Medical Schools in the UK
How to choose the right medical school
Deciding which medical school in the UK to apply for can be a difficult decision for an international student. Factors such as rankings, reputation and cost all play a huge part, as well as which part of the UK to study because of the long course length.
Types of medicine course
- Traditional courses are taught through lectures, seminars and tutorials for the first 2 years before students move into practical and clinical work for the following 3 years. For pre-clinical study, teaching covers areas such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and pathology and each block is taught as a separate course. The clinical stage will see students work at hospitals as student doctors.
- Integrated courses differ as lecture and seminar-based work is taught alongside clinical studies of the same area, meaning you will begin clinical work from the very beginning of your program. This type of course is recommended by the General Medical Council.
- Problem-based learning courses are unique and fewer UK medical schools offer them. Small groups of no more than ten students are presented with a problem and a virtual patient as the case study. The group will then be guided by a facilitator and have to present their hypothesis at a later date. Medical schools in the UK that offer this style of course include Liverpool, Sheffield and Queen Mary.
Competitive entry
Medicine is one of the most competitive programs in the world to secure a place in, so researching and looking into each program and medical school is of huge importance when selecting the right location to study.
Exceptional academic results are required, while work experience is looked upon greatly by the applications board. If your grades fall short of the entry requirements, many medical schools provide foundation programs if they believe you have the required ability to succeed.
Undergraduate medical schools in the UK
There are 33 undergraduate medical schools in the UK:
- University of Aberdeen, School of Medicine
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, UoL
- University of Birmingham, School of Medicine
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School
- University of Bristol, Faculty of Medicine
- University of Cambridge, School of Clinical Medicine
- Cardiff University, School of Medicine
- University of Dundee, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing
- University of Edinburgh, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
- University of Exeter, Medical School
- University of Glasgow, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences
- Hull York Medical School
- Imperial College School of Medicine, London
- Keele University, School of Medicine
- King's College London School of Medicine
- Lancaster University, Faculty of Health & Medicine
- University of Leeds, School of Medicine
- University of Leicester, Leicester Medical School
- University of Liverpool, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
- University of Manchester, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences
- Newcastle University Medical School
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia
- University of Nottingham, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- University of Oxford, Medical Sciences Division
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry
- Queen's University Belfast, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
- University of Sheffield, School of Medicine
- University of Southampton, School of Medicine
- University of St Andrews, Faculty of Medical Sciences
- St George's, University of London
- St Mary’s University, London
- Swansea University Medical School
- University College London, University College Medical School
- University of Warwick, Warwick Medical School
Applying to study medicine in the UK
If you need help choosing the right medical school for your future, arrange your free consultation today. Our Medicine Service will help prepare you fully for being accepted at a UK medical school.
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