It’s widely accepted that studying medicine in the UK is one of the most competitive courses to be accepted onto, but every year thousands of students apply and start their journey to become a doctor, surgeon, neurologist, radiologist and so much more. 

As becoming a doctor is such a competitive and sought after career (I can’t have been the only 6 year old with a toy stethoscope), there are often a lot of questions around how you can make this a reality.  We have found and answered the most frequently asked questions on becoming a doctor in the UK so you have all the information you need in one place - don’t forget to save this page to refer back to later!

How long does it take to become a doctor?

To become a doctor in the UK you must first attend medical school to get your degree in Medicine. These courses normally take 5 years, which includes learning general  medical sciences, diagnosis and treatment,  as well as clinical training on hospital wards. 

After you receive your undergraduate degree, there is a two year foundation programme to complete which is where you will be paid a salary and combine work experience with training. During these years you will get the opportunity to work in different specialties of medicine on rotation around different clinical environments, and in the second year, you will decide which area you would like to specialise in for the future. For example you might like to specialise to become a GP or a paediatrician - and then have direction to further your training. 

After these initial two training years, the final step will be specialising, the duration of which varies depending on what you want to train to be. To become a GP, the speciality training is 3 years, whereas other specialities vary between 5-8 years depending on what it is. 

This is a very long winded way to say that there is no fixed duration to become a doctor, but roughly speaking you can expect it to take about 13 years from your undergraduate degree to becoming a fully specialised doctor.    

What qualifications do you need to become a doctor?

As mentioned above, the base qualification you will need to become a doctor in the UK is a degree in Medicine. Unlike becoming a nurse in the UK where you do not generally need A-Levels to be accepted onto a nursing access course, to be accepted into university to do medicine you must have sufficient GCSE and A-Level results. 

Universities will look for at least 3 A-Levels including Chemistry, Biology, Maths or Physics (or both). If you don’t take Maths or Physics but do take Biology and Chemistry, most medical schools will still be an option for you. The A-Level grades needed to be accepted onto a Medicine degree are notoriously high as the course is so popular and the degree is challenging; universities will only take the best suited students. 

As an example, the University of Manchester’s entry requirements to study Medicine is AAA grades at A-Level in Biology, Chemistry and then either Physics, Psychology or Maths. Meanwhile, the University of Oxford has higher entry requirements for their Medicine undergraduate degree, A*AA in Chemistry with either Maths, Biology or Physics at A-Level. Whereas at the University of Birmingham, the standard offer is the same as Oxford at A*AA in Biology and Chemistry (and another subject of your choice), with predicted grades of at least AAA. 

There are some circumstances where students may be offered an unconditional place at the university they are applying to- this means that whatever their A-Level grades are they will be accepted onto the course. This usually happens when a student has performed so well at school and sixth form the university wants this student to come to their university instead of a different one. However the more common offer is conditional, which means the student must get the grades (A*AA in the case of Oxford) to be accepted to the course. 

How long is a medicine degree?

If you come to university straight from sixth form or college, a Medicine undergraduate degree in the UK is typically five years long. If you choose to do an intercalated year, this will make the course six years. 

Intercalation years are an additional year of study during your Medicine degree. It is an opportunity to explore an area of study in greater depth, gain new knowledge and develop new skills. 

There is sometimes an opportunity for students who didn’t get the required grades for the course to be offered a foundation year, which is a year of study at the university before starting the Medicine degree, which will also make your time at university longer. 

There is also another scenario for students on the accelerated graduate degree programme, which makes their course four years long. This is due to the fact an accelerated graduate degree programme is effectively the five year course condensed into four years; you earn your degree faster by studying faster. Typically, this is offered to students who have already completed a related sciences degree, such as in Nursing or Natural Sciences.

What subjects are needed to become a doctor? 

As previously mentioned, the A-Levels required to be accepted at universities in the UK for a Medicine course include Chemistry and Biology, and then usually a preference between Maths or Physics for the other option, depending on what the institution asks for. 

The required grades vary depending on the university you want to apply to, but generally, the conditional offers will be at least AAA at A-level to study Medicine at university. 

When applying to university, the admissions team will not only look at your A-Level or college results but also your GCSE grades. To become a doctor in the UK, you’ll need at least 5 GCSE’s graded 9 to 7 (A* or A) including English, Maths and Sciences, as you will need to study the sciences at A-Level. 

What extracurricular activities should you do for medicine?

When applying to university in the UK, you want to share your extracurricular commitments during the application process to show the university you’re apply to that you are a rounded student that is committed to building their skillset outside of the classroom. 

Something that will make your personal statement stand out from the rest is mentioning any volunteering work you have completed. A candidate who has experience volunteering not only demonstrates how they are contributing to their community and giving up their time for no monetary gain, but also that you are committed to learning and growing as a student, as well as to the field of healthcare. 

It is key to have experience that is relevant to your degree, so something related to healthcare is ideal. This could include; volunteering in a hospice or nursing home, a health clinic or even at your local hospital. Volunteering opportunities that relate less directly to a Medical degree would include; working for a charity in your local area or helping out at your local food bank. 

Extracurricular activities could also include tutoring students who are working towards their 11+ exams, GCSE’s or A-Levels. This demonstrates to the university that you are able to understand the course content in such a comprehensive way that you are able to effectively explain and teach it to someone else.

Finally, a key extracurricular activity that demonstrates your commitment to learning and the subject is completing an online course. Melio offers Medicine courses either as Academic Online Courses or One-on-One tutorials, so you can choose which would suit you and your learning preferences best. This example of going the extra mile with your learning shows future employers and universities that you go out of your way to improve your knowledge around the subject. 

How much does it cost to become a doctor in the UK?

As the process to become a doctor in the UK is so long, there are a lot of fees to take into consideration before committing to your training.  However, it’s important to remember that you can get student loans to help with your finances during your studies. 

Undergraduate fees in the UK are currently up to £9,250 a year for UK residents which means that your five years of undergraduate study would come to £46,250. I feel like I must reiterate that the government loans you can get for your degree don’t need to be paid back until you earn £27,295 (if you studied on or after 2012) a year, and the amount of loan you repay each month depends on your salary. 

For international students, course fees are higher, with the maximum charge for Medicine degrees for 2020/21 being over £60,000 per academic year. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the tuition costs at your particular university before applying. 

At the stage of doing your two foundation years and then specialising, you are paid a salary so don’t need to pay any extra tuition fees. It’s also important to note that while you are studying and training to become a doctor in the UK, you will need to take into consideration other costs such as rent, food, and living expenses. 

Can I become a doctor with a biomedical science degree?

Becoming a doctor in the UK with a biomedical science degree is absolutely possible and a common path for many students. After you have completed your biomedical science undergraduate degree, you can enter a medical degree. As well as this, you will only need to do a four year medicine course instead of five as you already have a degree in a related sciences field, giving you a good understanding of the foundations of the subject.

The path to be accepted onto a biomedical science degree is similar to that of medicine, with the required subjects being Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths at most institutions and the predicted grades starting at AAB/AAA for most universities. 

What is the highest degree in medicine?

After completing your undergraduate degree in medicine, the two years of foundation training and then the five years of specialising, you will become an M.D. which stands for Doctor of Medicine. This is often associated with medical fields that directly treat patients through person facing roles. 

Alternatively, you can pursue a more research-based career and train for your PhD. Both an M.D and PhD are of equal level of being the highest degree you can get in medicine, but depending on which path you would like to take in the subject will affect which you choose to pursue. 

Summary

If you’re considering becoming a doctor in the UK, doing an online course will put your application ahead of the rest and ensure you stand out from other students. 

Our Academic Online Medicine Courses run for two weeks where you will get an opportunity to examine medicine at a molecular level while working with an expert tutor in groups of no more than 8 like-minded students. This course is ideal to complete over a half term or school holiday and gives you the chance to improve your subject knowledge before applying to become a doctor. 

Alternatively, our most bespoke course at Melio are our One-on-One Medicine tutorials. Available in hour-long sessions (starting at 10), this course matches you with one of our expert tutors based on your subject choice and learning style. You will be able to decide upon the timetable yourself to fit around school and extracurricular activities and have more of an input on the topics you and your tutor will go through. 

To learn more about the courses we offer for Medicine or Sciences, visit our website or book a call with our admissions team.