A-Level Subjects You Need for Medicine: A School-by-School Guide
Choosing A-levels is the first decision in Year 11 that really narrows a child's options for medicine. Pick the wrong combination and some medical schools are closed to them before they have written a personal statement.
There are 52 medical schools in the UK. Forty-four of them take school leavers with A-levels, and this guide covers the 40 that are open to UK applicants for 2027 entry. For each one, it sets out what the school says on its own pages, with a link to the page, so your family can choose with the facts in front of you.
The short answer
Chemistry is the most common requirement. Of the 39 schools below whose pages name subjects, 19 make Chemistry compulsory. Most of the rest ask for Chemistry or Biology as the first science.
Chemistry plus Biology is the safest pair. Nine schools require both: UCL, King's, Imperial, Leeds, Aston, City St George's, Exeter, Hull York and Nottingham. Three more (Lincoln, Plymouth and Southampton) require Biology but not Chemistry.
The third subject is usually your child's choice, within limits. General Studies and Critical Thinking are excluded at many schools.
The grades are high. AAA is the most common offer. Around ten schools ask for A*AA, and Cambridge asks for A*A*A.
Practicals matter. At least 16 of the schools below say a science practical endorsement must be passed.
What each medical school says
Medical school | Typical offer | Subject requirement on the page | Source (checked 24 Oct 2026) |
Aberdeen | AAA, at first sitting over at most two years | Chemistry, plus one of Biology/Human Biology, Maths or Physics, plus a further A-level. General Studies and Global Perspectives and Research not accepted. | |
Anglia Ruskin | AAA | Chemistry or Biology, plus one of Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics or Psychology. General Studies and Critical Thinking not accepted as the third. Practical pass required for Biology, Chemistry and Physics. | |
Aston | A*AA (A* in Biology or Chemistry) | Chemistry and Biology both, plus any third subject except General Studies and Critical Thinking. Practical elements must be passed. | |
Bangor | AAA | Biology or Chemistry, plus an additional science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Economics, or Maths/Further Maths/Statistics). General Studies and Key Skills not accepted. No A-level re-sits. | |
Birmingham | AAA (predicted at least AAB) | Chemistry, plus Biology/Human Biology, Physics or Maths. Science practicals must normally be passed. | |
Brighton and Sussex | Three A grades (contextual AAB) | Biology or Chemistry, plus one further subject from Biology, Chemistry, Maths or Physics. Third subject not specified. General Studies and Critical Thinking not accepted. | |
Bristol | AAA | Chemistry, plus one of Biology, Physics, Maths or Further Maths. | |
Brunel | AAA | Chemistry or Biology, plus a second science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths), plus any third subject. General Studies not accepted. | |
Cambridge | A*A*A | Chemistry at every college, plus one or two other subjects from Maths, Biology or Human Biology, Physics and Further Maths, depending on the college. Colleges usually require A* in Chemistry. | |
Cardiff | AAA | Biology or Chemistry, plus a second science (Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics or Psychology). Practical element must be passed. | |
City St George's | AAA (offers may range from AAA to A*AA) | Chemistry, plus Biology or Human Biology. Must be completed in one sitting over at most two years. | |
Dundee | AAA | Chemistry or Biology, plus another science (Maths is acceptable). | |
Edinburgh | AAA, in one sitting | Chemistry, plus one of Biology/Human Biology, Maths/Further Maths or Physics. Only one of Maths or Further Maths counts. | |
Exeter | A*AA | Grade A in both Biology and Chemistry. | |
Glasgow | AAA | Chemistry, plus one of Biology, Physics or Maths. No re-sits; grades must come at the first attempt. | |
Hull York | Minimum predicted AAB (the page does not state the UK offer grade) | Biology and Chemistry both, plus a third subject. General Studies, Applied Science, Citizenship and Critical Thinking not accepted. Biology and Human Biology count as one subject. | |
Imperial | A*AA | A* and A in Biology and Chemistry (A* in either), plus an A in a third subject. Same sitting. Practical endorsement must be passed. General Studies and Critical Thinking not accepted. | |
Keele | A*AA, or AAA plus an A in the EPQ | Biology or Chemistry, plus one more from Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Maths/Further Maths/Statistics, Physics or Psychology, plus a third. Practical endorsement must be passed. | |
Kent and Medway | AAA or AAB | Chemistry and/or Biology. If both are not offered, one other from Physics, Maths, Psychology or Computer Science. Same exam year. Practical endorsement must be passed. | |
King's College London | A*AA | Grade A in both Biology and Chemistry. Practical endorsement required in all sciences. | |
Lancashire | AAA (page labelled "UCAS 2026 entry"; very limited UK places) | At least two sciences, including Chemistry. All in one sitting. Check the school before relying on this for 2027. | |
AAA (predicted AAB or above) | Any two of Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. One sitting after two years of study. Only one of Maths or Further Maths counts. | ||
Leeds | AAA | Chemistry and Biology. Certain combinations, including Human Biology, are not accepted. A fourth A-level gives no advantage. | |
Leicester | A*AA (alternatives with an EPQ or AS-level, or AAAB with four A-levels) | Chemistry or Biology, plus one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology. Practical aspects required. | |
Lincoln | AAA (contextual AAB) | Biology (or Human Biology). General Studies, Critical Thinking, EPQ, Global Perspectives and Citizenship not accepted. | |
Liverpool | AAA, or A*AB | Chemistry, plus Biology, Physics or Maths, plus a third academic subject. | |
Manchester | AAA | Biology/Human Biology or Chemistry, plus one of Chemistry, Biology/Human Biology, Physics, Psychology, Maths or Further Maths. Very similar subject pairs not allowed. Practical must be passed. | |
Newcastle | AAA | Biology or Chemistry, plus one of Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics or Physics. Practical pass required for Biology, Chemistry and Physics. | |
Nottingham | AAA | Biology (or Human Biology) and Chemistry. Citizenship Studies, Critical Thinking, General Studies and Global Perspectives not accepted. Practical pass required. | |
Oxford | A*AA | Chemistry at A, plus A in at least one of Biology, Physics, Maths or Further Maths. Practical components must be passed. | |
Plymouth | A*AA to AAB | Biology, plus a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology. General Studies not accepted. | |
Queen Mary | A*AA, in one sitting | First A-level Chemistry or Biology; second a further science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths); third any. Further Maths is not accepted if Maths is your second A-level. | |
Queen's Belfast | AAA plus an A in a fourth AS-level, or A*AA | Chemistry, plus Biology/Human Biology, Maths or Physics (several routes). Critical Thinking and General Studies not acceptable. | |
Sheffield | AAA (alternative: AAB plus an A in the EPQ) | Chemistry or Biology, plus a second science. Practical element must be passed. | |
Southampton | AAA | Biology, plus one of Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Studies or Geography. Practical pass where separately endorsed. | |
St Andrews | Not stated on the pages we read | The A-level offer and subjects were not on the pages we could read. Check St Andrews' own academic requirements page. | |
St Mary's Twickenham | AAA | Chemistry and/or Biology, plus a second science (one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Maths). Human Biology, Sports Science, Further Maths and Statistics count only as a fourth A-level. | |
Sunderland | AAA (contextual AAB) | Biology or Chemistry, plus another designated science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Maths/Further Maths/Statistics), plus a third academic subject. Practical pass required. | |
UCL | A*AA | A*A in Chemistry and Biology (either order). Third subject free, except General Studies and Critical Thinking. No re-sits, including re-starting Year 12. | |
University of East Anglia | AAA | Biology or Chemistry. General Studies and Critical Thinking not accepted. |
Four schools not open to UK applicants for 2027
Four other schools with an A-level route are not taking UK applicants for September 2027, so we have left them out of the table. Greater Manchester and Hertfordshire say their 2027 course is for international applicants only. Edge Hill says its course is closed to applications for 2027. Buckingham's page shows a January 2028 intake. Check with the school if you are considering any of them for a later year.
What the table tells you
Chemistry and Biology keeps almost every door open. If your child takes both, they meet the named-subject requirements of every school in the table whose page lists subjects. The one caveat is Cambridge, where some colleges also want a further science or maths subject. It is the combination to choose if they are certain about medicine.
Chemistry with Maths or Physics works at many schools, but not all. Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Queen Mary all accept Chemistry with another science or Maths. But 12 schools require Biology: the nine that require both Chemistry and Biology (UCL, King's, Imperial, Leeds, Aston, City St George's, Exeter, Hull York and Nottingham), plus Lincoln, Plymouth and Southampton. Lancaster also wants two of Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. So Chemistry, Maths and Physics narrows the list noticeably.
Check the exact version of Biology. Hull York and Manchester treat Biology and Human Biology as the same subject, so you cannot offer both. Edinburgh counts only one of them. Leeds excludes some combinations involving Human Biology, while Birmingham accepts it as the second science.
The third subject is genuinely open, with exceptions. At UCL and Queen Mary it can be almost anything. This is the place for a subject your child is good at and enjoys. A strong grade in a third subject they like is worth more than a weaker grade in one chosen for appearances.
Practical endorsements matter. At least 16 schools in the table say a pass in the science practical endorsement is required, including Oxford, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, King's and Imperial. Make sure your child's school runs the practicals properly.
Things that catch families out
One sitting, and re-sits. Schools including QMUL, Imperial, Edinburgh, Lancaster and City St George's ask for grades in one sitting. UCL does not accept re-sits, including re-starting Year 12. Birmingham does not consider re-sit grades. Manchester lets you re-sit only one of Year 12 or Year 13, and Year 13 re-sitters must already have ABB. Newcastle asks for one grade higher, and only from students who applied to Newcastle before. This is why choosing the right subjects in Year 11 matters.
A fourth A-level will not help. Leeds says so directly.
Grades are only part of it. Medical schools also use the UCAT in almost every case, and it must be taken in the year of application. Subjects and grades get you into the pool; the rest of the application decides who is offered a place. See ucat.ac.uk for the test itself.
Requirements move. Imperial's 2026 page asked for AAA. Its 2027 page asks for A*AA with Chemistry and Biology. Medical schools revise requirements most years, so treat this guide as a map and check the linked page before your child commits.
What if your child is not sure about medicine?
Many students choose Chemistry and Biology plus a third subject and keep their options open for medicine and other biological and health-science degrees (check each course's own requirements). If they are undecided, that combination is the sensible default.
Where A-level support fits
Most of our tutors are medical students at UCL, every tutor is a Russell Group student or graduate, and every tutor is DBS-checked. For students taking A-level Biology, Chemistry and Maths, the tutors who are UCL medical students have been through this application process themselves.
If your child is already in Year 12 and wants to know where they stand, book a free trial session: A-level tuition. No commitment, and we will tell you plainly what the gaps are.
Frequently asked questions
Which A-levels do I need for medicine?
Chemistry is compulsory at 19 of the 39 schools in the table whose pages name subjects, and most others ask for Chemistry or Biology as the first science. Most want Biology, Physics or Maths as a second. Nine schools require both Chemistry and Biology.
Can I get into medicine without Biology A-level?
At many schools, yes. Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Queen Mary accept Chemistry with Physics or Maths. UCL, King's, Imperial, Leeds, Aston, City St George's, Exeter, Hull York and Nottingham require Biology, and so do Lincoln, Plymouth and Southampton.
Do I need all three A-levels to be sciences?
No. On the pages above, the third subject is generally open. At UCL it can be anything except General Studies and Critical Thinking, and Queen Mary lets it be any subject.
Is Maths A-level useful for medicine?
It is accepted as a second science at schools including Oxford, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Queen Mary and Manchester. At the 12 schools that require Biology, it does not replace it.
Do medical schools accept Psychology?
Several list it as a second science, including Anglia Ruskin, Cardiff, Keele, Leicester, Manchester and Plymouth. Lancaster counts it alongside Biology and Chemistry. Most other schools in the table do not list it.
Can I re-sit A-levels for medicine?
Policies differ widely. UCL does not accept re-sits, including re-starting Year 12. Birmingham does not consider re-sit grades. Manchester allows one re-sit year, and Newcastle asks for a grade higher. Check the school's own page.
What if I'm doing the IB or Scottish Highers?
This guide covers A-levels only. Most schools publish separate IB and Scottish requirements on the same pages linked above.
Sources (all checked 24 October 2026)
Every school's own page is linked in the table above. Also used:
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