Edinburgh is one of the oldest and most prestigious medical schools in the world, with a six-year MBChB. It's unusually transparent about selection: a UCAT minimum and an SJT rule, then a weighted score across academics, UCAT decile, the SJT and a half-day Assessment Day.
Edinburgh sets a minimum UCAT of 1650 for 2026 entry and won't interview anyone in SJT Band 4. Above that, your UCAT is converted to a decile and contributes 17.5% of a weighted total — academics are 25%, the SJT 7.5%, and the Assessment Day (interview) is the biggest single piece at 50%. So a strong UCAT helps you reach the Assessment Day, but the day itself decides most of it. The 1650 figure is a floor, not a target.
Clear the 1650 floor and avoid SJT Band 4, then know the UCAT is only 17.5% of the final score — Edinburgh suits strong all-rounders who interview well, not just high scorers. If your UCAT is average but your academics and interview skills are strong, Edinburgh's weighting is relatively forgiving. Check your percentile and your decile.
Check your percentile →AAA including Chemistry and one of Biology/Human Biology, Maths/Further Maths or Physics.
Grade 7 in Biology and Chemistry, with GCSEs including Biology, Chemistry, English and Maths; your best eight are scored.
Edinburgh looks for reflective insight into medicine and care — it's about what you took from experience, not the hours logged.
Assessment Day (MMI-style). A half-day Assessment Day worth 50% of selection; invitations typically go out November to January.
Edinburgh runs widening-access routes with adjusted requirements for eligible applicants — check whether you qualify.
Paraphrased themes from student discussion: impressions, not facts. Visit and judge for yourself.
There's a minimum of 1650 for 2026 entry, and SJT Band 4 means no interview. Above the minimum your UCAT is scored by decile and counts for 17.5% of a weighted total — so a higher score helps but doesn't dominate.
Yes — top-ranked applicants are invited to a half-day Assessment Day (MMI-style), worth 50% of selection. Invitations typically go out between November and January.
Academics 25%, UCAT decile 17.5%, SJT 7.5% and the Assessment Day 50%. So Edinburgh leans more on academics and interview than on the UCAT alone.
See where your UCAT lands in percentiles, then build the score Edinburgh is looking for, or talk it through with a 98th-percentile tutor, free.