How to Become a Doctor in the UK

Being a doctor in the UK can be one of the most rewarding careers. While it takes a lot of hard work and years of training, you get to help people and make a real difference every day. Luckily, understanding what you need to do in order to become a doctor in the UK isn’t too difficult. To break it down, we’ve answered some of the most common questions that people have about what it takes to do it.

Method 1
Method 1 of 6:

What qualifications do you need to become a doctor in the UK?

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    Earn a degree in medicine from a recognized school in the UK. The General Medical Council (GMC) is responsible for regulating and licensing doctors in the UK. The first step in becoming a licensed medical doctor is to receive an undergraduate degree from a school that the GMC recognizes. It can take 4-6 years and you’ll learn basic medical sciences as well as take part in some clinical training to prepare you for your future medical training.[1]
    • You can also take a 4-year graduate-entry medical program from a recognized school, which is a great option if you completed your undergraduate degree studying something other than medicine.
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    Complete a 2-year foundation course. After you graduate from medical school, you’ll take a 2-year foundation course where you’ll learn more about medical sciences and practices. As part of the foundation course, you’ll also be granted a license to practice medicine as part of the program.[2]
    • Every medical student must complete the 2-year foundation course after they graduate medical school.
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    Finish your core training and specialist training. Core medical training (CMT) involves spending 2 years rotations in different medical specialties to gain experience. You can also choose to pursue 3 years of Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS) which involves emergency medical and intensive care training, among other focuses. Once you wrap that up, you can spend between 4-7 years of specialist training for your chosen focus, such as cardiology or oncology (cancer).[3]
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Method 2
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How do you get into medical school in the UK?

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    Earn good A Level grades in Sciences. The Advanced Level qualifications are one of the most important factors behind getting into medical school. Most schools ask for an AAA or AAB at A Level, especially in the Sciences such as Chemistry and Biology. Once you complete your A Level, you can use it as part of your application to medical school.[4]
    • Generally, you’ll spend 2 years studying and preparing for your A Level so you can do well on it.
    • Nearly every UK university uses A Levels to assess a student’s eligibility for an undergraduate degree course.
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    Pass an admissions test and interview with the university. As part of your application to a medical degree program at a UK university, you’ll sit down with representatives of the school for a formal, professional interview. You’ll also take an exam given by the university to help determine whether or not you qualify for entry.[5]
    • The interviewers will likely ask things about your work or medical experience and your motivations for wanting to become a doctor.
    • Generally, the entry exams will focus on sciences such as biology and chemistry alongside more general testing of your thinking and writing skills.
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    Submit your application on time. While some other subjects and universities may be more flexible as you work to complete your application, medical schools will not. They’ll likely make you wait another year if you haven’t submitted everything on time. Write an excellent personal statement, complete your interview, take the entry exam, and provide details of any relevant experience such as working in a hospital or attending medical events.[6]
    • Usually, you’ll submit your application by October to most universities in the UK.
    • You’ll also have references that need to be submitted on time as well.
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Method 3
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How do you get your medical license in the UK?

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    Complete medical school and the first year of the foundation program. After you graduate a 4 or 5-year medical school, you’ll start your 2-year foundation program and you’ll be granted a provisional license. Once you complete your first year, you’ll receive your full registration so you can practice as a doctor while you complete your additional training.[7]
    • Keep in mind that you’ll still have years of medical training ahead of you after you finish your foundation program. But you’ll have your medical license!
Method 4
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How long does it take to become a doctor in the UK?

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    Doctors in the UK can train for up to 16 years. It usually takes 4-6 years to earn a medical degree, 2 years to complete your foundation course, and then 3-8 years of specialist training. While it depends on your specialty and the programs you study, you can generally expect more than 10 years of medical training.[8]
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Method 5
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How much does it cost to become a doctor in the UK?

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    It can cost about £220,000, but most of it is paid by the government. While the UK government does pay for most of the tuition costs, some tuition fees as well as rent and living expenses are paid by the student. The extra costs and fees can vary from university to university, but can cost about £3,000.[9]
    • Despite the extra fees paid by the student, having the bulk of your medical training paid for by the government can spare you a ton of student loan debt when you’re finished.
Method 6
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How much do doctors in the UK make?

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    Salaried GPs earn between £55,000 and £80,000. Junior doctors just starting out usually make £23,000 their first year, which can increase to £28,000 in the second year. Doctors in specialist training can earn between £30,000 and £47,000. Once you’ve completed your formal medical training and you’re hired onto the staff of a hospital, you’ll start earning at least £55,000, and some doctors can earn more than £100,000.[10]
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/becoming-a-doctor-in-the-uk
  2. ↑ https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/becoming-a-doctor-in-the-uk
  3. ↑ https://www.ucas.com/ucas/after-gcses/find-career-ideas/explore-jobs/job-profile/hospital-doctor
  4. ↑ https://www.bellerbys.com/guides/careers/how-to-become-hospital-doctor
  5. ↑ https://www.bellerbys.com/guides/careers/how-to-become-hospital-doctor
  6. ↑ https://www.topuniversities.com/courses/life-sciences-medicine/how-get-medical-school-uk
  7. ↑ https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/becoming-a-doctor-in-the-uk
  8. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/science/the-h-word/2015/jan/30/medical-training-how-long-does-it-take-to-make-a-doctor
  9. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-37550759
  1. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/health-34475955
  2. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/feb/10/doctor-different-routes-take

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
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wikiHow Staff
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 58,870 times.
10 votes - 92%
Co-authors: 11
Updated: February 22, 2022
Views: 58,870
Categories: Physician Careers
Article SummaryX

If you want to become a doctor in the UK, you’ll need patience and a willingness to do a lot of hard work. Make sure you take science and math subjects while you're in school. If possible, you’ll also want to get healthcare-related experience before you apply, like volunteering at a local healthcare facility. Once you’re done with your A levels, apply to medical schools. When your application passes the first stage, take the Clinical Aptitude Test to show that you have traits that are valuable in a clinical setting. You’ll also need to attend a medical school interview, which is a chance for you to express your values and motives for becoming a doctor. Once you get your Bachelor’s, you’ll have to do your foundation program training as a junior doctor as well as complete core medical training. To learn how to gain membership to the Royal Colleges of Physicians, keep reading!

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