Applying to UK Medical Schools

Medicine courses are among the hardest and most competitive programmes for an international student to join. But with the proper guidance and preparation, international students can study medicine in the UK and get a medical degree to work in the NHS.

With 33 publicly funded medical schools and medical colleges in the UK to choose from, we offer specialist advice on which British medical school is right for you, ensuring your application stands out.

UK Medical School Admissions Service

The medicine service assesses your academic background and ensures you are qualified to apply. We then select suitable medical schools for you to apply to, before editing your personal statement and ensuring you have sat the relevant tests, such as the UKCAT or BMAT. If accepted for an interview, you will take part in interview practice with a UK registered doctor.

Top Medical Schools UK

The UK has top medical schools all around the Country. While the most popular and prestigious medical schools are at the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, all universities with medical courses have excellent teaching standards and must be accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK.

However, based on UK medical school rankings, the best universities for studying medicine are:

Best Medical Schools in the UK

• University of Oxford
• Imperial College London
• University of Cambridge
• UCL
• King’s College London
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Glasgow
• University of Manchester
• University of Bristol
• Queen Mary University of London

Which top medical school is right for you?
Talk to an advisor

Medical Schools in the UK for International Students

Getting into UK Medical schools is a dream for many international students. It is also a huge achievement as international students face tough qualifications, high competition and systemic barriers. Medical school is hard to apply to on its own. Applicants face a 1:4 ratio and chances are your competition has got high grades just like you. In addition, international students may not be as familiar with the British healthcare system and practices.

As a result, international students might look for the easiest medical school to get into in the UK. While all medical schools in the UK maintain high standards and similar entry requirements, some medical schools are a bit easier to get into due to the lower applicant-to-seat ratio.

Some medical schools in the UK with slightly less competition include:

• University of Central Lancashire
• University of Buckingham
• Anglia Ruskin University
• Lancaster University
• University of Nottingham
• University of Southampton
• University of Plymouth
• University of Leicester
• Brighton and Sussex Medical School
• Hull York Medical School

Why use TopCourses Medical School Admissions Service?

The medicine service will do the following to maximise your chances of securing an offer:

• Pre-screen your transcripts and ensure you are eligible to apply
• Advice on choosing the right medical school
• Help to apply to four medical schools in the UK
• Provide a checklist of documents required by the universities
• Ensure you meet all deadlines for additional tests i.e. BMAT and UKCAT

• Provide a reading list to thoroughly prepare you for a medicine course and interview
• Advice on what work experience to complete before your application
• 60-minutes of interview practice with a practising doctor
• Edit all supporting documents, including your personal statement, CV and reference letters
• Fill in the university application forms and track your application after submission

Postgraduate Medical Courses in the UK for International Students

Most International students start doing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) which takes five to six years to complete. On the postgraduate level, UK medicine qualifications and certifications for international students include a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PG Cert), Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip), Master of Medicine (MMed, Med, MD) or Master of Science (MSc) in medicine.

There is also a variety of medicine-related courses that international students can explore such as aesthetic medicine courses, veterinary medicine courses, functional medicine courses, emergency medicine courses, family medicine courses, education for health professionals courses, and sports science courses.

Medicine Graduate Entry UK Requirements

To study medicine in the UK at the undergraduate level, international students are required to have high grades in chemistry and biology. Most UK medical schools also require students to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT), and top universities may require students to take the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT).

UK universities also offer medical foundation programmes for international students. These pre-med programmes are highly recommended for international students as they help strengthen their fundamental knowledge in chemistry and biology and ensure that students progress to the university’s Bachelor-level course when completed successfully.

To do a Master’s in medicine in the UK, students must have a primary medical degree such as an MBBS from a UK university or an internationally recognised university and they must successfully register with the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK.

Other medicine masters course requirements for international students include: obtaining at least IELTS 7.0 overall, completing one year of internship at a hospital with certification, completing undergraduate training and being registered with the Medical Council in their country, and holding two reference letters from appropriate medical school staff or senior colleagues.

Talk to an advisor about your medical school qualifications and application

Cost of Studying Medicine in the UK for International Students

The cost of studying medicine in the UK depends on several factors. These include the university you are applying to, what degree you are studying, the type of course, the course duration and annual fee.

Medicine course fees for international students could range from £20,000 per year to £40,000 per year with duration of study ranging anywhere between three to six years.