Many people have wondered and asked, “How large is this tuition fee for taking up Medicine UK?” In fact, some of the many mails we received in the last few days were calls for that. In the UK, Medicine is one of the hardest courses to gain admission to.
MBBS in UK Requirements, Costs, and Tuition
Aside from that, securing entry to study Medicine in the United Kingdom might be a little bit challenging too.
Not a very good way to start this topic, right?
But then again, becoming a medical doctor in the UK was never easy, considering that you will end up dealing with human lives – that should come as no surprise!
Like any other uphill task, it seems impossible, and if it’s what you feel you want to do then why let anything stop you?
Relevant Information on Requirements, Costs of Studying Medicine in UK
Going through the process of studying medicine in the United Kingdom is usually a way that is structured, and it involves getting a qualification in medicine at an approved medical school.
The establishment of tuition-free study for international students in the United Kingdom is readily available, but most often, it is made possible through a bilateral arrangement between the government of the student’s home country, the school, and the British Government.
STANDARD ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICINE IN UK
There have been several individual specifications of GCSE requirements from different UK medical schools for Medicine. This differs based on the grading of the subjects. Below is the definition of what the GCSE requirements are.
Undergraduate Medical Entry Requirements
In general, an applicant applying for medical school in the United Kingdom has two main options: A100 Medicine program or A104 Medicine with Foundation year.
Conversely, an applicant must have obtained further education qualifications such as A-levels, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers, or its equivalent qualification in his or her country. Such a candidate must have;
Academic Requirements:
- International Baccalaureate (IB):
- Entry Requirements
- 37 or more points overall including Chemistry and one other science.
GCSE (or equivalent): - English Language and Mathematics at Grade 5 passes are normally required.
- Other science subjects including Biology and Physics subjects are recommended, with passes at Grade 6-9 expected particularly in Science subjects.
Graduate entry Medicine targets applicants with a bachelor’s degree. Most universities require applicants to have a previous degree based on health—all but not obligatory.
This is an accelerated degree that normally lasts four years, but at some, this course goes on for five years. Work experience may also count toward getting entry to a course in some cases.
Students with a good 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 reconvene to postgraduate Medicine, and it is a recognized—and positively thought of—career course for strong students.
Those others, whether science or humanities graduates, are working in a non-medical field by graduating studies and have gone on to several years of work before applying for graduate studies in Medicine from successful careers with impressive volunteer work experience in healthcare.
Specific Entry Requirements for Graduates
The list of what is required includes;
- 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).
I think you are describing more of a traditional ‘Standard Entry Medicine’, course, with a foundation year added. It adds a year into the length of the medical degree—normally six years. Here’s a brief example of how such a course would typically structure:
- Foundation Year: The course begins with a foundation year, also known as the “pre-clinical year” or “pre-medical year.” This is an additional preparatory year of a course, where students are given sufficient knowledge about basics, including medical sciences like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and medical ethics. In this respect, it does help establish a foothold for the students before getting into the rigors of the medical curriculum.
- Length: After the successful completion of the foundation year, one officially transitions to the routine medical degree that lasts five years, constituting of both academic studies and clinical training. The total number of years the process takes up is six years.
- Curriculum: The first-year curriculum is comprised of a mix of lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions, and practical exercises meant for construction of the basic knowledge and skills in the field of biomedical science. Thereafter, the students engage in more advanced works of medical studies, clinical rotations, and hands-on training in the hospitals.
- Assessments: Students are assessed through written exams, practical assessments, clinical skill assessments, and professional competencies.
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.
*University of Edinburgh.
*King’s College London.
*University of Cambridge.
*University of Glasgow.
*Johns Hopkins University.
*University College London (UCL)
COSTS OF STUDYING MEDICINE IN THE UK
The cost of a medical degree may go as high as £38,000 per year for international students and as low as £8,000 per year for the average.
There are many determinants in this regard, like medical school, mode of entry, being an EU/EEU student, and many others. Living costs in the UK are estimated at £800 to £1,200 per month for accommodation, food, books, travel, and so on.
Note, that this is only an estimate and life expenses may be higher or lower in accordance with the lifestyle of a student and the requirements of them.
At Leicester Medical School in the UK, both UK and EU students were quoted to pay a standard £9,250 a year, including the iBSc. Those in a non-EU country pay tuition fees of £20,590 a year for the Medical Degree (MBChB) for the first two years, then over £40,000 for years 3, 4 and 5.
SOME GREAT UK UNIVERSITIES AND THEIR AVERAGE FEES
A range of the UK schools including the Medical schools and their average or starting fees are outlined as bellow (**);
- Name of school
- Average available, every year
- Glyndwr University
- UG: £7,450
- PG: £8,100
- The University of West London
- UG: £9,350
- PG: £9,950
- Southampton Solent University
- UG: £9,785
- PG: £10,300
- Postgraduate: £9,600
**Please note these fees are not officially communicated; it is always best that you contact the schools in question to obtain the most current and, therefore, more reliable details.
If you are already a student in any of these schools or in the system and would love to update us with the current rates, we will appreciate such in the comment section or use the contact form to reach us.
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