MBBS in UK: A Guide for International Students

If you want to study medicine, the UK is a great place to start. You'll be able to hone your speciality with the help of committed professors and exposure to cutting-edge medical technology, in addition to having access to universities of the highest calibre. You can graduate feeling like the best version of yourself, prepared to take your knowledge and experience everywhere because you will be learning it in the home of medical English and will have the possibility to practise in authentic healthcare environments. 

Why Study MBBS in the UK?

The UK has a distinctive history in medicine. For decades, its universities have contributed to the expansion of medical knowledge. They have also been a global leader in developing innovative medicines and improving patients' access to care.
One of the most well-known healthcare systems in the world is also found in this country. You will gain a thorough working knowledge of the National Health Service, its integration with private practice, and the larger healthcare system. The system is 70 years old.
In addition, the UK provides inspiring professional instruction and the chance to use the newest medical technology in its state-of-the-art learning facilities, all while immersing students in medical English—the universal language of healthcare.

If you’re not convinced yet, these facts might change your mind.
1. More than 45 UK universities rank in the top 600 medical universities globally, according to the QS News Ranking 2022, including Cambridge University, the University of Aberdeen, and the University of Edinburgh.
2. The average salary of a UK doctor is 67% more than any other health and medical occupation. 
3. After Covid, there has been a rise in demand in the medical industry with various new branches like Physicians, Psychiatrists, etc. 
4. Students finish a medicine degree in the UK in 5 - 6 years, while those in the US complete a similar course in the US in 7 - 9 years.
5. A UK Surgeon earns up to 54,000 GBP annually, making the highest earning roles behind Australia and Canada.

MBBS in the UK: Course Details

The bare minimum education needed to practise medicine in the UK is an MB degree. Top UK institutions also confer various degrees, like BS, ChB, and BCh, or Bachelor of Surgery, in addition to the MB. These degrees are interchangeable, and upon completion, a student is qualified to practise surgery.
Consequently, depending on the university from which you are pursuing your medical degree, MBBS in the UK is similar to MB(BS, ChB or Bch), BAO. Depending on the student's interests, BAO is optional here.
Students who are interested in obstetrics must pass the exam's obstetrics section. The degree conferred upon passing this test is called BAO (Bachelor of Obstetrics).
You can choose from a variety of full-time and part-time medical programmes with a variety of subject combinations, as well as single courses. There are accelerated courses available at several prestigious colleges if you're interested in finishing your undergraduate medicine degree in UK sooner.

Best Courses

Additionally, you'll discover that you can modify your medicine degree in UK to fit the method you wish to learn because there are over 60 specialisations available to international medical students in those fields. Thanks to modular course formats, you may customise your learning to meet your interests and area of focus. 
The following topic areas are among those that UK universities and institutions offer programmes for those who wish to study medicine in UK:

• Medicine and health studies
• Dentistry, dental hygiene, technology, and health education
• Medicine (general) and clinical
• Anatomy, physiology, and pathology
• Pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacy
• Complementary medicines, therapies, and wellbeing
• Nutrition
• Dietetics
• Optometry

MBBS in the UK: Application Process

How to apply for MBBS in UK?

To apply for MBBS in UK, you need to follow the below steps:
STEP 1: Check Eligibility Requirements
STEP 2: Register for BMAT or UKCAT
STEP 3: Register for IELTS Exam
STEP 4: Submit the documents required 
STEP 5: Complete UCAS Application

MBBS in UK Documents Requirements

In order to apply for MBBS in UK, students must hold the following documents: 

• Original birth Certificate
• Copy of a valid passport
• NEET Scorecard
• CV (if required)
• Statement of Purpose
• Reference letter(s)
• Certificate of English proficiency test – IELTS/TOEFL/C1 Advanced
• Financial Documents as Proof of financial ability
• Academic transcription or proof of your previous academic
• Transfer certificate
• Photocopy of IELTS/UKCAT/BMAT scores
• A personal statement that illustrates why you’re coming to the UK.
• Copy of your previous visa (if you have one)

Eligibility

Most dentistry courses require higher grades, making it even more difficult to secure a seat. Here are a few Tips for Applying to Dentistry and Vet Medicine in the UK. Three entrance tests are also used for the majority of medical degrees in UK. Most UK medical schools use the UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test), which you must register for and sit for before submitting a UCAS application. Some colleges use the GAMSAT or BMAT test. If you’re an international student applying for a medicine degree in UK, you also need to score at least 6.5 across all four categories in the IELTS test, along with an overall score of 7.0.
Before arriving in the UK to begin your programme, you must apply for a Student visa (under the Student Route) if you are an overseas student going to the university to take a full-time course that will last longer than six months. 

MBBS in the UK: Cost

If you want to study medicine in UK, your choice of residence and preferred way of life will have a major impact on the costs associated with a medicine degree in UK.
The tuition charge, residence fee or rates, and a one-time pre-arrival fee are all included in the overall costs for an MBBS in the UK. The latter costs £900 and includes the application fee, VISA fee, TOEFL registration fee, and IELTS registration fee. 
The top medical schools in the UK impose undergraduate tuition costs that range from $13,000 to $500,000. Even more money is required for higher medicine degrees. Local students pay roughly £9,000 per year at well-known medical schools in London. MBBS fees in UK for international students is estimated to be £17250 per year for the first two years. The average amount for succeeding years is £35,500. 

Best Universities for MBBS in the UK

The reason why there are so many students who wish to study medicine in UK is that more than 30 universities there, including four of the top ten in the world, provide top-notch medicine degrees but are just as difficult to get into. International students who desire to study MBBS in UK frequently choose UK medical colleges as their study abroad option. The top ten medical schools in the UK are listed here, according to the Guardian University Guide 2023. ‍

1. University of Cambridge
2. University of Aberdeen
3. University of Edinburgh
4. Imperial College London
5. University of St Andrews
6. University of Oxford
7. Swansea University
8. Brighton Sussex Medical School
9. Keele University
10. University of Glasgow

Scholarships for MBBS in the UK

The UK not only has some of the greatest medical schools in the world, but it also provides many scholarships and other financial aid options. Outstanding students have various choices accessible to them, including university-specific scholarships and government grants like the Chevening Scholarships provided by the UK.
Scholarships provided by the Government are as follows:

1. Chevening Scholarships
2. Global Health Future Leaders Scholarship
3. Hulk York Medical School  International Scholarship
4. Imperial College Faculty of Medicine Scholarship
5. Rhodes Scholarship

You can also check out any scholarships that might be available for your specific university. We’ve created a list of some of the best universities in UK and the scholarships they provide. 

UK University Scholarships

University of St. Andrews

St Andrews Gateway to Medicine Scholarship (Undergraduate)
Global PhD Scholarship - St Andrews and Bonn - Neuroscience (Doctorate, Postdoctorate)

The University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh Dental Institute MSc Scholarship (Masters)
Clinical Management of Pain Scholarship (Masters)

University of Aberdeen

Boehringer Ingelheim PhD Scholarships (Doctorate)
Dunhill Medical Trust Studentships (Doctorate)

Further Education after MBBS in the UK

The UK's medical school graduates are among the most employable in the world; thus, having a medicine degree in UK opens opportunities. With a 99.4% employment rate within six months of graduating, medicine and dentistry programmes are the most employable in the UK. There are limited spaces on medical programmes in the UK, and competition for places is notoriously fierce. Medicine is an extremely broad subject and doesn't just encompass the doctors who treat you but also the theatre technicians, pharmacists and medical researchers who work together to help save lives. Across subjects such as these, 95.3% were employed six months after graduation. 

Careers after MBBS in UK

1. Anaesthetist - £28,808 to £33,345
2. Cardiologist -  £28,243 to £32,691
3. Clinical radiologist - £28,243 to £32,691
4. General practice doctor - £28,808 to £33,345
5. Hospital doctor - £28,808 to £33,345
6. Neurologist - £28,808 to £33,345
7. Ophthalmologist - £28,808 to £33,345
8. Pathologist - £28,808 to £33,345
9. Psychiatrist - £28,243 to £32,691
10. Surgeon - £28,808 to £33,345
After graduating through the Graduate Route, international students can apply for a post-study work visa that will allow them to remain and work in the UK for two years. 

That’s all you need to know to get started on your dream of studying medicine in the UK. We hope we have helped you get a basic idea of the requirements, fees, application process, and best colleges for MBBS in UK. 
If you are more inclined towards psychology, check out our blog on Masters in Clinical Psychology in the UK. We also have a blog on Everything about Studying in the UK to help you get started on your journey of studying abroad. 
If you’ve been accepted into a medical school in UK and are ready to move onto the next step of studying medicine in UK, you might want to find your new home abroad. Amber offers a wide range of student accommodation in UK, including shared and private apartments, which you can rent for yourself or share with housemates! Some of our best options in the UK are located near the top medical schools in the country, such as the University of Cambridge, the University of Aberdeen, and the University of Edinburgh.