Plymouth medicine interview and selection guide
Peninsula Medical School at Plymouth shortlists on academic qualifications and UCAT, without reading personal statements or work experience, and publishes the UCAT and GAMSAT thresholds it used last year. It also offers a GAMSAT route that is open to anyone, graduate or not, whose A-levels are older or unsuitable. This guide covers both routes, the thresholds and the MMI.
Facts checked against Plymouth's official pages on .
Independent service: Key2MD is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the University of Plymouth. Everything below is general guidance drawn from publicly available information, may change between cycles, and is not official advice. Always confirm current requirements, fees and program details on Plymouth's official pages.
Read facts and coaching advice separately. Facts on this page are taken from Plymouth's published pages and linked in the sources list. Preparation advice is Dan's independent guidance. This page does not reproduce confidential interview questions, and your invitation from Plymouth takes precedence over anything here.
On this page
Published selection and interview guidance
-
Interview selection
Academic qualifications and UCAT. No personal statement or work experience.
- Plymouth uses UCAT alongside A-levels and GCSEs, and reserves the right to consider all parts of the UCAT. The threshold changes each year with the number and quality of applications.
- Qualifications must be completed within five years of the start of the application cycle. Older or unsuitable qualifications mean applying through the GAMSAT route.
- Applicants who have academically failed a previous medical degree or faced Fitness to Practise proceedings cannot be considered.
-
Interview
Multiple Mini Interview, usually December to February.
- The MMI is not a test of medical or scientific knowledge; it explores attitudes, outlook and ways of thinking.
- Pathway covered
- Five-year BMBS (A-level and GAMSAT routes); BMBS with Foundation Year noted separately
- Entry cycle / source status
- 2027 entry
- Published format
- Multiple Mini Interview. Plymouth has previously described five stations with four interviewers, taking about 55 minutes
- Interview selection
- Academic qualifications and UCAT (A-level route), or GAMSAT alone (GAMSAT route); personal statements and work experience not considered
- Thresholds
- Set each year after all applications are assessed
Official sources: University of Plymouth: BMBS entry requirements; University of Plymouth: BMBS.
Selection facts checked: . This check covers the pathway and interview summary above. Fees, eligibility exceptions and course details must be checked separately. Your university invitation takes precedence for your assessment.
UCAT and GAMSAT thresholds
| UCAT threshold | Home | Widening participation | International |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 entry (2700 scale) | 1850 | 1800 | 1990 |
| 2025 entry (3600 scale) | 2600 | 2540 (UKWPMED and AAB applicants) | 2670 |
| 2024 entry (3600 scale) | 2210 | 2210 (UKWPMED) | 2600 |
The 2026 home threshold of 1850 was below the national mean of 1918, at about the 40th percentile of all test takers.
| GAMSAT threshold | Section I | Section II | Section III | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 entry, home | 45 | 48 | 42 | 49 |
| 2026 entry, international | 51 | 58 | 63 | 61 |
| 2025 entry, home | 44 | 43 | 49 | 48 |
Published by Plymouth
- UCAT thresholds by applicant group for four years
- GAMSAT section and overall thresholds
- That personal statements are not used for shortlisting
- Fees for 2027
Not published
- Applications, interview and offer numbers
- How MMI scores convert to offers
- Current interview dates (the selection page was unavailable when checked)
The GAMSAT route
| Who it is for | Anyone without suitable or recent A-levels, graduate or not. Plymouth does not consider previous degree study for this programme (apart from an internal transfer option). |
|---|---|
| How you are shortlisted | GAMSAT results are the only academic qualification considered. Applicants are ranked on their scores. |
| Validity | Results are valid for two years and must be sat by September of the application year. |
| At interview | You still need to show the personal qualities to train and practise as a doctor. |
| Funding | Student finance is usually only for a first higher education qualification. Offer conditions require evidence of funds for the first four years' tuition. |
The MMI
Plymouth's selection page was not available at its usual address when checked. It has previously described the MMI as five stations with four different interviewers, taking about 55 minutes, exploring attitudes, outlook and ways of thinking rather than medical knowledge. Check your invitation for the current format.
Entry requirements (A-level route)
| A-levels | Typical offer A*AA to AAB, with A in Biology and A in a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology. The third subject can be anything except General Studies. AAB offers are for widening access applicants. |
|---|---|
| GCSE | Seven passes at grade 4 or above, including English Language, Maths and two sciences (double award or two of Chemistry, Biology, Physics). Functional skills are not accepted. |
| IB | 36 to 38 points with HL 6 in Biology and HL 6 in one of Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology. |
| Scottish | Advanced Highers AAA with A in Biology and another science. Highers alone are not considered. |
| Access | CAVA Science Access (Medicine) with 45 credits at Distinction, including 15 in Biology and 15 in a second science, plus GCSE English and Maths at grade 6. |
| Not counted | Additional AS-levels and the EPQ. |
| UCAT | Required, sat in the year of application. |
Dan's preparation advice for Plymouth
The following is independent coaching advice, not Plymouth's rubric.
- Show how you think. Plymouth says the MMI explores attitudes, outlook and ways of thinking. Explain your reasoning out loud rather than jumping to an answer.
- Compare your UCAT with the published thresholds. Plymouth's 2026 home threshold was below the national average, which can make it a sensible choice for a mid-range score.
- Mature applicants: consider GAMSAT. If your A-levels are more than five years old or lack Biology, the GAMSAT route lets you apply without retaking them.
Fees and funding
| Home students | £10,050 a year (2027 entry). |
|---|---|
| International students | £43,175 a year (2027 entry). |
Frequently asked questions
What UCAT do I need for Plymouth medicine?
For 2026 entry the threshold was 1850 for home applicants, 1800 for widening participation applicants and 1990 for international applicants. It changes every year.
Does Plymouth read personal statements?
Not for interview selection. Applicants are shortlisted on academic qualifications and UCAT (or GAMSAT) alone.
Can I apply to Plymouth medicine with the GAMSAT?
Yes, if your A-levels are older than five years or unsuitable. You do not need to be a graduate. For 2026 entry the home overall threshold was 49.
What A-levels does Plymouth need?
A*AA to AAB, with A in Biology and A in a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology.
What is the Plymouth medicine interview like?
A Multiple Mini Interview. Plymouth has previously described five stations with four interviewers over about 55 minutes.
What are Plymouth medicine fees for 2027?
£10,050 a year for home students and £43,175 for international students.
How Key2MD fits
Key2MD is independent practice for the skills an interview rewards, not a copy of Plymouth's interview.
- 255 MMI stations and 100 CASPer scenarios across ethics, teamwork, communication, professionalism and current health topics.
- Reasoning-focused stations where you explain how you think, not what you know.
- Timed MMI practice with feedback.
- Feedback on six criteria, including communication, reasoning and empathy, with your progress tracked over time. Your first AI-marked review is free.
Sources
Facts on this page come from the sources below, checked on .
- University of Plymouth: BMBS entry requirements: A-levels, GCSE, UCAT and GAMSAT thresholds, GAMSAT route, fees
- University of Plymouth: BMBS: course overview
- UCAT: test statistics: 2026 national mean and deciles
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