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Application Guide 2024:
Medicine
Ultimate Guide To Deciding & Applying To Study Medicine In The UK in 2024
Dr. Akash Gandhi
Medicine Admissions Expert
Introduction
Deciding on a career in medicine can be a difficult process. Everyone has different reasons for pursuing whatever career they choose, and it’s important to consider the realities of your path - especially if it’s as tough as the pathway to studying medicine.
Applying for Medicine in the UK is a very similar process no matter which medical schools you are applying to.
This article outlines the main pathway to medicine, but it is important to note that there are various ways of getting into Medicine and the route outlined in this article may not be the best for you.
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The Key Steps To Deciding To Study Medicine in 2024 In The UK
The first step to knowing whether a career in medicine is right for you is having all of the information required to make an informed decision. Studying medicine is a long process which has a significant cost. Making a decision to study medicine should be done with some thought to what can be a very exciting journey!
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What degree do I need to become a doctor and how do you become a doctor?
Doctors in the UK study for a Bachelor of Medicine, and Bachelor of Surgery degree.
This is often known as MBBS medicine or MBChB medicine, both of which stand for the same thing: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.
Despite being known as Bachelor’s degrees, they are considered at “level 7”, which is the equivalent of a Master’s degree.
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How old are doctors when they graduate?
The average age of a newly qualified doctor is 23.
A medical degree in the UK is 5 years - or 6, including an intercalated degree. As such, you will graduate 5-6 years after you begin your degree. For some people, this means that you could be just 22!
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How much does it cost to study medicine and how much does a UCAS application cost?
Overall it can cost over £70000 to study medicine in the UK in 2024.
A UCAS application costs £20, but is often paid by the school.
It is vitally important to consider the costs of studying medicine before you apply. Studying medicine in England or Wales costs up to £9,250 per year.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, fees vary depending on where you are from - for instance, Scottish students can study in Scotland for free.
Any UK or EU medical student is entitled to a full loan to cover the costs of studying medicine, which you can apply for here: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-register-login.
Additionally, you can apply for assistance with the costs of living in the form of either a loan or grant, which you can check eligibility for here.
These can be applied through the link above. Some universities also offer their own bursaries and scholarships which you can check for on their website.
There is also a price to apply through UCAS. If you’re wondering how much a UCAS application costs, then check with your school as most will pay the fee for you. If they don’t, however, then you can expect to pay £20 for a single choice or £25 for multiple choices.
The cost for international students is different, find out more here: 👉🏼 Read more: Compared: UK Medical School Fees For International Students (2024 Updates)
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1. Understand what being a doctor is like
Of course, it is important to know what being a doctor is like! For more information here, check out our guide to a doctor’s training pathway post-medical school.
A career as a Doctor is a wholly unique profession. It can be extremely rewarding and special, but also very challenging and highly stressful.
Many doctors rave about the opportunity to combine scientific knowledge with regular human interaction and people skills, and love helping people when they’re at their lowest. However, sometimes you won’t be able to help and will have to break bad news. You may also end up working extremely long hours.
Of course, it is important to know what being a doctor is like! For more information here, check out our guide to a Doctor’s training pathway post-medical school. You can also check our guide on deciding to study medicine to understand whether a career in medicine is right or not for you.
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2. Consider some alternatives
There are plenty of medical jobs beyond medicine, such as:
Dentistry: Dentistry is a highly competitive field, with a difficult pathway to entry. However, the more sociable hours, often lower stakes and regularly higher salaries can make it an appealing alternative.
Nursing: Everyone who has had contact with healthcare teams will remember the incredible impact that nurses can have. Nursing is an extremely rewarding career that is also less competitive than medicine.
Physician’s Associate: PA is a newer role in the UK - they have the ability to carry out many of the roles of a doctor, but cannot prescribe medications or use ionising radiation. Many people study a 2-year postgraduate course to become a PA after taking a relevant undergraduate degree.
Look into whether any of these options may suit you better!
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3. Explore further whether being a doctor is right for you
The best way to determine whether medicine is right for you is to experience it! There is no better way to understand its unique benefits and drawbacks than by seeing the work of doctors first-hand.
Being a doctor is certainly not for everyone, and by undertaking a significant amount of varied work experience you can better ascertain if it’s something that you want to commit yourself to.
Additionally, medical schools want to take in students who understand these drawbacks and are not looking at the career through rose-tinted glasses.
These students are more likely to be committed and work hard, and less likely to drop out. Work experience shows that you have put time and effort into considering what a career in medicine entails and whether or not it really is right for you.
Take a look at our medicine work experience guide for information on how to get the best work experience, and what online work experience programs are easily accessible.
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