Graduate Entry Medicine

There are a number of different routes into the medical profession but if you’ve previously gained an undergraduate degree it’s likely that you’ll be considering Graduate Entry Medicine in the first instance. This comprehensive guide will provide you with answers to the most common questions relating to Graduate Entry Medicine to help you to decide if it’s the most suitable option for you.

You can also check out our Medicine Entry Requirements blog for more details about the different routes available.

What is Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM)?

Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is a programme designed specifically as an entrance route into medicine for applicants who already have a bachelor’s degree. Some medical schools will specify that your bachelor degree must be science or health related, but many accept a degree in any subject; you can find more details in our ‘medical school entry requirements’ section below.

Is Graduate Entry Medicine an Accelerated Medical Degree / 4 Year Medical Degree?

Usually Graduate Entry Medicine is an accelerated programme, offered over four years; however, some universities deliver the programme over five years, in line with Standard Entry Medicine timeframes.

Is Graduate Entry Medicine the same as Postgraduate Medicine?

Graduate Entry Medicine is an undergraduate degree, not a postgraduate degree, and will result in you gaining the same qualification as students undertaking a medical degree via alternate undergraduate routes.

How Hard is Graduate Entry Medicine?

Graduate Entry Medicine is not an easier route into medicine. As mentioned already, you’ll be studying for the same qualification as students completing the Standard Entry Medicine programme and therefore the demands will be the same.

A few things may affect how difficult you find the course:

1. The duration of the programme: If you complete an accelerated programme, which is delivered over four years, you’re likely to find the demands greater than if you completed it over five years (the usual timescale for Standard Entry Medicine and offered for some Graduate Entry Medicine programmes). The four year course is more intense and delivered over a longer period within each academic year.
2. Your previous degree: Although some medical schools will accept you on to a Graduate Entry programme with a bachelor’s degree in any subject area, it’s likely that you’ll find the programme more accessible if your previous degree was science or health related.

How Much is Graduate Entry Medicine?

The tuition fees for Graduate Entry Medicine varies depending on the medical school; however, generally it is around the maximum fee of £9,250 for the first academic year, with the possibility of the price increasing in line with inflation in subsequent academic years. Information about tuition fees for individual universities is available on the UCAS website or the university's website.

Graduate Entry Medicine Funding

Naturally, you may be concerned about how to fund your Graduate Entry Medicine degree. The funding available to support students varies depending on which route you take (a five year course or an accelerated four year course) and where in the UK you normally live.

To check what tuition fee funding you may be eligible for visit the relevant student finance website below:

• Student Finance England
• Student Finance Northern Ireland
• Student Finance Wales
• Student Awards Agency Scotland

If you’re required to pay your tuition fees in full, remember that universities generally offer flexible payment plans, so you won’t be required to pay any contributions in one payment.

Additionally, you’ll be able to apply to the relevant Student Finance body if you live in England, Northern Ireland or Wales for the following:

• Student Loan for Maintenance
• Adult Dependants’ Grant
• Childcare Grant
• Parents’ Learning Allowance
• Disabled Students’ Allowance
• Travel Expenses for Medical Students

If you live in Scotland you can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for the following:

• Student Loan for Maintenance
• Adult Dependants’ Grant
• Lone Parent Grant
• Disabled Students’ Allowance
• Care Leavers' Grant

You may also be able to get additional support during your time at university if you’re struggling financially; however, this is generally only for unexpected hardship, so it’s likely that you’ll need to prove that you had finance in place to pay for your fees and your cost of living. The following offer financial support in these instances:

• The University itself - usually in the form of hardship bursaries which you aren’t required to pay back
• Charitable Organisations, for example The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund offer support if you’re in “exceptional and unexpected hardship due to ill health, disability or bereavement”

Why are Graduate Medicine Courses called A101 Medicine?

You may have seen Graduate Entry Medicine also referred to as A101, this is frequently used as it’s the most common UCAS course code for the programme. All universities listed below use this course code for their Graduate Entry Medicine programme, with the exception of King’s College London, which uses the course code A102.

Which Medical Schools offer Graduate Entry Medicine?

The following universities offer Graduate Entry Medicine programmes:

• University of Cambridge
• Cardiff University
• University of Chester (open to students from outside of the UK only).
• King’s College London
• Newcastle University
• University of Nottingham
• University of Oxford
• Queen Mary University of London
• University of Sheffield
• University of Southampton
• University of St Andrews
• St George’s University of London
• University of Surrey (new for Spring 2024 entry)
• University of Swansea
• Ulster University (was new for 2021 entry)
• University of Warwick
• University of Worcester

Medical School Entry Requirements

As with all programmes, the entry requirements for Graduate Entry Medicine vary between different medical schools. You will need to ensure that you meet your chosen universities’ entry requirements for the following areas:

1. Previous Degree - including any subject requirements and grade
2. A Level requirements
3. Any work experience requirements

There may also be an admissions test included as part of the entry requirements (more details can be found within the ‘admissions test’ section below).

Do all Medical Schools have A Level Requirements?

For Graduate Entry Medicine, it’s less likely that your A Level results will be taken into consideration as part of the application process; however, there are some universities which do specify A Level subjects and grades within their entry requirements, so make sure you’re aware of these before applying.

Overview of the Requirements for UK Medical Schools

Although it’s always best to check the UCAS website to ensure that you meet your chosen universities’ entry criteria before submitting your application, the below information shows you at a glance each medical school’s entry requirements, to help you to compare different universities more easily:

Further information about the programmes provided and the entry requirements for each university can be found on their individual websites or the UCAS site.

Admissions Exams

From the table above you can identify which universities require you to complete an admissions exam as part of their entry requirements for Graduate Entry Medicine. The majority of medical schools which do require an admission exam use either the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) or The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT), with the exception of the University of Oxford, which uses the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT).

If your chosen universities require you to complete an admission exam, make sure you’re aware of the deadlines for registering and completing the test, to avoid missing these.

Graduate Entry Medicine UCAT

The UCAT is a computer-based test, delivered in Pearson VUE test centres, and designed to identify mental ability, characteristics, attitudes and professional behaviours required for medicine.

The exam includes 5 sections: Abstract Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Situational Judgement, and Verbal Reasoning. Our AI-powered, adaptive question bank will help you to prepare effectively for all sections. Unlike a traditional questions which gives everyone the same questions in the same order, our AI-powered algorithm will carefully select questions based on your personal strengths and weaknesses within the syllabus, and ensure that you focus on the areas which will make the biggest difference to your learning. The question bank dashboard (below) clearly shows you how you’re performing in each section and subsection of the exam, with your calculated skill level, total number of questions answered, number of questions answered correctly and response time for each. You can see which areas you have “mastered” and which areas you need to focus more time on!

Our complete guide to the UCAT provides more information about the requirements of the exam and how to prepare for it.

Graduate Entry Medicine GAMSAT

The GAMSAT is designed to assess your ability to use concepts in basic science, as well as your problem solving, critical thinking and writing skills. There are two GAMSAT test dates per year: March and September.

Graduate Entry Medicine BMAT

The BMAT is designed to assess your ability to apply scientific and mathematical knowledge, your problem solving and critical thinking skills, and your written communication skills. There are two test dates per year: one in early September and one in late October/early November. In both cases your registration should be completed at least a month prior to the test.

UCAT, GAMSAT & BMAT Scores

What’s required in terms of UCAT scores, GAMSAT scores and BMAT scores varies depending on the university. Some specify a minimum score, while others will compare scores from all their applicants, making the minimum vary each year, or don't outline a minimum at all. Whether your chosen universities provide a minimum result or not, if an admissions exam is an entry requirement it’s important that you prepare well and achieve a high score, as it will be used within the selection process. To help you effectively prepare, check out our AI-powered, adaptive question bank, and preparation guide. For everything you need to know about registering, preparing for and completing the UCAT exam, visit our UCAT complete guide.

Graduate Entry Medicine Personal Statement

Although personal statements are not usually scored, they play a significant role within the selection process, generally as part of the interview or before an offer is made, so it’s vital that it’s of a high standard and enhances your application. Your personal statement should identify your commitment and motivation to study medicine, as well as any work experience and skills that are relevant.

The following can be used as a checklist to ensure that your personal statement covers what will be expected:

• Relevant work experience - even where this is not identified as an entry requirement, any relevant work experience will demonstrate not only your commitment to studying medicine, but also that you have an understanding of the demands of the profession.
• Personal qualities which make you suitable to work within the medical profession, as well as skills such as problem solving and critical thinking.
• Your interests outside of studying, for example sports, music, etc. - these are useful for demonstrating your ability to work individually and within a team, so make sure you use these to your advantage.
• Understanding of key issues and the latest research - any nod towards additional reading you have undertaken will help to demonstrate your interest and understanding of the subject.
• Any membership or involvement with relevant societies or clubs.

Check out for our Medical Personal Statement blog which provides more guidance on writing your personal statement and shares good advice and examples.

Non-UK Medical Schools

If you're looking to study medicine outside of the UK, the entry criteria for applicants can vary significantly. Make sure to research the requirements for your chosen route so you know what you need to achieve prior to applying. If you're worried about meeting the high standards of medical school entry requirements, check out medical schools that accept low GPA, as these may be a good option for you.

For support with all aspects of your medical school application, including entry requirements, the best medical schools and your interview, visit our dedicated ‘Applying to medical school’ section.