Medicine is one of the most competitive courses in the UK to gain entry to, but every year, thousands of international students are accepted into medical schools across the UK. The entry standards for any medical school to study an MBBS are strict and exacting. Admission interviews can be tough, and students should expect questioning on motivation, previous work, and personal interests, as well as being able to produce evidence of all previous achievements, including relevant work experience. Many medical schools will expect completion of the clinical aptitude test, UCAT.
If your grades are of the highest standard, and if you can prove that you have set your heart on studying and working in this field, then applying to read Medicine in the UK is for you. 3 As at A-level, including chemistry or biology, an IB of 38 or IELTS score of 7.0 is the academic standard required for a Bachelor of Medicine degree in the UK.
A strong first degree and a successful career record are required for graduate Medicine, and work experience of one day a week for six months in a hospital, care home, hospice or other caring environment is the sort of evidence of intent the medical schools will be expecting and looking for. Understanding the National Health Service and how it works is also crucial for international applicants.
Admission to medical degrees in the UK is highly competitive, with many more qualified applicants than available spots. Students need to have a strong academic record and relevant work or volunteer experience to be considered for admission.
A Bachelor of Medicine in the UK is an undergraduate degree typically taking 5-6 years to complete. A Master's in Medicine typically takes 1-2 years to complete and requires a strong background in the sciences and/or healthcare.
Medical tuition costs are higher because of the length of medical courses, which typically require 4-6 years of study. Because of this, many medical schools offer medicine scholarships to students to help with the cost of their education.
On average, international students can expect to pay between £25,000 and £45,000 per academic year when studying MBBS in the UK.
| University | Course | International Fees |
|---|---|---|
|
University of Cambridge |
£63,990 |
|
|
University of Aberdeen |
£50,100 |
|
|
University of Edinburgh |
£35,000 |
|
|
Imperial College London |
£46,650 |
|
|
University of St Andrews |
£35,920 |
A Bachelor of Medicine, also known as an MBBS, prepares students for a career in medicine, including roles such as doctors, surgeons, and medical researchers. To pursue a Bachelor of Medicine degree in the UK, students must have completed high school or its equivalent with a strong academic record, including biology, chemistry, and physics.
A UK Bachelor of Medicine degree includes classroom learning and clinical experience. In the early years of the course, students learn about the basic sciences and medical terminology, while later years focus on clinical skills and patient care. Students typically also participate in clinical rotations in hospitals and other healthcare settings.
A Master's in Medicine is a postgraduate course that focuses on advancing the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals in a specific area of medicine. To pursue a Master's in Medicine, you'll typically need a bachelor's degree in medicine.
A Master's in Medicine typically includes advanced pharmacology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical research, and patient care coursework.
A PhD in medicine is an advanced degree that involves conducting original research in a medical field. It typically takes 4-6 years to complete, and after completing your PhD, you may pursue a career in academia, industry, or government. Many PhDs in medicine go on to work in research, development, and regulatory affairs in pharmaceutical and biotech companies. In contrast, others become university professors and researchers or work in government agencies like the National Institutes of Health.
Students graduating from an MBBS course in the UK have various options. Many opt for further study, but common career paths include:
The average salary for medical professionals in the UK varies widely depending on the specific field of medicine and the experience level. Based on data from the National Careers Service and the NHS, here are a selected number of medical specialities and the average weighted salary.
According to the Guardian University Guide 2024: Medicine subject rankings, the following five universities have the highest percentage of graduates who find graduate-level jobs or are in further study at a professional or higher education level within 15 months of graduation.
If you decide you want to study medicine, you will need to enrol at a medical school, which is often part of a university but will have strong links to local hospitals and medical practices. Students will need exceptional grades in biology, chemistry, and physics for undergraduate medicine.
In the UK, most medical schools require applicants to sit for the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) or the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT). These tests assess your critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. Some universities may also require applicants to have work experience in a healthcare or medical setting to demonstrate their commitment to the field. Shortlisted applicants will typically be invited to an interview, which can be conducted in person or online, to assess their suitability for the course.
For international students wishing to study medicine at the undergraduate level, an IELTS score of no less than 6.5 across all four categories - reading, writing, speaking and listening – with an overall 7.0 score is generally required at most universities.
The UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) is part of the selection process of some UK medical and dental schools. It is an online test designed to test cognitive abilities, attitudes, critical thinking, and logical reasoning. There are four reasoning tests and a situational judgement test.
The test is taken at your local test centre, with each subtest in a multiple-choice format. Past papers are unavailable, but specimen questions are on the UCAT website. Applicants must take the UCAT at the following universities:
To learn more about the best medicine courses in the UK, find details on the top ten ranking Medical Schools in the Guardian University Guide 2024 below:
If you are interested in studying medicine in the UK, arrange your free consultation today. Don't forget the Medicine Service provides interview practice with a doctor who sits on the admission panel of a UK medical school.
Four out of the top ten medical schools in the world are in the UK. UK medical schools are a popular destination amongst international students who want to study MBBS in the UK.
Yes, various scholarships are available to study medicine degrees in the UK. Contact an SI-UK consultant to learn more.
The subject requirements for medicine graduate entry in the UK are physics, chemistry, and biology. However, some of the top medical schools in the UK might also require students to study mathematics.
For medicine graduate entry in the UK, students must study chemistry and biology with either maths or physics.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old to qualify for the medicine graduate entry in the UK.
Top medical schools in the UK advise students to get relevant medical experience as a volunteer or intern to strengthen their medical application.
The short answer is no. Without biology, you cannot qualify for medicine graduate entry in the UK.
To study medicine in the UK, students must study physics or maths apart from chemistry and biology.
Мой консультант был очень предупредительным и мотивировал меня к достижению моих целей. Она помогала мне на каждом этапе пути даже когда дедлайн был уже близко. Я думаю, что без ее поддержки я бы точно не справилась. Я рекомендую эту услугу всем моим друзьям, заинтересованным в поступлении в университет.
Ольга Дзюба Специальность “Биологические науки” в университете Ковентри
Наш сотрудник команды SI-UK Russia свяжется с вами в течение 24 часов, чтобы организовать вашу первую онлайн-консультацию с одним из наших британских экспертов в сфере образования.
