If you are considering applying to study Medicine at Brunel University, it’s crucial to understand the qualifications, grades, and other key requirements for a successful application.
Brunel’s MBBS Medicine programme evaluates applicants on a range of criteria, including GCSEs, A-levels (or international equivalents), Admissions Tests scores, and MMI interview performance.
For international students, there are specific equivalent qualifications and additional factors to be aware of. In this guide, we’ll break down all the Brunel Medicine entry requirements, so you’ll know exactly what’s expected and how to prepare your application with confidence.
Let’s start by exploring why this innovative programme is an attractive choice for future medical students.
Why Should You Study Medicine At Brunel?
Brunel’s MBBS Medicine programme offers a truly modern, forward-thinking medical education designed to prepare students for both UK and international practice. Whether you aim to build your career in the UK or abroad, Brunel provides the tools, experiences, and support to help you succeed.
But what makes Brunel stand out from other UK medical schools? While many universities offer early clinical experience, state-of-the-art facilities, and NHS training, Brunel delivers several unique advantages that set it apart, including:
Modern, Future-Focused Curriculum
Brunel’s MBBS is one of the newest medical degrees in the UK (welcoming its first cohort in 2021), designed specifically to reflect today’s medical practices. Unlike older programmes that have been updated over time, Brunel’s course was built from scratch to meet the latest GMC standards and to prepare students for the realities of modern healthcare.
Unique Team-Based Learning Teaching Style (TBL)
Brunel is one of the few medical schools worldwide to use Team-Based Learning (TBL) instead of traditional lectures. This approach relies on team-based work and regular feedback, helping students develop not only medical knowledge, but also highly-valued transferrable skills like critical thinking, teamwork, and communication skills, all of which are essential for modern medical practice.
Strong International Outlook
With students from over 50 countries, Brunel offers an exceptionally diverse learning environment. The school also provides targeted support for those aiming to practise abroad, including resources and advice for the USMLE (USA) and MCCQE (Canada) exams – something not all UK medical schools provide.
Early & Varied Clinical Experience
Like many top medical schools, Brunel offers early patient contact – but what sets it apart is the structure: from Year 1, students are placed in primary care settings (NHS) and work with patients under the guidance of a wide range of health care professionals.
Purpose-Built Facilities
Brunel’s medical teaching spaces – including its Anatomy Suite, Simulated Hospital Wards, and Clinical Skills Laboratories – are newly built and fully integrated into the course from the start.
Supportive and Student-Centred Approach
Studying Medicine can be challenging, especially for international students far from home. Brunel places a strong emphasis on student wellbeing, academic coaching, and creating a supportive community through its House system. Students are allocated into houses that include a house tutor and group house meetings, helping them stay on track both academically and personally.
London Location with Diverse Patient Population
Brunel’s West London location gives students access to a wide range of NHS placements and a highly diverse patient population – excellent preparation for practising in global healthcare environments.
As you can see, Brunel offers a unique combination of a purpose-built, modern curriculum, an international focus, innovative teaching methods, and exceptional support, making it a highly attractive option for students looking for a future-focused medical education in London.
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Brunel Medicine Entry Requirements
Now let’s take a closer look at the official entry requirements for applicants to the Medicine MBBS degree at Brunel.
General Brunel Medicine Entry Requirements
Before applying to Brunel’s MBBS programme, it’s important to be aware of several general entry requirements that all applicants must meet. Here’s what you need to know:
Minimum Age
Work Experience
While specific work experience is not formally required, Brunel Medical School refers to the Medical Schools Council’s guidance on work experience. This means applicants should aim to gain relevant experiences, such as volunteering, shadowing, or community work, that demonstrate an understanding of healthcare environments and a commitment to a medical career.
International Students
To be eligible for entry as an international student, you must have international fee-paying status. This is a key requirement for non-UK applicants.
English Language Proficiency
If English is not your first language, you must sit the IELTS (or an approved equivalent qualification) and gain a score of at least 7.0 in each component.
This requirement will be assessed once an offer has been made and is one of the official conditions of the offer.
These are the general requirements that all applicants should meet. Brunel has additional academic requirements, which differ, depending on whether you are a school leaver or a graduate and whether you are based in the UK or overseas. Below we’ll explain all you need to know.
Brunel Medicine Entry Requirements For School Leavers
If you’re applying to Brunel’s MBBS Medicine programme as a school leaver (UK or international), you’ll need to meet certain academic requirements.
GCSEs
To apply for Brunel’s MBBS Medicine programme, you’ll need to meet the following GCSE (or equivalent) requirements:
- Five GCSEs: Grade B / 6 (or equivalent), including two science subjects (such as Double Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics)
- English Language: Grade C / 4 or above (or equivalent – note that IELTS 7.0 in each component is also required if English is not your first language; this will be assessed as part of your offer conditions)
- Mathematics: Grade B / 5 or above
A-levels
Brunel’s typical A-level offer for MBBS applicants is: AAA–AAB. Here is the required subject mix:
Mandatory Subject:
- Chemistry or Biology – you must take one of these and achieve at least grade A
Second Science/Mathematics Subject:
You must take one of the following and achieve at least grade A:
- Biology or Chemistry (whichever you did not select as your first subject)
- Physics
- Mathematics
Third A-Level Subject:
- The third A-level can be in any subject at grade A or B
- However, General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted towards the entry requirements.
International Qualifications
If you are an international student applying with qualifications other than A-levels (such as IB Diploma, Indian Standard XII, Australian ATAR/ENTER/TER/VAI/TES, Greek Apolytirion, or others), you must present equivalent qualifications that meet the A-level standard of AAA–AAB, with the required subject mix.
Brunel’s entry guidance states that applicants should normally have, or be expected to achieve: grades AAA–AAB at A-level (or equivalent), with the most competitive applicants typically achieving AAA.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Typical Offer: 36 points overall
Higher Level Subjects:
- Chemistry or Biology at Higher Level 6
- Second subject: another science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) or Mathematics at Higher Level 5
If you are an IB student considering Brunel Medicine, be sure to select subjects that meet these requirements – with at least one strong science (Chemistry or Biology) at HL6 and a second suitable subject at HL5 – and aim for a competitive overall score of 36 points.
Alternative International Qualifications
Brunel’s admissions team accepts various international qualifications and reviews them on a case-by-case basis. As a general guide, you are expected to achieve equivalent grades in the key required subjects for UK applicants:
- Chemistry or Biology at the highest level studied, and
- A second science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) or Mathematics.
If you are an international school leaver, it’s important to consult Brunel’s international entry requirements or contact them directly to confirm how your qualifications align.
Brunel Medicine Entry Requirements For Graduates
If you are a UK or international graduate applying to Brunel’s MBBS Medicine programme, you will need to meet specific academic entry requirements at both school-level and degree-level.
GCSEs
All graduate applicants must meet the same GCSE requirements as school-leavers.
Bachelor's Degree
Graduate applicants must hold, or be expected to achieve, an upper second-class (2:1) Bachelor’s degree, or international equivalent, in a subject relevant to Medicine.
Relevant subjects typically include (but are not limited to):
- Biomedical Sciences
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Health Sciences
- Pharmacology
- Psychology
- Nursing
- Other life/health science-related disciplines
Master’s Degree (Optional)
Alternatively, applicants holding a Master’s degree in a subject relevant to Medicine may also be considered. You must have been awarded the degree with at least Merit (or international equivalent).
As with Bachelor’s degrees, relevant subjects are typically within the Biomedical, Life Sciences, or Health Sciences fields.
Master’s Degree (Optional)
For both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, your highest relevant academic qualification should normally be no older than five years at the time of application. This ensures that applicants are academically prepared for the current demands of modern medical education.
Applicants presenting university degree qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Brunel Medicine Personal Statement
As part of your UCAS application, you will need to write and submit a Personal Statement, which is a standard requirement for any university application in the UK. The statement, submitted digitally, is divided into three sections and can be up to 4,000 characters.
Want to know what makes a standout Medicine Personal Statement? Take a look at our analysis of a successful Cambridge applicant’s example.
Admission Tests Requirements For Brunel Medicine
To apply for Brunel’s MBBS Medicine programme, all applicants must sit either the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) or the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) before applying.
You can still apply without UCAT or GAMSAT, but in this case, your application will be reviewed based on your academic achievements. Your invitation to interview may be delayed, or you may not receive an interview, as priority will be given to applicants with UCAT or GAMSAT scores.
UCAT – Compulsory For All Brunel Medicine Applicants
The UCAT is the primary admission test for most applicants to Brunel Medicine, including school leavers and graduates.
Key points:
- The UCAT must be taken in the year prior to your planned entry.
- It is a 2-hour test completed at a Pearson Vue test centre.
- The test now includes 4 sub-tests (read more on our UCAT Test Format Changes 2025).
- Australian and New Zealand students may take either the UCAT ANZ or the UK UCAT.
UCAT – Selection Criteria For Brunel Medicine
- There is no fixed UCAT cut-off score – the score required to secure an interview depends on the performance of the overall applicant pool in that cycle.
- However, applicants who score Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) are automatically rejected.
GAMSAT – Alternative Admissions Test For Brunel Medicine
The GAMSAT is an alternative admissions test option, but is only available to graduate applicants (those holding an undergraduate degree).
Key points:
- GAMSAT scores are valid for up to two years prior to entry.
- The test is approximately 5 hours and 25 minutes long and includes three sections.
- Depending on location, GAMSAT may be taken online or at a test centre.
Brunel Medicine Interviews
Once your application has been shortlisted – based on a combination of assessments, including your UCAT or GAMSAT score, Personal Statement, and references – you will be invited to attend a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI).
For applicants without a UCAT or GAMSAT score, the highest-ranked candidates may be invited to interview after all eligible UCAT/GAMSAT applicants have been interviewed, depending on the availability of places.
What Is An MMI?
The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) is a structured interview format used by many UK medical schools to assess a range of applicant qualities beyond academic achievement.
- The MMI is conducted as a virtual Multiple Mini Interview (vMMI) – completed online.
- You will complete a series of six short interview stations, each focusing on different skills and scenarios, outlined in Brunel’s Good Medical Practice Blueprint.
What Is An MMI?
The MMI is designed to evaluate key skills and attributes required for success in medical training and clinical practice. You shouldn’t expect major differences from what is typically asked in a face-to-face interview – the format is simply adapted to an online setting.
The core skills assessed during Brunel’s MMIs include:
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Ethical reasoning
- Empathy and compassion
- Teamwork and interpersonal skills
- Commitment to Medicine and understanding of the profession
To help you prepare, Brunel recommends practising with online interviews and reflecting on your performance, using feedback from friends and family.
As with any interview, it is important to be yourself – aim to demonstrate your genuine passion for Medicine and ability to think clearly, rather than relying on memorised responses.
Brunel Medicine Acceptance Rates
Brunel’s MBBS Medicine programme is highly competitive. In recent cycles, the Medical School has reported receiving approximately 1,800 applications each year for around 100 available places – resulting in an estimated acceptance rate of around 5-6%.
Because the programme launched in 2021, comprehensive long-term admissions data is not yet available. As the course continues to grow and mature, these figures may evolve in future years.
However, since Brunel’s academic entry requirements are among the most accessible compared to other top medical schools in London, it’s very likely that performance in the MMI plays a significant role in determining which candidates ultimately receive offers.
Key Takeaways For Brunel Medicine Applicants
Brunel’s MBBS Medicine programme offers a compelling option for students seeking a modern, internationally-focused medical education in the UK. With its innovative curriculum, unique team-based teaching style, and diverse learning environment, Brunel is attracting talented applicants from around the world.
Whether you are a school leaver, graduate, or international student, understanding the entry requirements and preparing strategically is key to submitting a competitive application to the Brunel Medical School – and by reading this guide, you’ve already taken an important first step.
At UniAdmissions, we specialise in supporting students applying to the UK’s most competitive medical programmes through our expert-led Full-Blue Medicine Programme. If you’d like to further strengthen your overall application, book a free consultation with one of our friendly admissions consultants to discuss your application, identify strengths and areas for improvement, and receive tailored advice to maximise your chances of success.
We wish you the very best of luck on your academic journey, and if you found this article helpful, feel free to share it with your network.
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