Medical school guide · 2027 entry
Sunderland Medicine
School of Medicine, University of Sunderland
A problem-based and case-based learning MBChB in the North East, open to UK applicants only, with an in-person MMI from early December.
The Gateway building, University of Sunderland City Campus
- Course
- A100 · 5 yearsMBChB
- Typical offer
- AAA
- Interview
- MMI
- Halls from
- £90/wk
- Local private rent
- £710/mo
- Location
- Sunderland
Preparing for Sunderland
What matters most at Sunderland.
- 01
UCAT must be in the top eight deciles, with SJT bands 1 to 3.
- 02
An online selection tool forms part of shortlisting (the 2027-entry deadline was 22 October 2026).
- 03
Interviews start in the week of 7 December 2026, in person in Sunderland, earlier than at many schools.
Notes by Dr S Farooq, MBChB, BSc (Hons). Checked October 2026.
The interview
The Sunderland medicine interview.
MMI
Format
MMI (2027 entry)
Stations and timing
A series of short stations (2027 entry).
In person or online
In person at the Murray Health building, Sunderland (2027 entry).
Dates
For 2027 entry: from the week commencing 7 December 2026, through December and early January.
How it counts
All interviews are completed before decisions are made, and offers follow ranking position. Outcomes are released in February, with an offer holder day in March.
What Sunderland assesses
- Motivation for medicine
- Empathy and insight
- Responsibilities and challenges of being a doctor
- Awareness of ethical issues
- Resilience
- Comprehension
- Communication
What the tasks involve
- Traditional one-to-one interview
- Role play
- Data analysis
Preparation advice from Sunderland
Complete the online interview selection tool (issued from 8 October 2026, deadline 22 October 2026, 6pm GMT), reflecting on your work experience and the skills it developed.
Six complimentary mock MMIs with reading time, timed answers and marking points, written by a doctor.
Entry and UCAT
Getting an interview at Sunderland.
Typical requirements for school leavers. Always check the full requirements on the Sunderland website.
Typical A-level offer
AAA in one sitting. Predicted grades are not used.
Required subjects
Biology or Chemistry, plus another designated science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths or Statistics), plus a third academic subject, with a pass in the practical endorsement.
How the UCAT is used
For 2027 entry, the score must be within the top eight deciles. It is used with the academic screen and the selection tool to shortlist.
Situational judgement (SJT)
For 2027 entry, the SJT must be Band 1–3; Band 4 is rejected.
Published UCAT scores
Adjusted minimum with Abstract Reasoning removed, by test year: 2024: 1670; 2023: 1680; 2022: 1650.
GCSEs
Five at grade 7/A, with at least 6/B in Maths, English Language, Biology, Chemistry and Physics (maximum two attempts).
Other qualifications
IB 35 with HL 666 (Chemistry or Biology plus another science) and SL 665; Scottish Highers AAAAB in S5 plus Advanced Highers AB in two sciences in S6. Access to HE and other equivalent qualifications are not accepted.
Contextual offers
AAB for applicants with free school meals (within six years) or a UCAT bursary. ABB for firm-choice applicants from North East or Cumbria postcodes who meet one widening-participation criterion (POLAR4 Q1–2, refugee, free school meals, UCAT bursary, armed forces family).
The course
Studying medicine at Sunderland.
At a glance
- Intake
- Relatively small; 17 extra places added from 2025/26
- Teaching
- Problem- and case-based, spiral curriculum
- Anatomy
- Prosection, models and Anatomage table
- Intercalation
- Optional after Year 2 (BSc) or Year 4 (MSc)
- Main campus
- City Campus (Murray Health building)
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 1–2Biomedical, behavioural and social science foundations with early clinical exposure and basic clinical skills, based at City Campus.
- Years 3–4Core topics revisited in more depth with a focus on complexity and pathology, alongside hospital and GP placements.
- Year 5Extended student assistantships to prepare for Foundation Year 1.
How it is taught
Problem-based learning (PBL) and case-based learning within a spiral curriculum, delivered mainly in small groups alongside lectures and seminars.
Patient contact
Early clinical exposure and basic clinical skills in Years 1–2, with placements in Years 3–5.
Intercalation
Optional: a BSc after Year 2 or an MSc after Year 4, at Sunderland or elsewhere (with approval).
Placements
Three hospital trusts, two mental health trusts, community services and 63 GP practices in the local area.
Distinctive features
- Online interview selection tool scoring work and caring experience
- Interprofessional learning with pharmacy, nursing, paramedic and biomedical students
- Anatomy Lab (opened 2022) using prosections, models, ultrasound and an Anatomage table
- UK applicants only
How you are assessed
In-year written work, reflective assignments, written knowledge exams and practical exams. The GMC Medical Licensing Assessment is built into the degree.
Main teaching hospitals
- South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
- Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (mental health)
- Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (mental health)
- 63 local GP practices
Placements and travel
Years 3–5 placements run across North East trusts from Northumberland to Teesside. From Year 5, NHS Bursary students can claim travel costs above their normal daily travel.
Student life
Living in Sunderland 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
A coastal city with a city-centre campus by the sea; the University describes it as an affordable place to live.
Accommodation
First-year undergraduates are guaranteed a room if Sunderland is their firm choice and they apply by the published deadline (6 May firm choice and 31 May application for 2026 entry). Halls include Panns Bank, Scotia Quay and The Precinct.
Students' union
Medic societies and clubs
- Academic Medicine Society
- Anaesthetics and Critical Care Society
- Cardiology Society
- Acute Medicine Society
Sport and gyms
CitySpace Fitness on City Campus has a gym, six-court sports hall and 7m climbing wall; Team Sunderland runs over 30 clubs, with BUCS fixtures on Wednesdays.
Support for medics
Students have access to a network of academic and clinical tutors and mentors, and study alongside pharmacy, nursing and paramedic students.
Cars and parking
Students who register their vehicle can park free in university car parks on evenings and weekends; weekday daytime parking on City Campus costs £1.60 an hour or £6 a day (cashless via JustPark). University residences such as The Precinct and Panns Bank, both under a mile from campus, include free resident parking once your car is registered, and the SU runs a free shuttle bus to both campuses.
Food and essentials
The Bridges Shopping Centre is the city centre's main shopping hub, a short walk from City Campus and the residences, and all university accommodation is self-catered with fully equipped kitchens.
Going out
The city centre is a short walk from City Campus, with the redeveloped Sheepfolds Stables and Vaux sites for food and drink, STACK Seaburn by the coast and the Sunderland Empire and Fire Station for shows.
Costs and living
Sunderland medicine fees and living costs.
Fees, university accommodation and local private rents, from official sources.
University halls
From £90/wk£90 to £155 a week for single rooms at current published rates, including bills (Panns Bank, The Precinct and Scotia Quay). Family houses cost up to £215 a week.
Accommodation pricesLocal rent, whole homes (ONS)
£710/mo£710 per month, Sunderland, 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
Not applicable – international fee-paying applicants not accepted
Fees sourceBursaries and funding
English students on a 5-year course can get the NHS Bursary from Year 5: up to £9,790 towards tuition plus a £1,081 grant and a means-tested bursary (2026/27). The University also lists general scholarships and bursaries.
Other routes in
Graduate, gateway and international routes.
Graduate entry
Sunderland 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
No gateway or foundation route listed for 2027.
International applicants
Not open to international fee-paying applicants for 2027.
Course page: unable to accept international fee-paying applicants.
Places
The School describes its intake as relatively small and does not publish a current total. The government allocated 17 extra places from 2025/26. International fee-paying applicants are not accepted.
Applications, interviews and offers
Home applicants: 10.1 applicants per place and 2.4 per interview (Medical Schools Council listing, 2027 entry). Raw totals are not published.
FAQs
Sunderland medicine FAQs.
What are the entry requirements for Sunderland medicine?
For 2027 entry, the typical offer is AAA in one sitting. You need Biology or Chemistry plus another designated science and a third academic subject, and five GCSEs at grade 7/A.
What UCAT score do you need for Sunderland medicine?
For 2027 entry, your UCAT must be within the top eight deciles, and the SJT must be Band 1-3. Adjusted minimums with Abstract Reasoning removed were 1670 in 2024, 1680 in 2023 and 1650 in 2022.
What is the Sunderland MMI like?
Sunderland's MMI is a series of short stations, in person at the Murray Health building. For 2027 entry, interviews run from the week commencing 7 December 2026 through December and early January.
How does Sunderland decide medicine offers?
For 2027 entry, all interviews are completed before decisions, and offers follow ranking position. Outcomes are released in February, with an offer holder day in March.
Does Sunderland accept international students for medicine?
No. International fee-paying applicants are not accepted (2027 entry).
Does Sunderland make contextual offers for medicine?
For 2027 entry: AAB for applicants with free school meals (within six years) or a UCAT bursary, and ABB for firm-choice applicants from North East or Cumbria postcodes who meet one widening participation criterion.
Sources
Official sources.
Checked in October 2026 for 2027 entry. Requirements and dates change each cycle, so always confirm on the Sunderland website before applying.
Official links
Open days: Applications for 2027 entry have closed. Undergraduate open days ran in August and September 2026; 2028-entry dates will appear on the University's events pages. Check dates
Show 19 sources
- sunderland.ac.uk/study/medicine/mbchb-medicine
- sunderland.ac.uk/how-to-apply/applying-for-medicine
- sunderland.ac.uk/help/school-of-medicine/apply/selection-process
- medschools.ac.uk
- sunderland.ac.uk/more/news/story/university-of-sunderland-in-bid-to-triple-the-s
- sunderland.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation/panns-bank
- sunderland.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation/the-precinct
- sunderland.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation/scotia-quay
- sunderland.ac.uk/help/school-of-medicine/apply/selection-process
- medschools.ac.uk
- sunderland.ac.uk/news/2024/why-more-students-will-be-able-to-study-at-sunderland
- sunderland.ac.uk/subject-areas/medicine/directors-undergraduate-clinical-studies
- sunderlandsu.co.uk/groups
- app.medall.org/c/university-of-sunderland-acute-medicine-society/about
- sunderland.ac.uk/events/undergraduate-open-day-26-september-2026
- nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-bursary-students
- sunderland.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation/panns-bank
- ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/datasets/priceindexofprivaterentsukm
- sunderland.ac.uk/undergraduate/mbchb-medicine
Photo: The Gateway building, University of Sunderland City Campus, Robert Graham, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Vetta Education is independent and not affiliated with Sunderland or any university. No offer, interview or admission outcome is guaranteed.
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