Mission and Eligibility
Mission Statement
The mission of the UK College of Medicine is to promote an environment that encourages excellence in education, equitable health care, and transformative research to improve the health and wellness of Kentuckians and beyond.
Eligibility
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine requires that applicants meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for admission:
- Verified American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application.
- Ninety hours of undergraduate level education in an undergraduate institution in the United States with completion of the required prerequisites.
- Competitive undergraduate and graduate science grade point average (GPA).
If an application contains a lower undergraduate total GPA, postbaccalaureate or graduate GPAs will be considered (a minimum of 18 BCPM credit hours is required). See AMCAS Course Classification Guide for BCPM course classification.
- Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) earned within two calendar years prior to the beginning of the admissions cycle. The MCAT score should be competitive.
For guidelines on what might entail “competitive”, see our annual class profile below.
Other eligibility considerations that reflect our mission are:
- Commitment to the State: As a state medical school, the UK College of Medicine gives preference to Kentucky residents. Non-residents who have strong ties to the state (e.g. previous attendance at a Kentucky college or university) may be considered. Regardless of their state of residency, only applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are considered. International applicants who graduated from a Kentucky high school or attended (or are attending) a Kentucky college/university may be considered for the Lexington campus ONLY.
- Northern Kentucky Regional Consideration: If you are an Ohio resident from the following counties: Butler, Hamilton, Warren, Clermont, Clinton, Brown, Highland, Adams, Ross, Pike, Scioto, and Lawrence, you will be considered for our University of Kentucky College of Medicine-Northern Kentucky Campus ONLY. Those wishing to apply to another campus and possess additional Kentucky ties contact the Office of Admissions at (859) 323-6161.
- Commitment to Underserved Populations: Certain geographic areas (rural Appalachian counties) and patient populations (low socioeconomic status, underrepresented minority) have challenges in receiving safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable health care. The UK College of Medicine values individuals who have demonstrated interest in serving these areas or populations in the future.
- Identity: The UK College of Medicine strives for each class to represent the people of the state of Kentucky, and therefore considers each applicant’s educational background, life experiences, and socioeconomic background. The University will not discriminate based on race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, or age.
By the Numbers
Learn more about the current class, like their demographic breakdown, application numbers, GPAs, and test scores.
Transfer Students
Transfer acceptance is limited to the third year of the curriculum on a space-available basis. Transfer spaces are rarely available due to a very low attrition rate. All transfer applicants should be currently enrolled in good academic standing at an LCME-accredited medical school. Transfer applications from non-LCME accredited medical schools, offshore medical schools, and osteopathic schools will not be considered. Students interested in applying to transfer should contact the Office of Admissions at kymedap@uky.edu to discuss their application.