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One increasingly popular pathway to medicine is medicine with a foundation year, often known as UK Gateway to Medicine or UK Access to Medicine courses.
There are plenty of foundation courses in the UK. Some of these may also take the form of extended courses, which integrate simpler material with more complex material across the entire 6-year program.
Medicine with foundation year courses in the UK are generally only available to widening participation and international students.
A foundation year means a 1-year program designed to impart students with the background scientific knowledge that they may not have received at high school before they begin their medical education.
This can be a great option if you’re eligible for it but don’t have the grades to get into medicine right away.
What are foundation year entry requirements?
MBBS foundation courses can be competitive, just like any other medicine course. However, they tend to have much lower entry requirements and could be right for you even if you took one or no science subjects at A-level.
Indeed, some will deem you ineligible if you have taken multiple science subjects to this level. Rather, UK medicine degrees with foundation years seek out candidates without a traditional medical student background. You are likely to find access to medicine courses near you by looking and searching at medical schools near you.
You are more likely to be eligible as an international or widening participation student, but every foundation medicine program is different so you should follow the links provided below to find one that suits you and your specific application.
Eligibility is the single biggest hurdle: most foundation and gateway courses screen on widening participation flags (such as POLAR/TUNDRA area, free school meals, being a care leaver or young carer, or UCAT bursary eligibility) before they look at grades. Before you apply, read each school's entry requirements and widening access criteria carefully, as one missed flag can make you ineligible regardless of academic ability.
International applicants have a separate set of routes: our guide to medicine foundation years and pathway providers for international students lists the twelve UK options with 2026/27 fees and progression rules.
Are there any disadvantages of a foundation year?
Of course, the main disadvantage of a foundation year is that it’s an extra year of education that won’t give you any clinical contact.
However, as most applicants to a foundation year program won’t be eligible to study medicine right away this can still be better than not studying medicine at all for you!
If you are a widening participation student, then you should check to see if medical schools would consider making you a medicine contextual offer.
If you narrowly miss the grades, a foundation year is not your only option. Read our guide on what to do if you get no medical school offers, and our analogue guide on how to get into a healthcare degree with low grades, which covers gateway routes, contextual offers and resits in detail.
This is an offer for candidates with extenuating circumstances, such as disability or being a young carer, that gives them the opportunity to study medicine without needing to meet the same requirements as other students.
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Applying for a medicine foundation year
You can apply for a medicine foundation course just as you would apply for any other subject at a university in the UK - through UCAS.
Check out our UCAS guide for more information on exactly how this works, including the Clearing process for medicine with a foundation year which can be a great pathway to getting a spot even if your applications are turned down initially.
You apply with the course's specific UCAS code (for example A104 at Manchester or A101 for King's Extended Medical Degree Programme), and the medicine deadline still applies: applications must be in by 18:00 (UK time) in mid-October, a year before entry. Almost all foundation and gateway courses still require the UCAT, now four subtests scored out of 2700 after Abstract Reasoning was removed for 2025 entry, so build UCAT prep into your timeline early. See our full UCAS medicine application guide and timeline for the year-by-year plan.
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What are the medical schools with foundation years?
There are plenty of medical schools with foundation years across the country. Searching “access to medicine course near me” can be a great way to find some that are local, or you can check out our alphabetised list below:
- University of Aberdeen - Gateway2Medicine
This year-long course is exclusively for Scottish applicants from widening access backgrounds. A space on Aberdeen’s medical program is guaranteed following a good performance in the course and satisfactory performance in the UCAT and MMI interviews. - University of Bristol - Gateway to Medicine
Bristol’s course is available to students from widening participation backgrounds who don’t meet the standard academic entry requirements to apply to medicine. - University of Dundee - Gateway to Medicine
This one-year course is more personalised, allowing you to take classes that suit your specific needs. - Edge Hill University - Medicine with Foundation Year
This year-long course is exclusively for North-West England applicants from widening access backgrounds. Space on their medical program is guaranteed following completion of the course and meeting other criteria. - Hull York Medical School - Medicine with a Gateway Year
This course is available to widening participation students from underrepresented backgrounds. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed. - Keele University - Health Foundation Year for Medicine
This course is available to students from underrepresented backgrounds. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed. - King’s College London - Extended Medical Degree Programme
This program is for students studying A-Levels of Access to Medicine at non-selective state schools, or for those who participate in Realising Opportunities. It introduces you to medical study and provides additional support for two years. - Lancaster University - Medicine and Surgery with a Gateway Year
This course is available to widening participation students, or those with significant mitigating circumstances. It prepares you for their medicine course. - University of Leeds - Gateway Year to Medicine
This course is available to widening participation students. Once you complete the course with the required grades, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed. - University of Leicester - Medicine with Foundation Year
This course is available to students without the required grades for medicine. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed. - University of Liverpool - Foundation to Medicine (Year 0)
- University of Manchester - Medicine with Foundation Year
This course is available to students without the required science qualifications for medicine. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed. - University of Nottingham - Medicine with a Foundation Year
This course is available to students who do not meet the entry requirements for medicine. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed. - Norwich Medical School (UEA) - Medicine with a Gateway Year
This course is available to widening participation students, or those with significant mitigating circumstances. It prepares you for their medicine course. - University of Plymouth - Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery with Foundation
This course is available to students who have been impacted by circumstances beyond their control. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed. - University of Southampton - Medicine BM6 Widening Participation
This course is designed for widening participation - for instance, if your parents receive benefits or you would be the first person in your family to attend university. - St Andrews - Gateway to Medicine
This year-long course is exclusively for Scottish applicants from underrepresented backgrounds. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed. - University of Central Lancashire - Foundation Entry Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
This year-long course is exclusively for international applicants and will prepare you for their medicine course.
What next?
Check out the rest of our guide to deciding on medicine to figure out which schools are right for you to apply to!
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Frequently asked questions
What is medicine with a foundation year?
Medicine with a foundation year is a six-year medical degree that adds a one-year preparatory stage (year zero) before the standard five-year course. The foundation year builds the scientific knowledge and study skills you may not have gained at school. It is aimed mainly at widening participation and some international students, and passing it usually guarantees progression onto the full medicine degree.
Which UK universities offer foundation year medicine?
UK universities offering a medicine foundation or gateway year include Aberdeen, Bristol, Dundee, Edge Hill, Hull York, Keele, King's College London (Extended Medical Degree Programme), Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, UEA (Norwich), Plymouth, Southampton, St Andrews and UCLan. Eligibility differs at every school, so always check each university's current widening access criteria before you apply.
What are the entry requirements for medicine with a foundation year?
Foundation and gateway courses have lower entry requirements than direct-entry medicine, often around BBC to ABB at A-Level, and many accept applicants with only one or no science subjects. The trade-off is strict eligibility: you usually must meet widening participation criteria (such as area, household income, or care experience). Most courses also require the UCAT and a competitive GCSE profile.
Who is eligible for a foundation or gateway year in medicine?
Foundation and gateway years are designed mainly for UK widening participation students: those from low-progression areas, low household income, care leavers, young carers, or the first in their family to attend university. A small number of courses (such as UCLan) are reserved for international students instead. Each school sets its own flags, so check that you meet a specific criterion before applying.
Is a foundation year the same as the Foundation Programme (FY1 and FY2)?
No. A foundation year in this context is a preparatory year before your medical degree, for applicants who do not yet meet entry requirements. The Foundation Programme (FY1 and FY2) is completely different: it is the two-year paid training you do as a newly qualified doctor after graduating. One gets you into medical school; the other comes after you finish it.
How do you apply for a medicine foundation year?
You apply through UCAS, exactly as you would for any medicine course, using each course's specific code (for example A104 at Manchester). The medicine deadline applies: applications must be submitted by 18:00 UK time in mid-October, the year before entry. Almost all foundation courses also require the UCAT, so register and sit it before the deadline.
Do you need the UCAT for a foundation year in medicine?
Yes, almost all UK foundation and gateway medicine courses require the UCAT, and some weight it less heavily for widening participation applicants. The UCAT now has four subtests scored out of 2700 after Abstract Reasoning was removed for 2025 entry. Check each university's policy, as a few use contextual UCAT thresholds for foundation applicants. Many schools also offer a UCAT bursary to eligible students.
Does a foundation year guarantee a place on the medicine degree?
At most universities, yes: if you pass the foundation year and meet the required grades or competencies, you progress automatically onto year one of the five-year medicine degree without reapplying. Aberdeen, Edge Hill, Leeds, Keele and others advertise guaranteed progression. Always confirm the exact pass mark and progression rules for your chosen course, as conditions vary.
Are there any disadvantages of a foundation year?
The main disadvantage is that it adds an extra year (and an extra year of tuition and living costs) with no clinical contact in year zero. However, for applicants who would not otherwise be eligible for medicine, it is far better than not studying medicine at all. Competition for places is still high, and you must usually meet strict widening participation criteria to apply.
Can international students do a foundation year in medicine?
Yes, but options are limited. Most foundation and gateway courses are reserved for UK widening participation students. A small number, such as the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) foundation entry MBBS, are designed specifically for international applicants. International students should check each course carefully, and may also consider international or graduate routes into UK medicine.
What is the difference between a gateway year and a foundation year in medicine?
In practice the two terms describe the same thing: a one-year preparatory stage before the five-year medicine degree, aimed at widening participation applicants. Universities simply name it differently, for example Gateway to Medicine (Bristol, Dundee) versus Medicine with a Foundation Year (Leicester, Manchester). What matters is the eligibility criteria and progression rules, not the label.
Can you do a foundation year in medicine in London?
Yes. King's College London offers the Extended Medical Degree Programme (EMDP), a widening participation route for students at non-selective state schools in Greater London and the surrounding area, or for Realising Opportunities participants. It adds extra support across the early years rather than a standalone year zero. Eligibility is tightly defined, so check the current criteria on the King's website.
Does Manchester offer a medicine foundation year?
Yes. The University of Manchester offers Medicine with a Foundation Year (UCAS code A104), a six-year widening participation course. It is open to applicants who meet Manchester's widening participation criteria, even if they have already studied science A-Levels, and contextual applicants may benefit from reduced GCSE requirements. The UCAT is still required. Check Manchester's ContextualData eligibility tool before applying.
How competitive is medicine with a foundation year?
Foundation and gateway courses remain competitive because places are limited and demand is high, but the applicant pool is restricted to those who meet widening participation criteria, which can improve your odds if you qualify. Lower academic thresholds do not mean an easy place: strong GCSEs, a solid UCAT and a convincing application still matter. Apply strategically to courses where you clearly meet the eligibility flags.
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