One of the most important decisions that aspiring doctors in the United Kingdom make is the selection of the right medical school. The task is often challenging because there are so many respected institutions that provide top-quality medical education, and it is difficult to see the subtle differences between them, their admissions process, and especially the UCAT conditions. The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) has become a crucial part of medical school applications, and it determines who is invited to interview and, eventually, who gets a proposal.
Now, let’s look into the top 5 UK medical schools in 2025, their rankings, UCAT requirements, and admissions advice to help applicants prepare well.
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford continues to hold its esteemed status as the leading medical school in the United Kingdom and globally in a number of 2025 rankings. The medical program at Oxford is known to be a rigorous study program with state-of-the-art research centres. In addition to achieving a good UCAT result, applicants must excel academically to gain admission to the Medical School of Oxford.
Oxford has recently adopted the UCAT as a mandatory part of the application process with the entry cohort of 2025, although it uses the results of the test to screen applicants before reaching out to them to arrange interviews. The UCAT Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is not included in their test, but a favourable overall UCAT result is necessary. Oxford has a very competitive interview process and generally provides places to about 15–20 percent of the invited applicants.
The applicants are to use UCAS and usually have a satisfactory background in the sciences, including biology and chemistry at Advanced Level or other equivalent qualification. The standard requirement includes predicted grades of AAA or above, along with an exceptional UCAT score that distinguishes the candidate. The admissions process at Oxford focusses heavily on multiple mini interviews (MMIs) to assess candidates’ clinical reasoning, ethics, and problem-solving abilities, reflecting the high expectations for future doctors.
University of Cambridge
Oxford closely follows the University of Cambridge, consistently ranking among the top medical schools in the United Kingdom. In 2025, Cambridge will also follow suit with the UCAT requirement on its applications, which makes the selection process a bit more comprehensive, incorporating both an academic merit test and aptitude testing.
The UCAT requirements of Cambridge rely mainly on the test to reduce shortlisting applicants to the interview phase. Cambridge, being a competitive institution, requires high performance on the UCAT, even though the university has not published an explicit UCAT cut-off score. While some colleges in Cambridge may not consider SJT as part of the 2025 admissions assessment, it remains a significant consideration.
The interview procedure at Cambridge is also known to be quite strict, and it includes deep conversations aimed at exploring the scientific background of the applicants and their interest in medicine. Applicants must be willing to demonstrate excellent communication skills, critical thinking, and an interest in research. Successful candidates are usually the ones with the best academic grades, and those seeking visas ought to know international student admission requirements as well.
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is considered the third-best medical school in the United Kingdom, based on 2025 rankings. Imperial has a very competitive group of applicants due to its reputation for research-based teaching and incorporation of new technologies in healthcare education.
Imperial asks every candidate to take the UCAT, which is a major shortlisting requirement. In the past, the medical school has established a UCAT cut-off point in the higher percentile, and those who score higher than that are then subjected to interviews. The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) score has been regarded as one of the components of the offer decision, and the higher band can increase the likelihood of admission.
The process of admissions consists of a harmonious evaluation of the academic qualification, results of UCAT, and interviews carried out with the help of MMIs. Applications require strong academic qualifications, typically A-levels or equivalent in chemistry, biology, other sciences, or mathematics. The selection process also considers personal statements and reference letters to demonstrate the applicant’s motivation and suitability for a medical career.
University College London (UCL)
University College London, the fourth nationally ranked, is reputed for having a vibrant medical community and a wide range of clinical placement opportunities. The medical programme at UCL is competitive, and it is receiving applications both in the UK and internationally.
In order to be invited to an interview, candidates must meet specific score requirements, and UCL specifies the UCAT as a mandatory component of the application. The UCAT scores will be combined with the academic results in the 2025 admissions cycle, but with a higher weight assigned to the Verbal Reasoning and Decision Making subtests. SJT results are not used in the screening stage but can be used to make a decision after the interview.
Applicants need to show high academic performance, usually AAA at A-level in chemistry and biology or equivalent, with other sciences being appreciated. They have MMIs that are based on ethical reasoning, communication, and clinical scenarios. UCL also looks at the personal statement and academic references of the applicants to determine their dedication and their aptitude in getting into the medical field.
King’s College London
King’s College London is in the fifth position in the 2025 medical school rankings and is characterised by high levels of clinical exposure and a curriculum based on research. King’s has enjoyed popularity among both international and domestic students because of its location in London and the large number of healthcare networks.
To be eligible to attend the interviews, applicants have to complete the UCAT and meet certain criteria, such as a competitive threshold score. King takes into account the overall score of the UCAT but also considers the SJT banding during the interview decision-making phase. Scoring in Band 4 of the SJT is automatically rejected.
The admissions procedure includes a weighted scoring system that incorporates academic outcomes, UCAT scores, and interview performances. Usually, A-levels in biology and chemistry and other relevant courses are a requirement. The interview is in a MMI format and evaluates the ethical judgement, communication, and problem-solving abilities of the candidates.
Navigating the Admissions Process
Admissions to the top medical schools in the United Kingdom are quite complex and incorporate both academic merit and aptitude testing with personal assessment. After meeting the overall academic requirements, usually AAA or AAB at A-levels, including Chemistry and Biology, applicants must put their UCAS application in by the mid-October deadline. This application should include a personal statement and referee information.
Following the UCAS application submission, medical schools commence a selection process which greatly emphasises the UCAT scores. These marks are used to reduce the number of people who will be interviewed further, where successful candidates are subjected to stringent evaluation in the form of multiple mini-interviews (MMI) or traditional panel interviews. These interviews assess the candidates based on their ethical reasoning, communication, and problem-solving abilities. The interview process is also essential because the institutions are interested in hiring potential employees whose academic prowess is not only high but also portrays empathy, strength, and the ability to work as a team, which are considered critical in a medical career.
Several universities have adopted widening participation schemes or contextual admissions to affordably admit students from under-represented backgrounds. Such schemes consider socio-economic factors, UCAT requirement and score, and academic results, making them a new aspect of the admissions strategy that applicants must take into account.
The most important factors are still preparation towards the interviews and attainment of a good UCAT score. Practice tests, coaching programs, and online resources could help the candidates train their skills. Timely and regular planning will guarantee thorough preparation in all areas of the admissions process.
Be it the UCAT preparation or strategic advice on admissions, teaming up with RAAKMEDICS will guarantee the students the most detailed resources and mentorship as they explore the medical career in the United Kingdom.
