Edgbaston College has an excellent track record of helping our A-Level retake students gain entry into UK Medical schools. Aspiring medicals can get a spectrum of support from the College and its career service, Edgbaston Education. Edgbaston Education's Medicine Admissions Team is run by two Cambridge Medicine graduates, Dr Eman Butt and Dr Smiji Saji, and the Principal, Owais Ahmed. For a holistic overview of the support available, please click on the link below:
Medical & Dental School Applications
In 2023, despite the higher competition ratios for applicants this year, 6 of our internal students successfully gained admission to study Medicine in the UK as retake applicants. In 2022, we helped 8 resit students gain admissions to UK Medical Schools.
Yes.
Whilst not every medical school will consider retake students, there are still a wide range of universities who do. Please see the table below for information on each university's policy.
However, having extenuating circumstances during your exams is likely to mean that you are eligible to apply for even more medical schools than the ones listed in the table below.
For the first time in three years, students will be applying with examined (non-CAG/TAG awarded) GCSE grades. This could possibly lead to univerisites accepting a slightly weaker GCSE grade profile from applicants. The government is also expected to increase the number of medical school spaces available from September 2025, but this is unlikely to help applicants in 2023.
At the same time, the number of 18 year olds in the UK continues to grow, driving up competitiveness for the course. Demand for spaces from international students also further increases competitiveness.
Medical schools evaluate a variety of factors when deciding on interviews and offers, including GCSE grades, A-Level grades, UCAT scores, and personal statements. Each student's application has unique strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, it's crucial to be aware that some universities may not accept retake students for their Medicine programs. Therefore, understanding the minimum requirements of your chosen universities is essential to optimize your chances of securing an interview.
Edgbaston College & Edgbaston Education help students:
I cannot thank Eman enough, she helped me choose the best universities for my application. I went from four rejections to four interviews as a retake student and secured my top choice to study Medicine.
SUBHAN SHAH - MEDICINE AT ASTON UNIVERSITY
Yes.
We often help retake students secure offers to study Foundation Programme courses. These courses guarantee places onto the medical school's Medicine programme. In order to apply to Foundation Medicine courses, students typically need to meet the widening participation criteria at various universities. We have helped Foundation programme applicants succeed at places such as King's College London, Southampton and Liverpool.
Only universities who have confirmed they will accept retake students will be added to the table below.
Most universities allow retaking your A-Levels if you have extenuating circumstances. Therefore, universities that only allow students with extenuating circumstances to reapply have not been included in this table.
*Table updated 01/01/2024
| University | Retake Offer | Retake Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Anglia Ruskin | AAA | A Level resit grades at AAA will be accepted within two academic years prior to the time of application (at first sitting applicants should have achieved AAB or BBB for a Widening Access to Medicine (WAMS) application) |
| Aston | AAA | Applicants who have resat, or are resitting GCSEs, A Levels, or equivalent qualifications, with or without repeating an academic year, will be considered. The referee must provide a brief explanation of the reason (s) for the resit in the UCAS reference |
| Birmingham | A*AA | Only considered when applicant has extenuating circumstances. Maximum A-Level study over 3 years. |
| Brighton & Sussex | AAA | Only consider applications from applicants who have slipped a grade in one subject and obtained a grade B Anyone below grades AAB after two years of study, or who is not predicted a grade A in your re-sit, would only be eligible to apply once receiving grades AAA |
| Bristol | AAA | The department will consider applicants who resit their qualifications |
| Buckingham | AAA | Applicants who attain BBB at their first A Level attempt can apply with a resit. |
| Cambridge | A*A*A | Not unless student has mitigating circumstances |
| Cardiff | AAA | Only with extenuating circumstances |
| Edge Hill | AAA | Resits of GCSE or A-levels (or equivalent) either with or without mitigation are accepted. However, applicants must meet the minimum entry requirements in the resit examinations |
| Exeter | AAA | Accepts retake students |
| Hull & York | AAA | Applications are welcome if you achieved at least BBB at a first sitting and are taking one additional year to achieve AAA or equivalent |
| KCL | A*AA | Considered but disadvantaged. Extenuating circumstances may mitigate any disadvantage |
| Keele | AAA | You need to wait until after you resit and attain your grades to apply as a retake student |
| Kent & Medway | AAA | No, unless student has extenuating circumstances |
| Imperial | AAA - A*AA | No, unless student has extenuating circumstances |
| Lancaster | A*AA for Resit (AAA normal) | You must have achieved at least ABB in your A-Levels at the first attempt. BBB-CCC if mitigating circumstances. |
| Leicester | A*AA | Only if applicant has mitigating circumstances |
| Lincoln | AAA | Must achieve at least ABB in first sit with the A in either Biology or Chemistry |
| Liverpool | A*AA/AAA | Resits accepted. However, offers may be higher than standard AAA entry offer |
| Manchester | A*A*A for resit (AAA normally) | Must attain at least BBB in first-sit |
| Newcastle | A*AA | Allow for one subject to be retaken. |
| Norwich | A*AA | At least ABB/AAC in first sit. A* required in one subject being retaken |
| Nottingham | AAA | Must achieve at least ABB in first sit with the A in either Biology or Chemistry |
| Oxford | A*AA | Only with extenuating circumstances |
| Plymouth | A*AA - AAA | At least ABB in first-sit |
| Queens Belfast | A*AA or AAA + A in AS | Normally only those who had applied to study Medicine at Queen’s at the first attempt and held an offer (if made) as their Conditional Firm choice are considered |
| Queen Mary | A*AA | Only considered if students have extenuating circumstances fall within the Equality and Diversity Act 2010 |
| Sheffield | AAA | Accepts A Level resits. Any and all A Level resits must be taken in the same sitting and only one resit per A Level is permitted |
| Southampton | AAA | Only one resit allowed per subject |
| Sunderland | AAA | At least AAB in first-sit |
