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Applying to Medicine in the UK from Saudi Arabia in 2026
Thinking of applying to medicine in the UK from Saudi Arabia? You are in good company. Saudi Arabia sends one of the largest groups of government-funded students to the UK of any country in the world, and a UK medical degree remains one of the most respected qualifications a Saudi doctor can hold.
The UK offers a direct five to six year path from school to a globally recognised medical degree, world-leading teaching hospitals and, for many Saudi families, the reassurance of a well-established scholarship and support system through the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in London.
This guide walks you through the whole journey: which qualifications UK medical schools accept from Saudi Arabia, the UCAT, government scholarships, costs in riyals, and how you return to practise in the Kingdom through the SCFHS afterwards.
At TheUKCATPeople, we support international students every year through their applications to UK medical schools. Our Ultimate Package includes one-to-one mentoring, UCAT preparation, personal statement editing and tailored interview coaching.
Why Study Medicine in the UK as a Saudi Student
There are several reasons why Saudi students choose the UK for their medical degree:
- A direct undergraduate route: you can start medicine straight after school, with no separate pre-medical degree required
- A globally recognised qualification: UK medical degrees are held in high regard by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) and by regulators worldwide
- Government funding: medicine is one of the fields Saudi students can have sponsored through the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques scholarship programme, supervised by the Saudi Cultural Bureau in London
- Clinical training inside the NHS, one of the largest integrated healthcare systems in the world
- Established Saudi student communities: Saudi student clubs have been active in cities such as Manchester since 1981, with active societies in London, Newcastle, Sheffield and Liverpool
A new advantage arrived in 2026: under the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act, graduates of UK medical schools are now prioritised for the UK Foundation Programme regardless of nationality. Choosing a UK medical school therefore protects your first postgraduate training job in a way that studying in most other countries does not.
Entry Requirements for Saudi Students: Tawjihiyah, A Levels and IB
This is the single most important thing to understand early: the Saudi General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihiyah / Thanawiyah A'ama) is not accepted on its own for entry to UK medicine.
UCL, for example, states that the Tawjihiyah is not acceptable as an entrance qualification, and the University of London benchmarks it as comparable to UK GCSEs rather than A Levels. The University of Manchester goes further for medicine and dentistry specifically: only A Levels or the International Baccalaureate are considered, so even a general international foundation year will not open that particular door.
In practice, Saudi applicants to UK medicine use one of these routes:
- A Levels, usually taken at a British curriculum international school in Riyadh, Jeddah or the Eastern Province, with typical medicine offers of A*AA to AAA including Chemistry and Biology
- The IB Diploma, with offers usually around 36 to 38 points including 6s and 7s in Higher Level Chemistry and Biology (see our full IB requirements guide)
- A small number of foundation-entry medicine programmes designed for international students (covered below), for students who took the Saudi national curriculum
Alongside grades, you will need a strong personal statement, healthcare work experience, a competitive UCAT score and evidence of English. Full academic details for every school are in our UK medical school entry requirements guide.
The Tawjihiyah alone will not get you in, and sponsorship runs on its own clock
Saudi applicants have two things to get right at once: an academic route UK medical schools actually accept (A Levels or the IB, not the Tawjihiyah on its own), and, if you are sponsored, the Cultural Bureau and Safir timeline running alongside it. Miss a step on either and you can lose a year.
Our Ultimate Package keeps both on track. You work one to one with UK doctors who sat the UCAT and won their places. They check your qualifications, and where relevant your school, against the Ministry's approved list, build four choices that match your UCAT score, train your UCAT, edit your personal statement through up to five drafts, and run mock MMIs until you are sharp. Your mentor is on WhatsApp all year.
Do Saudi Students Need to Sit the UCAT
Yes. Almost every UK medical school requires international applicants to sit the UCAT, and there is no longer a BMAT alternative: the BMAT was scrapped after 2023, so the UCAT is now the single admissions test for nearly all UK medical schools.
Since 2025 the UCAT has three scored cognitive subtests, Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making and Quantitative Reasoning, each marked 300 to 900 for a total out of 2700, plus a Situational Judgement Test reported separately in Bands 1 to 4. Abstract Reasoning has been removed.
Key practical points for Saudi candidates in 2026:
- The UCAT is sat in person at Pearson VUE test centres, typically in Riyadh and Jeddah; availability elsewhere in the Kingdom varies, so check the Pearson VUE locator as soon as booking opens
- For 2026, registration opened on 20 May, booking opened on 23 June, and the testing window runs from 13 July to 24 September, with a booking deadline of 16 September
- The international test fee is £115 (tests sat in the UK cost £70)
- Saudi centres and slots are more limited than in the UK or UAE, so book very early; if no centre is genuinely accessible, a narrow online-proctored option exists in exceptional circumstances
Your UCAT score largely determines which universities will invite you to interview, so it deserves serious, structured preparation. On the 2700 scale, around 2500 or above is highly competitive for the most selective schools, while many strong applicants sit in the 2300 to 2500 range.
At TheUKCATPeople, all our tutors are UK doctors or top-decile medical students. Lessons are online and scheduled around Gulf time zones, so you can prepare to the same standard as UK-based applicants from Riyadh, Jeddah or anywhere in the Kingdom. Start with our free UCAT Guides hub and drill timed questions on the UCAT online trainer.
Saudi Government Scholarships: The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Programme
Saudi Arabia runs one of the largest overseas scholarship systems in the world, and the UK is one of its main destinations. In recent HESA data, Saudi Arabia was the largest source of students with overseas-government funding in UK higher education.
Here is how it works for medicine:
- The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program is run by the Ministry of Education, with applications through the Safir platform
- The Ministry publishes a list of approved UK universities, which includes institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, King's College London, Edinburgh and Manchester
- Sponsored students in the UK are supervised by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau (UKSACB) in London, which handles financial guarantees, university liaison and student support
- Sponsorship typically covers tuition fees plus a monthly stipend, flights, health cover and allowances for an accompanying spouse or mahram; exact entitlements are set by the Ministry, so confirm current amounts through Safir or the Cultural Bureau
- Employer-funded routes also exist, most notably Saudi Aramco's College Degree Program for Non-Employees (CDPNE)
Two points many families do not know:
- Self-funded students can apply to join the scholarship after starting their degree (the ilhaq route). Medicine students are explicitly exempted from the usual distinguished-university condition, provided they are enrolled at a university specified by the Ministry of Education
- A sponsor's financial guarantee letter also simplifies your UK Student visa: officially sponsored students do not need to show personal bank statements for maintenance
Scholarship tracks and fields change between cycles, so always check the live position on Safir and with UKSACB before building your plan around funding.
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English Language Requirements: IELTS for Saudi Applicants
UK medical schools require proven English proficiency. For most Saudi applicants this means IELTS Academic, with medicine offers typically asking for 7.0 overall (some schools, such as UCL and Oxford, ask for 7.5) and strong minimum scores in each component.
If you study A Levels or the IB at a British international school in Saudi Arabia, some universities may waive IELTS, but medical schools are stricter than other faculties and many still require it. Check each school on your shortlist individually.
One visa nuance: for a degree-level course such as the MBBS, the university assesses your English and standard IELTS Academic is fine. If you take a below-degree-level route first, such as an international foundation year, the Student visa requires an approved SELT (IELTS for UKVI) taken in person at an approved centre. Plan the right test type from the start.
👉🏼 Read more: IELTS Exam English Language Requirements For Medicine In The UK
How to Apply through UCAS for UK Medical Schools
Applications to UK medical schools go through UCAS. Saudi students need to:
- Register and complete the UCAS application form
- Choose up to four medical schools (the fifth choice can be left blank or used for a related subject)
- Submit a personal statement outlining your motivation, work experience and suitability for medicine
- Include a reference from a teacher or school counsellor
- Submit everything by the medicine deadline of 15 October (18:00 UK time)
Most UK interviews for international applicants are now held online, so you can complete MMIs and panel interviews from Saudi Arabia without travelling.
We support students with every part of this process, from building the right shortlist of four schools around your UCAT score to polishing the final personal statement.
Coached by UK doctors, around Gulf time
Every mentor on our team is a UK doctor or top-decile medical student who has been through this application, so we can present your profile the way UK admissions tutors want to see it, whether you are sponsored or self-funded, and we coach around Gulf time.
Choose the support level that fits you: Silver (35 hours), Gold (50 hours, our most popular) or Platinum (75 hours).
Foundation and Direct-Entry Routes Without A Levels
If you completed the Saudi national curriculum rather than A Levels or the IB, a standard UCAS medicine application is usually not possible. A small number of routes are designed for exactly this situation:
- The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) offers a six-year MBBS with a Foundation Entry year for international students only. The foundation year is taught at the Westlakes Campus in Whitehaven, Cumbria, and you must reach the required standard (around 70 percent) in the foundation year to progress to the five-year MBBS
- The University of Buckingham, a private GMC-recognised medical school, runs a Medical Foundation route for students without A Levels or the IB, and its 4.5-year MB ChB sits outside UCAS, so it does not use up any of your four UCAS medicine choices
- Other direct-entry options for international students, such as Brunel Medical School and Queen Mary's Malta campus, also sit outside UCAS and can widen your options alongside a UCAS application
Be careful with generic international foundation years: most do not lead to medicine at all, and some universities (Manchester, for example) simply will not consider foundation qualifications for medicine. Always confirm in writing that a foundation programme has a progression route to the MBBS before paying for it.
Note that UK medical schools do not generally accept transfers from Saudi or other overseas medical schools; students who switch to the UK restart at Year 1 through the normal application routes.
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What Are the Costs of Studying Medicine in the UK for Saudi Students
At roughly SAR 5 to the pound, here is what to budget:
- Tuition: international medicine fees for 2026 entry typically run from about £38,000 a year in the pre-clinical years to £70,000 or more a year in the clinical years at the most expensive schools (roughly SAR 190,000 to 355,000 a year). Over a five to six year course, tuition alone commonly totals £200,000 to £400,000
- Living costs: the UK Student visa requires maintenance of £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 a month elsewhere (for up to nine months), and real annual living costs of £12,000 to £18,000 are a sensible planning figure
- Extras: flights, visa and the immigration health surcharge, books and insurance
Two big softeners for Saudi families:
- Sponsored students have tuition and a stipend covered, and the Cultural Bureau's financial guarantee replaces personal bank evidence for the visa
- Fees rise a few percent each year at most schools, so sponsored or not, budget for increases across the course
See a breakdown of all medical school fees for international students here
Returning to Saudi Arabia: SCFHS, the SMLE and the Saudi Board
A UK medical degree is a strong qualification to bring home, but there is a defined process, run by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS):
- Your qualifications go through primary-source verification (DataFlow), followed by professional classification through the Mumaris Plus system
- Fresh graduates should expect to sit the Saudi Medical Licensure Examination (SMLE), which is required for licensure and for entry into Saudi Board residency programmes
- A completed internship year is required for classification. The UK's Foundation Year 1 (F1) fills this role, which is one reason most UK-trained Saudis complete at least F1 (and usually F2) before returning
- Exam exemptions exist at specialist and consultant level for doctors holding recognised postgraduate qualifications, including UK specialty training (CCT). A common long route is therefore UK Foundation Programme, UK specialty training and MRCP or MRCS, then returning to the Kingdom at specialist level
One important myth to correct: it is not true that UK graduates are automatically exempt from the SMLE. That exemption applies to recognised postgraduate qualifications, not a fresh MBBS. Check the current SCFHS rules as you approach graduation, as classification requirements are updated regularly.
Can I Stay and Work in the UK After Graduating
Yes, and the position for international graduates of UK medical schools improved significantly in 2026.
- Under the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act, which became law in March 2026, graduates of UK medical schools are prioritised for Foundation Programme (F1) allocation regardless of nationality or immigration status. International students at UK medical schools count as UK graduates for this purpose
- The Foundation Programme is a two-year paid training job; you will typically hold a Skilled Worker or Health and Care visa for it
- The separate Graduate visa lasts two years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply from 1 January 2027. Students sponsored by the Saudi government within the previous 12 months generally need their sponsor's consent to switch routes, so sponsored students should plan this with the Cultural Bureau
- After Foundation you can apply for UK specialty training, or return to Saudi Arabia for the Saudi Board (see above)
Applying To The UK From Saudi Arabia - A Timeline in 2026
Applying to medicine in the UK from Saudi Arabia takes planning. Here is the step-by-step timeline if you are aiming for 2027 entry.
📌 During Year 12 (Lower Sixth)
- Research UK medical schools and their entry criteria for your qualifications
- If you hope for sponsorship, register your interest early via the Safir platform and talk to your school about the Ministry's approved-university list
- Arrange healthcare shadowing or volunteering in Saudi Arabia, at local hospitals or clinics
- Begin reading about the NHS and the UK healthcare system
📌 Spring and Summer Before You Apply (2026)
- Start structured UCAT preparation at least three months before your test
- Register for the UCAT when registration opens on 20 May and book as soon as booking opens on 23 June; Saudi test centre slots are limited
- Keep building work experience and start drafting your personal statement
- Book IELTS if you need it, leaving time for a resit
📌 July to September 2026
- Sit the UCAT at your Pearson VUE centre (window: 13 July to 24 September, booking deadline 16 September)
- Complete several full mock exams under timed conditions before test day
- Use your UCAT score to finalise your four UCAS choices strategically
📌 By 15 October 2026
- Submit your UCAS application with your personal statement and school reference (deadline 18:00 UK time)
📌 November 2026 to March 2027
- Prepare for online MMIs and panel interviews, including NHS hot topics and ethical scenarios
- Practise interviews under realistic conditions with mock interviews
📌 Spring and Summer 2027
- Respond to offers, confirm sponsorship paperwork with the Cultural Bureau if funded, and start your visa and accommodation applications
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The Ultimate Package For Medicine In The UK
Our most popular programme for international applicants is the Ultimate Package, which includes:
- One-to-one mentoring with a UK doctor
- Personalised UCAT tutoring with expert tutors
- Five rounds of personal statement edits
- Interview coaching for MMI and panel interviews
- Ongoing WhatsApp support throughout the year, bespoke for international students
We adapt all of this to Gulf time zones and to the schooling systems Saudi students actually come from, whether that is A Levels in Riyadh or the IB in Jeddah.
✅ Join our incredibly successful Ultimate Package programme
Next Steps
Next Steps for Saudi Students Applying to Medicine in the UK
- Confirm your qualification route: A Levels or IB for standard entry, or a foundation-entry programme if you took the Saudi curriculum
- If you want sponsorship, check the live Custodian programme conditions on Safir early
- Register and book your UCAT test as soon as booking opens
- Begin UCAT preparation with a tutor at least three months in advance
- Start drafting your personal statement early
- Submit your UCAS application before the 15 October deadline (by 18:00 UK time)
- Prepare for online interviews with our expert team
If you want support with any part of the process, our team of UK doctors and medical school admissions experts is here to help. We offer a free strategy consultation to help you get started.
Frequently asked questions
Can Saudi students study medicine in the UK with the Tawjihiyah?
Not on its own. UK medical schools do not accept the Saudi General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihiyah) for direct entry; UCL states it is not an acceptable entrance qualification and it is generally benchmarked nearer GCSE than A Level standard. Saudi applicants need A Levels or the IB, usually from a British international school, or one of the few foundation-entry medicine routes designed for international students.
How do I apply to UK medical schools from Saudi Arabia?
Apply through UCAS, choosing up to four medical schools, by the 15 October deadline (18:00 UK time). You need A Levels or the IB with Chemistry and Biology, a competitive UCAT score from a Pearson VUE centre, evidence of English (usually IELTS), a personal statement and a school reference. Shortlisted applicants are then interviewed, almost always online for international students.
Where can I sit the UCAT in Saudi Arabia?
The UCAT is delivered at Pearson VUE test centres, typically in Riyadh and Jeddah. Availability in the Kingdom is more limited than in the UK, so check the Pearson VUE locator as soon as booking opens and book immediately. In 2026, booking opened on 23 June for a testing window of 13 July to 24 September. The international fee is £115.
What UCAT score do Saudi students need?
On the current 2700 scale, around 2500 or above is highly competitive for the most selective UK medical schools, and many successful applicants score between 2300 and 2500. There is no single cut-off: each university weights the UCAT differently, so choosing four schools that match your score matters as much as the score itself.
Does the Saudi government scholarship cover medicine in the UK?
Yes. Medicine can be sponsored through the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, applied for via the Safir platform, with students in the UK supervised by the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in London. Sponsorship typically covers tuition, a monthly stipend, flights and health cover. Tracks and conditions change between cycles, so always confirm the live rules on Safir before relying on funding.
Can self-funded Saudi students join the scholarship later?
Often, yes. The Ministry of Education runs an ilhaq (joining) route that lets eligible self-funded students convert to sponsorship after starting their degree, and medicine students are exempted from the usual distinguished-university condition provided their university is on the Ministry's approved list. Conditions include starting your study with Ministry approval and remaining in good standing, so check the current requirements carefully.
What are the entry requirements for UK medicine for Saudi students?
Typical offers are A*AA to AAA at A Level including Chemistry and Biology, or around 36 to 38 IB points with Higher Level sciences, plus a competitive UCAT score, IELTS (usually 7.0 to 7.5 overall) and evidence of healthcare work experience or volunteering. Requirements vary by school, and some, like Manchester, only consider A Levels or the IB for medicine, so check each university's international pages.
How much does it cost a Saudi student to study medicine in the UK?
International tuition for 2026 entry runs from roughly £38,000 a year pre-clinically to £70,000 or more a year in the clinical years at the most expensive schools, which is about SAR 190,000 to 355,000 a year at SAR 5 to the pound. With living costs, a five to six year course commonly exceeds £250,000 in total. Sponsored students have tuition and a stipend covered by the government.
Do I need IELTS to study medicine in the UK from Saudi Arabia?
Almost always, yes. Most medical schools ask for IELTS Academic 7.0 overall, and some, including UCL and Oxford, ask for 7.5, with strong minimums in each component. Some universities waive IELTS for students educated at English-medium international schools, but medical faculties are stricter than average, so confirm the exact policy for every school on your shortlist.
Is a UK medical degree recognised in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. UK degrees are well regarded by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS). To practise in the Kingdom you complete primary-source verification through DataFlow and professional classification through Mumaris Plus, and fresh graduates should expect to sit the Saudi Medical Licensure Examination (SMLE). A completed internship year is required, which the UK's Foundation Year 1 satisfies.
Do UK graduates have to sit the SMLE?
Fresh UK graduates should expect to sit the SMLE for licensure and for entry to Saudi Board residency programmes. The well-known exam exemptions apply at specialist and consultant level, for doctors who hold recognised postgraduate qualifications such as a UK CCT after MRCP or MRCS, not to a new MBBS. Always check the current SCFHS classification rules as you approach graduation.
Can I stay and work in the UK after graduating as a Saudi student?
Yes. Under the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026, graduates of UK medical schools, including international students, are prioritised for the two-year UK Foundation Programme. After Foundation you can apply for UK specialty training or return to Saudi Arabia. Note that students sponsored by the Saudi government generally need their sponsor's consent before switching to routes such as the Graduate visa.
When is the UCAS deadline for medicine for 2027 entry?
15 October 2026 at 18:00 UK time. Medicine, dentistry and veterinary science share this earlier deadline, and UK medical schools rarely consider late applications. Aim to have your UCAT sat, personal statement finished and school reference arranged well before October, especially if you are also coordinating scholarship paperwork through Safir.
Are there routes into UK medicine without A Levels for Saudi students?
A few. UCLan offers a six-year MBBS with an international-only foundation year in Cumbria, and the private University of Buckingham runs a foundation route into its GMC-recognised MB ChB. Direct-entry options such as Brunel and Queen Mary's Malta campus sit outside UCAS and can widen your choices. Most generic foundation years do not lead to medicine, so verify progression routes in writing first.
Which UK universities can Saudi scholarship students attend?
The Ministry of Education publishes an approved list of UK universities for the Custodian scholarship programme, which includes more than 40 institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, King's College London, Edinburgh and Manchester. The list is updated between cycles, so check the current version on the Ministry's scholarship pages or with the Cultural Bureau in London before finalising your UCAS choices.
Which UK medical schools are best for Saudi students?
There is no official ranking for Saudi applicants, so the best schools are those that accept your qualifications, sit on the Ministry of Education's approved list if you are sponsored, and match your UCAT score. The scholarship-approved list includes names such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, King's College London, Edinburgh and Manchester. Cities including London, Manchester and Newcastle also have large, well-established Saudi student communities.
Do I apply to UK medical schools myself or through the scholarship?
You apply yourself through UCAS by 15 October, regardless of how you are funded. Scholarship sponsorship through the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques programme and the Saudi Cultural Bureau runs alongside your university application, and self-funded students can often apply to join the scholarship later. Secure your UCAT, personal statement and offers first, and coordinate sponsorship paperwork through the Safir platform in parallel.
Can I study medicine in the UK without A Levels as a Saudi student?
It is possible but limited. Because the Tawjihiyah is not accepted for direct entry, students without A Levels or the IB use one of the few foundation-entry medicine routes, such as the University of Lancashire's international-only foundation-entry MBBS or the private University of Buckingham's foundation pathway. Most generic international foundation years do not lead to medicine, so always confirm the progression route to the MBBS in writing before enrolling.
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