Taught Postgraduate Admissions Policy - School of Medicine 2025-26

Please see Course Search for the course list, typical entry requirements, and accepted qualifications. If a course listed on this page does not appear in Course Search, please contact the School of Medicine Taught Postgraduate Admissions team using the contact details in the Useful contacts and resources section of this page.

The typical entry requirement for the School of Medicine is a good first honours degree of at least a UK upper second class or equivalent. Criteria for entry to individual courses may be higher or lower and applicants are advised to check the Course Search pages prior to applying. Exceptions to this academic requirement may be made when applicants can demonstrate significant relevant non-standard experience and their potential for benefiting from the programme is clear.

Some taught postgraduate courses in the School of Medicine will consider applicants who do not have an undergraduate honours degree but who can demonstrate appropriate work experience. Further details are provided in the programme specific entry requirements on the Course Search pages. Decisions regarding the suitability of this work experience are made by the programme team. Applicants are advised to carefully read the descriptors of accepted types of work stated on the Course Search pages as each year many applicants are not successful as they apply without the specific requirements.

For MSc Physician Associate Studies, applicants will need to show evidence of study in the last five years. This study must be within a relevant scientific field. Consideration of the duration of study, level of study and method of assessment will be considered to ensure that the applicant has demonstrated that they have the capacity to study a full-time postgraduate course.

For MSc Physician Associate Studies, the School of Medicine does not accept Level 2 Functional Skills English in lieu of GCSE English. Applicants must have met the English language requirement at the point of application to the programme. 

Applicants to some of the courses in the School of Medicine must pass additional checks. Applicants can check whether these checks are required on the course page in Course Search.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

An Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate is required for students to undertake clinical placements as part of their studies within the School of Medicine. For more information, see the Criminal convictions section of this policy.

Fitness to practise check

The primary duty of care of a healthcare professional is to their patients. Students studying on a healthcare programme likewise have this responsibility to the patients with whom they will come into contact. These responsibilities are set out by the relevant regulatory body, e.g. the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or General Medical Council.

We will not accept an application from an applicant who has been removed from or denied access to any professional regulatory body register or who is awaiting investigation for an issue that could lead to removal from a register.

If significant reservations were raised about an application or the applicant’s conduct during the application process during a previous admissions cycle, the applicant will not be considered.

Occupational health check

Due to the nature of some of our postgraduate courses, and to meet statutory and professional requirements, all candidates who are offered a place on these courses will be required to complete an occupational health questionnaire and, where necessary, assessment. Offers made for these courses are conditional upon a satisfactory occupational health assessment and clearance.

Applicants with a health-related issue should contact the School of Medicine as soon as possible if their health is likely to impact on their ability to engage with the admissions process or subsequent course. This allows the Occupational Health team at the University to support applicants to meet their true potential on the programme despite any pre-existing health concerns they may have. Contact details for the School of Medicine can be found at the end of this policy.

Additional information can be found at Occupational health requirements for students and applicants to the Faculty of Medicine and Health.

Blood-borne viruses check

All MSc Physician Associate Studies students are required to undergo screening for blood-borne viruses (Hepatitis B and C, and HIV).

Values based recruitment is carried out across our vocational programmes. Applicants who apply to more than one vocational course in the School of Medicine will only be considered for one course.

Where possible, applicants who apply for multiple programmes within the School of Medicine will be informed that they must choose one course only. If an applicant demonstrates motivation and insight for another non-School of Medicine vocational course they will be rejected without further consideration.

We will not accept applications for transfers from other programmes.

Some courses in the School of Medicine are offered on a part-time basis; these are indicated in the list at the start of this policy. Applications should be made via the applicant portal unless otherwise stated in Course Search. Overseas applicants should note that Student visa regulations will not normally allow study on a part-time basis.

Applicants to School of Medicine programmes will be asked to declare any spent or unspent criminal convictions or other punishments at the point of application. Further information on the process can be found in the University's Applicants and students with criminal records policy.

As part of the student offer for our clinical programmes, an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate may be required for students to undertake clinical placements as part of their studies within the Faculty of Medicine and Health. The certification process is often undertaken on entry to the programme.

The Enhanced DBS certificate can only include background checks for time in the UK. If a student has been resident in the UK for less than three years, a criminal record check from their home country is required. This may be referred to as an International Criminality check.

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.

Applicants for the MSc or PG Diploma Clinical Embryology distance-learning courses will not be eligible for a Student visa and should instead apply for a Short-term Study visa.

For other courses, see the corresponding section of the University of Leeds Admissions Policy.

The School of Medicine may consider applications from those who are re-taking examinations but applicants must meet all conditions set by the University in sufficient time to allow completion of other steps in the process, and to ensure arrival by the relevant start date.

For MSc Physician Associate Studies, applications will not be accepted from applicants who have commenced but failed to complete a healthcare programme at the University of Leeds or elsewhere.

Academic grades normally form only one part of the final decision and the following sections provide examples of how applicants may demonstrate that they have the skills, knowledge and attributes that we consider will enable them to become successful students on our degree courses.

Applicants are required to submit their results for consideration as soon as possible. Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK are recommended to submit their results no later than 12 August for courses starting in September, although they will still be considered if submitted after this date, unless stated on Course Search.

It should be noted that for MSc Physician Associate Studies an unconditional offer means that an applicant has met the academic and non-academic entry requirements but will still be required to meet the health and criminal record checks. If these conditions are not met prior to registration, proof that these checks will be fulfilled during term one can be used to confirm a place. This can be an appointment card or evidence of when forms were submitted.