Becoming a doctor in the UK

We'll look at the qualifications, timescales, and key steps involved in pursuing a career in medicine.

Why become a doctor?

It's a rewarding career

You'll never get bored

Open up a world of opportunities

You'll have many diverse career options after completing medical school. If you choose to specialise, you'll be able to tailor your career to match your interests, skills, and personality. Beyond traditional hospital settings, doctors are in demand across various sectors. This includes the armed forces, emergency services, and research institutions. You'll have the ultimate flexibility and the chance to forge a unique and fulfilling career path.

The National Health Service (NHS)

If you want to work as a doctor in the UK, you will train with the NHS. There are a wide range of medical services in the NHS. This includes hospitals, general practitioners (GPs), specialist clinics, emergency services, and more. It's the largest publicly funded healthcare system in the world. The NHS focuses on patient care and promoting public heath and is known for its commitment to providing universal access to healthcare.

Timeline to becoming a doctor

Whether you're doing A Levels or an undergraduate degree, the time spent preparing for medical school can vary. The application process involves many different stages.

A step-by-step guide to training as a doctor

You might be a high school student considering a future in medicine, or someone looking to make a career change. Whatever your path, this guide will tell you the process of becoming a doctor in the UK.

Step 1
Prepare and apply for medical school
Step 2
Enrol and study at medical school
Step 3
Complete the foundation training
Step 4
Medical specialty training and CPD

Step 1: Prepare and apply for medical school

Getting ready for medical school takes hard work, dedication, and good grades, but it's the first step to becoming a doctor.

Research and work experience

Before applying to medical school, it's important to understand what it means to be a doctor. Start by researching the role, talking to doctors, and exploring different medical specialties. To gain experience and insight, you can volunteer or shadow doctors in healthcare settings. This will give you a realistic view of the demands and rewards of the profession. It will also show your commitment to becoming a doctor.

Medicine summer schools are also a good way to prepare yourself for medical school. You'll get an immersive experience of what it's like to study medicine and healthcare. UCLan's Medicine Summer School is a one-week residential programme. You'll learn hands-on skills from expert teachers.

You'll also need to decide what medical schools you want to apply to. Most UK medical schools (like UCLan) offer the integrated Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. Others may also award separate Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees in addition to the MBBS.

Academic qualifications

You should research different UK medical schools and their entry requirements. Typically, you'll need good grades in specific subjects like Biology and Chemistry. This is often from A Levels or equivalent qualifications. Some universities accept other qualifications like the International Baccalaureate. Additionally, some medical schools allow entry after completing an undergraduate degree.

If you don't meet the academic entry requirements, you can consider applying for a foundation entry programme. At UCLan, we have the MBBS Foundation Entry for international students. As a UK student you could consider the BSc (Hons) Medical Sciences Foundation Entry as a route to the MBBS.

Application, personal statement and references

You'll need strong letters of recommendation and a persuasive personal statement as part of your application. Your personal statement should be like a job application. You should show you have the qualities needed for a trainee doctor. Your reference is usually written by a Head Teacher, College Principal, Head of Year, or Form Tutor. This should show who you are as a person, not just talk about your academic achievements and potential.

Applying as a UK/home student

Complete the UCAS application, including personal statements and reference letters. You'll need to pay attention to application deadlines. If you’re applying for September start you'll need to submit your UCAS application by October the year before.

Applying as an international student

International students applying for UK medical school may not need to apply through UCAS. At UCLan, International applications can be made via UCAS or direct via our application portal.

Admissions tests and interviews

Some UK medical schools may ask you to take admission tests, so be sure to check specific requirements on their websites. To get ready for tests like the Universities Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) learn about the test format and practice with sample questions.

If you make it through the initial screening, you will most likely be invited to interview. To get ready for these interviews, prepare for both traditional and Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). Showcase your motivation, communication skills, and ethical awareness.

Step 2: Enrol and study at medical school

Medical school programmes in the UK typically last for five or six years, depending on the university.

Classroom-based learning

Your study will focus on foundational science courses such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and medical ethics. Usually, the first two years involve classroom and lab work, but some schools, like UCLan, start hands-on learning in Year 1.

At UCLan you will learn in a number of ways. This includes:

Small group tutorials
Seminars
Laboratory-based teaching sessions
Workshops
Clinical placements in primary and secondary care

Clinical skills training

In medical school, you'll learn important clinical skills. This includes talking with patients and doing physical exams. You'll also learn to perform medical procedures and how to understand test results.

At UCLan, we have advanced clinical skills labs with realistic equipment. This includes high fidelity clinical human simulators. You'll practice the skills you need in settings like hospitals and medical centres.

Placements and patient interaction

During medical school, you'll learn how to care for patients. You'll discover how to ask about medical histories, do physical exams, figure out diagnoses, and create treatment plans. You'll also do clinical rotations, where you'll work in real hospitals and healthcare settings. Here, you'll get hands-on practice in different medical areas and work with patients. You'll also be supervised by experienced doctors.

Assessments and examinations

The way you're assessed at medical school will vary. At UCLan, we use a mix of ongoing assessments and regular exams throughout the programme. Continuous assessment lets you regularly review what you've learned and talk to your tutor about any challenges you're facing early on.

Continuous assessment includes:

An ePortfolio for reflection
Formative assessments at the end of the first semester and informally throughout the year
End-of-year exams, which include computer-based knowledge tests, objective structured clinical exams (OSCEs), and oral and poster presentations
Professionalism, which we assess throughout the course in various ways

Step 3: Complete the foundation training

After graduating, you'll need to complete the UK's foundation training programme. This is a postgraduate training period of two years.

Foundation Year 1 (FY1)

Foundation Year 2 (FY2)

Step 4: Medical specialty training and CPD

After foundation training, you'll apply for specialty training. You'll become an expert in your chosen medical field.

Specialty training

After finishing foundation training, you'll receive a Foundation Programme Certificate of Completion (FPCC). You'll then decide to go on to train in general practice (GP), or a chosen medical specialty. There are around 60 specialties available including surgery, paediatrics, or cardiology.

Programmes vary in duration and might require you to pass membership exams related to your chosen specialty. You can find out more information on the NHS careers website.

Registration, licensing and membership exams

After completing your foundation and specialty training, you'll get full registration from the General Medical Council (GMC). This allows you to practice medicine independently. Additionally, you'll need to prepare for membership exams for your chosen medical specialty. This could include the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom (MRCPUK) or the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP). These memberships are crucial for you to advance in your medical career.

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