Frequently asked
questions

Medvia is a dedicated medical school admissions advisory service. Unlike tutors or interview coaches who address a single element of the process, Medvia provides personalised strategy — helping students identify the right universities for their academic profile before they even begin writing their application.

Every Medvia advisor is a current medical student at a leading UK medical school. Our network includes students from institutions across London — including Barts and The London, UCL, Imperial College, and King's College London — as well as universities across the rest of the UK.

Each client is matched with an advisor whose school and application experience is most relevant to their target universities. All advisors complete Medvia's internal training programme before working with clients, ensuring a consistently high standard of guidance across every engagement.

Medvia was founded by Rachel Lee, a medical student at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. When applying to medical school herself, Rachel spent hundreds of hours researching different universities, admissions criteria, and selection processes — much of which was fragmented and difficult to interpret.

Having received interview invitations from UCL and Barts and ultimately securing her place at Barts Medical School, Rachel founded Medvia to make that strategic advantage available to every serious applicant.

Medvia currently offers three programmes:

• Foundations Programme — for students aged 11 to 15. Early strategic guidance to build the academic record, extracurricular experience, and mindset that medical schools value. Fee: £950.
• Core Admissions Strategy Programme — for UK applicants aged 16 to 18. Our flagship programme, including a personalised Admissions Report, personal statement coaching, UCAT strategy, and interview preparation. Fee: £1,950.
• International Admissions Concierge Programme — for international students applying to UK medical schools. Full-service support navigating the UK admissions process from abroad. Fee: £4,950.

The Admissions Report is the foundation of every Medvia engagement. It is a fully personalised strategic document, prepared by your advisor, that covers:

• A detailed analysis of the student's academic profile and competitiveness
• A comparison of UK medical school admissions criteria relevant to the student's profile
• A strategic shortlist of recommended universities with clear reasoning for each
• UCAT strategy and score targets
• A month-by-month application timeline
• Personal statement strategy and interview preparation guidance
• Development recommendations tailored to the student's individual profile

The Report is delivered within one week of enrolment and forms the foundation of all subsequent consultations.

This depends on the student's year group:

• Years 7 to 10: The Foundations Programme helps students build the academic habits, extracurricular experiences, and healthcare exposure that medical schools value. Starting early means there is genuine time to act on the strategy.
• Year 11 or early Year 12: The ideal starting point for the Core Admissions Strategy Programme. Beginning in Year 12 allows sufficient time to act on the strategy before UCAS deadlines.
• Late Year 12 or Year 13: We can still provide meaningful support, particularly around university selection, UCAT strategy, and interview preparation. That said, the earlier a student begins, the stronger their position.

Both programmes are built around the same personalised admissions strategy. The International Admissions Concierge Programme additionally includes:

• Guidance on how international academic qualifications are assessed by UK medical schools
• Strategic advice on the limited international places available and how to maximise competitiveness for them
• Country-specific considerations incorporated throughout the strategy
• Additional consultations to support students and families navigating the UK system from abroad
• Unlimited email support throughout the programme

If you are unsure which programme is most appropriate, the complimentary discovery call is the right place to discuss this.

The Interview Guarantee is available to students enrolled in the Core Admissions Strategy Programme and the International Admissions Concierge Programme. If you complete the programme in full and do not receive a single medical school interview invitation, we will refund 50% of your programme fee.

The following conditions apply:

• The student must follow the university application strategy recommended by Medvia
• The student must submit their UCAS application within the required deadlines
• The student must complete all required admissions tests, including the UCAT where applicable
• The student must achieve the predicted and final academic grades required by each university applied to
• The student must attend and engage with all scheduled consultations

No. Medvia does not and cannot guarantee admission, interview invitations, or any specific outcome. All admissions decisions are made solely by universities and are subject to factors entirely outside our control.

The Interview Guarantee is a voluntary commercial assurance that reflects our confidence in the quality of our strategic guidance. It is intended to give families confidence that Medvia stands behind its process — not a promise of a particular result.

Current programme fees are as follows:

• Foundations Programme (ages 11 to 15): £950
• Core Admissions Strategy Programme (UK students, 16 to 18): £1,950
• International Admissions Concierge Programme: £4,950

All fees are payable in full upon enrolment. We do not currently offer payment plans.

The complimentary discovery call is a private 15 minute video conversation with no obligation to proceed. During the call we will:

• Review the student's academic background, year group, and aspirations
• Discuss where they are in the application process and what support would be most valuable
• Explain how Medvia works and which programme is most appropriate
• Answer any questions from the student or family

There is no obligation to enrol following the call. It is simply an opportunity to understand how Medvia can support your application and whether it is the right fit.

All consultations are conducted online via video call, making Medvia accessible to students across the UK and internationally. Sessions are scheduled at a time that suits the student and their family.

Under UK consumer law you have a 14-day right to cancel following enrolment. However, because the Admissions Report is delivered within seven working days, we ask clients to note that once the Report has been delivered, the service will have been substantially performed and the right to a full refund will no longer apply.

To request cancellation, please email us in writing as soon as possible. Full cancellation and refund terms are set out in our Terms and Conditions, which are available on this website.

Yes. Medvia partners with schools and sixth forms to deliver medicine-focused workshops and sustained admissions support programmes. Our school offerings include:

• Medicine Workshop — a 90-minute session, delivered online or in person, led by current medical students. From £350 per session.
• Annual Medicine Partnership — a full-year admissions support programme working alongside your existing UCAS team. From £2,500 for state schools and £3,500 for independent schools.

To enquire about a school partnership, please contact us via the Schools page.

UK medical schools do accept international students, though the number of international places is limited and competition is high. This makes strategic university selection especially critical for international applicants.

Some UK medical schools are considerably more receptive to international applicants than others. Knowing which schools to target, and how to present an international academic profile competitively, is precisely where the International Admissions Concierge Programme adds most value.

We incorporate country-specific guidance to help ensure international qualifications are contextualised appropriately within the UK admissions framework.

Most UK medical schools that require the UCAT do so for both UK and international applicants. However, requirements vary by institution, and part of Medvia's admissions analysis involves identifying which universities require it and how much weight they place on UCAT scores relative to other elements of the application.

UCAT strategy and planning is included in both the Core Admissions Strategy and International Concierge Programmes.