MBBS Requirements in UK, Costs and Free Tuition
A lot of people have been wondering and asking “What is the cost of studying Medicine UK?” In fact, several of the mails we have received in recent days have centered around that question. Medicine is one of the most difficult professions to get into in the UK. Aside from the fact that it is financially demanding, gaining entry to study Medicine in the United Kingdom could also be somewhat difficult too.
Not a great way to begin this topic, right?
But nevertheless becoming a medical doctor in the UK has never been a walk in the park, seeing that you will end up dealing with human lives – that should not come as a surprise!
Details of Requirements, Costs of Studying Medicine in UK
Like every other difficult task, it seems impossible, and if it’s what you want to do then why let anything hold you back? Applying for medical study scholarshipscan further aid your study.
Before you become a medical doctor in UK you first have to obtain a degree in medicine from a medical school whose medical degrees are accepted in the UK. Courses normally last five years or four years for a graduate-entry program.
Tuition free study for international students in the United kingdom are readily available but are mostly made possible through a bilateral arrangement between the government of student’s home country and the school and/or British Government. If you want to get a tuition-free study in UK then refer to: 20 Inexpensive Medical Schools in the UK and Scholarships for International Students
STANDARD ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICINE IN UK
Different medical schools in the UK have their unique GCSE requirements for Medicine, including subject and grade requirements. Here are what the GCSE requirements are;
Undergraduate Medical Entry Requirements
Students applying to a medical school in the UK broadly have two main course choices; the A100 medicine program or the A104 medicine with foundation year. For an undergraduate course, you usually need to have achieved further education qualifications such as A-levels, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers, or equivalent qualifications from your country in related subjects. You should also have;
- International Baccalaureate: 37 points including chemistry and another science subject.
- IELTS: 7.5 overall, difference no lower than 7.0 in any one component.
- Grade 5 passes in English and Maths are required. Biology is recommended; Physics is recommended (or Dual Award Science). A combination of Grade 6-9 passes at GCSE is expected, especially in science subjects.
Graduate Medical Entry Requirements
Graduate entry Medicine is open to application from those who already have a bachelor’s degree. Many universities require the previous degree to be health-related, but not all. It is a four-year accelerated degree in most cases, but at some universities, it is a five-year course. In some cases, work experience may count towards entry to a course.
Students who have an impressive first degree can apply for a graduate/accelerated four-year graduate Medicine course even if they have no science background and have been out of education for some time.
Post-Graduate Entry Paths
In many cases students read Biochemistry or Biomedical Sciences at undergraduate level and go on to postgraduate Medicine, and that is a recognised – and well-respected – career path for strong students who narrowly missed getting onto undergraduate Medicine. Others – whether science or humanities graduates, spend some years working in a non-medical field post-university before applying for graduate studies in Medicine, with success in their career and impressive volunteer experience in healthcare.
Specific Entry Requirements for Graduates
The following are included in the list of what is required are;
- International Baccalaureate: 37 points.
- A-level: AAA.
- IELTS: 7.5 overall, with no lower than 7.0 in any one component.
(If English isn’t your first language, the university or college may ask you to take an English language test or show your English language qualifications before you can enroll. This may also be necessary for your visa application).
- Medicine with a Preliminary Year (UCAS code: A104). This course takes the form of either a five-year Standard Entry Medicine with an additional year at the start, making a six-year course, or sometimes the preliminary year is taken as a standalone one-year course. It is also known as Medicine with a Foundation Year, or similar.
- Medicine Personal Statement: Your personal statement is a crucial part of the application process when wishing to study in the UK and, because of the competitive nature and a limited number of spaces at medical schools, it is vital that your personal statement is of an extremely high standard. Important topics to cover include:
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- What you wish to achieve as a doctor.
- Work experience, GP or medical institution and what you achieved.
- Your commitment to medicine and the NHS.
- Your achievements academically.
- Why you will succeed on the course.
- Hobbies and interests.
BEST MEDICAL SCHOOLS TO STUDY MEDICINE IN UK
From our research, here are some of the best universities where you can study Medicine in the UK (Note that this is not a ranking):
* The University of Oxford.
* The University of Liverpool.
* Imperial College London.
* The University of Edinburgh.
* King’s College London.
* The University of Cambridge.
* The University of Glasgow.
* Johns Hopkins University.
* University College London (UCL)
COSTS OF STUDYING MEDICINE IN THE UK
For international students, the average cost of a medical degree can be as somewhere as high as £38,000 per year and as low as £8,000 per years, depending on a lot of factors; the medical school in question, your mode of entry, EU/EEU student, etc. Cost of living in UK is estimated at £800 to £1200 per month to cover the cost of accommodation, food, books, travel, etc. Note that this is just an estimate and may be higher or lower depending on a student’s lifestyle and spending habits.
At Leicester Medical School, for instance, UK and EU students were quoted to pay a standard £9,250 per year, including the iBSc. Those living in a non-EU country pay tuition fees of £20,590 per year for the Medical Degree (MBChB) for the first two years, then over £40,000 for years 3, 4 and 5 (It should be noted that these rates are not communicated officially and may change).
SOME GREAT UK UNIVERSITIES AND THEIR AVERAGE FEES
A number of UK schools including the Medical schools and their average or starting fees are listed as follows (**);
- Glyndwr University
- Undergraduate: £7,450
- Postgraduate: £8,100
- The University of West London
- Undergraduate: £9,350
- Postgraduate: £9,950
- Southampton Solent University
- Undergraduate: £9,785
- Postgraduate: £10,300
4. Edinburg Napier University
- Undergraduate: £10,080
- Postgraduate: £10,760
- Leeds Metropolitan University
- Undergraduate: £9,500
- Postgraduate: £10,100
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- Undergraduate: £9,710
- Postgraduate: £10,510
- Cardiff Metropolitan University
- Undergraduate: £9,700
- Postgraduate: £10,000
- Aberystwyth University.
- Undergraduate: £9,750
- Postgraduate: £10,750
- Robert Gordon University
- Undergraduate: 9,900
- Postgraduate: £10,000
10. University of Bedfordshire
- Undergraduate: £9,600
- Postgraduate: £9,600
**please note that these fees are not communicated officially, it is always advisable that you reach out to the respective schools to get the most current and more reliable information.
If you are already a student in any of these schools or in the system and would like to update us with the current rates, we will welcome such at the comment section or use the contact form to reach us.