Medicine Foundation Courses In The UK

From High School To Medical School In Only One Year!

Entry to Medicine in the UK is extremely competitive. Most medical schools require A Levels or the International Baccalaureate (IB), with top grades in Biology, Chemistry and either Mathematics or Physics. They also require IELTS 7.0 and successful completion of an entrance exam (e.g. UCAT or BMAT).

Medicine foundation courses are offered by a small number of universities and provide an alternative route to Medicine for international students. Most overseas high school qualifications are accepted (subject to grades), the English requirement is lower and you don't need UCAT/BMAT to apply for these courses.

When To Apply

Competition for these courses is very high and places are strictly limited (some have only 5 places). Courses often close to new applications by December/January. So it is important to apply early and confirm your place as soon as possible after you receive an offer. Many courses will only allow students to confirm if they meet the English requirement, so make sure you book a UKVI English Test if you have not already done so.

Progression To Medicine

Progression to Medicine is not guaranteed. Students who achieve top grades are shorlisted, but final selection is based on a other criteria, including a personal statement, interviews and work experience¹. Students who are not selected for progression to Medicine will be offered an alternative biomedical degree programme instead.

Note: If you are unable to join a Medical degree at undergraduate level, you still have the opportunity to qualify as a doctor at graduate level. You can apply for graduate entry to a 4-year Medicine degree ² if you successfully complete a bachelor's degree in one of the following subjects: Biomedicine, Optometry, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Psychology.

Why Choose This Course?

• Progression to selected Medical Schools in the UK after only one year of study.
• An alternative route to Medicine for international students who have not studied A Levels or IB.
• Keep your options open - in addition to Medicine, these courses offer progression to a wide range of alternative biomedical degrees too (e.g. Biomedicine, Neurology, Pharmacy, Psychology etc.).
• If you are unable to progress to medicine from a foundation year, you may still qualify as a doctor via the graduate level route if you study an alternative life sciences degree, such as biomedicine or pharmacy.

Entry Requirements

¹ Suitable work experience includes shadowing a health professional or volunteering in a hospital or other healthcare setting. You should take every opportunity to acquire this work experience, for example before starting the course and during vacations.

² The following UK Medical Schools offer 4-year graduate entry programs that accept international students: Cardiff University, Newcastle University, The University of Nottingham, Queen Mary (University of London), Swansea University and The University of Warwick.