Study Medicine, why & how to study

CONTENTS

1. What’s Medicine?

2. What Medicine degrees can you study?

3. What do you need to get onto a Medicine degree?

4. What topics does a Medicine degree cover?

5. How will you be assessed?

6. Why study Medicine?

7. Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying a Medicine degree?

8. What do Medicine graduates earn?

9. What jobs can you get as a Medicine graduate?

10. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

11. Similar subjects to Medicine

12. Have any questions?

What’s Medicine?

Medicine is a broad term for the various practices that maintain and restore health, through the prevention and treatment of illness.

Our Medicine subject guide focuses on 'pre-clinical' medicine. The pre-clinical stage provides you with the foundational knowledge for a medical career. It tends to be more lecture-based than practical. You learn about areas like anatomy, physiology, pathology, biochemistry or molecular biology.

Following this you can study clinical medicine. You learn practical skills for diagnosing and treating conditions in patients. Both pre-clinical and clinical studies are part of the Medicine MB degree.

Take a look at the university league table for Medicine.

What Medicine degrees can you study? 

Medicine MB ChB 

The MB ChB is a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree. It is a five- or six-year course that trains you in various subjects, such as anatomy and physiology. Afterwards, you can pursue postgraduate training to become a licensed physician.

Search for Medicine MB ChB courses.

The Medicine MB degree can include a preliminary or gateway year, which may be integrated as part of the course. For Medicine degrees, you need to apply by the October deadline.

Alternatives to Medicine

Medicine is a notoriously difficult degree to get onto, as the numbers of UK students who can study it are capped by the government. These courses won't lead directly to a career as a doctor but may still put you in the operating theatre...

Cardiac Physiology BSc

Study the physiology of the cardiovascular system to learn about the heart and blood and how to treat cardiac conditions. You’ll also gain experience in a clinical setting.

Find Cardiac Physiology courses.

Medical Sciences BSc

Medical Sciences tends to provide a solid theoretical foundation of medicine and healthcare. You can study areas from ethics to genetics, and pursue a range of careers, from nursing to research. It's also a great pathway into studying a graduate-entry Medicine degree.

Search for Medical Sciences courses. 

Operating Department Practice BSc

This degree prepares you to be an expert in the operating theatre. You learn the skills required for taking care of patients before, during and after their surgery.

Find Operating Department Practice courses.

What do you need to get onto a Medicine degree?

Must have 

You’ll need top grades for entry to a Medicine MB degree. Typical requirements are from 128–160 UCAS points, although contextual admissions will be lower. This could include: 

• A Levels: A*A*A–ABB (AAA is common and Maths and Physics are useful)  
• BTECs: not accepted 
• Scottish Highers: AAAABB–AAAAB (Advanced Highers: AAA–BBB) 
• International Baccalaureate: 42–32 
• Universities will usually ask that you have studied: biology and chemistry at A Level (or equivalent) 
• You will need to pass an admission tests (BMAT, UCAT, or for graduate entry, GAMSAT)and a university interview.  
• Due to the nature of this work, you’ll need to complete Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks (PVG scheme in Scotland) 

Good to have 

• Observe, shadow or talk to doctors at a GP practice or hospital – if this hasn’t been possible, check for online virtual work experience or videos 
• Volunteer or work experience in a care setting like a care home, hospice, school or service provider, particularly supporting people who have health conditions 
• Be aware of topical issues via the Medical Schools Council or British Medical Journal websites, news sites like the Guardian, TED talks, or podcasts 
• Summer schools, if available – check the Medical Schools Council and Sutton Trust websites 

What topics does a Medicine degree cover?

Modules in a Medicine degree may include:

• Medical cell biology and genetics
• Pathological processes
• Health behaviours, musculoskeletal, respiratory and digestive systems
• Evidence-based medicine and research methods
• Clinical procedural skills
• Ethics and law in clinical practice
• Mechanisms of drug action
• Biology of disease
• Preparing for patients

How will you be assessed?

Courses are assessed using a wide range of methods across the many years of study, including:

• Anatomy practice
• Online tests
• Reflective essays
• Simulation exercises
• Verbal presentations
• Written assignments

Why study Medicine?

Medicine may be a challenging area to work in, but job satisfaction from a career in the field is high. Most doctors agree there is no greater joy than curing a patient.

Career-specific skills:

• Medical knowledge and the practical skills to treat illnesses, diseases or long-term health conditions affecting patients
• Understanding of medications, their interactions with the body, and contraindications
• Skills and attributes developed while working in a high-pressure environment

Transferable skills:

• Communication and team working
• Decision making and leadership
• Integrity
• Managing high-pressure situations
• Organisation
• Presentation
• Problem solving
• Research and reflective practice

Professional accreditation:

Medical schools and their degrees must be approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) for you to provisionally register as a doctor on completion of your studies.

I knew I wanted a career in a field that is dynamic: constantly changing and evolving in terms of its knowledge and capabilities, seeking to question more, discover more, and deliver more, one which requires you to think, be active and on your feet, and to solve problems.
Nick, University of Birmingham

Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying a Medicine degree? 

Some universities offer students specific scholarships, bursaries, or grants to encourage access so it’s worth seeing if you are eligible, how to apply and what it covers e.g., materials, tuition fees and/or living costs.  

The National Health Service (NHS) offers student bursaries in some instances. It is also introducing a doctor apprenticeship scheme. More information can be found in our guide to NHS funding. 

What do Medicine graduates earn?

Medicine graduates have one of the highest starting salaries at around £38,000 (in the first year of Foundation training). Specialise and you’ll earn up to £111,400. Consultants in the NHS are paid £100,870–£111,400, depending on how many years they’ve completed as a consultant. 

On the other hand, you might prefer to work outside a hospital in general practice. GPs who are salaried are paid £76,000–£114,700 in England. A GP who is a partner in a practice is self-employed – which means their working contract differs, but they can also share in the profits of the practice depending on how it performs. An average income is estimated to be around £110,000 in England.

Read more about what graduates do and earn.

What jobs can you get as a Medicine graduate?

Study Medicine, and aside from work as a GP or hospital doctor, options include specialisms, a move sideways into management, education or research. Or you could do something completely different. Roles could include:

• Civil servant (fast stream)
• Clinical research
• Consultant anaesthetist
• Expedition medical officer
• Forensic medical examiner
• Genetic scientist
• Health service manager
• International aid medic
• Lecturer
• Medical charity clinical director
• Medical journalist
• Public health consultant
• Solicitor

Take a look at the careers you can have in the NHS.

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

If you have a first degree, you may be able to take a graduate-entry medical course to qualify as a doctor. Most medical schools require a 2:1 and some require an undergraduate degree in a related subject.

Examples of taught master’s and research degrees at postgraduate level include:

• Cancer Science MPhil/DPhil
• Cardiovascular and Respiratory Healthcare PGCert/PGDip/MSc
• Doctor of Medicine MD
• Genomic Medicine MSt
• Surgery PhD

Similar subjects to Medicine

Other subject areas that might appeal to you include:

• Biomedical Sciences
• Dentistry
• Medical Technology & Bioengineering
• Midwifery
• Nursing
• Paramedic Science
• Pharmacology & Pharmacy
• Therapeutic Radiographer

Search undergraduate Medicine courses now!

Have any questions?

If you’ve got any questions about studying Medicine, you can email our experts at ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk. We’ll be happy to hear from you!