Get the best and latest information about applying to medical school uk, medicine degree uk &Graduate entry medicine uk by reading through the article below comfortably. 

What’s more? You will find related posts on UK Medical School Entry Requirements on collegelearners.

UK Medical School Entry Requirements

Undergraduate medicine entry requirements

To apply to study Medicine in the UK students will need approximately 85% in Biology and Chemistry at high school. 

Typically a medicine course is five or six years long. Sometimes called an MBBS or MBChB, they all result in a bachelor’s degree in medicine.

• International Baccalaureate: 37 points including chemistry and another science subject.
• A-level: AAA including chemistry and one other science, such as maths, physics biology or psychology.
• IELTS: 7.5 overall, with no lower than 7.0 in any one component.
• Ontario high school diploma: 85% minimum in Biology and Chemistry and an average above 85% in 6 Grade 12 subjects 

Graduate entry medicine (UCAS Code: A101)

Graduate entry medicine is open to those who already have a bachelor’s degree. Many universities require the previous degree to be health-related, but not all. It is a four-year accelerated degree in some cases, but in most universities students will need to do a 5 year course as an international student.

Medicine personal statement

The personal statement is a crucial part of the application process when wishing to study in the UK and, because of the competitive nature and limited number of medical school spaces, it is vital that the medicine personal statement is of an extremely high standard. Important topics to cover include:

• What you wish to achieve as a doctor
• Work experience at any GP or medical institution and what you achieved
• Your commitment to medicine and the NHS
• Your achievements academically
• Why you will succeed on the course
• Hobbies and interests

Medical work experience

Work experience is valued extremely highly by medical school admission boards as it showcases the relevant skills and strength of character needed to becoming a doctor. Practical work experience also recognises a student’s ability to work independently or in a team, as well as communication skills, enthusiasm and responsibility.

Many medicine programmes require a student to have completed work experience, but if you missed out on a placement, there are still a number of medical schools which will accept your initial application.

Apply to study medicine in the UK

If you need help understanding if you are eligible to study medicine in the UK, arrange your free consultation today. Our Medicine Service will help prepare you fully for being accepted at a UK medical school.

Minimum total of 37 points, to include 6, 6 and 6 at Higher level. Subjects at Higher level should include Chemistry and another science from Biology, Physics or Maths. Plus three subjects at Standard level with average of grade 6, including Biology at Standard level 6.

That’s right, med schools also look at your GCSE grades too when it comes to securing a place. Each medical school has slightly different entry requirements but there are some subjects that would be considered as a necessity to have. Firstly we’ll start with your GCSE grades.

The competition you will be going up against for entry into medical schools is very high, therefore, it is crucial that you achieve the best grades possible even for your GCSEs. While ultimately the grades you get at A-levels will be considered first, this does not mean that your GCSEs are not important.  Most medical schools tend to look at the overall picture when it comes to assessing prospective students.  You stand a much better chance, wherever you are looking to study medicine, of being accepted on to the course if you have a strong academic history overall.  So it is obviously very important that you do your best at GCSE level.

In order to study medicine at most universities in the UK you need to, as a standard, have at least five A* or A grade GCSEs in subjects including Maths and English.  You also need to have at least a Grade B in a Science subject.  Whether it is Chemistry, Physics or Biology is not often particularly important, unless the medical school you are interested in has stipulated this in its entry requirements. You can check this information on the website of each school.  Take, as an example, a university like Cardiff requires GCSE Science and Additional Science at Grades AA or GCSE Biology, Physics and Chemistry at Grade AAB in any particular order.  However, if you look at Edinburgh University, they will not accept GCSEs in subjects such as Applied Science and Additional Applied Science. 

Medical degrees always require at least AAA at A-level and grades have to be achieved in hard science subjects like biology and chemistry with physics or mathematics considered next most useful. 

Biology: Most medical schools do require biology at least at AS level. Most medical students should look to have an A2 in biology, though, even if it isn’t formally required. It would depend on your other A2 subjects, for example, if you were already taking an A2 in human biology.

Chemistry: Almost every medical school in the UK requires chemistry at AS level. Most expect you to have a full A-level in chemistry, though. The medical schools which don’t require A2 chemistry require you to have biology at A2.

Maths and Further Maths: A-Levels in maths are always useful to possess alongside biology and chemistry A-levels. Only one of the two – maths or further maths – will be accepted.

Other Subjects: Whilst most subjects are accepted as a third A-Level choice (alongside chemistry and biology), other sciences like physics will look best. Each and every medical school has varying requirements, and some will require you to have a third A-Level in maths or another ‘hard science’ or similar subject.

How To Become A Doctor In The UK

Becoming a doctor is no easy task – studying medicine for 5 or 6 years is just the start of what can be a lifelong pursuit of knowledge. Once qualified, you will be constantly learning on the job until the day you retire. Studying abroad is not always a piece of cake either, particularly if you are still learning English, but it is often the way to get the best education. A degree from the UK, USA, Canada or Australia could put you in good stead for work after graduation in your home country or working abroad. i-studentglobal spoke to St. George’s University of London, a Medical School in the UK, to ask them for advice for international applicants, to give you 7 steps to help you start your journey to study to become a doctor in the UK.

1. Plan Ahead

Applying to Medicine can be a process which spans several months. Most UK medical schools require you to submit your application by 15^th October to start your course in September the following year. That being said, you’ll need to start preparing earlier.

It is important to research the entry requirements at each medical school to which you are applying. You need to ensure that you have the right profile to give you the best chance of being invited to interview.

The beginning of your penultimate year of school is a good time to start thinking about how to gain the qualifications and experience you will need to make you a competitive candidate. In addition, you’ll need to be studying the right subjects at A level, IB or equivalent.

If you’re not studying a high school qualification which is accepted for direct entry to Medicine then you’ll need to think about taking A levels or applying to a Medical foundation programme like the INTO St George’s International Foundation in Medical, Biomedical and Healthcare Sciences

2. Identify Your Options

All UK medical schools must meet the stringent standards of the UK’s General Medical Council, so you can be assured that you will receive a high-quality medical education whichever medical school you choose. Rather than fixating on the highest ranked (and hence most oversubscribed) options, make sure to choose medical schools at which your achieved and/or predicted grades meet or exceed the minimum requirements, and your UKCAT score (if required) is competitive. You should also consider what kind of teaching and learning style will suit you best. Many UK medical schools offer a Problem Based Learning curriculum in which independent learning is a key element of the learning experience – this suits active learners and team workers. You can also look into when the clinical placements kick in. This can be right at the start of the course (at St George’s, University of London, first-year medical students are on placement from their second week), or after a couple of years of lecture-based, theoretical learning.

A great way to get a feeling for a medical school is to pay them a visit. Open days are the best time to visit. If you are travelling from overseas and can’t make the open days, you may still be able to visit. Just get in touch with the schools you are interested in before you apply to arrange a time for someone to meet with you. Remember to check your eligibility beforehand to avoid a wasted trip.

3. Consider Studying Abroad

Unlike in the US, Canada and Australia, the majority of medical students in the UK are recent high school graduates.

As it is not necessary to undertake a pre-medical degree, trainee doctors in the UK can qualify with fewer years of study. It’s typically five or six years after completing A levels, IB diploma or an equivalent qualification.

Shorter graduate entry options are also available.

UK medical degrees are widely recognised and respected around the world, although it’s always wise to check with the authorities in the country or state in which you’re planning to practise, to see what revalidation of a UK degree will involve.

Studying Medicine in the UK will give you the opportunity to experience working within the NHS, the world’s largest publicly funded health service, which was born out of an ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth – a principle that remains at its core.

Many UK medical degrees allow students to begin clinical placements right from the beginning of their programme, giving them extensive practical experience for the duration of their studies. UK medical schools are also at the forefront of curriculum development, making use of innovative problem-based learning (PBL), and interprofessional education with other healthcare professionals; in UK medical degrees, students benefit from a focus on the “soft” skills relating to clinical communication, empathy and team-working, as well as “hard” scientific knowledge.

4. Get Work Experience

In order to be a competitive candidate, you’ll need to demonstrate that you’ve gained some relevant extra-curricular experience.

Many students believe that shadowing a doctor is the only kind of work experience they need; in reality, UK medical schools are interested in candidates who have been involved in activities which have helped them develop the skills they’ll need in their future careers.

Successful applicants have often undertaken a range of relevant activities, which can include shadowing a clinician, but also

• voluntary work, for example, working with the elderly, children, people with special needs or refugees
• part-time customer service jobs
• and teams, clubs or societies which have given them the opportunity to improve their interpersonal skills.

You’ll only have your UCAS application and the limited duration of your interview to communicate your experience to medical schools. Make sure you take notes, pick out some key events and reflect on your experiences beforehand so that you can focus on these in your application.

5. Apply to up to 4 Medical Schools

Medical schools will require high academic grades at GCSE and A level/IB or equivalent, but that’s not all.

There can be up to 20 applicants for every place on the most competitive courses; so in addition to the work experience requirement, you’ll need to set yourself apart through an excellent personal statement; most institutions will also insist on an entry test and an interview.

The medical interview can take a number of formats, the most common of which is the Multi Mini Interview (MMI). This involves candidates moving around a number of stations, each of which gives them the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and experience through

• role plays
• scenarios
• problems to solve or
• questions about their own experiences (among others).

While all medical schools are competitive, you can maximise your chances of being made an offer by researching thoroughly

• the entry requirements of the different schools you are considering
• the selection process

information on which should be available on the course web pages.

You can apply to four different medical programmes through UCAS, plus a fifth non-medical choice. Most applicants choose a related programme such as Biomedical Science for their fifth option. This gives them the option to apply to progress into Medicine at a later stage if they are not successful on their first attempt.

For example, the Biomedical Science BSc programme at St George’s, University of London offers a fast-track transfer into year two of the university’s four-year graduate entry Medicine degree for high-achieving students. If you have questions about the course or application statistics and you can’t find the answers to online, get in touch with the International Office of the universities you’re planning to apply to.

6. Take the UKCAT

The majority of UK medical schools require candidates to have completed the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) before you apply. This Test includes sections like Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning and Verbal Reasoning.

There’s no actual science content to the test, so you don’t need to revise. What you do need is to familiarise yourself with the test format and get some practice. You can access sample tests on the UKCAT website; you can download the UKCAT app, and a number of books are available for purchase. A smaller number of medical schools ask for the BMAT instead.

7. Apply Through UCAS

Most medical schools in the UK require you to apply via UCAS, in which you can apply to up to five programmes in total, of which a maximum of four can be Medicine.

If you receive two or more conditional offers via UCAS, you’ll need to choose one Firm and one Insurance choice. You should choose a firm choice with higher grade requirements and an insurance choice with lower grade requirements – this is your back-up in case you don’t meet the grades required by your firm choice.

The deadlines for making a choice vary depending on when you hear back from your universities. In any case, you won’t have to make a choice before having heard back from all of them.

If you don’t receive any offers then you can use UCAS Extra (before 30 June) and Clearing (after 30 June) to make additional applications.