Have you been dreaming of becoming a medical professional? You have worked really hard to make it to this point. Now, comes the part where you need to decide which country will be the best for you to pursue a medicine program. That can be a tricky question, as there are a lot of options that you can go for. However, there is one country that is considered the ideal place to start if you are planning to study medicine.
Studying medicine in the UK means you will get access to state-of-the-art facilities and the support of passionate teachers who will help you become the best medical professional.
Perks of Studying Medicine in UK
Studying Medicine in the UK has many perks. A few of them are listed below:
- According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023, 43 of the UK universities are listed in the top 520 for their life science and medicine programs.
- Doctors or physicians in the UK earn £76,000 per year.
- Studying and earning your medicine degree in the UK means a student gains hands-on learning, utilises quality hospitals for internships, gains a globally recognised medical degree, groundbreaking research facilities, and high-quality education.
Best Medical Colleges in UK
The UK is home to some of the best-known medical schools in the world. Students have the choice to choose one from a list of top institutions that promise academic excellence. Here are some of the best medical colleges in the UK:
| Universities | Tuition Fees |
| University of Oxford | £37,650 |
| University of Cambridge | £60,940 |
| Queen Mary University London | £42,643 |
| Imperial College London | £46,650 |
| King’s College London | £42,410 – £44,540 |
| University College London | £38,000 |
| University of Edinburgh | £32,100 |
| University of Manchester | £29,000 |
| University of Glasgow | £52,000 |
| University of Birmingham | £26,640/year (Year 1&2)
£44,100/ (Year 3-5) |
| University of Leicester | £23,000 |
| University of Bristol | £36,800 |
Types of Medicine Degrees
It can take 4 to 6 years for students to complete medicine degrees. There are four types of courses students can choose from:
- Standard Entry Medicine – A bachelor’s degree in medicine
- Graduate Entry Medicine – A master’s degree in medicine
- Medicine with a Preliminary Year – This degree includes an extra first year before the bachelor’s degree, for students who didn’t take the necessary science courses in school
- Medicine with a Gateway Year – It is a pathway to medicine for students who, for various reasons, may be disadvantaged applying to our 5-year MBChB Medicine and Surgery program.
Medicine Entry Requirements
We have listed below some of the most common med school requirements for applicants to medical schools in Britain. Be aware that each university is free to set its own criteria, which is why we encourage you to check the admission details on the webpage of the study program:
Medical school admission requirements for Bachelor’s degrees (MBBS) in the UK:
- Previous (high school/A-level) studies in at least two Science subjects. Usually, chemistry and biology or physics/maths are mandatory.
- Proof of English language proficiency: IELTS – average score of 6-0 to 6-5 pr PTE Academic
- UCAT test score. Each university can use it differently. Some establish a minimum UCAT score they will accept. Other universities use a “point system” evaluating applications and will offer you more points for a higher UCAT result. Or the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) which assesses your suitability for a career in medicine.
- English language proficiency: You will need to demonstrate that you have a good level of English language proficiency, as all instruction in UK universities is in English. This may be done by taking an English language test, such as IELTS or TOEFL.
- Personal statement: You will also need to submit a personal statement, which should explain your motivation for pursuing a career in medicine, your relevant experience and skills, and why you have chosen to apply to that specific university.
- Work experience: Some universities may also require you to have some relevant work experience, such as volunteering in a healthcare setting.
Admission Tests at UK Medical Schools
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
Cost of UCAT:£115
The UCAT is a part of the selection process in the UK in some medical and dental schools. It is an online test which assesses students’ cognitive abilities, attitudes, critical thinking, and logical reasoning. It is a computer-based test. The test consists of four reasoning tests and a situational judgement test.
| Verbal reasoning | This part assesses the student’s ability to think logically about written information and arrive at a reasoned conclusion: 21 minutes, with 11 passages to read and 44 questions |
| Decision making | This part assesses the student’s ability to deal with a range of information forms of infer relationships, make informed judgements and decide on an appropriate response: 32 minutes, 1 scenario full of information and 28 questions |
| Quantitative reasoning | This part assesses the student’s ability to solve numerical problems: 24 minutes, 9 tables, charts, graphs etc. as information and 36 questions. |
| Abstract reasoning | This part assesses the ability to infer relationships from information by convergent and divergent thinking: 13 minutes and 55 questions |
| Situational judgement | This part assesses the students’ response to situations, and their understanding of medical ethics: 27 minutes and 67 questions on 20 scenarios |
Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT)
Cost of BMAT: £122
The BMAT is taken by students who want to pursue medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and biomedical science courses in the UK. BMAT is a written test that lasts for two hours and it consists of three sections:
| Aptitude and Skills | It assesses student’s problem-solving, understanding arguments, data analysis and inference skills |
| Scientific knowledge and applications | It assesses students’ ability to apply scientific knowledge typically covered in school Science and Mathematics by the age of 16 |
| Writing | It assesses the ability of a student to select, develop and organise ideas and to communicate them in writing, concisely and effectively |
Application Process
The application in the UK for students for higher education is more or less the same. Students will use the Universities and College Admission Service (UCAS), a centralised application portal in the UK, to send their applications to medical school. Students are allowed to apply to four medical schools, the fifth one should be in another field with a lower grade requirement or leave it blank. Many aspiring students leave blank as they are sure that medicine is the right option for them, but some students go for medical-related programs such as biomedical studies or neurosciences as their fifth choice to maximise their chance of getting an offer.
Medical Jobs in the UK
The field of medicine has a wide scope, once you obtain your degree you have the choice of working as a cardiologist, neurologist, anaesthetist, pathologist, psychiatrist, surgeon, general practice doctor, ophthalmologist, etc. The average salaries of medical graduates are as follows:
| Medical Professions | Average Salary (Annual) |
| Dermatologist: | £101,741 |
| General Medicine Practitioner | £77,842 |
| Paediatrician | £106,669 |
| Neurologist | £77,196 |
| Anesthesiologist | £109,512 |
| Physician – Cardiology | £90,960 |
Conclusion
Now that you have an idea of what to expect you can easily navigate through the application process for medicine programs in the UK. If you are still confused or require more information then feel free to contact Edvise Hub’s educational consultants. They will help you throughout the application and make sure that you enter the university of your dreams!
