Academic Requirements for Medicine at Oxford (Expert Oxford & Cambridge Application Advice)
The Oxford medical course is an incredibly academically challenging course, with the whole undergraduate course (3 years) focused only on academic scientific study of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and others. Furthermore, students undergo study of an intercalated year in 3rd year, focusing on an area of scientific research that interests you. This year, complete with research project, extended essay and exams, is particularly academic. As such, Oxford strives to select only the best students for entry to the course. Therefore, academic excellence is crucial for any applicant to be successful.
Student academic ability is measured in equal measure through BMAT score and GCSE performance. There is no BMAT cut off score, but last year’s data shows that no successful candidates score below 50% and the majority of those scored between 55 and 65% on the BMAT.
GCSE performance is measured in a more complex manner, through an equal weighting of absolute number of A*s at GCSE and proportion of A*s at GCSE. Therefore, candidates should only apply if they have a strong set of GCSE results. Again, admissions data from last year allows us insight into this and shows that the average successful candidate had 10.4 A* grades at GCSE, with this being a proportion of 0.92 of their GCSE grades. Around half of all successful applicants, last year (2018 entry) had a full 100% A* set of GCSEs.
Crucially, GCSE performance is compared to your school, in order to level the playing field for candidates who are academically capable of succeeding at Oxford but may not have been able to achieve the A*s they may have done at another school. This is part of many of the fantastic initiatives in place at Oxford to widen access to all capable students across the country, so don’t be put off applying if this applies to you! In addition, applications are automatically flagged for further review if they are from applicants from low socioeconomic backgrounds, first-generation at university families and other extenuating factors that may make have limited an applicant’s potential. Therefore, the admissions tutors are able to select from the students with the academic capability to exceed in the course. For further information on some of the fantastic work, Oxford does to make the University accessible to all, check out their website.
As we can see above, strong performances in the BMAT and at GCSE level are a pre-requisite for a successful Oxford medicine application. Therefore, ensuring you study hard for all GCSEs, even the ones which you know you won’t be continuing for or don't like, is vital. If you have sat your GCSEs and haven’t performed quite at the level needed for a successful application, it may be worth saving your valuable UCAS admissions slots for other universities. The vast majority of medical schools don't look at GCSE performance as a marker of academic success/potential, and therefore you may be able to craft an application that is more likely to be successful here. If you are hoping to apply to Oxford and have sat your GCSEs, the BMAT is the next big step where you can really stand out against the other candidates. Therefore, being prepared and perhaps getting some tutoring and preparation through Doxa would be a great step to maximise your chances of getting the place you deserve. As ever, get in contact if you’d like to find out more or would like some help with the BMAT or any other areas of an Oxford medicine application.
