King's College London's Extended Medical Degree Programme (EMDP, UCAS code A101) is a six-year route into medicine for students who have attended only non-selective state schools since age 11 and have not previously started a degree. The minimum academic requirement is ABB at A-level, including grade A in either Biology or Chemistry and grade B in the other, alongside the UCAT and a mandatory interview. The EMDP is open to Home fee status applicants only and leads to the same MBBS qualification as King's standard five-year programme.
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What Is the EMDP at King's College London?
The Extended Medical Degree Programme is King's flagship broadening-access-to-medicine degree, designed for students from non-selective state schools. It lasts six years, or seven with an intercalated iBSc, allowing the first stage to be studied at a slower pace. Despite the extended timeline, students follow exactly the same curriculum as all other medical students and sit the same exams from year three onwards, graduating with the identical MBBS qualification.
Stage 1 is taught over two years rather than one, giving extra time for self-directed study and pastoral support before joining the mainstream cohort. Partner hospitals include Guy's, King's College, and St Thomas' Hospitals, with clinical placements also available across district general hospitals in the South of England and over 350 general practices.
EMDP Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for EMDP, you must meet all of the following mandatory criteria, plus at least one additional widening-participation criterion.
Mandatory criteria
- You must have attended only non-selective state education since age 11. A non-selective state school does not charge fees and does not require an entrance exam or interview. List every school attended since age 11 on your UCAS application, including schools outside the UK.
- You must not have previously started or completed a degree at any institution. If you have, the standard five-year programme (A100) or Graduate Entry (A102) are the relevant alternatives.
- You must apply using UCAS course code A101 specifically; applications under the standard medicine code won't be considered for EMDP.
- You must be eligible for Home fee status. EMDP does not accept international fee-status applicants.
Additional criteria (at least one required)
KCL also looks for evidence of wider participation, including being a Realising Opportunities participant, attending a school in a low-participation area (assessed via postcode and ACORN profile), or completing a relevant King's outreach programme such as K+ or Medview. Qualifying criteria can change between cycles, so confirm the current list on KCL's official EMDP requirements page before applying.
Grade Requirements
| Qualification | Requirement |
| A-level | ABB overall |
| Science subjects | Grade A in either Biology or Chemistry, grade B in the other |
| Excluded subjects | General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills, and Global Perspectives are not accepted as one of your A-levels |
| Practical endorsement | Required in all science subjects for linear A-levels taken in England (exemptions apply for private candidates unable to take the practical component) |
| Scottish Highers | BBB at Higher in one sitting, plus AB at Advanced Higher, including AB in Chemistry and Biology |
| GCSE Maths | Can be met via Intermediate 2, Standard Credit Grade 1 or 2, or National 5 with a B if not studied at Higher or Advanced Higher level |
These figures sit well below the A*AA typically required for King's standard five-year medicine programme, reflecting EMDP's purpose as a genuine widening-access route rather than a backdoor into a higher-tariff course. KCL does not consider the EPQ at any point in the assessment process for this programme.
UCAT and Interview Requirements
All EMDP applicants must sit the UCAT in the same admissions cycle they apply. The UCAT format changed in July 2025 with the removal of Abstract Reasoning, reducing the maximum possible score from 3,600 to 2,700, so historical cut-off scores don't directly translate to the current format.
GCSE performance and UCAT scores together are used for interview shortlisting, so strong GCSE results and a competitive UCAT score both genuinely matter for getting through to interview, not just predicted or achieved A-level grades.
Interviews are mandatory; no offers are made without one. King's uses the same panel format as its other medicine programmes, assessing values, ethical reasoning, and awareness of topical medical issues. Interviews typically run November to May, and in the current cycle are conducted remotely.
Application Numbers and Competition
Across King's undergraduate medical programmes, applications run to around 5,500 for roughly 410 total places, with nearly 800 of those specifically for EMDP. Around 1,200 to 1,400 applicants across all medicine programmes are selected for interview, with approximately 80 places available on A101.
EMDP is genuinely competitive within its own applicant pool, even with a lower headline grade requirement than the standard programme. That lower threshold reflects access, not reduced rigour: every EMDP graduate sits the same exams from year three and earns the same MBBS.
Resits and Re-applications
King's will consider applicants who have retaken qualifications, though candidates achieving required grades within a standard two-year A-level timeframe may be viewed more favourably. Second resits are only considered with significant mitigating circumstances, supported by a Mitigating Circumstances form, though consideration still cannot be guaranteed. Re-applicants are welcome in future cycles provided they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
Other Requirements to Know
You must turn 18 before commencing the second year of the medicine degree. All successful applicants must obtain satisfactory occupational health clearance before enrolment, and an Enhanced DBS check is required, standard for any UK medical degree given the clinical placements involved early on.
Is EMDP Right for You?
EMDP suits students with strong potential and genuine interest in medicine who haven't had access to the school environment or grade outcomes the standard A*AA programme assumes. It isn't a route for students who simply missed their grades by a small margin. The eligibility criteria, particularly non-selective state education since age 11 and no previous degree, are checked carefully, and the programme is explicitly designed around access rather than convenience.
If you're unsure whether you meet the widening-participation criteria, check your specific circumstances against KCL's official EMDP requirements page before building your UCAS application around this route.
Planning Ahead
If you're considering EMDP, an open day is a useful way to speak directly with current students about what the extended first stage involves. See the King's College London open days 2026 guide for dates and booking.
EMDP students study across Guy's, St Thomas', and Denmark Hill as their course progresses, making location planning genuinely important. For accommodation near each campus, see the complete guide to King's College London accommodation.
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FAQs: King's College London EMDP Entry Requirements
What grades do I need for King's College London EMDP?
The minimum requirement is ABB at A-level, including grade A in either Biology or Chemistry and grade B in the other. This is significantly lower than the A*AA typically required for King's standard five-year medicine programme.
Who is eligible for EMDP at King's College London?
You must have attended only non-selective state education since age 11, not have previously started a degree at any institution, hold Home fee status, and meet at least one additional widening-participation criterion such as being a Realising Opportunities participant or attending a school in a low-participation area.
Can international students apply for EMDP?
No. EMDP is open exclusively to Home fee status applicants. International students should explore King's standard five-year MBBS programme (A100) instead.
How long does the EMDP take to complete?
EMDP is a six-year programme, or seven years if you take an intercalated iBSc. The first stage of the curriculum is taught over two years instead of one, giving additional time for foundational study before joining the standard medical cohort.
Do EMDP graduates get a different qualification to standard medicine students?
No. EMDP graduates receive the same MBBS qualification as students on King's standard five-year programme and are equally eligible to apply for provisional registration with the General Medical Council.
Is the UCAT required for EMDP?
Yes. All applicants must sit the UCAT in the same cycle they apply. Note that the UCAT format changed in July 2025, removing Abstract Reasoning and reducing the maximum score from 3,600 to 2,700, so older score benchmarks no longer apply directly.
How many EMDP places are available each year?
Approximately 80 places are available on A101 each year, out of around 800 applications specifically for EMDP, within a total of roughly 410 places across all of King's undergraduate medical programmes.
Is an interview required for EMDP?
Yes. No offers are made without an interview. EMDP uses the same panel interview format as King's other medicine programmes, assessing values, ethical reasoning, and awareness of topical medical issues, typically held between November and May.
Final Verdict
EMDP is one of the most genuinely impactful access routes into medicine in the UK, offering exactly the same outcome as King's standard programme through a more graduated, better-supported first stage. It rewards students who can clearly evidence both academic potential and a non-traditional educational background, not simply lower predicted grades. If your circumstances match the eligibility criteria, it deserves serious consideration alongside, not instead of, the standard route.