Course Comparison

Course
BSc (Hons) Nutrition, Exercise and Health BMBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
Award
Bachelor of Science - BSc (Hons) Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery - BMBS
Duration
3 years 5 years
Assessment breakdown
- -
Course type
Full-time Full-time
Placement
(+ optional placement) (with placements)
Location
Plymouth Plymouth
Provider
School of Biomedical Sciences Peninsula Medical School
Entry requirements
GCSE: Grade C/4 or above in Mathematics and English. Consideration may be given to equivalent qualifications such as Functional Skills.
Plus one of the following:
A level: 104-120 tariff points to include a minimum of 3 A levels, including grade B in Biology/Human Biology and grade C in second science. Excluding General Studies.
Relevant second sciences: Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Applied Science, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Geology, Geography, Psychology, Physical Education, and Food/Nutrition Technology.
Access to HE Diploma: Pass an Access to HE Diploma with 33 Level 3 credits at merit or distinction, including 15 Level 3 credits in Biology and 18 Level 3 credits in Chemistry, Maths, or Physics.
BTEC RQF National Extended Diploma/QCF Extended Diploma: DDM – depending on the BTEC and units studied. If you hold a BTEC qualification it is vital that you provide our Admissions team with details of the exact modules you have studied as part of the BTEC. Without this information we may be unable to process your application quickly and you could experience significant delays in the progress of your application to study with us. Please explicitly state the full list of modules within your qualification at the time of application or contact Admissions for further advice.
T level: Accepted – preference pathways would be Health or Science. Typical offer will be confirmed once an application is received. 
International Baccalaureate: 28 points overall to include Grade 5 in Higher Level Biology and Grade 5 in a second relevant science. English and Mathematics accepted within as GCSE equivalent at higher level = 4, standard level = 5
International qualifications: We welcome applicants offering a wide range of international qualifications. Applications are considered on an individual basis, depending on the subjects studied.
IELTS: Overall average score of at least 6.5, with a score of at least 6.0 in all elements.
Other qualifications: Applicants with other qualifications should contact Admissions for advice.
Students must be 18 years old or over at the start date of this programme.
In order to meet the academic requirements for this programme, you must have one of the following combinations of qualifications:
  • GCSE, A levels and UCAT
  • GAMSAT
  • A levels and stage 1 of either Biomedical Science or Human Biosciences with the University of Plymouth. Degree study at other institutions is not considered. 
  • A Bachelors degree course through the University of Plymouth School of Biomedical Sciences. Degree study at other institutions is not considered.
Full details on the subject and grade requirements for these qualifications can be found below.
None of the typical offers listed necessarily determine interview selection. As described in the relevant sections, various factors influence the threshold on an annual basis.
We are unable to consider applications from students who have academically failed a previous medical degree or incurred Fitness to Practise (FtP) proceedings. If you apply and indicate you have previously enrolled onto a medical degree elsewhere, the School will contact your former institution for confirmation of any academic failure or FtP.

GCSE

Applicants need to achieve 7 GCSE passes (minimum grade 4/C) which must include: 
  • English Language
  • Mathematics 
  • Two Science subjects - either GCSE Double Award Science or two from single award Chemistry, Biology, or Physics
We are unable to consider functional skills in lieu of GCSEs.

A Level

We are only able to consider A levels, or equivalent qualifications, completed within five years of the start of the application cycle. For example, qualifications completed since 2019 would still be valid when applying in September 2024.
If your A levels, or equivalent qualifications, outdate this, please refer to the GAMSAT section.  
Additional AS levels or Extended Project Qualifications (EPQ) are not recognised and will not advantage an application.
The typical offer is AAA – AAB at GCE A level which must include the following :
  • Grade A in Biology
  • Grade A in a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology
  • Your third A level can be in any subject, we do not give preference to three science A levels. General Studies is not accepted.
For AAB offers please refer to the Widening Access section. 

Alternative qualifications to A level

The following qualifications can be considered in place of A levels, alongside the GCSE and UCAT requirements.
 
International Baccalaureate
36–38 points overall to include the following: 
  • Higher Level 6 in Biology
  • Higher Level 6 in one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology
Scottish Advanced Highers
AAA to include the following:
  • Grade A in Biology 
  • Grade A in one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology.
We are unable to consider Scottish Highers for entry onto this course.
Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge/Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales
The Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge (now called Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales) can be considered in place of a third A Level alongside Biology and a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology.
Irish Leaving Certificate
H1, H1, H2, H2, H2, H2 to include Biology and one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology
Cambridge Pre-U Diploma
D3, D3, D3 including Biology and one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology.
For widening access applicants, we will consider M2 in place of grade B at A Level.
Other UK qualifications
We do not consider any UK Level 3 qualifications for this course that are not listed above. If you do not have any of the above qualifications, please refer to the GAMSAT section.
Qualifications awarded outside of the UK
We welcome applicants with qualifications from outside of the UK and assess equivalence to UK qualifications using Ecctis. To check the academic suitability of your qualification, please contact the Admissions Team meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk

UCAT

As part of our commitment to a fair and transparent admissions process, Peninsula Medical School uses the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) alongside A levels and GCSEs to select applicants for interview. The Admissions Advisory Panel reserve the right to consider all aspects of the UCAT when shortlisting for interview.
The UCAT is valid for 12 months and must be sat in the year of application.
The UCAT threshold score applied to determine candidate selection for interview can alter each year and is influenced by the number and quality of applications received. We are therefore unable to confirm the cut off for the coming academic year until all applications have been received and assessed. Previous overall score thresholds are shown below for illustration: 
2020 entry: Home – 2290 points
2021 entry: Home – 2400
2022 entry: Home – 2610
2023 entry: Home – 2680    International – 2440    UKWPMED – 2330
2024 entry: Home – 2210    International – 2600    UKWPMED – 2210
If you have sat the UCATSEN you will need to provide standard evidence of your entitlement to this additional time by submitting the following:
If you are still in education, an official letter from your school, college or university stating that following diagnosis from a qualified medical practitioner, educational psychologist or specialist teacher the candidate is currently entitled to additional time in public examinations (or has had additional time in public examinations within the last two years)
or
If you are no longer in education, a post-16 years diagnosis or report from a qualified medical practitioner or educational psychologist that explicitly recommends additional time in public examinations.
Please consult the UCAT website for advice, information and preparatory resources.

Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT)

Peninsula Medical School uses the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) as an alternative entry route to A levels. Although the GAMSAT is called a graduate admissions test, you do not need to be a graduate to sit the GAMSAT or apply with this qualification. We are unable to consider previous degree study for this programme, other than the internal transfer options detailed below. Candidates holding degrees or without suitable A levels should therefore sit the GAMSAT to meet the entry criteria.
The GAMSAT assesses your academic aptitude for the study of medicine, including reasoning in humanities, social science, biological science, physical science and written communication. Results from the test are the only academic qualification that will affect the shortlisting process and previous qualifications will not be considered. The results are valid for 2 years but must be sat at the latest by September in the year of application.
As the GAMSAT assesses academic aptitude, you will still need to show us at interview that you have the appropriate personal qualities to train and practise as a doctor.
For further information or to register for the test, please visit the GAMSAT website.
We are unable to set the GAMSAT threshold in advance of the application deadline. All GAMSAT applicants are ranked based on scores achieved, examples of the score thresholds applied in previous admissions cycles are:
2020 Entry
Section 1: 55 Section 2: 55 Section 3: 58 Overall: 63
2021 Entry
Section 1: 47 Section 2: 48 Section 3: 54 Overall: 66
2022 Entry
Section 1: 53 Section 2: 55 Section 3: 66 Overall: 66
2023 Entry
Section 1: 54 Section 2: 47 Section 3: 53 Overall: 61
2024 Entry
Section 1: 43 Section 2: 43 Section 3: 48 Overall: 52
You will typically only get student finance if you are completing your first higher education qualification, even if your previous course was self-funded. You may still be eligible for limited funding in certain circumstances and for some courses. Within your offer conditions you will be required to provide evidence that you have funds available to cover tuition costs for the first four years of the programme.