A Guide to Applying for Medicine as a Graduate or Healthcare Professional
We look at how to apply to medical school as a graduate, entry requirements, 4,5 and 6 year courses, foundation, pre clinical, access to medicine courses and diplomas.
Not every students route into medicine is the same. Whilst many students start the medical degree from college or sixth form, there are a number of students who choose to be a doctor later in life.
Some of the students wish to move to a medical degree programme straight after completing the undergraduate year and others may already be in employment in a medically related field.
There should be no upper age limit to applying to medicine, but the medical schools may think to themselves how long you will be able to work for the NHS after graduating.
We look at what options are open to if you already have an undergraduate degree (or are in the process of completing your studies). As always, please double check the information below with the medical school directly, as this area can rapidly change and information can become out of date.
There are several medical schools that accept graduate entry. A good place to do a search is the Medical School Council website at:-
Here is a list of medical schools that accept graduate entry at the time of writing: -
Barts and the London Queen Mary's School
Birmingham
Cambridge
Imperial College London
King's College London
Liverpool
Newcastle
Nottingham
Oxford
Southampton
St George's London
Swansea
Warwick
We have done some research for you on your options. Almost all medical schools require you to apply through UCAS. The usual UCAS deadlines for undergraduate entry may not apply and you may be able to apply outside the normal UCAS cycle.
The General Medical Council has approved a number of shortened courses for graduates. These vary in their structure and length but usually are around 4 years. You will still need relevant work experience, possibly sit entrance exams and attend an interview.
If you apply for graduate entry, your undergraduate degree may need to meet minimum standards - usually 2:1 as a minimum.
Learn more about our Medical School Interview Course
4 Year Graduate Entry Course
There is an option to take a reduced 4 year graduate entry course (usually UCAS has this coded as A101 or A102). Some only accept you if your first degree is medically related. Others only accept from local ‘feeder programmes’ which may mean that your undergraduate degree may have to be from a certain university and possibly even a certain subject.
There may also be A-level requirements which may not need science-based subjects if your undergraduate degree is from a science-based discipline. Again, what is ‘science based’ and ‘medically related’ can be subject to interpretation. You may need to sit usual entrance exams such as UCAT or possibly the GAMSAT.
5 Year Undergraduate Entry Course
Another option is simply to apply for the ‘normal’ 5-year undergraduate entry course (usually A100). You will likely have to meet the entry requirements in terms of A-levels. This may mean taking science based A-levels like chemistry and biology if you don’t have them (or did not get high enough grades the first time).
You will also likely need to sit the UCAT and BMAT exams. You may be able to find some colleges that offer a one-year A level chemistry option as normally A-levels are studied over two years. Some medical schools may have a few places on the 5 year course if they have filled the 4 year graduate entry course – so it’s worth making some enquires.
6 Year Course with a Pre medical year.
You may be able to access a 6 year course with Premedical Year (In the past Cardiff, Liverpool, Manchester were examples of medical schools offering such courses). However, these usually require non science-based A-levels. Don’t confuse with a 6 year with Intercalated BSc which is a traditional 5 year course with an extra year to study an additional subject (which may not be medical). Intercalation is the subject of another blog.
If you apply for a 5 year normal or 4 year graduate entry course and the medical school considers your science background inadequate, they may give you a place on the 6 year course.
Access to Medicine Diploma
You may have the option to start an Access to Medicine Diploma. Be aware of this as the qualification this leads to may not be accepted between medical schools and you will may have to pass and go through competitive process at the end of the diploma year.
Access to Medicine Courses
There is also the relatively new Access to Medicine Courses. These are for healthcare professionals, such as nurses and paramedics. They usually last one year and cover biology, chemistry, physics and other medical topics. They also support students from disadvantages backgrounds, ethnic and cultural minorities and those with disabilities. You may also get a reduced course fee.
Widening participation
There are a number of medical schools that reserve places for students who fit what they might term a widening participation (or perhaps improving access to medicine, outreach) criterion. If you fit this criterion (usually based on your home postcode, disability or illness and current circumstances etc.) you may be able to apply under this criterion.
As widening participation is a relatively new phenomenon, you would have to check directly with the medical school whether they would accept your application before you apply.
Here is a list of medical schools with foundation or pre-clinical medicine courses (at the time of writing).
University of Bradford
Cardiff University
University of Dundee
Keele University
King's College London
University of Liverpool
Manchester University
University of East Anglia
University of Nottingham
University of Sheffield
University of Southampton
How can Blue Peanut help me get into medicine graduate entry?
We have a very high level of success with medical school interviews. We have medical school interview courses, but if you are applying outside the normal academic timetable, we can offer medical school interview training, sometimes at short notice.
Your training will be with medical school tutors who are currently teaching at medical school with extensive experience of training graduate entry medical students.