Applying for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry

CONTENTS

1. How is applying for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or Dentistry different from other courses?

2. Applying for Medicine courses

3. Applying for Veterinary Medicine courses

4. Applying for Dentistry courses

How is applying for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or Dentistry different from other courses?

The deadline for these courses is 6pm GMT, 15 October. There’s also some extra work and tests to complete before you can apply.

Applying for Medicine courses

Medicine will involve extra tests such as UCAT (if you're an undergraduate) or GAMSAT (for graduate-entry medicine). You will also need to attend an interview, which could be an MMI (Multiple Mini Interviews). Check our page on Medicine admissions tests for more information.

• Most medical schools expect you to have experience that gives you insight into the work of a doctor or healthcare setting.
• Teamwork activities can also help, including sports.
• A Levels (or equivalent) in Biology and Chemistry are usually essential.

Once you’re studying, you can become a member of the British Medical Association (BMA). As a student, you’ll be eligible for reduced fees. Your first year is free; after this, it's £3.50 a month.

Things to do before you apply

Do your research

Before applying to medical school, find out as much information as possible about studying this subject and what a career in medicine is like. Check the entry requirements for courses you're interested in at various institutions.

This will help you get a full view of what to expect and what will be expected of you. Since the number of universities offering clinical Medicine courses (Medicine & Surgery, denoted as MBChB or MBBS) is small, it’s fairly easy to find out what’s available.

Be realistic

Medicine is a very competitive subject to get into, so consider your predicted grades and think carefully about your chances of success. There’s little point in applying to four Medicine courses if you only have a slim chance of getting in.

Applications per place range from five to 18 (for UK students). Most of those applicants will be on track to achieve AAB or better in their A Levels or equivalent. A 40% chance of success is a reasonable approximation.

If you want to pursue Medicine, use your UCAS 5th choice wisely. UCAS rules don’t let you apply to five Medicine & Surgery courses, so see our list of Alternatives to Medicine at university for other options. For example, you could choose a healthcare-related course or biology subject.

Get experience

Practical experience is crucial. Make yourself as appealing to universities as possible by gaining as much as you can, from short placements to longer-term volunteering work. This will show your skills and prove how dedicated you are.

• You can find suitable work experience opportunities in places such as a local GP, hospice, nursing home, hospital, or pharmacy.
• Look for placements on volunteer websites, talk to people who may know someone who works in the industry, and search online for work in your area.
• Shadowing a doctor may be helpful, but check with the institution you're applying to, as not all accept this as suitable. 
• Be proactive, and if you can’t find something you want to do, find someone who can help you more.

Know what to expect

Different institutions have different admissions processes and tests for Medicine courses. More universities now use MMI (Multiple Mini Interviews) as a way to objectively select students. University websites normally have brief explainers to give you an idea of what to expect.

Non-standard routes into Medicine

You may be able to transfer after the first year of a different degree to the first or second year of a medical course. This is unusual and should always be checked with the university.

• One example is Newcastle University, where you can transfer to a Medicine course from a programme in the School of Biomedical Sciences.
• Other transfer schemes offer a guaranteed interview for Medicine after your first year, but you must apply for the medical degree through UCAS.

If you're considering this route into Medicine, be sure to research the funding position. Contact your funding body (SFE, SFW, SFNI or SAAS) to check whether tuition fee loans are available for the whole course. You can also ask the uni you're applying to, as they should be able to advise you.

Alternatively you can complete an undergraduate degree in a related subject and follow this with a graduate-entry Medicine degree.

Fees and funding

An NHS bursary is available for most medical students from the UK who study an eligible Medicine degree.

• Students from Scotland do not get NHS funding. Neither do graduates from Northern Ireland.
• NHS bursary amounts are not high. They also reduce the amount of maintenance loan you get through student finance.
• Undergraduates should apply for student finance as normal. For most, an NHS bursary will be available from year five of your course.
• If you're entering medical school as a graduate, funding is slightly different. It will depend on which nation you are from, and whether you are taking a fast-track graduate-entry Medicine degree or a full undergraduate degree.

You can find all the details on our page about NHS funded courses. 

Veterinary Medicine

Like Medicine degrees, Veterinary Medicine is a popular subject that requires discipline and academic excellence. An A Level (or equivalent) in Biology is usually essential.

Because it is so competitive to get in, if you're applying for Veterinary Medicine it helps to have more on your application than just good grades. Put particular thought into writing your personal statement, and if possible, gain relevant experience through work or volunteering. 

Tutors will be looking for evidence of passion for animals and care, as well as work experience with animals or in a veterinary practice. 

Once you’re studying, you can become a member of the British Veterinary Association (BVA). As a student your first year is free, then you'll pay up to £47 per year. But check with your university, as some will contribute to the cost of membership as part of your degree. 

Do you have what it takes to be a veterinarian?

The University of Edinburgh has a short online course designed to give A Level students an idea of what studying a veterinary course will be like. It’s designed to take 3–4 hours a week for five weeks and will give you a taster of the first year.

Dentistry

A lucrative and competitive course, Dentistry also has an early application deadline of 15 October.

Nearly all dental degrees require the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test). You will also need to attend an interview, which could be an MMI (Multiple Mini Interviews). Check our page on Medicine admissions tests for more information.

• Ideally, you'll have experience of healthcare environments, whether it's paid work, volunteering, or even shadowing a dentist. Check the requirements for each school.
• A Levels (or equivalent) in Biology and/or Chemistry are usually required by most universities. Physics and Mathematics are also considered complementary courses by tutors.

Once you’re studying, you can become a member of the British Dental Association (BDA). As a student you’ll be eligible for reduced fees of £34 per year. However, check with your university as some will contribute to the cost of membership as part of your degree.

Fees and funding

If you're from the UK and studying a Dentistry degree, you may be eligible for an NHS bursary.

• Students from Scotland don't get NHS funding, and nor do graduates from Northern Ireland.
• NHS bursary amounts are fairly low. Plus, they can also reduce the amount of maintenance loan you're entitled to through student finance.
• Undergrads should apply for student finance as usual. For most, an NHS bursary kicks in from year five of your course.
• Funding is a bit different if you're a graduate. It depends on which part of the UK you're from and whether you're doing a fast-track graduate-entry Dentistry degree.
• If you're from a low-income family, you may be eligible for Scotland's Dental Student Support Grant.

For all the details, check out our page on NHS funded courses.

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