Finding and Choosing a Medical Course
To train as a doctor, you will need to take a degree at medical school. Find out about the routes you can take and how to find a medical degree that suits you.
Routes into medical school
There are several routes into medical school.
- standard, five-year programmes
- programmes that include a foundation year
- courses for graduates eg four-year graduate/accelerated programmes
- overseas programmes
- courses that include an intercalated degree
Almost all UK medical schools routes require applications from graduates to be through UCAS.
Applicants may list up to four choices of medicine courses. Applicants can use their one remaining choice to select a non-medicine programme. There is no order of preference recorded. For more details see UCAS.
As a graduate you can apply to enter a undergraduate or a non-accelerated medical course. These are usually five years long, but in some institutions it is six. It can have different abbreviations, such as MBBS or MBChB, but all result in the bachelor’s degree in medicine.
This route is also sometimes called standard entry medicine.
The funding available for undergraduate entry is different if this is your second degree.
The accelerated/graduate entry course is for graduates and is more demanding than the undergraduate route. It usually takes four years. The equivalent of the first two years of a five-year undergraduate course are compressed into one year. This means longer hours and shorter holidays.
Not all medical school offer the four-year course. You can search for them using the NHS website.
Funding for the programmes varies. There is more financial support for the accelerated/graduate entry course.
- Medical school courses | Health Careers – NHS site covering the different types of medical degree
- Course types | Medical Schools Council (medschools.ac.uk)
- Graduate Entry Medicine - The Medic Portal – more on the graduate route into medicine
- No medical degree – no problem - Targetjobs article on graduate entry medicine
The accelerated/graduate entry course is very competitive. We recommend applying to at least one undergraduate course. This will depend on your own circumstances.
Book an appointment to discuss your options.
Finding a medical degree
You can search for a medical degree using Medical school courses | Health Careers - a NHS list of accredited courses.
When you are choosing your course you should consider teaching styles (eg. problem-based learning, case based and enquiry based)
The Medic portal has more on teaching styles.
You should also consider entry requirements and quality of life.
If you can, visit the area where you’ll be studying. You’ll usually be living in or around the city for at least four years so make sure it is where you want to be.
Advice from the Careers Service
For more information on considerations when choosing a course see our postgraduate study pages.
To find out more about what a career in medicine involves, visit Healthcare.
If you need help deciding if medicine is for you or with choosing a course book an appointment.
Studying medicine overseas
Many medical schools around the world specialise in teaching international students. Some of these universities' graduates work in the UK healthcare sector. Often they may have considerable experience abroad as well as their studies.
There are a lot of factors to consider if you are thinking of studying medicine overseas. This includes the cost of study, entry requirements, languages you speak, and whether your medical degree is recognised in the UK. This is an important consideration when studying medicine abroad if you want to work in the UK afterwards.
Check with the General Medical Council about recognition of non-UK medicine degrees. Their website also has information on overseas qualifications that they will accept.
General advice on overseas study includes:
- Prospects: Study abroad
- Mastersportal – How to Apply to Universities Worldwide and application tips
- UCAS – advice on considering your options
- QS Top Universities – information about studying abroad
- Study Abroad has resources on our website to look for courses overseas. You can also find out more information about studying abroad.
- NHS - Medical School Courses - overseas programmes
- Studying Medicine Abroad - The Medic Portal. - guides to studying medicine overseas. Includes guides for Europe, Hong Kong, the USA, the Caribbean, Ireland and Australia.
- The World Directory of Medical Schools - lists medical schools around the world
- Hotcourses Abroad - lists medical and health courses
- AStarFuture - Studying Medicine in English in Europe and Beyond. What to consider when studying medicine outside the UK
If you’re thinking of studying medicine abroad, you can book an appointment.