How to Secure a Place in Medical School: an Essential Guide for Success

Thanthullu, Siva, Vasu, Thanthullu

• Publisher: tfm Publishing Ltd
• Year: 2026
• eBook ISBN:
  9781913755638
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Education General

Securing a place in medical school can be competitive and daunting. This complex process starts from the GCSE level of education in a student's life and continues through to A-levels, with various hurdles such as the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) application, the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT), volunteering and/or work experience, preparing a personal statement, and attending medical interviews. It is not uncommon for the candidate and their parents to face difficulties at each of these stages; this book provides appropriate advice and resources, and will facilitate the reader's preparation towards securing a place in medical school. There is an average of 15 to 20 applications for each medical school place. The competition increases every year and the selection processes are becoming more difficult. Recently, some medical schools have increased the grades needed at A-levels for their intake criteria. As candidates can apply for only four out of the 46 medical schools in the UK, it can be challenging to apply to the right university successfully. Each medical school has different criteria for selection and the candidate has to apply based on their personal achievements. Despite these difficulties, many young students still work hard and succeed in their ambition to enter the noble rewarding profession of medicine as their lifelong career. This book covers the entry criteria for most medical schools in the United Kingdom, but these principles will apply equally to other countries. It details each and every step of preparation for the candidate and guides them to their goal. Additionally, the book details the process of clearing in the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for those who have failed the first time round. Finally, guidance is provided for applying to universities abroad. The authors together have amassed huge experience in conducting national courses for medical interviews and have helped hundreds of candidates to successfully secure a place in medical school. Their career guidance courses have received excellent feedback from delegates. Thanthullu Vasu is the organiser and founder of a popular national course for medical interviews and has more than 25 years of experience in the UK National Health Service. Siva Thanthullu is a third-year medical student and has recent experience of entering medicine and guiding others in securing medical school placements.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Abbreviations
• Chapter 1 Introduction to a career in medicine
• Chapter 2 Are you the right person to be a doctor?
• Chapter 3 Introduction to medical schools in the UK
• Chapter 4 Stages in the preparation for medical school
• Chapter 5 Preparation at GCSE level
• Chapter 6 Preparation at A-level
• Chapter 7 Attending open days at universities
• Chapter 8 Work and volunteering experience
• Chapter 9 University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
• Chapter 10 Personal statement
• Chapter 11 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) application
• Chapter 12 Requirements for entry to medical school
• Chapter 13 How to select the right medical school
• Chapter 14 Interviews for the medical school
• Chapter 15 Results day for A-levels
• Chapter 16 Clearing system in the UCAS
• Chapter 17 What if you are not lucky this time?
• Chapter 18 Medical doctor degree apprenticeships
• Chapter 19 Application to universities abroad
• Chapter 20 Graduate entry for medicine
• Chapter 21 Taking care of physical health
• Chapter 22 Taking care of mental health