Medical school guide · 2027 entry

Birmingham Medicine

Birmingham Medical School, University of Birmingham

A five-year MBChB with a new curriculum from 2026, using a points-based shortlist and making offers on MMI and SJT scores alone.

The interview Compare all schools

Medical School building, University of Birmingham

Course: A100 · 5 yearsMBChB
Typical offer: AAA
Interview: MMI
Halls from: £107/wk
Local private rent: £1,106/mo
Location: Birmingham

Preparing for Birmingham

What matters most at Birmingham.

01
Shortlisting weights academics 45%, UCAT 40% and context 15%; there is no UCAT cut-off, so a strong academic record can carry a moderate UCAT.
02
After interview, offers depend on MMI plus SJT score; your SJT band therefore matters twice.
03
A minimum standard is likely at each station, so a single weak station can cost an offer: practise breadth, not just favourite topics.

Notes by Dr S Farooq, MBChB, BSc (Hons). Checked October 2026.

The interview

The Birmingham medicine interview.

MMI

Format

MMI (2027 entry).

Stations and timing

For 2027 entry, six or seven stations of 8 minutes each, including 2 minutes of preparation.

In person or online

For 2027 entry, in person in Birmingham for home applicants. International applicants interview online via Zoom (at least two stations, including a role-play), with a separate online calculation assessment on another date.

Dates

For 2027 entry, invitations are usually sent December to January, with interviews January to February and decisions on UCAS by mid-March 2027.

How it counts

Offers are based solely on MMI score plus SJT score, with academics used only for tie-breaks. A minimum standard is likely at each non-calculation station, and falling below it at any station may prevent an offer. About 1,300 applicants are interviewed and 700-800 offers are typically made.

What Birmingham assesses

Commitment and insight into medicine
Communication
Evaluating information
Empathy
Self-insight and reflection
Ethical reasoning
Data analysis and interpretation

What the tasks involve

Critical thinking on a healthcare topic
Commitment and insight from care experience
Personal and ethical challenges
Professionalism scenario
Data interpretation and debate
Role play with a professional actor
Computer-based GCSE-level clinical maths

Preparation advice from Birmingham

The university says MMIs cannot be revised for, and advises following medical news, discussing issues with others and reflecting on experience. It provides a student-made MMI video and a 'Preparing to Apply' page on its website.

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Entry and UCAT

Getting an interview at Birmingham.

Typical requirements for school leavers. Always check the full requirements on the Birmingham website.

Typical A-level offer

AAA (predicted grades must be at least AAB), achieved at first sitting.

Required subjects

Chemistry plus a second science from Biology/Human Biology, Physics or Maths, and any third subject (not General Studies, Critical Thinking or EPQ). Further Maths does not count alongside Maths.

How the UCAT is used

No cut-off (latest published scoring, undated). Home applicants are ranked on an application score (maximum 10): academic/GCSE 45%, UCAT 40% and contextual 15%. The UCAT total of the three cognitive subtests is converted to points by national decile (10th decile = 4.0, down to 0 for the 1st). The interview threshold is set by ranking each year.

Situational judgement (SJT)

Not used for shortlisting. For 2027 entry, it is used at interview stage, weighted equally with each MMI station (Band 1 = full marks, Band 2 = two-thirds, Band 3 = one-third, Band 4 = zero).

Published UCAT scores

2025-26 cycle (2026 entry): lowest UCAT total among home interview invitees was 1920 (standard) and 1710 (contextual), with medians of 2180 and 2060. These are three-subtest totals on the new UCAT scale (Abstract Reasoning was removed in 2025), so they are not comparable with older figures. International minimum was 2110. Because Birmingham uses decile-based points, the effective threshold also depends on GCSEs.

GCSEs

Seven GCSEs are scored. English Language, Maths, and Biology plus Chemistry (or dual award science) are required at grade 6/B minimum; grades 7-9 in specified subjects earn more points at shortlisting.

Other qualifications

IB: 32 points with HL 666 including Chemistry and a second science or Maths. Graduates with a 2:1 plus A-level-standard qualifications are considered.

Contextual offers

Contextual offer of AAB (predicted ABB) for flagged applicants (for example free school meals or care experience), with extra points by POLAR4 quintile. Completers of Pathways to Birmingham receive a dual offer (standard plus ABB).

The course

Studying medicine at Birmingham.

At a glance

Intake: About 380 home + 28 international (2026 entry)
Teaching: Lectures and small groups; new curriculum 2026
Anatomy: Prosection plus touch-screen anatomy tables
Intercalation: Optional, usually between Years 2 and 3
Main campus: Medical School, Edgbaston campus

Complete University Guide 2027

27th

of 40 for Medicine · table

Guardian University Guide 2027

26th

of 40 for Medicine · table

National Student Survey 2025

85.1%

positive about teaching on the course (399 responses) · OfS

League tables weight different things, so the same school can sit in different places. Use them as one input, alongside the course, the selection method and where you would like to live.

Year by year

Years 1–2Campus teaching (lectures, small groups, anatomy practicals) with one day a week of clinical skills, alternating simulation and GP visits.
Year 3Two 14-week hospital placements mixing medicine and surgery, plus primary care.
Year 4Placements in paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry, cancer care and specialty medicine.
Year 5Two 8-week acute and chronic care blocks, the MLA in finals, then an elective and two assistantships.

How it is taught

Lectures, seminars and practicals. Years 1-2 are campus-based with one clinical skills day a week, and Years 3-5 are mainly clinical placements (new curriculum launched in 2026).

Patient contact

Years 1-2: one day a week on clinical skills, alternating simulated practice with real General Practice experience.

Intercalation

Optional intercalated year (for example BMedSci), usually between Years 2 and 3.

Placements

Hospitals and GP practices across the West Midlands region. Year 3 includes two 14-week hospital placements plus primary care.

Distinctive features

New Birmingham Centre for Anatomy, Surgical and Clinical Skills (B-CASCS), due to open in 2027 with simulated wards and surgical facilities
Anatomy taught using prosected (already dissected) bodies in the Medical School prosectorium, plus touch-screen anatomy tables
Shared teaching with Pharmacy, Biomedical Science and Nursing students, with an emphasis on prescribing
Year 5: acute and chronic care blocks, an elective (UK or abroad) and two assistantships

How you are assessed

Written and practical examinations each year, with feedback within four weeks. The national Medical Licensing Assessment is part of final-year exams.

Elective

A placement of your choice in the UK or abroad in Year 5, taken after final exams.

Main teaching hospitals

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
Birmingham Children's Hospital
Birmingham Women's Hospital
Midland Metropolitan University Hospital
New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton

Placements and travel

Every student is placed at near (under 10 miles), middle (10–20 miles) and distant (over 20 miles, e.g. Worcester, Hereford) hospitals; most are reachable by bus or train and students often car share. The College gives all students a travel contribution, Hereford students get accommodation, and NHS Bursary holders can claim extra travel costs.

Student life

Living in Birmingham as a medic.

Where you will live, the societies and sport on offer, and how you will get around. Prices and dates change, so check the linked pages.

The city

Birmingham is the UK's second city, with a large student population; the Edgbaston campus is a short train ride from the centre.

Accommodation

New undergraduates are guaranteed the opportunity to book a room if they firm Birmingham, meet their offer and apply by 30 June 2027 (UK). Over 7,500 rooms in three villages, all within walking distance of campus; 2026/27 rents £107–£321 a week.

Medical society

University of Birmingham Medical Society (MedSoc)

Students' union

Guild of Students

Medic societies and clubs

University of Birmingham Surgical Society
Wilderness Med
Teddy Bears Hospital
Street Doctors
Military Medical Society
UBMS Rugby (UBMSRFC)
UBMS Netball
MedSoc Performing Arts (ARTE)

Sport and gyms

Sport & Fitness at The Vale has a 200-station gym and 50 m pool; 2026/27 student memberships run from £125 (weekend) to £386 (peak, 12 months). MedSoc runs its own rugby, football, netball, hockey, basketball and other teams.

Shops and essentials

The Medical School building is open 24 hours a day, with the Barnes Medical Library, a 276-PC cluster and MedCafé (term time, 08:30–16:00).

Getting around

The campus has its own railway station (University) on the Cross-City Line, about seven minutes from Birmingham New Street. Student travel passes for the West Midlands network can be bought.

Support for medics

Every student has a personal academic tutor, and the College has its own Student Services centre with Wellbeing Officers offering 30-minute appointments. Senior Academy Tutors support each placement group.

Cars and parking

Student parking permits for the Edgbaston campus are only for Blue Badge holders, students living more than ten miles away, those with children aged 11 or under, or registered carers; permit holders then pay £2.50 a day. Residents of The Vale and Pritchatts Park can request a village resident permit, which is not valid on main campus.

Food and essentials

Selly Oak, next to campus, has Aldi, Tesco (including a 24-hour store), Asian supermarkets, and a Sainsbury's superstore and M&S food hall at Selly Oak Shopping Park.

Going out

The Guild of Students on campus runs Sports Night on Wednesdays and FAB on Saturdays; in town, Broad Street is the main student club strip (Snobs, Rosie's) and Digbeth has warehouse venues such as Lunar Springs, while Selly Oak High Street has the nearest pubs.

Costs and living

Birmingham medicine fees and living costs.

Fees, university accommodation and local private rents, from official sources.

University halls

From £107/wk

£107–£321 per week (undergraduate, 2026/27, university and partner residences; top figures include catered and studio options); contracts about 42 weeks (42/50/51 weeks stated)

Accommodation prices

Local rent, whole homes (ONS)

£1,106/mo

£1,106 per month, Birmingham, ONS Price Index of Private Rents (September 2026 data, released 21 October 2026)

Average for a whole home of any size; a room in a shared house costs much less.

Home tuition fee

£10,050 per year (UK, 2027/28)

International tuition fee

£33,750 a year for the pre-clinical Years 1 and 2 and £53,880 a year for the clinical Years 3 to 5, as listed on the 2027/28 course page. For comparison, 2025/26 fees were £31,390 and £50,360.

Fees source

Bursaries and funding

English students can get the NHS Bursary from Year 5, including travel reimbursement for placements. Pathways to Birmingham completers may qualify for the Pathways to Birmingham Scholarship and Bursary.

Other routes in

Graduate, gateway and international routes.

Graduate entry

Birmingham does not run a separate graduate-entry course for 2027. Graduates can usually apply to the standard course. See graduate-entry courses

Gateway or foundation

There is no foundation-year medicine route. Pathways to Birmingham is a widening participation scheme that provides an alternative ABB offer.

International applicants

Accepts international applicants. International places: 28 (2027 entry).

Entry requirements page: up to 28 places for students assessed as international. The admissions statistics say up to 6 of these are reserved for IMU Malaysia clinical-years transfers.

Places

380 home places and 28 international places (2026 entry); up to 6 of the international places are reserved for IMU Malaysia students joining the clinical years.

Applications, interviews and offers

2025-26 cycle (2026 entry), home: 1,633 applications, 1,219 interview invitations, 985 offers and 346 enrolled (381 home students placed in total after deferrals, transfers and Clearing). International: 460 applications, 114 interviews, 93 offers, 28 enrolled.

FAQs

Birmingham medicine FAQs.

What are the entry requirements for Birmingham medicine?

For 2027 entry, the typical offer is AAA (predicted at least AAB) at first sitting, with Chemistry plus a second science from Biology/Human Biology, Physics or Maths. Seven GCSEs are scored, with English Language, Maths, Biology and Chemistry at grade 6/B minimum.

What UCAT score do you need for Birmingham medicine?

There is no cut-off: home applicants are ranked on a points score in which UCAT is 40%, GCSEs 45% and context 15% (latest published scoring, undated). For 2026 entry the lowest home UCAT invited was 1920 (standard) and 1710 (contextual).

What is the Birmingham MMI like?

For 2027 entry, Birmingham's MMI has six or seven stations of 8 minutes each, including 2 minutes of preparation, held in person for home applicants. Interviews run from January to February, with decisions by mid-March 2027.

How does Birmingham decide medicine offers?

For 2027 entry, offers are based solely on MMI score plus SJT score, with academics used only for tie-breaks. Falling below the minimum standard at any station may prevent an offer.

How does Birmingham use the SJT?

It is not used for shortlisting. For 2027 entry, at interview stage it counts equally with each MMI station: Band 1 scores full marks, Band 2 two-thirds, Band 3 one-third and Band 4 zero.

How many places does Birmingham medicine have?

There were 380 home and 28 international places for 2026 entry. For 2027 entry, Birmingham says it interviews about 1,300 applicants and typically makes 700-800 offers.

Sources

Official sources.

Checked in October 2026 for 2027 entry. Requirements and dates change each cycle, so always confirm on the Birmingham website before applying.

Official links

Open days: Next university open day: Saturday 14 November 2026. Further dates are usually held in June, October and November. Check dates

Show 17 sources

Photo: Medical School building, University of Birmingham, Billstockley, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Vetta Education is independent and not affiliated with Birmingham or any university. No offer, interview or admission outcome is guaranteed.

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