Graduate Entry to Medicine
Medicine can be studied in the UK as a five-year undergraduate or a shortened four-year graduate entry degree.
After this degree, medical graduates then undertake a generic two-year Foundation Programme, which forms the bridge to speciality training which can last a further 3-8 years according to the field.
If you are thinking about studying medicine as a second degree (often called Graduate Entry to Medicine) your first decision is which route you plan to take. There are four-year accelerated courses which you can apply to as a graduate, or you can apply to a five-year ‘undergraduate’ course. For graduates without a science degree, there are six-year foundation/'pre-clinical' courses available.
These pages cover some of the most frequently asked questions, giving guidance and bringing together resources.
- Choosing a medical school and funding
- Building skills and experience
- Applying for courses, pre-entry tests and interviews
- Medical specialties and beyond
There is a lot of information and advice available online about applying to and studying medicine.
Official sites
- General Medical Council National body that licenses doctor to practice medicine in the UK
- British Medical Association Trade union of medical doctors and medical students in the UK
- Medical Schools Council A body representing all UK Medical Schools
- University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) Single point of application for Medicine programmes in the UK
Advice, guidance and networks
- For an understanding of what skills are needed as a medical student: Good Medical Practice from GMC
- For one place that details admissions entry criteria: Medical Schools Council: medical schools entry requirements
- For an insight into the life of a medical student: Life of a Medic blog
- For free advice on a range of entry to medicine topics: Medic Portal (please note this does not represent an endorsement of paid-for products)
- To share your experiences with others in a similar position: The Student Room