UK medical school entry requirements

Learn the entry requirements you need to meet when applying to a medical school in the UK.

Entry requirements for UK medical schools

UK medical schools often have strict entry requirements, including excellent academic qualifications, professional experience, top scores in aptitude tests, English language proficiency test scores, and a compelling personal statement.

Learn more about each of these requirements below.

Undergraduate medicine entry requirements

Known as an MBBS or an MBChB, undergraduate medicine programs in the UK typically take five to six years to complete. Here are the academic qualifications you need to have to study an undergraduate medicine program in the UK.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Minimum of 32 points including Chemistry and Biology.

Most universities require you to have taken Chemistry and Biology at Higher Level (HL).

Canadian high school diploma

85% minimum in Biology and Chemistry, and an average above 85% in five or six Grade 12 subjects.
International Baccalaureate (IB):

Minimum of 32 points including Chemistry and Biology.
Most universities require you to have taken Chemistry and Biology at Higher Level (HL).

Canadian high school diploma:

85% minimum in Biology and Chemistry, and an average above 85% in five or six Grade 12 subjects.

Graduate medicine entry requirements

Graduate entry medicine degrees in the UK are accelerated four-year degrees, open to those who already have a bachelor’s degree. Some universities may require a bachelor’s degree to be health-related, but this is dependent on the university you’re applying to.

You will need a four-year honors degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.2/4.0 to apply for graduate entry medicine programs in the UK.

Medical school admission tests

Most UK universities require applicants to sit for an admissions test, such as the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) or the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT), to show their readiness to study medicine.

UCAT

The UCAT is a popular online test that evaluates your cognitive abilities, attitudes, critical thinking, and logical reasoning. Achieving a UCAT score of 650–700 makes you eligible for admission at almost all medical schools in the UK.

StudyIn offers UCAT preparation support as part of our Medicine Application Service. You can connect with an experienced tutor in the UK or Canada, or sign up for our one-day intensive group training sessions and learn how best to face the UCAT.

GAMSAT

Some UK universities require applicants to sit for the GAMSAT if they wish to apply for graduate entry medicine programs. This test evaluates a student’s ability and skill level in problem-solving, critical thinking, and writing, focusing on their experience and knowledge of fundamental scientific principles.

While students don’t need a science degree to take the GAMSAT, knowledge in the biological and physical sciences can significantly improve a student’s chance of achieving a high score.

Want to learn more about the GAMSAT and preparing your UK medical school application? Speak to one of our expert counselors today.

Medical work experience

Many UK universities require applicants to have work experience in healthcare, demonstrating the relevant skills and strength of character needed to become a medical practitioner. Clinical experience and practical work also recognize a student’s ability to work independently or in a team and their communication skills, responsibility, and enthusiasm.

If you’ve missed out on placement opportunities, there are a number of UK medical schools that will accept your application without prior work experience. However, having work experience will strengthen your application and improve your chances of gaining admission to a UK medical school.

Personal statement

Your personal statement is one of the most important documents in your UK medical school application. It allows you to show your proficiency in medicine, your academic and professional goals, as well as your interest in studying medicine at your chosen university in the UK.

Medicine programs in the UK are highly competitive with limited slots, so your personal statement needs to be of exceptional quality to convince the admissions panel that you are a worthy applicant to consider for admission. Important topics you should cover in your personal statement include:

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Why you wish to become a doctor
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How your academic qualifications prepared you for the medicine program
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How your relevant work experience helped you develop the essential skills required in healthcare
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Your commitment to medicine and the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK
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Why you will succeed on the course

Need help with your personal statement? Our Personal Statement Service helps you write a compelling personal statement that captures your interest in your course and demonstrates your skills to your preferred UK university.

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