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Students with ED consultant at Hull Royal Infirmary

Exceptional Circumstances

We understand that difficult personal circumstances can affect academic outcomes. If this applies to you, we may be able to consider these circumstances when reviewing your application.

Pre-applicants

If you are planning to apply to study with us

If you are planning to apply to study with us and are unable to meet the published minimum academic entry requirements for an application for MB BS or Medicine with a Gateway Year, please complete the exceptional circumstances form.

We can consider specific academic outcomes as outlined below.

We cannot consider exceptional circumstances if you have already met or exceeded our published minimum academic entry requirements.
We will require formal written supportive evidence to consider your exceptional circumstances. The applicant is responsible for ensuring the required written supportive evidence is submitted in advance of our exceptional circumstances form deadline.
We will not consider late submissions for consideration of exceptional circumstances.

We will consider the following on a case by case basis:

Circumstance Possible concession
I have achieved fewer than the required number of GCSEs. Please complete the exceptional circumstances form. If the exceptional circumstances are approved, we will allow your application to pass our academic screening process and will upscale the score for your achieved GCSEs.
It has taken me longer than three years to complete my A Levels. Please complete the exceptional circumstances form. If the exceptional circumstances are approved, we will allow your application to pass our academic screening process.
I do not have the correct A Level or Degree grades, but I have completed relevant postgraduate study and/or relevant work experience. Please complete the exceptional circumstances form. If the exceptional circumstances are approved, we will allow your application to pass our academic screening process.

 We cannot consider the following academic outcomes:

Circumstance Reason
I have achieved lower than the required minimum grade GCSE Maths and/or English Language We accept GCSE resits, so you are expected to resit your GCSE(s) to achieve the required grade.
I am currently resitting A levels (or equivalent), but achieved lower than BBB in my first attempt.

We will not consider applicants to the 5 Year MB BS in Medicine programme who have achieved a grade lower then B (or equivalent) in any of their level 3 qualifications.

We will not consider applicants to the 6 Year Medicine with a Gateway Year programme who have a grade lower than CC in Biology plus one additional science subject from Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology and D in the third subject of their level 3 qualifications.

I have educational circumstances that haven't already been mitigated by an examination board or taken into account prior to awarding marks for formal assessments, such as coursework. We cannot consider retrospective mitigation for educational circumstances that were not submitted for mitigation to an examination board or not taken into account, as this responsibility lies with the school /college or university. 
I was unable to sit the UCAT test. HYMS uses UCAT as part of our application process and cannot consider applications without a UCAT result.
I was unwell on the day of my UCAT test, and this was not taken into account at the time. Please review UCAT Fitness to test guidance.

I did not receive UCAT access arrangements.

Please review UCAT access arrangements guidance.

I am currently studying at another medical school in the UK or internationally and would like to be considered for a medical school transfer to the Hull York Medical School MB BS programme.

I have previously studied medicine at a medical school in the UK or internationally.

We are unable to consider medical school transfers or applicants who are currently or have previously studied medicine in the UK or internationally.

This is primarily because our medical MB BS programme curriculum is closely regulated by the General Medical Council to meet the requirements of Outcomes for Graduates and we cannot align or accept components that have been studied elsewhere. We strongly encourage applicants to discuss their situation with their current or previous host medical school to explore their circumstances.

 

How to apply for consideration of exceptional circumstances

You can complete the online form to apply for exceptional circumstances here.

The deadline for completing this form is 18:00 GMT on 25 September 2026. We cannot guarantee consideration of exceptional circumstances submitted after this date.

If you have submitted your form by the deadline, we will let you know if we are able to make a concession on your application by 17:00 GMT on 9 October.