As the world grapples with ongoing health challenges such as the global pandemic, mental health issues, and chronic diseases, the role of doctors has become increasingly important. This is the perfect time to pursue a career in medicine, and the best way to start it is by enrolling in an MBBS program.
Pursuing an MBBS program in the UK offers a wide range of career opportunities. Additionally, students start to interact with patients from the early years of the course, providing them with valuable clinical exposure. All of these and other factors combined, make the UK one of the top destinations for studying medicine.
Top 10 Universities Offering MBBS In The UK
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PictureUniversity NameTop ElectivesUniversity Details
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University Of OxfordMedicine BM BChFull-time/On-campus
Duration: 6 years
Intake: October 2025
Tuition Fees: Between 30,000 pounds to 50,000 pounds per year
Placement: 90% to 95%
QS Ranking: 2nd in medicine
Acceptance Rate: 17% -
University Of CambridgeMedicine MB/BChirFull-time/On-campus
Duration: 6 years
Intake: October 2025
Tuition Fees: 70,000 pounds per year
Placement: 98%
QS Ranking: 5th in medicine
Acceptance Rate: 21% -
The University Of ManchesterMedicine MBChBFull-time/On-campus
Duration: 5 years
Intake: January 2025
Tuition Fees: Years 1 and 2 fees are 38,000 pounds
Placement: High job placement rate
QS Ranking: 8th in medicine
Acceptance Rate: 27% -
Imperial College Of LondonMedicine MBBS/BScFull-time/On-campus
Duration: 6 years
Intake: October 2025
Tuition Fees: 50,000 pounds per year
Placement: 95%
QS Ranking: 8th in medicine
Acceptance Rate: 14.3% -
King’s College LondonMedicine MBBSFull-time/On-campus
Duration: 5 years
Intake: September 2025
Tuition Fees: 53,000 pounds per year
Placement: Above 90%
QS Ranking: 13th in medicine
Acceptance Rate: 13% -
Queen Mary University Of LondonMedicine MBBSFull-time/On-campus
Duration: 5 years
Intake: September 2025
Tuition Fees: 48,700 pounds per year
Placement: 93%
QS Ranking: 55th in medicine
Acceptance Rate: 44%
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Newcastle UniversityMedicine and Surgery MBBSFull-time/On-campus
Duration: 5 years
Intake: September 2025
Tuition Fees: 44,500 pounds per year
Placement: 93%
QS Ranking: 129
Acceptance Rate: 87% -
University Of SheffieldMedicine MBChBFull-time/On-campus
Duration: 5 years
Intake: September 2025
Tuition Fees: 43,150 pounds per year
Placement: 75%
QS Ranking: 105
Acceptance Rate: 14% -
University Of CardiffMedicine MBBChFull-time/On-campus
Duration: 5 years
Intake: September 2025
Tuition Fees: 45,450 pounds per year
Placement: 100%
QS Ranking: 186 Overall Acceptance Rate: 20% -
University Of KeeleMedicine MBChBFull-time/On-campus
Duration: 5 years
Intake: September 2025
Tuition Fees: 45,100 pounds per year
Placement: 90% to 99%
QS Ranking: 301-350 in medicine
Acceptance Rate: 50% to 80%
Why Study MBBS In The UK?
- The UK takes a significant share of the top universities for medicine in Europe. According to QS Top University Rankings, Europe is home to more than 250 top universities for medicine in the world. Out of these, the UK claims nearly one-fifth of the top schools in medicine.
- One of the key benefits of studying MBBS in the UK is that the course is typically 5 to 6 years in duration, which is shorter than in many other countries such as the US and Canada. For example, to complete an MBBS in the US takes about 7 to 11 years, and in Canada, it takes about 7 to 9 years.
- The NHS in the UK is the world’s largest publicly funded healthcare service according to Statista. One of the key benefits of studying MBBS in the UK is the opportunity to gain clinical experience within the NHS during your course.
Structure Of The MBBS Program In The UK
The typical course duration of MBBS in the UK is 5 to 6 years. Here’s a breakdown of the structure of the MBBS program:
- Years 1 to 2: The first two years are the pre-clinical training period. In this period, you will be taught theoretical concepts focused on basic medical sciences like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and more. In addition to this, you will be given an introduction to clinical skills.
- Year 3 to 5 or 6: The last year of the course is focused on hands-on clinical training. The training is focused on different specialties such as medicine, surgery, psychiatry, and so on. You will be sent to hospitals to interact with patients and work with patients under a doctor’s supervision. In addition to this, some universities allow students to specialize in certain disciplines, enabling students to major in a particular subject.
Admission Requirements For International Students
| University | Subject | GPA | Test Scores |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Of Cambridge | Medicine, MB BChir | A Level: AAA (This means you need grades of A* in three subjects Chemistry, Biology, and either Math or another science subject). An IB (International Baccalaureate) score of 41 to 42 points. | IELTS – 7.5 TOEFL – 110 Average UCAT score – 2630 to 2800 |
| University Of Oxford | Medicine BM BcH | A Level: A*AA (This means you need to get at least an A grade in both Chemistry, and at least one of Biology, Physics, Maths, or Further Mathematics). An IB (International Baccalaureate) score of 39 points. | TOEFL – 100 UCAT with a high score, above 2400 |
| Imperial College London | Medicine MBBS/BSc | Minimum AAA ( A in Biology, A in Chemistry, and A in third subject) An IB (International Baccalaureate) score of a minimum of 38 points. | UCAT – In 2024, the minimum score was 2820. Expect similar scores in the future as well. IELTS – Minimum 7 TOEFL – Minimum 100 |
| King’s College London | Medicine MBBS | Minimum A*AA ( A in Biology and A in Chemistry is a must) An IB (International Baccalaureate) score of a minimum of 38 points. | UCAT – Approx 3000 for international students IELTS – 7.5 TOEFL – 109 |
| The University Of Manchester | Medicine MBChB | A level – AAA including biology or chemistry, and one of the following subjects physics or psychology An IB (International Baccalaureate) score of a minimum of 36 points. | UCAT – Above 2800 IELTS – Minimum 7 |
| Queen Mary University Of London | Medicine MBBS | A*AA (Must include Biology or Chemistry, and a second science) An IB (International Baccalaureate) score of a minimum of 37 points. | UCAT – 2300 to 2900+ IELTS – Minimum 7 TOEFL – Minimum 100 |
| Newcastle University | Medicine and Surgery MB BS | A Level – AAA An IB (International Baccalaureate) score of a minimum of 36 points. | UCAT – 2800 to 2950+ IELTS – 6.5 or higher TOEFL – 79 or higher |
| University Of Cardiff | Medicine MBBcH | AAA (Must include Biology and Chemistry) An IB (International Baccalaureate) score of a minimum of 36 points. | UCAT – No minimum threshold IELTS – 7 TOEFL – 100 |
| University Of Sheffield | Medicine MBChB | A level – AAA An IB (International Baccalaureate) score of a minimum of 36 points. | IELTS – 7.5 UCAT – Scores vary each year. |
| University Of Keele | Medicine MBChB | A level – AAA (including Biology and Chemistry) An IB (International Baccalaureate) score of a minimum of 35 points. | IELTS – 6 TOEFL – 100 UCAT – A minimum score of 2,600 is required. |
Document Requirements
| University | Document Requirements |
|---|---|
| Personal Statement Academic References | Personal statement academic references passport copy test scores |
| University Of Oxford | Transcripts have to be submitted after getting an offer from the university |
| Imperial College Of London | Personal statement academic referencesA passport copy test scores |
| King’s College London | Academic transcriptsPersonal statementAcademic reference |
| The University Of Manchester | A copy of the passport translation of all the transcripts if they are not in English |
| Newcastle University | A copy of the passportAcademic references |
| University Of Cardiff | Personal statement academic References |
| University Of Keele | Official transcripts personal statement proof of funding |
Application Process
| University | Online Application Link | Common Steps Involved In The Online Application Process |
|---|---|---|
| University Of Cambridge | Application Link | The applications are generally submitted through the UCAS website. The first step is to create an account on the UCAS website. Select up to 4 medical colleges. Fill out the application form, including personal details, academic background, etc. Pay the application fee. Review the application and submit |
| University Of Oxford | Application Link | |
| Imperial College Of London | Application Link | |
| King’s College London | Application Link | |
| The University Of Manchester | Application Link | |
| Queen Mary University Of London | Application Link | |
| Newcastle University | Application Link | |
| University Of Cardiff | Application Link | |
| University Of Sheffield | Application Link | |
| University Of Keele | Application Link |
Scholarships
| University | Scholarship | Link | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Of Cambridge | Cambridge Bursary Scheme Funding: 3,500 pounds a year is awarded to full-time undergrad students from EU and UK | Link | There is no application. Students are automatically considered for the scholarship if they meet certain requirements. |
| University Of Oxford | The Oxford and Cambridge Society Of India: The scholarship is given to students from India to pursue undergrad and grad studies. | Link | Applications are closed. However, the deadline for the next application would be tentatively May 31st, 2025 |
| Imperial College London | Faculty OF Medicine Scholarships: The scholarships are offered to students who have an unconditional offer to study medicine at the Imperial College London | Link | Students are automatically considered for the scholarship if they meet certain requirements. |
| Queen Mary University Of London | Sekforde House Trust Scholarship: The scholarship is given to all undergrad and grad students, irrespective of country | Link | The application is closed. The next application deadline would be tentatively 30th, June, 2025 |
| Newcastle University | Vice-Chancellor’s Global Scholarships: 4000 pounds is awarded to international students. The students should pursue undergrad studies at the university. | Link | The application is closed. The next application deadline would be tentatively 9th, May, 2025 |
Trends In The MBBS Job Market In The UK
- The job market in medicine is seeing an increase year-over-year. According to the Office for National Statistics, in England, there were 1,308,825 full-time equivalent staff employed by the NHS in 2024 compared with 973,261 in 2013, an increase of 34.5% throughout these years. The increase was seen in every group during this period, with doctors at 37% and nurses at 23%.
- There are a significant number of open vacancies in the NHS across various groups. For example, 523 medical staff vacancies are in medical and dental staff, with an estimated increase of 10.3%, a 0.6% increase compared to the previous year. Similarly, 485 vacancies in scientific, therapeutic, and technical staff, with an estimated vacancy rate of 2.8%, an increase of 0.3% compared to the previous year.
Job Roles And Expected Salaries
| Job Roles | Expected Salaries |
|---|---|
| Foundation doctor | 29,000 to 30,000 pounds per year |
| Junior doctor | 40,000 to 50,000 pounds per year |
| Specialty Registrar | 55,000 to 75,000 pounds per year |
| General Practitioner | 65,000 to 100,000 pounds per year |
| Consultant | 90,000 to 120,000 pounds per year |
Conclusion
Pursuing an MBBS in the UK opens doors to excellent career opportunities but has its share of challenges. Universities offer world-class education, valuable clinical exposure, and global recognition but studying in the UK can be expensive and competitive. Irrespective of the challenges, the long-term benefits of studying in the UK outweigh the difficulties. Be sure to keep the UK on your shortlist when deciding where to pursue your MBBS.
FAQs
Yes, BMAT is required for international students. Many universities in the UK ask for a Biomedical Admission Test (BMAT) as part of their admission process.
Yes, international students can work while studying MBBS in the UK. Students can work up to 20 hours per week
It depends on the home country. Some countries recognize a UK MBBS degree but other countries require you to take a local exam to practice in your home country.