Medical school guide · 2027 entry

Plymouth Medicine

Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth

A case-based learning BMBS in the south west, shortlisting on academics and UCAT and making offers on a seven-station online MMI.

The interview Compare all schools
Smeaton's Tower, Plymouth Hoe

Smeaton's Tower, Plymouth Hoe

Course
A100 · 5 yearsBMBS
Typical offer
A*AA
Interview
MMI
Halls from
£141/wk
Local private rent
£1,008/mo
Location
Plymouth

Preparing for Plymouth

What matters most at Plymouth.

  1. 01

    Offers are based on interview ranking, so the MMI decides offers once you are shortlisted.

  2. 02

    Assessors include clinicians, members of the public and patients, so communicate as you would with a patient, not just an examiner.

  3. 03

    Plymouth does not score the personal statement.

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

The interview

The Plymouth medicine interview.

MMI

Format

MMI (latest published, undated)

Stations and timing

Seven single-assessor stations, approximately 50 minutes in total (latest published, undated).

In person or online

Online for the current admissions cycle.

Dates

Typically December to February (latest published, undated).

How it counts

Candidates are ranked by interview score and top performers receive offers. Assessors are clinicians, members of the public and patients.

What Plymouth assesses

  • Integrity
  • Honesty
  • Empathy
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Stress management
  • Problem solving
  • Reflectiveness
  • Insight into the role of a doctor
  • NHS Constitution values

What the tasks involve

  • Not a test of medical knowledge
  • Explores attitudes, outlook and thinking
Preparation advice from Plymouth

Selection and admissions process page

Practise for the Plymouth MMI under timed conditions.

Six complimentary mock MMIs with reading time, timed answers and marking points, written by a doctor.

Start a mock MMI

Entry and UCAT

Getting an interview at Plymouth.

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

Typical A-level offer

A*AA to AAB.

Required subjects

Grade A Biology plus grade A in a second science (Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology). The third subject can be any, except General Studies.

How the UCAT is used

The UCAT is used alongside A-levels and GCSEs to shortlist for interview, and the panel may consider all aspects of the UCAT. The threshold varies each year and is set after all applications have been assessed. The personal statement is not scored (latest published, undated).

Situational judgement (SJT)

Plymouth does not publish a fixed SJT band requirement; its admissions panel reserves the right to consider all aspects of the UCAT when shortlisting for interview (latest published, undated).

Published UCAT scores

2026 entry: Home 1850, Widening Participation (Home) 1800, International 1990, on the new three-subtest scale (Abstract Reasoning removed in 2025). 2025 entry: Home 2600, International 2670, UKWPMED/WA 2540. The A102 foundation route Home threshold for 2026 entry was 1400.

GCSEs

Seven passes at grade 4/C or above, including English Language, Maths and two sciences. Functional Skills are not accepted.

Other qualifications

IB 36–38 with HL6 Biology and HL6 in another science (widening access offer 35); Advanced Highers AAA; Scottish Highers not accepted; GAMSAT route for graduates.

Contextual offers

The widening access offer is AAB for applicants with five or more points from the school's criteria (for example care-experienced, free school meals, refugee, low-performing school, EMA/16-19 bursary, UCAT bursary, IMD 1-4, POLAR4 Q1, south-west residence, Peninsula Pathways). The UKWPMED offer is ABB.

The course

Studying medicine at Plymouth.

At a glance

Teaching
Case-based learning in small groups
Anatomy
Models and digital (Anatomage virtual table)
Main campus
Drake Circus, Plymouth; clinical skills at Derriford

Complete University Guide 2027

32nd

of 40 for Medicine · table

Guardian University Guide 2027

39th

of 40 for Medicine · table

National Student Survey 2025

79.2%

positive about teaching on the course (143 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

  1. Year 1Medical and human sciences, evidence and critical appraisal, interprofessional learning and community-based clinical practice.
  2. Year 2Medical knowledge, clinical and communication skills, professionalism, and a research skills student-selected component.
  3. Year 3Mostly in clinical settings, with placements in Plymouth, Torbay or Taunton and a student-selected component.
  4. Year 4Hospital and general practice placements, plus a quality improvement and patient safety project.
  5. Year 5Clinical and professional practice in Plymouth or Torbay, plus a self-designed elective.

How it is taught

Case-based learning (CBL) in small student-led groups with facilitators, plus large-group sessions led by content experts. Simulated practice and interprofessional learning are also included.

Patient contact

Placements from Year 1 in community settings, alongside simulated clinical practice.

Intercalation

Optional.

Placements

NHS partners across the south west (Devon, Cornwall, Somerset), with study in Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset (Taunton).

Distinctive features

  • At least a year based in Taunton or Torbay
  • Rural and inner-city placements across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset
  • Self-designed final-year elective
  • Clinical Skills and Life Sciences Resource Centres (John Bull building)

Elective

Final-year elective planned by the student in a social or cultural setting of their choice.

Main teaching hospitals

  • Derriford Hospital, Plymouth
  • Mount Gould Hospital, Plymouth
  • Torbay Hospital, Torquay
  • Placement sites in Taunton, Somerset

Placements and travel

All students spend at least a year based in Taunton or Torbay, and placements run across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset in rural and inner-city settings.

Student life

Living in Plymouth 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.

Accommodation

New undergraduates are guaranteed a hall place if Plymouth is their firm choice and they apply by the guarantee deadline. Halls cost £141–£233 a week (2026/27).

Medical society

Peninsula MedSoc (UPSU)

Students' union

University of Plymouth Students' Union (UPSU)

Medic societies and clubs

  • Peninsula MedSoc
  • PCMDFC (medics' men's football)
  • PCMDLFC (medics' ladies' football)
  • UPMD Netball
  • Plymouth Piranhas (medics' hockey)

Sport and gyms

The SU Gym and Sports Centre is on the main campus; its 2025 welcome offer was £110 for 12 months. MedSoc runs football, netball and hockey teams that play in NAMS competitions.

Support for medics

MedSoc families pair first-years with second-year students for support through the course.

Cars and parking

The city-centre campus has no on-site student parking, and UPSU points drivers to Plymouth's Park & Ride sites. Years 3 and 4 are at Derriford and Mount Gould and Year 5 at Derriford or Torbay; Derriford's public car parks charge up to £15.90 a day, and the trust recommends the free George Junction Park & Ride (about 20 minutes' walk) or the direct 42 and Stagecoach 1 buses from the city centre.

Food and essentials

UPSU lists an Aldi on Greenbank Road, Tesco Express stores on Mutley Plain and at Discovery Heights, a Sainsbury's in the Armada Centre and an Iceland on Mayflower Street, all within walking distance of campus; the SU Shop sells meal deals.

Going out

UPSU has The Bar (karaoke and quiz nights) and The Nightclub on Saturdays; North Hill, opposite campus, has late clubs such as Switch and Air, and the Barbican and Royal William Yard are the harbourside options.

Costs and living

Plymouth medicine fees and living costs.

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

University halls

From £141/wk

£141 to £233 per week (2026/27), from Robbins and Gilwell Halls at the low end to Mary Newman Hall at the top.

Accommodation prices

Local rent, whole homes (ONS)

£1,008/mo

£1,008 per month, Plymouth, ONS PIPR (Sept 2026 data, 21 Oct 2026 release)

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

Home tuition fee

£9,790 (2026/27); £10,050 (2027/28)

International tuition fee

£43,175 per year (2027/28). The University says a government international student levy of around 6% may be added.

Fees source

Bursaries and funding

Peninsula Medical School offers no course-specific scholarships or reduced fees. English students can apply for the NHS Bursary from Year 5.

Other routes in

Graduate, gateway and international routes.

Graduate entry

Plymouth 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

BMBS with Foundation Year (A102): for Home widening-participation applicants with five or more points from the criteria who do not meet the A100 grade requirements. Typical offer is BBB including Biology and a second science. The UCAT is required (Home threshold 1400 for 2026 entry). Not open to international applicants or graduates, and you cannot hold offers for both A100 and A102.

International applicants

Accepts international applicants. International places: Plymouth does not publish a separate number of international places. International applicants meet the same criteria as Home applicants, including UCAT (2026-entry international threshold 1990). Fee £43,175 per year (2027/28) (2027 entry).

Course page says international applications are welcomed; number of international places not published on course page.

Places

The school trains over 150 medical students per year, and received 17 additional government-funded places for 2025/26.

Applications, interviews and offers

Approximately 60% of applicants are interviewed and approximately 25% receive offers.

FAQs

Plymouth medicine FAQs.

What are the entry requirements for Plymouth medicine?

The typical offer is A*AA to AAB, with grade A Biology plus grade A in a second science (Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology). You need seven GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, including English Language, Maths and two sciences (latest published, undated).

What UCAT score do you need for Plymouth medicine?

The threshold varies each year. For 2026 entry it was 1850 for home, 1800 for widening participation and 1990 for international applicants, on the new three-subtest scale.

What is the Plymouth MMI like?

Plymouth runs its MMI online for the current admissions cycle, typically from December to February. Its selection page (latest published, undated) describes seven single-assessor stations, about 50 minutes in total, with assessors drawn from clinicians, the public and patients.

How does Plymouth decide medicine offers?

Candidates are ranked by interview score and the top performers receive offers. The personal statement is not scored (latest published, undated).

How competitive is Plymouth medicine?

Approximately 60% of applicants are interviewed and approximately 25% receive offers (latest published, undated; numbers vary year on year).

Does Plymouth have a gateway or foundation year for medicine?

Yes. BMBS with Foundation Year (A102) is for home widening participation applicants, with a typical offer of BBB including Biology and a second science (latest published, undated); the home UCAT threshold was 1400 for 2026 entry.

Sources

Official sources.

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

Open days: Book an on-campus undergraduate open day through the University's open days page; 2027-entry dates are not listed on the course page. Check dates

Show 15 sources

Photo: Smeaton's Tower, Plymouth Hoe, Herbythyme, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Vetta Education is independent and not affiliated with Plymouth or any university. No offer, interview or admission outcome is guaranteed.

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