university of leeds medicine personal statement

Username or email  *

Password  *

Forgotten password?

info@themedicportal.com

Medicine Personal Statement Examples

Get some inspiration to start writing your Medicine Personal Statement with these successful examples from current Medical School students. We've got Medicine Personal Statements which were successful for universities including Imperial, UCL, King's, Bristol, Edinburgh and more.

Personal Statement Examples

• Read successful Personal Statements for Medicine
• Pay attention to the structure and the content
• Get inspiration to plan your Personal Statement

Personal Statement Example 1

Check out this Medicine Personal Statement which was successful for Imperial, UCL, QMUL and King's.

Personal Statement Example 2

This Personal Statement comes from a student who received Medicine offers from Bristol and Plymouth - and also got an interview at Cambridge.

Personal Statement Example 3

Have a look at this Medicine Personal Statement which was successful for Imperial, Edinburgh, Dundee and Newcastle.

Personal Statement Example 4

Take a look at this Medicine Personal Statement which was successful for King's, Newcastle, Bristol and Sheffield.

Personal Statement Example 5

Pick up tips from this Medicine Personal Statement which was successful for Imperial, Birmingham and Manchester.

Personal Statement Example 6

This Personal Statement comes from a student who got into Graduate Entry Medicine at King's - and also had interviews for Undergraduate Medicine at King's, QMUL and Exeter.

Loading More Content

• Faculty of Medicine and Health
• School of Medicine
• Intercalation

We welcome applications from medical, dental, or veterinary students, from both the University of Leeds and other UK universities. The application process for the 2025-2026 academic year will open in December 2024 and close at the end of  January 2025 . Intercalation offers will be made in early March 2025 .

The links to the application forms will be available here when applications open in December.

You will require the following :  

1) Your personal statement. (If you are applying for more than one programme you will need to submit one statement per programme)

2) A copy of your academic transcript which shows results obtained so far on your medical degrees. ( Leeds MBChB students can obtain one from student services )

3) Some programmes also require additional information:

- If you are applying for a postgraduate programme please provide a copy of your CV

If you are a Leeds MBChB student who is considering intercalating at another University, you will require permission from the School to intercalate.  Please fill out this  request for permission form. You need to do this for each course you require permission for.

If you require references, please note only a generic reference confirming good academic standing can be provided. This can be requested by emailing [email protected] .  If more detailed information about your academic performance is required, it is your responsibility to identify an academic staff member who knows you well and can comment appropriately. 

medmentor ®

Leeds Medical School

Section 1: The Application Process for Medicine at Leeds

1. what qualities does leeds school of medicine look for in a student.

The Leeds School of Medicine places a strong emphasis on clinical skills and particularly values students with good communication skills, who can demonstrate empathy when interacting with patients. These skills are built on and reinforced throughout the course.

2. What elements of your application does Leeds value most?

Leeds predominantly uses academic achievement to select which applicants will be offered an interview. This includes past and predicted grades and the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) score, making these very important aspects of your application. Whilst BMAT scores are used to rank applicants into quintiles, there is no cut-off score, meaning a low BMAT score doesn't necessarily exclude you from receiving an interview.

The personal statement is also considered as it gives an important insight into your interests and achievements, however isn't formally scored.

Using all of this information, the school of medicine ranks applicants and invites those that are highest ranked for an interview. Offers are made on the basis of merit and the ability of each applicant to meet the academic and non-academic criteria for admission. Approximately 1,000 candidates are expected to be invited to interview.

Once the interview stage is reached, the decision to subsequently make an offer depends entirely on your interview performance, not on your predicted or achieved academic performance, or other scores.

3. How important is the BMAT score at Leeds?

Leeds uses the BMAT. As mentioned previously, applicants' BMAT scores are used to rank them into quintiles: candidates in the highest 20% receive a score of five out of five, and those in the lowest 20% receive a score of one out of five. Everything in between is scored according to where they are placed in this distribution. A combination score using academic achievement and BMAT is used to determine a rank for shortlisting to interview. This information was taken from https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a101_gateway_to_medicine_2021_ad#incoming-1830205.

4. How important are the grades you ultimately achieve for medicine at Leeds?

A-level entry requirements are AAA including Chemistry or Biology. Physics or Maths must also be offered if Chemistry is not taken. For detailed entry requirements see here: https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/5580/medicine-and-surgery-mbchb.

However, there are various widening participation schemes offered at Leeds that have lower A-level entry requirements. For example, this includes a new Gateway to Medicine course. The A-Level entry requirement for the Gateway Year to Medicine is BBC including Chemistry or Biology at B grade. In the first year of the course, you’ll study material to refine your scientific understanding, develop your study skills and equip you with the skills and knowledge needed as the course develops. After successfully completing this Gateway year, including reaching the required grades on the assessment elements of the course, you’ll progress to the five standard years of the Medicine degree. Another alternative admission scheme is Access to Leeds, which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low-income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted. The typical Access to Leeds A Levels offer is ABB including A in Chemistry or Biology.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and alternative admissions .

5. What other requirements does Leeds have for Medicine?

The course GCSE entry requirements are as follows: 6 A*- B or 9 - 5 including Chemistry and Biology (or Dual Science/Double Science), English Language and Mathematics.

These are the minimum entry requirements, but admission is competitive and the majority of applicants will have qualifications well above this standard.

6. What should I put in my personal statement for Medicine at Leeds?

The personal statement is an important aspect of the application process as it helps to assess the non-academic attributes that are essential in a career in medicine.

The university acknowledges that traditional GP surgery or hospital work experience can be difficult to obtain, especially over the last year due to the pandemic, but expects applicants to be able to demonstrate their motivation and enthusiasm to study medicine through experience in any health and social care setting, such as at hospices or homes for the elderly. Non-clinical and extra-curricular activities are also looked upon favourably, examples include volunteering at charity shops, involvement in the Scout/Guide Association, volunteering as a youth leader, coaching children, helping run a science club etc.

7. What is the structure of the Medicine interview for Leeds?

The Leeds MBChB interview is a multiple-mini interview (MMI) style. The MMI process consists of 8 different stations. Each station will last 6 minutes with 1 minute to move between stations and read the next task. At the end of each station, the examiners award marks according to a pre-determined standardised scale. After the completion of all 8 stations, a cumulative score will be given and candidates are ranked.

8. What are my chances of getting into Medicine at Leeds?

Around 1000 applicants are invited for an interview each year. Invitations to interview are issued by email in batches starting in December. In 2019 there were 2486 applications, of which 1056 applicants were interviewed and 394 offers were given. Offer holders achieved grades from ABB to A A A A at A-Level

This information was taken from https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/medicine_application_statistics_6#incoming-1622859.

Section 2: What is Medicine at Leeds really like?

1. what types of medicine courses are available at leeds.

Most applicants apply to the standard 5 year MBChB. Graduates are also accepted onto the traditional 5 year MBChB.

Leeds also offers a 'Gateway to Medicine' course. This is for students who meet Leeds Widening Participation criteria. It is a 6 year course consisting of a gateway year, followed by the 5 year MBChB course. More information can be found here: https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/i900/gateway-year-to-medicine-mbchb.

2. What is the course structure for the 5 year Medicine course?

The MBChB has an integrated course structure, which combines the core biomedical scientific principles with early clinical exposure.

Some of the modules in Year 1 include:

• IDEALS (Innovation, Development, Enterprise, Leadership, Safety) - this addresses the challenges and requirements of modern practice.
• Campus to Clinic - in this module you will develop your clinical decision-making and patient safety skills.
• Individuals and Populations - this explores the psychological and societal aspects of behaviour and human development, their role in health and illness and treatment of medical problems.

Other important areas of study include biomedical sciences, anatomy and pharmacology.

In year 2, you’ll learn about the anatomy of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Further exposure to clinical practise will help develop your consultation, diagnostic and practical skills.

You’ll be trained in the skills needed to carry out research effectively. You’ll also participate in a two-week project on enterprise.

In years 3, 4 and 5 your time spent on clinical placement will increase, as you transition from medical student to doctor

As well as the wide-ranging curriculum, there’s also a chance to tailor your studies through:

• ‍ Intercalation – taking an extra degree in one year, usually after years 2, 3 or 4 of the MBChB. It’s a chance to broaden your knowledge and enhance your career opportunities. Up to half of Leeds undergraduate medical students choose to intercalate each year.
• 6-week elective – between years 4 and 5, this can allow you to gain wider clinical experience or carry out a particular project in the UK or abroad. The elective is about gaining wider clinical experience or carrying out a specific project. Past students have worked in health centres, charities, universities and hospitals in Australia, Samoa, Vanuatu, China, Italy, Nepal and Tanzania.

3. What is the teaching style?

The teaching style is traditional, with early exposure to clinical placement starting with half a day per week in Year 1 and moving up to 4 days per week in Year 4.

In Year 1 and 2 more than half your time is spent in lectures. Lectures are recorded, but students are expected to attend in person. The remaining time is divided between tutorials, small group work and clinical placement.

Anatomy is taught by cadaver prosection in the first two years. It is worth noting that until a few years ago, anatomy at Leeds involved wet dissection. If this is something you're particularly interested in experiencing, Leeds offer an intercalated Clinical Anatomy BSc.

4. What does an average day as a first year medical student at Leeds look like?

Below is a typical 1st Year timetable:

IMS = Introduction to Medical Sciences.

RESS = Research, Evaluation and Special Studies.

I&P = Individuals & Populations.

C2C = Campus to Clinic.

IDEALS = Innovation, Development, Enterprise, Leadership and Safety.

As you can see, mornings are usually taken up with lectures. Wednesday afternoons are kept free for university sports traditionally. Friday afternoons can also often be free, which is handy if you plan on travelling home for the weekend.

In Years 3-5, the timetable becomes predominantly clinical placement. There is generally 1 week of lectures and clinical skills training, followed by a block of approximately 5 weeks on clinical placement. The hours on placement are often 8 am-4 pm, but in Years 4 and 5 there is some shift work including night shifts.

5. How does the structure of your day-to-day life change as you progress through the different years of the course?

As you progress through the course your time spent in the lecture theatre will decrease, while clinical placement time steadily increases.

Years 1 and 2

Half a day to 2 days of placement in a GP surgery and hospital each week. This involves shadowing medical professionals and working with voluntary groups close to your practice. You will learn and practice clinical skills such as injections and blood taking. You will also begin to develop your history taking, examination and interpersonal skills.

Students will integrate their clinical skills and knowledge by undertaking five junior clinical placements, each lasting five weeks. Placements include those in integrated medicine, surgery and peri-operative care, elderly and rehabilitation care, primary care and special senses.

Students undertake a further five clinical placements lasting six weeks each. These offer experience in specialist areas of medicine such as psychiatry, paediatrics and child health, gynaecology, obstetrics and sexual health, emergency and critical care, and cancer and continuing care.

Students will participate in a mandatory series of clinical placements with a strong focus on the transition to early postgraduate practice. These placements provide core experience in key clinical areas, with additional small variations in clinical exposure allowing you to tailor the final year to suit your individual learning needs.

6. Is an iBSc offered at Leeds?

Intercalated degrees give you the chance to study a subject in-depth and gain an additional degree in a single year. At Leeds intercalation is optional and can be undertaken at this university or elsewhere. The university offers intercalated BSc and Masters degrees. The specific iBSc courses that Leeds are known for include:

• Applied health (medical education)
• International health
• Clinical anatomy

More information can be found here: https://medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/medicine-intercalation.

7. What is the typical cohort size and does this change as you progress through the course?

The typical cohort size is approximately 300 students. This can increase slightly with the entry of international medical students during the MBChB.

8. Which hospitals are linked to Leeds School of Medicine?

The School of Medicine is primarily linked with the following hospitals:

• Leeds General Infirmary
• St James's University Hospital
• Bradford Royal Infirmary
• Airedale General Hospital
• Harrogate District Hospital
• Mid Yorkshire Hospitals - Pinderfields Hospital, Dewsbury and District Hospital, and Pontefract Hospital

Hospital and GP surgery locations vary from a few minutes to approximately 1 hour or more from the school of medicine. Hospitals outside of Leeds generally offer free accommodation or subsidised travel to students.

Section 3: University & Medical School Life

1. where is the university of leeds located.

The University of Leeds and the School of Medicine are all based on one campus, which is about 100 acres in size. The campus is just a 10-15 minute walk from the city centre and also nearby to the student-friendly Hyde Park and Headingly areas.

To learn more about the University of Leeds campus see here: https://medium.com/university-of-leeds/come-and-explore-campus-99ff2b93ef4f .

2. Are students encouraged to take part in societies?

There are over 300 sports teams and societies within Leeds University Union! As well as another 30 specifically for medics. Students in the first and second year can easily get involved in many societies, although the workload as the course progresses may limit involvement to just one or two!

Activities offered by the Union include football, rugby, dance and even chess, wine tasting and skydiving!

Notable medic run societies are listed below:

• Medsoc: events include the cocktail party, the spring ball, the summer barbeque and the ski trip. Fancy dress is a must at a Medsoc party!
• ‍ Cutting Edge Leeds : your one-stop shop for all things surgery!
• ‍ Healthcare Innovation Team : for those of you with an enterprising mind who want to improve the care provided to the wider population.
• Psyched (Psychiatry): a society open to all students who have an interest in mental health.

For more information see here: https://medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/medicine-undergraduate/doc/clubs-societies.

3. What is the student satisfaction score for Medicine at Leeds?

In 2019, Leeds was ranked highly by the National Student Survey, scoring 96% for student satisfaction. This information was taken from the following article: https://medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/medicine/news/article/304/leeds-ranks-2nd-for-medicine-in-the-national-student-survey-2019.

The Complete University Guide ranks Leeds at number 22 out of 35 medical schools. This ranking is based on an overall score comprising entry requirements, student satisfaction, research quality and intensity. Leeds scores comparatively highly for student satisfaction, but less well for research compared to other universities. These rankings can be found here: https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings/medicine?sortby=student-satisfaction.

4. What bursaries are available at Leeds for medical students?

Additional funding and bursaries are available to students on the MBChB which can be based upon academic merit, low income and whether you are experiencing hardship. For example, Leeds Financial Support (LFS) is a non-repayable grant for students from low-income backgrounds. The funding is offered yearly and the amount depends on household income.Students may apply for the Leeds Hardship Fund and NHS Hardship Grant, which are means-tested and depend upon individual circumstances. Further scholarships and awards based on academic merit are also available, see here fore more information: https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/1000038/funding_for_medics_and_dentists/1204/additional_funding.

5. Are student support services readily available and easy to access?

The university is a very supportive environment. Students are given a personal tutor throughout their time at medical school and will meet with them at least 3 times per year. Other wellbeing support services, for example counselling, are also available to medical students.

The Leeds University Union also operates a student advice centre which comprises a self-help site as well as trained advisors, to answer any questions you have regarding all aspects of student life.

For more information on student support services at Leeds School of Medicine see here: https://medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/medicine-undergraduate/doc/student-support-1 .

Students also have the option to apply for mitigating circumstances if required for exams or coursework.

6. What are the best food spots around the University of Leeds?

There is a huge amount of choice when it comes to eating out in Leeds. If you want to venture further than the many cafes in the university itself, Bakery 164 is a nearby student favourite. In Hyde Park you can indulge in pancakes for breakfast in LS6 cafe, or venture further for delicious South East Asian cuisine at May's Thai Cafe.

Good places to grab a drink include Terrace, where medical students often head straight after a big exam. There is also the famous Otley run - bring your best fancy dress and comfortable footwear for this 1.5 mile long pub crawl!

7. Is student accommodation available at the University of Leeds?

The university guarantees accommodation to 1st year students. Locations vary from the city centre to the university campus itself.

Residences popular with medical students tend to be those that are closest to campus since so much time is spent there! These include Charles Morris Hall, Henry Price, Lyddon Hall, Central Village, Cityside, Leodis and The Tannery.

Since these are all located within a 10 minute walk of campus you can expect to pay a little more for the convenience: approx £125-£160 per week.

For those who are willing to travel, Headingley is around a 40 minute walk, or 30 minute bus journey. Accommodation here includes Oxley and Lupton residences which charge from £95-£126 per week, depending on whether you opt for a shared bathroom or en-suite.

Detailed descriptions of each accommodation option can be found here: https://accommodation.leeds.ac.uk/residences.

Your guide to applying

We welcome and encourage applications from talented students from all backgrounds. This page guides you through the application process.

Step 1: choose your course

Choosing the right course is one of the most important decisions you’ll make, so think carefully about what you want from your studies. You'll need to think about:

• which subjects you enjoy and are interested in
• how long you want to study for
• what type of study options you are looking for
• what grades you might obtain
• your future career options.

View our courses on Course Search

As well as single honours, we offer an exciting range of courses that offer alternative routes and flexible study options , including:

• joint honours (two main subjects) 
• part-time courses
• extended degrees with a foundation year that offer an alternative route if you don’t have the formal qualifications for immediate entry onto an undergraduate degree
• integrated Masters, where you undertake a fourth year and convert your undergraduate degree to a postgraduate one.

You could also get a taster of studying with Leeds through our free online courses . They're offered in a range of subjects and could help you decide which course is right for you and provide some subject experience to help boost your application. 

Step 2: check the entry requirements

Uk applicants.

• Read our  entry requirements page to find out our general requirements and see which qualifications we accept. Many courses accept a range of qualifications, not just A-levels.
• Use  Course Search to check the specific entry requirements for your course as the minimum grade requirements can vary depending on the course.
• Check if you're eligible for one of our contextual admissions schemes , if you're a UK student from a background that is less represented at university. These schemes could offer you the chance to study a degree with lower entry requirements than listed on our course pages.

International students

Visit the International entry requirements page for information about the qualifications we accept and our English language requirements.

Mature students

If you’re aged 21 or over when you begin your studies, you’re classed as a mature student. We welcome applications from mature students from all backgrounds onto both full-time and part-time programmes.

Your life and work experience mean there are alternative entry routes available other than formal qualifications, including a foundation course, a validated access course and the Access to Higher Education Diploma.

For specific entry criteria, please search for your course .

You can also find out about study options and support for mature students .

Declaring a criminal conviction

If you have an unspent criminal conviction, you may need to declare it to us. This is usually required when we make you an offer that you wish to accept. For a small number of our courses, you'll need to declare it when you apply. Having a criminal conviction will only rarely stop you from studying at Leeds. Find out more about declaring a criminal conviction .

Step 3: apply

Full-time courses.

You should apply online through UCAS for full-time courses. International students should apply through the UCAS system in the same way as UK students. Find out about our overseas teams and support you can get with applying in your country .

Get advice about writing your personal statement . 

UCAS provides comprehensive information on the entire application process, from choosing your university and course right through to starting university and settling into student life.

Video transcript: Applying through UCAS — University of Leeds

Part-time courses

If you’re applying for a part-time degree , you should apply directly to the University by  emailing our Lifelong Learning Centre: [email protected] .

Application dates and deadlines

Visit the application dates and deadlines page .

Taking a year out

For many courses, we’re happy to receive applications for deferred entry, which can be submitted during your last year at school. We’d encourage you to use your personal statement to explain your reasons for taking a gap year. Please note that you’ll still need to meet any conditions of your offer in the academic year in which you apply.

However, for some particularly competitive courses we’re not able to consider applications for deferred entry. This is because we receive a high number of applications to these programmes and we need to assess all applications for a given year of entry at the same time to ensure fairness. Check Course Search to find out whether we accept deferred entry for your chosen course .

Transferring from another university

Many of our academic schools will consider requests to transfer onto a course from another university. You usually need to show that you've met the course's standard first-year entry requirements and that you're performing well in your current degree, which must be relevant to the new course. For further information, get in touch with the relevant admissions team using the contact details on the course page .

Extenuating circumstances

We advise that your school includes information about your mitigating circumstances in the reference that they write as part of your UCAS application and, where possible, expect that this should have been taken into consideration by the exam board so that any adjustments could be made during assessment and marking. If you’d like to discuss your situation, please contact the admissions team for your course, using the contact details on the course page . 

Look at our  Admissions Policy 2025-26  if you'd like more detailed information about the admissions process.

Once you've submitted your application, visit our After you’ve applied page  to find out what happens next.

Related links

• Medicine Interview Book
• Sponsorship & Advertising

• Medical Personal Statement Review
• Medical School Interview Course
• Medical School Interview Tutoring
• In-House Courses For Schools
• Medical School Interview Guide
• Medicine Interview PDF Book
• Medical School Application Guide
• Medical Blog
• Your basket is currently empty.

Medical School Profiles: Applying To Leeds Medical School

Welcome to our series of medical school profiles. These are entirely free as part of our commitment to making information on medical careers free and readily available. These medical school profiles can be used in conjunction with our free guide “ how to choose which medical schools to apply to ” which covers 19 points that you can systematically run through when considering if a medical school is an excellent choice for you to apply to.

What this guide to applying to study Medicine at Leeds Medical School covers

This medical school profile provides key information for applying to study Medicine at Leeds Medical School. We start by discussing the Medicine courses on offer at Leeds Medical School and the process of transferring from other degrees to study Medicine at Leeds. We then cover Leeds Medical School’s entry requirements for studying Medicine. This includes how Leeds Medical School uses applicants BMAT results; the interview process at Leeds Medical School; how Leeds Medical School uses Medicine personal statements and other key details and facts that will help you to apply to study Medicine at Leeds Medical School. Then, we cover tips on how to write a Medicine personal statement for Leeds Medical School and tips on passing the Leeds Medical School MMI interview.

Courses on offer at Leeds Medical School:

• Standard Entry Medicine (5 years). UCAS course code A100

Direct course transfers from other degrees to study Medicine at Leeds Medical School

• Leeds Medical School and the University of Bradford have a partnership allowing a modest number of the highest performing students from the University of Bradford’s Clinical Science programme to transfer directly to the 2 nd year of the Medicine course at Leeds Medical School. The number of students is typically 20 per year.
• Additionally, a modest number of students from the University of Bradford’s Foundation in Clinical Sciences can transfer to the 1 st year of the Medicine programme at Leeds Medical School. Again, the number is typically 20 students a year.
• The application process for students applying to transfer to the Leeds Medicine programme is similar to what is required from standard non-transfer applicants to study Medicine at Leeds. Medicine transfer applicants will have to perform exceptionally well at the University of Bradford, have a strong personal statement, reference, and perform well at interview and in the BMAT.
• Leeds Medical School have a programme allowing qualified dentists wishing to pursue a career in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery to directly enter the Medicine programme in year 3.

The competition for offers of a place to study Medicine at Leeds Medical School:

5-year Standard Entry Medicine Course:

Number of applicants per interview: 2.9 (home/EEA) 5.9 (international)

Number of applicants per place: 7.8 (home/EEA) 22.9 (international)

International Applicants to Medicine at Manchester Medical School

Leeds Medical School accepts international students on to its standard five-year Medicine programme. Overall the University of Leeds has around 6,000 international students of all disciplines enrolled across the university. There are also foundation years for international students.

Graduate Entry Medicine at Leeds Medical School:

Leeds Medical School does not have an accelerated 4-year Graduate Entry Medicine programme. Graduates wishing to apply to study Medicine at Leeds should apply to the standard five year Medicine programme. See our free and comprehensive guide to applying to Medicine as a graduate for more information on all aspects of the process from decision making to funding. We also have a free guide on how to write a graduate entry Medicine personal statement .

Course structure at Leeds Medical School:

The Leeds Medical School course structure is based on an integrated curriculum. This is the most common method of teaching Medicine in the UK. It means that Clinical Medicine is taught alongside the basic Sciences that underpin Clinical Medicine from the start of the curriculum. This contrasts with a traditional course structure (which is rare amongst modern medical schools) where Clinical Medicine is taught much later in the degree. Integrated Medicine courses allow medical students to study basic Sciences in the context of they present in real patients. The course structure at Leeds becomes increasingly clinically orientated as you advance through the Medicine degree. There is early patient contact from year one.

Intercalation at Leeds Medical School

Leeds Medical School offers its students the chance to intercalate, and this includes Masters level degrees. Intercalation allows students to interrupt their medical degree and gain an undergraduate or master’s degree in a chosen subject and then return to the Medicine degree. Intercalation is offered at medical schools throughout the UK and is a popular option. You can learn more about it in our free blogs. Leeds also accepts applications from external students from other medical schools wishing to study in one of Leeds intercalated programmes.

Electives and placements abroad at Leeds Medical School

Like most medical schools, the Leeds Medicine course has an elective period towards the end of the degree which allows students the chance to study Medicine in another setting, usually a different country. Leeds Medical School also offers students other opportunities to study abroad.

Open days at Leeds Medical School

Attending a Leeds Medical School open day allows you to see the medical school yourself and speak to staff and students. A Leeds Medical School open day also provides a great opportunity to explore the city of Leeds for yourself.

Age requirements for applying to Leeds Medical School:

To apply to Leeds Medical Schools, applicants must be 18 by the January of the first year of the Medicine course.

Entry Requirements for Leeds Medical School 5-year Medicine programme:

Applying to any medical school is competitive and will involve meeting high entry requirements. While sharing many similarities, medical schools will also have very different entry requirements and policies in specific areas. The entry requirements for Leeds Medical School are no different in this regard so you must carefully understand the entry requirements for Leeds Medical School before you make an application there. Below are some headline details about the entry requirements for Leeds Medical School for 2019 entry. You can see the full information on their prospectus or website.

A-Level entry requirements for Leeds Medical School: The standard offer is AAA including chemistry. A fourth A-level will not provide an advantage. Leeds Medical School welcomes General studies & Critical Thinking A-levels, but they will not form part of the offer. Related subjects, e.g. Biology & Human Biology; Maths & Further Maths will not count as two separate A-levels to meet the AAA requirements.

GCSE entry requirements for Leeds Medical School: At least 6 grade B/6 GCSEs which must include English; Mathematics; and either double Science, Science & Additional Science, or Chemistry & Biology. These are minimum requirements, and the majority of candidates will far exceed the GCSE entry requirement for Leeds Medical School.

Admissions tests – how does Leeds Medical School use BMAT scores?

Applicants wishing to study Medicine at Leeds must sit the BMAT test. BMAT scores are looked alongside other factors such as academic grades. Candidates with the strongest overall application will be invited for an interview to study Medicine at Leeds. One of the MMI stations at the Leeds Medical School interview will involve the applicant discussing their BMAT section three essay. For more information about the BMAT and how to prepare for the BMAT, see our free BMAT guide and FAQ .

How Does Leeds Medical School use the Medicine personal statement?

Leeds Medical School use the Medicine personal statement in their application process. Additionally, your Medicine personal statement may be discussed at one of the MMI stations at interview.

Tips on how to write a successful Medicine personal statement for Leeds Medical School

• Leeds Medical School use the attributes needed to be a doctor, produced by the medical school’s council as a basis for its admissions process. You can read about these attributes in our free article. Our free guides and blogs on the Medicine personal statement are also based on this. Additionally all of our doctors and proof readers who review Medicine personal statements are well trained in this guidance. Read More
• Read our entirely free guide, how to write a Medicine personal statement in 10 steps. This will take you from step 1 – with no plan and nothing written down, all the way to step 10 – a completed excellent personal statement ready for you to submit to UCAS. Read More
• The meaning and insight gained from experiences such as work experience or extracurricular activities are the most critical thing admissions tutors are looking for, even more so then what you actually did. Simply making long lists of achievements or diary accounts of activities is not what admissions tutors at Leeds Medical School or any other medical school are looking for. It is up to you to make the most of what you have done and show the medical school admissions panel how your experiences will make a good candidate to study Medicine. Our free article: How to show the attributes of self-reflection and personal insight into your Medicine application will help you to write in the manner that admissions tutors are looking for. Read More
• You can consider a Medicine personal statement review service . These are offered by various companies. They are not essential, so do not believe any company that tells you otherwise. However, services by competent providers can add real value to your Medicine application. When looking at providers ensure that they are by experts in Medicine admissions and have professional skills in editing and reviewing. Medicine Answered provide an excellent medical school personal statement review service with a unique level of expertise. A professional editor and then a doctor (who received all four offers to study Medicine) will examine the personal statement line by line and make the appropriate corrections. After making sure the grammar and writing are flawless, they will also comment on the overall strength of the application and make suggestions of things which may be asked at your Medicine interview based on your medical school personal statement.

What type of interview does Leeds Medical School use?

Leeds Medical School interview approximately 550 applicants every year. For 2019 entry, Leeds Medical School interview candidates using multiple mini interviews (MMI) stations. A Leeds MMI Medicine interview for 2019 entry will consist of eight MMI stations. Each Leeds MMI interview station will be seven minutes long with a one-minute gap between MMI stations. In this gap, information about the next MMI station will be given so candidates can start to plan what they will do in the next MMI station. The format of the Leeds Medicine MMI stations differs. Some MMI stations will ask you to discuss information on your UCAS form. Most MMI stations will require you to interact with an examiner or to an actor playing a role. Some MMI stations may involve writing. One MMI station will ask applicants to take part in a discussion around the essay they wrote for section three of the BMAT.

Tips for passing a Leeds Medical School MMI interview

Success at a Leeds Medical School interview, or any other medical school interview is not a random process. It involves a tried and tested set of steps that you can also follow:

• An strategic plan on how to prepare for your medical school interview  – This is covered in our free guide on how to prepare for your medical school interview in seven steps.
• Learning key medical school interview strategies –  We have plenty of free articles covering medical school interview strategies as well as a free database of real Medicine interview questions with examples of full competent answers, analysis, and advice on how to approach these Medicine interview questions. We also have a free guide to Medical Ethics and blog articles such as how to deal with hostile interviewers, how to answer opinion questions and more.
• Avoiding common medical school interview pitfalls – See our free guide on common medical school Interview pitfalls and how to avoid them.
• Intelligent, reflective medical school interview practice  – Use our free exclusive database of medical school interview questions and answers .
• Execution on the medical school interview day  – Preparation and practice are one part of success. The other part is peak performance and execution on the day of the Medicine interview. Read our free article about dealing with nerves before and during your medical school interview .

If you prefer a face to face approach, Medicine Answered also provide excellent doctor delivered one-day Medical School interview courses as well as one to one private tutoring online or in person. All of our courses and tutoring are delivered only by doctors who passed all four of their Medicine interviews. For more information see our services section.

Gateway Year to Medicine MBChB

Year of entry 2025, course overview.

At the University of Leeds, we know finding a place to study Medicine is challenging and competitive. That’s why we're levelling the playing field to give more talented students access to high quality medical education.

Our new Gateway to Medicine course is a six-year course comprising of a Foundation year followed by a run through into the five-year MBChB medical degree. It is designed specifically for students from widening participation backgrounds who are hoping to take their first steps into Medicine.

This flagship initiative aims to increase diversity within the medical profession. The Gateway to Medicine course is designed to provide young people who meet widening participation criteria with the opportunity to build confidence, to attain additional study skills and to fill gaps in their academic knowledge. This then allows them to begin the MBChB programme with the skills, knowledge and confidence to successfully become a doctor.

Connect and develop

You will build your scientific knowledge and core professional skills, learning from leading academics and healthcare professionals. Crucially, the Gateway year will inspire you with the confidence and ambition to transition successfully into undergraduate medicine.

Progressing onto our MBChB course

After successfully completing your initial Gateway to Medicine year, including reaching the required grades on the assessment elements of the course, you’ll progress to the five standard years of our established MBChB course .

On the MBChB you will:

Learn from experienced professionals who directly inform the curriculum with their world-leading medical research.

Work with patients to incrementally build your confidence and experience.

Undertake high-quality clinical placements within our strong network, comprising Leeds Teaching Hospitals, local acute and regional general hospitals and general practices.

Learn in dedicated teaching facilities in the newly refurbished School of Medicine, including the Medical Teaching Centre, Clinical Practice Centre, libraries and study spaces.

Course details

Our Gateway to Medicine course is designed for students who meet our Leeds Widening Participation criteria. At Leeds, we will equip you with effective study strategies and the confidence to communicate with a wide range of people, including health professionals and patients and carers.

You will develop an appreciation of patient care, team roles and the patient journey within the context of the NHS and voluntary services.

The modules from the first year are listed below, with modules for the remaining years being those taken as part of our established 5 year MBChB course .

Throughout your degree you will benefit from the range of opportunities, expanding your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Gateway Year to Medicine MBChB in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Learning and teaching

Our approach to teaching and learning is founded on best educational practice and innovative delivery, from your Gateway year through to your final years of refining your clinical skills and communication.

Once you’ve completed your Gateway year, you will progress to the MBChB, where you will be encouraged to find your own style as a doctor. Over the next five years, you will receive early exposure to outstanding clinical placement and start developing your consultation and practical skills.

You will also learn from innovative, leading professionals who directly inform the curriculum with world-leading medical research. We are also a recognised leader in patient and carer involvement. At Leeds, you will gain first-hand insight from people with a medical condition or disability, and their carers from our Patient Carer Community.

We will help you develop your independent learning and research skills through the Research, Evaluation and Special Studies strand which runs throughout the course in a safe and tight-knit learning environment.

Our newly redeveloped medical school building is home to dedicated teaching facilities to enhance your learning. You will have access to outstanding learning resources in our Health Sciences Library and Clinical Practice Centre to support your learning, complemented by a range of learning technologies.

We take the health and well-being of our students seriously. Regular contact with your personal tutor guides your academic progress and personal development, to enable you to achieve your full potential. Course tutors and support staff are all on hand to help. Once you’ve progressed from your initial Gateway to Medicine year you’ll be supported by your fellow-medical students through our MUMS scheme, where you are paired with first-year “siblings” and second-year “parents”, who mentor you and are there to help.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Entry requirements

A-level: BBC

Widening participation criteria for the Gateway Year to Medicine

Because this course is open only to Widening Participation applicants from the UK, in addition to the academic requirements specified below, further criteria must be met in order to be eligible. These can be found here.

Values based recruitment is carried out across our vocational programmes. Candidates who apply to more than one vocational course in the School of Medicine will only be considered for one course. Please note that if a candidate demonstrates motivation and insight for another non-School of Medicine vocational course e.g. nursing or dentistry they will be rejected without further consideration. Candidates therefore cannot apply to the Gateway to Medicine and Medicine programmes in the same application cycle.

Where possible, candidates who apply for multiple programmes within the School of Medicine will be informed that they must choose one course only.

This course is not open to international applicants.

Academic requirements

A Level: BBC including Chemistry or Biology at B grade. Physics or Maths must also be offered if Chemistry is not taken.

Certain combinations are not acceptable, specifically:

Chemistry with Biology and Human Biology

Chemistry with Mathematics and Further Mathematics

Applicants who are studying both Chemistry and Biology, who are predicted ABB or greater with the A in Chemistry or Biology and also meet the Widening Participation criteria are not eligible to apply to A101 and should apply via the Access to Leeds route to the A100 course.

Applicants predicted ABB without the A in Chemistry or Biology, and applicants who are not taking both Chemistry and Biology A-Levels, are not eligible to apply to A100. They should therefore apply to the Gateway course if they meet the Widening Participation criteria.

Candidates who have studied previous Access to HE Diploma or foundation courses will not be accepted onto this programme.

Graduate applicants will not be accepted onto this programme.

The School of Medicine recognises that some applicants may have studied a more flexible curriculum, where they have been able to progress through their educational development at an appropriate rate according to their ability. Where a Level 2 (for example, GCSE) or Level 3 (for example, A Level) qualification has been taken ‘early’, the UCAS academic reference should include the reasons for this so that it can be taken into consideration by the admissions team.

A Level: Please note that A levels sat in Year 12 will not form part of the shortlisting scoring for interview and offers will be made on 3 A levels taken in Year 13. Those taking a fourth A2 subject will not be at an advantage to those taking three.

GCSE: Please note that applicants applying with these minimums are unlikely to be shortlisted to interview and that scoring is based on 8 GCSEs.

All qualifications: Applications from applicants re-sitting exams are only likely to be successful in exceptional circumstances. Well-supported documentary evidence of any extenuating circumstances is required and must be mentioned in your personal statement or explained by your referee. Applications will not normally be considered from those undertaking a third attempt at an academic entry qualification.

GCSE: A minimum of 6 GCSEs grade C or above (or 4 or above) required in Maths, English Language, Biology and Chemistry (or Dual Science/Double Science). Lower achieved or predicted grades at A level will be rejected. BTECs are not accepted. Candidates who have studied previous access or foundation courses will not be accepted onto this programme. Graduate applicants will not be accepted onto this programme. The School of Medicine recognises that some applicants may have studied a more flexible curriculum, where they have been able to progress through their educational development at an appropriate rate according to their ability. Where a Level 2 (for example, GCSE) or Level 3 (for example, A Level) qualification has been taken ‘early’ the academic reference should include the reasons for this so that it can be taken into consideration by the admissions team. Please note that A levels sat in Year 12 will not form part of the shortlisting scoring for interview and offers will be made on 3 A levels taken in Year 13.

Please note that applicants must be 18 years of age or over by the first day of the programme.

Evidence of Study

Applicants will need to show evidence of being in full-time education in the last 5 years.

The University of Leeds is obliged to refuse admission to applicants for certain courses, which are regulated by national or statutory bodies, where an Enhanced DBS certificate or International Criminality check reveals prior criminal behaviour giving rise to concern for the protection of the public. Clinical placements cannot be attended by those who fail to comply with the clearance processes. 

As part of your application to study you are required to declare any criminal convictions in order that certain checks with the DBS can be undertaken. The University will send further instructions as part of the admissions process where such checks are required.

Occupational Health Clearance

Any offer of a place to study on this course is conditional upon a satisfactory confidential occupational health assessment. All students will complete a pre-registration screening questionnaire which allows our occupational health team at the University support you to meet your true potential on the programme despite any pre-existing health concerns you may have.

The process also allows our occupational health team to check your immunity requirements so we can ensure that both patients and you are protected and kept safe. This will involve understanding your immunisation record to date.

Additionally, for Medicine, Gateway to Medicine, Physician Associates, Midwifery Programmes, Dentistry (undergraduate and postgraduate) and Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy, where you will be undertaking Exposure Prone Procedure (EPP) work during your training we will be screening for HIV, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B surface antigen, in accordance with Department of Health regulations.

For students and applicants to the Faculty of Medicine and Health, please see our dedicated webpage for more information about Occupational Health.

HEOPS offers guidance on occupational health resources and health surveillance.

All applicants for the MBChB and Gateway to Medicine course will be required to take UCAT for 2024 entry onwards. This test must be taken in the year of application. We do not accept other aptitude tests instead, e.g. BMAT or GAMSAT.

UCAT is a computer-based admissions test used by a consortium of UK and international universities to help select applicants for their medical and dental degree programmes. We strongly recommend you prepare for the test. There are many materials to help you, including on the UCAT website. https://www.ucat.ac.uk/

Work Experience

Medical schools are aware that work experience opportunities open to you have been affected and will take this into account. Additionally, keep in mind that clinical work experience is not generally a requirement for applying to medical school in any year. Further information on work experience can be found here .

Personal Statement

Although personal statements are not formally part of our shortlisting process, these form an essential part of your preparation for interview and it is therefore important that these are a clear and accurate reflection of how your skills and attributes make you an ideal candidate to study medicine.

Please read advice on personal statement and reference, non-academic achievements and personal qualities here .

Alternative qualification

International baccalaureate.

29 overall including 5 at Higher Level in Chemistry. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of 34 overall including 16 at Higher Level are not eligible for this course.

Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

BB at Advanced Higher including Biology or Chemistry, and BBBBC at Standard Level. Applicants with achieved or predicted Advanced Higher grades of AA, are not eligible for this course.

We do not accept T Level qualifications for this course.

Other Qualifications

International students.

UK: To be confirmed

Read more about paying fees and charges .

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page .

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our  Undergraduate funding overview .

Studying in the School of Medicine at Leeds is an amazing opportunity, but we know that the cost can be difficult for many people to meet. If you are keen to join us, a range of funding opportunities are available.

Apply to this course through UCAS . The institution code for the University of Leeds is L23. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website. The application closing date for medicine is earlier than for many other courses – all full-time undergraduate applications must be made through the UCAS website by 15th October of the year preceding entry. The School of Medicine does not normally accept applications after the initial UCAS closing date.

All applicants will be sent an online form to indicate their Widening Participation criteria once their UCAS application has been received. A referee will be required to validate this information.

Selection process

A successful application passes through several stages before we make an offer:

1. We assess the application form against academic criteria, considering past and predicted grades, and the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) score. We take into account any issues regarding mitigating circumstances raised in personal statements and academic reference.

UCAT is a computer-based admissions test used by a consortium of UK and international universities to help select applicants for their medical and dental degree programmes. We strongly recommend candidates prepare for the test. There are many materials to help candidates, including on the UCAT website .

2. For those students applying for 2025 entry, interviews for the Gateway programme will take place on 6th, 7th and 8th January 2025.

These will take place face to face. Using a multiple mini-interview format, we will further assess applicants’ non-academic qualities. There are currently eight interview stations, and the format of stations varies. A single interviewer will award marks for each station according to a pre-determined standardised scale.

3. Offers are made on the basis of merit and the ability of each applicant to meet the academic and non-academic criteria for admission. The decision to make an offer after interview depends entirely on performance at interview, not on predicted or achieved academic performance, or other scores.

Further information and suggestions on how to prepare can be found on the Medical Schools Council website .

Unfortunately, because of the nature and volume of applications and interviews, we are unable to provide specific individual feedback.

Please see the latest School of Medicine Admissions Appeals and Complaints Procedure .

Admissions policy

School of Medicine undergraduate admissions policy 2024

This course is taught by

School of Medicine

School of Medicine Undergraduate Admissions Team

Email: [email protected] Telephone:

Career opportunities

We believe that an outstanding medical education should be accessible to all students, regardless of background. The Gateway to Medicine course is the first step towards your long and successful medical career.

The depth of expertise offered by our staff on our MBChB course, along with the variety of skills, experience and versatility you’ll learn, means that our Gateway year can be the start of a range of different career paths within the discipline.

Our MBChB enables our graduates to embark on a variety of careers, including hospital consultancy, General Practice (GP), medical and scientific research, leadership in the NHS and international health development. Once you progress onto the MBChB, our dedicated careers team are available to advise you and to give you the necessary support and information to make the right decisions at each step of your development.

After Year 5, you'll begin foundation training before becoming fully registered with the General Medical Council.

Study abroad and work placements

There are no study abroad opportunities within the first Gateway to Medicine year. However, students do have the opportunity to undertake an intercalated degree after progressing to years 2, 3, or 4 of the MBChB course. Some of the degree options include an opportunity to study abroad.

We are developing new links and strengthening existing ones with providers in Europe to ensure our students can spend time understanding other cultures and healthcare systems.

On progressing to year 5 of the MBChB course you can choose to spend your six-week elective abroad. This elective is about gaining wider clinical experience or carrying out a specific project. Past students have worked in health centres, charities, universities and hospitals on all continents, ranging from world-leading research institutes to isolated units delivering healthcare in developing countries.

MBChB students can study languages as part of the “Students without Borders” programme so they are fluent enough to work as junior doctors in French- or Spanish-speaking countries after graduation.

Many of our graduates consider working in the USA and Canada. We support students through the process of applying for the North American licensing systems and examinations.

Clinical placements

Clinical placements in Leeds are second-to-none and are central to your training. Our strong partnerships with the major Leeds teaching hospitals, local acute and regional general hospitals and general practices mean we can offer our students a diverse range of placements.

Related courses

Medical ultrasound (sonography) bsc, audiology bsc, diagnostic radiography bsc, healthcare science (cardiac physiology) bsc, medicine and surgery mbchb.