UK Medical School Entry Requirements

Undergraduate medicine entry requirements

Students applying to a medical school in the UK broadly have two main course choices: the A100 medicine programme or the A104 medicine with foundation year.

UCAS Medicine Courses

Standard entry medicine (UCAS code: A100)

Standard entry medicine is usually five years long but can be six. It can have different abbreviations, such as MBBS or MBChB, but all result in a bachelor’s degree in medicine.

• International Baccalaureate: 37 points, including chemistry and another science subject.
• A-level: AAA includes chemistry and other sciences, such as maths, physics, biology or psychology.
• IELTS: 7.5 overall, with no lower than 7.0 in any component.

Graduate entry medicine (UCAS Code: A101)

Graduate entry medicine is open to applicants 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 most cases, but at some universities, it is a five-year course. 

• International Baccalaureate: 37 points.
• A-level: AAA.
• IELTS: 7.5 overall, with no lower than 7.0 in any component.

Medicine with a preliminary year (UCAS code: A104)

This course is a five-year Standard Entry Medicine with an additional year at the start, making a six-year course, or sometimes the preliminary year is a standalone one-year course. It is also known as Medicine with a Foundation Year or similar.

• International Baccalaureate: 34 points.
• A-level: AAA.
• IELTS: 7.5 overall, with no lower than 7.0 in any component.

Medicine with a gateway year (UCAS code: A108)

• International Baccalaureate: 32 points.
• A-level: BBC at A level to include Chemistry. Grade B must be achieved in a science subject.
• IELTS: 7.5 overall, with no lower than 7.0 in any component.

Medicine Personal Statement

Your 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 spaces at medical schools, your medicine personal statement must be of an extremely high standard. Important topics to cover include:

• What do 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 in the course
• Hobbies and interests

Medical Work Experience

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

Many medicine programmes require a student to have completed work experience. However, if you missed out on a placement, several medical schools will still accept your initial application.

Study Medicine in the UK

If you want to study medicine in the UK, the Medicine Service will help prepare you fully for acceptance to a UK medical school. Arrange a free consultation with SI-UK London today to begin your UCAS application.