Queen Mary University of London
An East London Russell Group university with England's oldest medical school and a highly diverse student body.
- Students
- 32,000
- International
- 45%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 14.3:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £28,300
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1785
About Queen Mary
Queen Mary traces its history to 1785 and the founding of The London Hospital Medical College, England's first official medical school. The modern university grew from the merger of four historic colleges, including Queen Mary College, which began as part of the People's Palace in the Victorian East End. Today it has more than 32,000 students on degree programmes, about 45% of them from overseas, drawn from over 170 nationalities.
Teaching is organised into three faculties: Humanities and Social Sciences; Science and Engineering; and Medicine and Dentistry, whose Barts and The London medical school is based in Whitechapel. The main Mile End campus is a self-contained site beside the Regent's Canal, with halls, library, students' union and teaching buildings together.
Queen Mary is a Russell Group member and was ranked joint 7th in the UK in REF 2021. It is also strongly focused on social mobility: 91% of its domestic undergraduates come from state schools and 46% are the first in their family to go to university. It suits students who want a research university in London with a genuine campus, and a student body that looks like the city.
Coniunctis Viribus
“With united powers” — university motto
Why students choose Queen Mary
Queen Mary is ranked 103rd in the QS World University Rankings 2027, its highest ever position, and joint 134th in the THE World University Rankings 2026.
The Mile End campus puts halls, teaching buildings and the students' union on one site in East London, and all new undergraduates who meet the deadline are guaranteed accommodation.
Law students can volunteer at the award-winning Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre, which gives free legal advice to the public.
87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023/24).
Admissions
2027 entry (September 2027)
Selectivity
Queen Mary does not publish an overall offer rate. Typical offers range from BBB (English) and AAA (Economics, Computer Science) to A*AA (Law, Medicine, Computer Science MSci), with contextual offers for eligible UK applicants.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Course-specific: BBB (English BA), AAA including Mathematics (Economics BSc), AAA including Maths, Computer Science or Physics (Computer Science BSc), A*AA (Law LLB), A*AA including Biology or Chemistry plus a second science, in one sitting (Medicine MBBS); contextual offers such as AAA or ABB for Law |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | 30 points with 5,5,5 at HL (English); 36 points with 6,6,6 at HL (Law, Economics, Computer Science); 37 points with 6,6,6 at HL including Chemistry or Biology plus another science (Medicine) |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 92 Requirements depend on the department's English band. Band 4 (e.g. Economics and Finance): IELTS 6.5 with 6.0 in each skill, or TOEFL iBT 92 (tests up to 20 January 2026; 4.5 overall on the new 1-6 scale). Band 3 (e.g. Engineering, Mathematics): IELTS 6.0 with 5.5 in each skill. Band 5 (e.g. Medicine and Dentistry): IELTS 7.0 with 6.0 in each skill, or TOEFL 100. Law has non-standard requirements. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine and Dentistry) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Equal consideration date for most courses in medicine and dentistry.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
Most courses. Queen Mary says applications after this date are still considered for the majority of courses.
- UCAS final deadline before Clearing Non-binding In ~9 months30 June 2027, 18:00 UK time
Applications received by this date are sent to universities; later ones go into Clearing. Queen Mary has more flexible deadlines for international applicants.
UCAS deadlines for 2027 entry are confirmed on ucas.com. Queen Mary's own key-dates page still shows 2026-entry dates; it recommends applying early for popular courses. Undergraduates applying for guaranteed accommodation had a 31 July deadline in 2026.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS (institution code Q50) with a personal statement, predicted grades and a reference. Medicine and Dentistry applicants must also sit the UCAT. Queen Mary makes contextual offers to eligible UK applicants; check eligibility with its online contextual admissions checker.
What admissions looks for
- Predicted or achieved grades that meet the typical offer, including required subjects such as A-level Mathematics for Economics or a science for Medicine.
- For Medicine and Dentistry, a UCAT score in the fourth decile or above with SJT band 1 to 3, and strong GCSEs (six at 777666 or AAABBB including sciences, English and Maths).
- Contextual factors: Queen Mary makes standard and enhanced contextual offers (for Law, AAA and ABB).
- English language ability at the band set for your department.
Tips for applying to Queen Mary
- 1 Use Queen Mary's Contextual Admissions Eligibility Checker before applying: a contextual offer can be one or two grades lower.
- 2 For Medicine, sit the UCAT in summer 2026 and aim for the fourth decile or better, and make sure your A-levels will be taken in one sitting within two years.
- 3 Check the exact UCAS code: many courses have separate codes for a year abroad, a year in industry or a foundation year, and fees differ.
- 4 International offer holders should look at the Global Talent Scholarships and other awards worth up to £20,000.
- 5 Apply for accommodation by the summer deadline to secure the housing guarantee for new undergraduates.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
The Queen Mary Bursary is paid automatically to UK students assessed by Student Finance: £1,700 a year for household income under £20,000 and £1,000 a year for £20,000 to £35,000. Highly qualified international offer holders may be eligible for scholarships worth up to £20,000, including the Global Talent Scholarships.
- £1,700 per year
- Queen Mary Bursary (household income under £20,000)
- £1,000 per year
- Queen Mary Bursary (household income £20,000 to £35,000)
- Up to £20,000 for highly qualified offer holders
- International scholarships
Academics
Medicine (MBBS, A100)
Taught by England's oldest medical school, with patient contact from the first week in community and hospital settings; A*AA and UCAT required.
Dentistry (BDS, A200)
A five-year clinical degree at the Institute of Dentistry; overseas fee £63,000 for 2027 entry.
Law (LLB, M100)
A*AA typical offer, with the student-staffed Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre offering real casework.
Economics (BSc Econ, L100)
AAA including Maths, with options for a year abroad or in industry.
Computer Science (BSc, G400)
AAA with Maths, Computer Science or Physics, plus MSci and year-in-industry routes.
English (BA, Q300)
Taught at Mile End, where the Harold Pinter Drama Studio is part of the School of English and Drama.
Research
- Ranked joint 7th in the UK in REF 2021 and 31st in the world for research quality in the THE World University Rankings 2026.
- Queen Mary researchers were involved in sequencing 100,000 whole genomes from NHS patients (2018).
- Professor Karim Brohi's team developed trauma treatments that cut deaths from critical bleeding by nearly 30% at the Royal London Hospital, adopted as NHS national standards in 2016.
- The BioEnterprises Innovation Centre in Whitechapel supports drug discovery start-ups, and spin-out ApaTech sold for $330m in 2010.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (Barts and The London)
87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023/24). Queen Mary is 16th among universities targeted by leading employers (The Graduate Market in 2026).
Student life
Most students are based at Mile End, a self-contained campus on the Regent's Canal with halls, the library, the Students' Union and teaching buildings on one site; medical and dental students also study in Whitechapel and at Charterhouse Square. The Victorian Queens' Building houses the Octagon, the original People's Palace library. Queen Mary Students' Union runs clubs and societies, and medics and dentists have their own Barts and The London Students' Association. The student body is one of the most diverse of any high-tariff UK university.
- Almost 3,000 student bedrooms across Mile End, Whitechapel, Charterhouse Square and West Smithfield.
- The Octagon, a Grade II listed Victorian library inspired by the British Museum Reading Room.
- Barts and The London Students' Association serves medical and dental students from the refurbished Garrod Building.
- Students from over 170 nationalities, with about 45% from overseas.
Housing. All new undergraduates joining in September are guaranteed a room in university halls or with a partner provider if they apply by the deadline (31 July in 2026); rooms start from around £170 a week for a non-ensuite room.
Location
Mile End is in Tower Hamlets in East London, on Mile End Road, with the Regent's Canal running beside the campus. Canary Wharf and the City are close, which helps with internships. Living costs are London prices, although the East End is generally cheaper than central and west London. London City Airport is the closest airport to the Mile End campus.
Nearest airport: London City Airport (LCY)
Notable alumni
- RR Ronald RossNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1902 for work on the transmission of malaria
- PM Peter MansfieldNobel Prize-winning physicist, pioneer of MRI
- TB Thomas BarnardoPhilanthropist and founder of children's homes
- BD Bruce DickinsonLead singer of Iron Maiden
- SW Sarah WatersNovelist, author of Tipping the Velvet
- PH Peter HainLabour politician, former Secretary of State for Wales
- GT Guðni Th. JóhannessonHistorian and President of Iceland (2016-2024)
- AP Andrew PollardChief investigator of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for Queen Mary?
It depends on the course: typical offers for 2027 entry include BBB for English, AAA for Economics and Computer Science, and A*AA for Law and Medicine. Eligible UK applicants can receive lower contextual offers.
Is Queen Mary a Russell Group university?
Yes. It is a member of the Russell Group, ranked 103rd in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and joint 7th in the UK in REF 2021.
How much are Queen Mary's international fees?
For 2027 entry, overseas fees on course pages range from £28,300 (English) to £63,000 (Dentistry), for example £30,950 for Law and Economics and £34,750 for Computer Science.
Does Queen Mary Medicine require the UCAT?
Yes. For 2027 entry you need a UCAT score in the fourth decile or above with an SJT band of 1 to 3, plus A*AA including Biology or Chemistry and a second science.
Does Queen Mary guarantee accommodation?
Yes. All new undergraduates joining in September who meet the eligibility criteria and application deadline are guaranteed a room in university halls or with a partner provider.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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