Medicine Subject Requirements and Choices

Medicine Entry Requirements:

• Every university has different medicine subject requirements, so check what each course requires before confirming your subject choices.
• Some courses outline exact requirements for specific subjects and grades, for example AAA at A level including biology and chemistry.
• Others may give more freedom, for example AAA at A level including chemistry and one of biology, physics or math.
  

Is Science Everything?

• Medicine involves application of a number of scientific disciplines including biochemistry, molecular biology and pharmacology to name a few. Therefore, many aspiring medical students choose to study all three core science subjects to give them a solid scientific foundation.
• As mentioned above, however, it is possible to study only two of the core science subjects and still gain entry to medical school.
• Our advice would be to choose the sciences which interest you the most as you will have to spend years studying them.
• Plus, you will have a higher chance of succeeding in the subjects that you enjoy more.
• If you want to enter a university that requires the BMAT (e.g. Oxbridge), it is a good idea to study all three core science subjects as you will be tested on all three sciences.

What About Social Sciences and Humanities?

• Medicine is about improving the health and lives of people.
• Therefore, adding social science or humanity subjects to your list will help you in understanding and communicating with the public you will prospectively be working with, both as patients and colleagues.

What Other Subjects are Good to Study?

• Subjects such as dance, performing arts or sports or any other non-academic subjects are good options too.
• These subjects show you are adaptable and have the ability to follow a committed balance between work and life.
• They can also give you self-confidence, team building and communication skills.

What if I Do Not Choose Any Science Subjects?

• It is possible to gain entry to some medical schools without studying sciences at school.
• To meet the medicine requirements, you could do a bridging course over the summer, just before semester one.
• Within this bridging course you will study the basics of science in a very short time and be expected to achieve a certain score in the course’s examination.
• We recommend this to be your very last route of choice and to give it a careful consideration. 

I’ve Picked My Subjects, What Now?

• Academic subjects are only one aspect of a successful medical school application. Think about how you are going to gain sufficient work experience, either through paid opportunities such as working within a care home or voluntary placements. 
• Check the requirements for aptitude tests (UCAT or BMAT). These tests have to be arranged yourself and it is your responsibility to make sure you organise sitting it in time.

Need help with preparing for aptitude tests? Head over to our online UCAT or BMAT course now to access extensive tutorials and thousands of practice questions with automated marking. We’ve been lending a successful helping hand to aspiring medics since 2009.