school, at both GCSE and A level. (This can be done for IB as well, but is more difficult for other qualifications, which are considered as group D.)

The “contextualising everyone” policy compares the applicant’s attainment relative to the school’s average. We therefore replace absolute grade attainments with relative attainment based on schooling. There is strong research evidence that this is a more fair metric, in terms of later performance at medical school; and we have shown that this policy makes a considerable impact on widening participation.

State schools in England report their GCSE attainment accurately and are audited for this; but many independent schools do not, for obscure reasons. Therefore applicants from independent schools are contextualised against the GCSE/A level achievements publicised by their school, if possible for the relevant year, but if not, for any year for which information is available. State schools in Wales and Northern Ireland report their results variably and in a different format to English schools, and KMMS may make direct enquiries to those schools, or consider those applicants in group D.

Stage 1. KMMS operate minimum admission requirements , which are interpreted strictly. We don’t accept any variances from these, except through the extenuating circumstances process (see below). Group B will be students who have achieved A levels but are on a gap year, and students at university who are in their final year and have not achieved a degree. KMMS does not accept applications from students enrolled on a Bachelor’s level degree course at any other university who are not in the final year of their degree. KMMS does not accept transfer students from other medical universities.

KMMS does not accept predicted grades at all, including degree predictions. Only achieved grades are considered, which will be GCSEs and A levels for this group

KMMS accepts GCSE resits that enable applicants to meet our minimum requirements.  However, the resits must be completed prior to application.  In common with other UK medical schools, KMMS does not accept A level resits, with the exception of consideration through the extenuating circumstances process if there were issues affecting the first A level sits.

Stage 2a. All applicants will need to have sat the UCAT examination in the year of application.

KMMS operated a selection threshold of total UCAT score 2420 or above (corresponding to the 40th centile of 2019 UCAT candidates) and UCAT SJT band 3 or above, in 2019. We believe this was amongst the most generous UCAT thresholds in the UK.

KMMS does not necessarily commit to the same, or similar threshold for selection for 2021 entry.

KMMS reserves the right to use different UCAT thresholds for different groups of applicants, as research has shown that the UCAT exam favours older (>25y old) candidates.

Please note that because there is a stage 2b after the UCAT selection, high UCAT scorers will not necessarily be selected over lower scorers who still pass the threshold

Stage 2b. KMMS introduced the concept of contextualising all applicants in groups A and B during 2019-20. The underlying concept is to consider academic attainment relative to the average for the applicant’s school, at A level, which is the senior achieved qualification for group B applicants. (This can be done for IB as well, but needs reliable information on average IB attainment. It is more difficult for other qualifications, which are considered as group D.)

The “contextualising everybody” policy compares the applicant’s attainment relative to the school’s average. We therefore replace absolute grade attainments with relative attainment based on schooling. There is strong research evidence that this is a more fair metric, in terms of later performance at medical school; and we have shown that this policy makes a considerable impact on widening participation.

State schools in England report their A level attainment accurately and are audited for this; in general, independent schools also do this, but are not subject to checks. Therefore applicants from independent schools will also be checked against the A level achievements publicised by their school, if possible for the relevant year, but if not, for any year for which information is available. If this is consistent with the publicly available data, then the public data will be used. If not, KMMS will estimate the average A level achievement from the school’s advertised results.  State schools in Wales and Northern Ireland report their results variably and in a different format to English schools, and KMMS may make direct enquiries to those schools, or consider those applicants in group D.

KMMS operate minimum admission requirements , which are interpreted strictly. We don’t accept any variances from these, except through the extenuating circumstances process (see below).

We will consider applicants who have a UK Honours (or equivalent) upper second class honours degree in relevant subjects, who are processed in group C. We do not accept degrees in osteopathy, chiropractic, naturopathy or other alternative/complementary medical practices. Accepted and non accepted degree subjects in the 2020 admissions cycle are detailed, but an exhaustive list is not possible, and degree specifications can change quite quickly. Therefore this list is indicative only, and does not guarantee that KMMS will accept or not accept particular degree courses. KMMS will NOT check or approve degree transcripts before application, but only for actual applicants.

Graduates of non-UK universities may also have to pass English language requirements. Please see information in group D for details

Stage 2a. All applicants will need to have sat the UCAT examination in the year of application.

KMMS operated a selection threshold of total UCAT score 2420 or above (corresponding to the 40th centile of 2019 UCAT candidates) and UCAT SJT band 3 or above, in 2019. We believe this was amongst the most generous UCAT thresholds in the UK.

KMMS does not necessarily commit to the same, or similar threshold for selection for 2021 entry.

KMMS reserves the right to use different UCAT thresholds for different groups of applicants, as research has shown that the UCAT exam favours older (>25y old) candidates.

Please note that because there is a stage 2b after the UCAT selection, high UCAT scorers will not necessarily be selected over lower scorers who still pass the threshold.

Stage 2b. Applicants in group C are scored according to criteria relating to UCAT score, including SJT score, degree classification, as well as evidence that favours NHS service in the Kent region. KMMS reserves the right to use a different UCAT threshold for graduates than for other groups of applicants. KMMS reserves the right to specify an additional assessment for this group, which will be an online assessment, at no cost to the applicant.

Stage 1. If you hold GCSEs, and/or A level but we do not have school data to enable contextualisation (Scotland, Wales and some Northern Irish schools) you will be in this group. If you are studying for IB/EBacc with no GCSE data you will also be in this group. We will treat you as far as possible in a similar way to groups A,B and C; using the same stage 1 minimum requirements.

KMMS will consider applicants with international secondary schools qualifications according to their UK equivalencies (to AAB at A level, if possible) as per the University of Kent policies.

BTEC and International Baccalaureate Career Pathway– We do not accept BTEC or IBCP qualifications in lieu of A levels or the IB Diploma.

Access to HE Diploma – Applicants who have completed an Access to Medicine course will be considered for entry. As Access to Medicine diplomas are currently unstandardized and relatively unregulated, each candidate will be considered on a case by case basis. We do not approve particular providers or courses before application. We will not consider applicants from Access to Medicine courses who have sat A level or degree level examinations within the previous 3 years, in order to equalise opportunities with the graduate pathway applicants.  We will consider candidates with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3 with 30 credits at Distinction and 15 at Merit. Applicants should achieve 15 credits in Chemistry or Biology with at least 12 graded level 3 credits at Distinction.

Literacy and numeracy

All applicants must have qualifications in English and mathematics equivalent to at least GCSE grade 6 or B.

Approved English language qualifications for international students:

The qualifications and grades we accept are listed below. Your qualification must have been taken no more than two years before your course start date and must be completed before you apply, and have been taken at a UKVI-approved centre. If you have taken an in-country qualification or A level, IGCSE or IB English, this may not be required. This is assessed on an individual basis for applicants requiring a Tier 4 visa.  For the IB we accept Higher Level English A Language or Language and Literature at grade 4, and Standard Level English A Language or Language and Literature at grade 5.

Overseas candidates from countries listed in the UKVI list of majority English-speaking countries are exempt from this requirement for Tier 4 purposes. However, you must still meet our English language requirements for academic purposes.

In-country qualifications:

You may use one of the following English language qualifications in your visa application as proof of meeting the Level B2 requirement. This does not guarantee you will be exempt from taking an accepted English language qualification, as listed in the table above, and Kent and Medway Medical School will determine this on a case-by-case basis.