Last verified by Dr Dibah Jiva — March 2026
Overview
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry — part of Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) — is one of the most prestigious and historically significant medical schools in the UK. Founded on the legacy of St Bartholomew's Hospital (founded 1123) and The London Hospital (founded 1740), Barts trains doctors for an exceptionally diverse clinical environment across East London and beyond.
For 2026 entry, Barts offers 311 home places, making it one of the larger cohorts at a high-ranking university. The school's global standing (QS Top 110 worldwide) is matched by its clinical breadth: students train across Barts Health NHS Trust, one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, with access to specialist centres in cardiac surgery, cancer, and trauma.
What distinguishes Barts in the admissions process is its panel interview format — a genuine panel, online, lasting 20 minutes, with a structure unlike almost any other UK medical school. Half the interview is devoted to discussing a pre-sent article that you receive in advance. The other half is a traditional medical interview panel discussion. This guide breaks down exactly how to prepare for both halves.
Entry Requirements for 2026
A-Levels
Barts requires A\*AA at A-level. This is among the highest standard offers in UK medicine.
Subject requirements: - Chemistry AND Biology are both required at A-level - A third subject of your choice completes the combination (General Studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted)
There is no flexibility in the subject requirement: you must have both Chemistry and Biology as A-levels. Candidates with Physics instead of Biology should look at schools with alternative science subject combinations.
A-Level Resits
Barts (Queen Mary) does not accept A-level resits — this is among the schools with the most explicit no-resit policies in UK medicine. Do not apply to Barts if you have resit grades; your application will not progress past the academic screen.
UCAT
UCAT is required for all undergraduate applicants. Barts applies a two-stage UCAT shortlisting process:
Stage 1 — Absolute minimums (automatic rejection thresholds): - UCAT cognitive total must be at least the 4th decile — roughly 1820/2700 or above (based on 2025 national data, where the 4th decile threshold was approximately 1820). This is an absolute floor: scoring below the 4th decile means automatic rejection regardless of your other scores. - SJT Band 4 = automatic rejection. If you score Band 4 on the Situational Judgement Test, your application will not proceed. Band 3 or above is required.
Stage 2 — Ranked shortlisting: - Applicants who pass Stage 1 are then ranked by a weighted combination of UCAT total score and UCAS tariff (predicted or achieved A-level grades) - The top-ranked applicants are invited to interview
This means that for Barts, both a competitive UCAT score and strong academic grades feed into your shortlisting ranking simultaneously. Neither element can compensate entirely for a weak performance in the other.
To be meaningfully competitive, aim for a UCAT total well above the 4th decile floor. Based on national 2025 data, the 6th decile is approximately 1950 — this is a reasonable competitive target, and higher scores improve your ranking further.
Personal Statement
Personal statements are not scored during shortlisting. However, they may come up in your panel interview discussion. Be ready to speak to anything you have written.
GCSEs
There are no published minimum GCSE requirements for Barts, but a strong academic profile across all qualifications is expected given the A\*AA A-level standard.
How Shortlisting Works
Barts' process:
1. Academic eligibility screen — A\*AA with Chemistry AND Biology, no resits 2. UCAT Stage 1 — cognitive minimum 4th decile; SJT Band 4 = automatic reject 3. UCAT Stage 2 — ranked by weighted UCAT total + UCAS tariff 4. Top-ranked applicants invited to interview
In 2025, approximately 1,294 home applicants were interviewed (representing 80% of home applicants), and 948 home offers were made. This interview-to-offer conversion rate is notably high — once you are invited to interview at Barts, your chances of receiving an offer are strong, but you must still perform well on the day.
Interview Format
Type: Panel Interview (NOT an MMI)
Mode: Online — all candidates
Timing: January – March 2026; invitations emailed in December
Total duration: 20 minutes
Structure: - Part 1 (~10 minutes): Article Discussion - Part 2 (~10 minutes): Traditional Medical Panel Discussion
Panel composition: Typically 2 interviewers (a senior lecturer or clinician + a medical student or lay member; sometimes 3 panellists)
Scoring: 4 measures on a 1–5 scale per measure
This is a conversational, semi-structured format — not a series of identical, scripted rapid-fire questions. The assessors are having a genuine discussion with you, not ticking boxes. This rewards candidates who can think on their feet, engage with follow-up questions, and sustain coherent reasoning across a 20-minute conversation.
Part 1: The Article Discussion (10 Minutes)
This is the most distinctive feature of Barts' interview and the component most applicants underestimate. You will receive a scientific or medical article before your interview: - Undergraduate applicants receive the article one week before the interview - Graduate applicants receive it 24 hours before
The article is typically a health or medical research paper, a public health piece, or a science-related commentary — something accessible to a non-specialist but requiring genuine engagement to discuss intelligently.
What the Article Discussion Tests
- Reading comprehension — can you accurately summarise what the article says? - Critical appraisal — can you evaluate the quality of the evidence, identify limitations, and ask the right questions about the methodology? - Broader contextualisation — can you connect the article to wider issues in medicine, public health, or healthcare policy? - Intellectual engagement — does this article stimulate you? Can you discuss it like someone who genuinely cares about science and medicine?
How to Prepare for the Article Discussion
When you receive your article, do not simply read it once. Work through it systematically:
1. Summarise the core argument or finding in two to three sentences. What does the article claim to show, and how? 2. Identify the methodology (if applicable). Is it a randomised controlled trial? An observational study? A review? A commentary? What are the limitations of this approach? 3. Note the key data or claims. What are the headline numbers or conclusions? Are they plausible? 4. Consider alternative interpretations. What else might explain the findings? What would need to be true for the article's conclusions to be wrong? 5. Connect to a wider context. How does this relate to NHS policy, public health issues, or clinical practice? Why does it matter beyond the abstract? 6. Prepare two or three questions you would ask the researchers if you could — gaps in the evidence, logical next steps, or real-world implications.
Practise explaining your analysis aloud, as if to someone who has not read the article.
Part 2: Traditional Medical Panel Discussion (10 Minutes)
The second half of the interview is a traditional medical panel discussion. This is less structured than an MMI circuit, but it typically covers:
- Your motivation for medicine and for Barts specifically - Your understanding of the medical profession — challenges, responsibilities, current NHS issues - Ethical reasoning — patient scenarios, professional dilemmas - Your work experience — what you observed, what you learned - Personal qualities — how you handle pressure, setbacks, teamwork
Because the format is conversational, assessors will follow up on your answers. A shallow answer will be probed further; a rich, nuanced answer will open the door for genuine dialogue. The 10-minute duration rewards depth over breadth.
What to Expect on Interview Day
Logistics
All interviews are online for 2026 entry. Set up your interview space as you would for any high-stakes video call: - Stable internet connection (wired if possible) - Camera at eye level - Neutral background, good lighting facing you - No notifications or distractions on screen - Test the platform in advance
Invitations are sent by email in December. You will be given your interview date and the technical platform details, along with the article well in advance of your session.
Tone and Approach
Barts' panel interview is genuinely conversational. Do not perform a memorised monologue at the assessors — listen carefully to questions, take a brief moment to think, and give a considered, structured response. If asked a follow-up question, adapt. If you are asked something unexpected, say so — "That's not something I've considered in that way before; let me think through it" is a completely acceptable response in a panel setting.
The assessors are looking for the qualities of a future doctor: intellectual curiosity, ethical reasoning, empathy, and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly. None of these are best displayed through rote answers.
Example Questions
Article Discussion - "Can you summarise the main argument of the article for us?" - "What do you think are the limitations of the evidence presented here?" - "This article argues that [X]. Can you think of any circumstances where the opposite might be true?" - "How might the findings of this article change clinical practice, if they were confirmed by further research?" - "If you were to design a follow-up study to address the limitations you identified, what would it look like?"
Motivation and Personal Statement - "Why medicine at Barts specifically? What about this school appeals to you beyond its name?" - "Tell us about a clinical experience you found challenging — not medically, but personally or ethically. What did you take from it?" - "What aspects of medicine do you think will challenge you the most as a junior doctor?"
Ethics and Professionalism - "A consultant you respect asks you, as a medical student, to cover for them — to not mention to a patient that they made an error in their prescription. What do you do?" - "How should doctors balance patient confidentiality with public safety when a patient discloses something alarming?" - "Should healthcare resources be prioritised by outcome (what produces the most benefit per pound spent) or by need (who is most unwell)? Is there a tension between the two?"
NHS and Healthcare Awareness - "What do you think 'patient-centred care' means in practice — beyond the phrase itself?" - "Name one significant challenge facing the NHS today that concerns you most, and why."
Preparation Tips
1. Prepare for the Article Seriously — It Is Half Your Interview
One week is enough time to do this well if you use it properly. Do not leave article preparation to the day before. Spend 30–60 minutes on the article on the day you receive it, produce a one-page set of notes, then revisit it on two or three further occasions to deepen your thinking. Practise your summary and analysis aloud.
2. Read Medical Articles Regularly in the Weeks Before
The article discussion will feel more natural if you are already in the habit of reading health research or commentary. Read NHS news briefings, BMJ student pieces, Wellcome Collection articles, or science reporting in quality newspapers. Practise quickly identifying claims, methodology, and limitations.
3. Prepare for a Conversation, Not a Presentation
In an MMI, each station is closed and self-contained. A panel is open-ended. Your answer to the first question may shape the next three. This rewards genuine engagement over scripted responses. Practise with a mock panel — ideally with someone who will ask follow-up questions rather than simply listening.
4. Know Why Barts — Specifically
With 311 home places and a prestigious global ranking, Barts attracts applicants who sometimes cannot articulate why they chose it over other competitive schools. Know the hospital trusts, the clinical specialties available, the research culture, the patient population. "Because it's a great school" will not do.
5. Understand the SJT
Band 4 on the SJT means automatic rejection at Barts. This makes the SJT more consequential here than at schools where it plays no formal role. Aim for Band 1 or Band 2. Familiarise yourself with SJT response conventions: ranking behaviours appropriately, understanding what "the most appropriate action" means in a professional context, and avoiding extreme or rigid responses.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information | |---|---| | Course | MBBS Medicine (5 years, A100) | | Home Places | 311 | | A-Level Offer | A\*AA | | Required Subjects | Chemistry AND Biology | | Resits Accepted? | No | | UCAT Minimum | 4th decile (cognitive total); SJT Band 4 = automatic rejection | | Interview Format | Panel Interview (NOT MMI) | | Interview Mode | Online | | Duration | 20 minutes total | | Part 1 | ~10 min article discussion (article sent 1 week before for undergrads) | | Part 2 | ~10 min traditional medical panel discussion | | Interview Dates | January – March 2026 | | Personal Statement | Not scored for shortlisting | | 2025 Home Interviews | ~1,294 (80% of home applicants) | | 2025 Home Offers | ~948 |
Official Resources
- Queen Mary University of London — Barts Medicine (A100) - UCAT Official Website - Medical Schools Council Entry Requirements Tool - UCAS Medicine Subject Guide
Last verified by Dr Dibah Jiva — March 2026