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How Much Does it Cost to Become a Doctor UK?

Overall costs will vary depending on one major factor: if you’re from the UK or you’re an international student. Within the UK itself, students from Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales all have a range of fee options based on which country in the union you’re studying in. Students from the Republic of Ireland also have some fee benefits available to them.

Standard costs for all students cover tuition fees, living costs including rent and food, and any other costs like relocation. UK citizens pay lower tuition fees as their education is considered part of being a tax-paying citizen. On the other hand, international students pay higher fees because they’re not, or are not expected to be, ongoing UK taxpayers.

The average estimated cost of studying in the UK is £124,895 for UK students, and, £312,645 for international students. Regardless of if you’re a UK citizen or studying from abroad, financial planning is a critical part of going to medical school.

How Much Do Doctors Earn in the UK

What you’ll earn as a doctor in the UK varies from when you’re starting out through to your specialisation and experience. The average hospital doctor salary is between £32,000 as a starter to £92,000 for an‬ experienced doctor.‬ Comparatively, your earnings are typically higher if you become a specialist, consultant, or GP – up to around‭ £130,000.

What Subjects Are Needed to Become a Doctor UK?

In order to get into medical school to train to become a doctor, you’ll need to meet the programme entry requirements:

• Good GCSE grades in English, Maths, and Science – at least 5 GCSEs grades 9 to 7 (A* or A)
• Two science A-Levels in Chemistry and Biology; sometimes a third science-related A-Level in Physics or Maths is required (or A-Level equivalent in these subjects)

• Good academic transcript from high school for undergraduate programmes; good tertiary GPA for graduate programmes
• Pass results in Chemistry and Biology if required by the university
• English language competency results if required by the university

Once you’ve received your medical degree, such as a Doctor of Medicine (MD), you can proceed to the next phase of your medical training. Along with your subject prerequisites and your medicine degree, it’s worth maintaining a strong GPA while completing healthcare volunteer work and internships. Medicine is really competitive so you need to demonstrate your passion for building a career as a doctor in the UK.

Is There a Faster and Cheaper Way to Become a Doctor in the UK?

Compared to the UK, there’s faster and cheaper study options at medical schools in Europe and North America. Even if you’re from the UK or an interested student from another country, you can apply to undergraduate and graduate programmes in these regions. Not only are some of these programmes shorter than in the UK but also they’re at accredited universities and degrees are internationally recognised. Right now, standout countries in Europe are Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Serbia, and Armenia. Or, you can opt to study in North America in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados.

While studying these more affordable, shorter programmes, you’ll typically have a range of other priceless upsides. For example, Bulgaria is an EU country with world-class medical schools and the cost of living is 46.9% lower than the UK. It’s well-connected with multiple international airports, direct routes to the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, and strong overland travel infrastructure. The student visa processes are straightforward and affordable so you can be part of a thriving study abroad community.

If you choose to study an undergraduate or graduate programme in Europe or North America, you’ll study courses that are designed in line with UK, U.S., and EU curriculum standards. This means rigorous clinical training, intensive foundation modules, and wide-reaching internship opportunities locally and internationally. In Europe, undergraduate medicine programmes are six years and annual tuition fees start at £2,680 per year. Graduate programmes are four years and annual tuition fees start at £4,220 per year. In North America, undergraduate routes are five years and graduate routes are five years with the same annual tuition for both options starting at £5,330 per year.

Becoming a Doctor UK Step-By-Step

In order to get ready for medical school, you’ll need to prepare for everything from prior study through to choosing a range of programmes to apply for. Though medical school is a long journey, every step is worth it as you work towards your dream career.

Regardless of if you’re planning for Undergraduate or Graduate Medical Programmes, there’s four components of getting ready for medical school:

• Begin with Research and Work Experience — You’ll benefit from a well-rounded sense of what a doctor’s work is like. Reach out to working doctors and medical professors so you can start planning from study through to practice. Another option is to study a medical summer school to get a taste of what your student experience will involve. Lastly, dive into medical school research so you’re ready with a list of programmes and universities well ahead of applications.
• Achieving the right Academic Qualifications — This is part of building a strong academic foundation for medical school including your A-Levels or equivalent qualifications. Most medical schools require good grades across core subjects plus high grades in both Biology and Chemistry. Getting on the right track early with your academic records — high school diploma or university GPA — is always worthwhile irrespective of if you’re applying from high school for undergraduate medicine or with a Bachelor’s Degree for graduate medicine.
• Preparing a Strong Application — Your application will need to cover the required official documentation plus your personal statement and references. Above all, you shouldn’t rush this process as high-quality, compelling applications aren’t something you can fake nor something you want to overlook. What’s more, there’s certain deadlines you need to meet in the UK so giving yourself plenty of time is good planning and makes for an impressive application.
• Passing Entry Requirements including Tests & Interviews — Finally, ensure that you’re well-prepared for entry tests like the Universities Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) and entry interviews. Whether it’s sitting practice tests or researching and rehearsing for interviews, you’re getting ready for this final stage in securing your UK medical school offer.

Generally speaking, to be eligible for undergraduate entry into a medicine programme, candidates will need a combination of GCSEs, AS-Levels and A-Levels. Medical schools in the UK generally accept candidates who have high grades in science subjects and mathematics. Nearly all medical universities in the UK require candidates to take an admissions test and to attend an interview as part of their entry requirements. However, it is worth noting that many universities across Europe offer guaranteed entry and do not have mandatory entrance exams.

If you already have a Bachelor of Science degree in a field related to Medicine, you can apply for Graduate Entry. This pathway allows those with relevant qualifications to fast-track their medical degree by entering the programme in a later year of study. Many candidates opt for graduate entry medicine programmes to further their education and to boost their career prospects.

In the UK, your undergraduate programme is usually between 5 or 6 years, or, your graduate programme is usually 4 years. During your programme you’ll have phases of preclinical, classroom learning covering a curriculum of foundation modules. Then, you’ll progress to comprehensive clinical modules with rotations, placements, clinical subjects, internships, and real world patient care. You’ll have to meet clock hours of clinical training as a condition of the UK General Medical Council (GMC) and you’ll have ongoing assessments and exams. Once you’ve successfully completed your studies, you will graduate from university with a medical degree. Depending on the university programme, you might qualify with an MB, i.e. a Bachelor of Medicine, or with an MBBS, i.e. Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.

After you’ve graduated with your degree, you’ll need to apply to the GMC for provisional registration during your final year. Passing the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) is confirmed by your medical school confirming your graduation and qualification.

The next stage is the completion of the FP. This is a two-year programme in which you spend a few months in different specialities.

Upon successful completion of the FP, trainee doctors can choose to continue to work and learn via either GP training or they choose to train in another specialty.

To become a General Practitioner in the UK, you will need to undertake a minimum of three years of specialty training on a programme that has been approved by the General Medical Council.

Depending on the specialty that you choose, this stage will take 5-8 years to complete. Your first decision will be to choose between a run-through or an uncoupled programme.

For programmes of this type, you only have to apply once and are employed for the full duration of the programme.

These programmes comprise core training (lasting 2-3 years) and then competitive entry into higher specialty training.

You never stop learning as a doctor. Even after you are fully-qualified, you will need to continue to build your knowledge and demonstrate your fitness to practise by earning Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points each year. This involves completing online courses, as well as attending workshops and seminars.

Becoming a Doctor in the UK While Studying Abroad Step-By-Step

1. Apply for a Medical School in Europe or North America With SME

When you apply for international medical schools, you’ll need to prepared for each region and then each university to have individual entry requirements. For example, some certain European countries have entry exams in Biology and Chemistry, then they may have English language proficiency tests. Or, in North America, some programmes require students to complete a one-year Pre-medicine programme before progressing to the official medicine programme. Some medical schools require application documents to be legalised with a notary and translated into the local language so application services are a helpful way to guarantee your documents will be accepted.

In Europe, leading schools include Burgas University “Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov” in Bulgaria, and in North America, leading schools include New Anglia University in Anguilla.

2. Start Medical School Abroad

Most international medical programmes are between 5 to 7 years long. Throughout Europe, undergraduate programmes are typically 6 to 7 years, while graduate programmes are 4 years. In North America’s Caribbean region, undergraduate programmes are 5 to 5.5 years long and graduate programmes are 4 years long. The foremost schools for international students are structured to meet a global standard comprising pre-clinical modules building theoretical basic sciences knowledge, then clinical modules developing practical medical skills and experience to meet clock hours for qualification. Then students graduate with the globally-recognised Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.

3. Complete Foundation Training

Once you’re qualified and ready to work in the UK, you’ll need to apply to the GMC to register and practise medicine. Although your degree is internationally-recognised, you may need to sit the UKMLA to be legally allowed to work in the UK. Depending on your international experience, you may not have to go through the FP.

4. Start to Specialise

In some cases, you may be required to complete Year 1 and Year 2 of the FP to work in your specialty. For example, even if you’ve worked as a GP in another region, the UK still requires you to complete their 3-year GP specialty training irrespective of your clinical experience. These timeframes vary for each specialty so it’s worth getting advice in advance to prepare for your UK postgraduate specialisation.

How Can You Become a Doctor in the UK From Another Country?

If you’ve received a medical degree abroad, including UK clinical training, and would like to work in the UK, you must first register with the General Medical Council (GMC). As part of this, you must pass certain exams. Please note that if you graduate after the year 2022, you will need to take an exam called the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA).

In all cases, you’ll need to make sure that you’re registered with the GMC. Then, you’ll need to meet their specialisation training requirements including the Foundation Programme.

Do You Need to Be a Certain Age to Become a Doctor?

There’s no age limit on you pursuing your goal of becoming a doctor. This is great news if you’re ready for a career change or want to move from a related field to a medical specialty. Both your professional background and your life experience are real strengths for admissions teams as well as your future patients. If you are serious about this then you do need to demonstrate your career planning as part of your application and personal statement. As a result of this you’ll demonstrate to admissions that you’ve considered the time you have to work as a doctor. Though it’s undeniable that you’re older and won’t be able to work as a doctor for as long as younger students, you do bring other skills and you’ll need to emphasise how committed you are to practising medicine.

Discover Your Medical Studies Opportunities With Study Medicine Europe

Study Medicine Europe are the global leaders in helping students build their medical career from application to specialisation. The specialist team is ready and available 24/7 to answer all your questions and help with your application. We can explain how entry requirements work for medical schools across the UK, Europe, and North America, then our student advisors will guide you through applications, relocations, and every step of medical school.

As an international medical student, you’ll enjoy an excellent quality of education. Many universities comply to international standards and offer globally-recognised and fully-accredited English-language medicine programmes.

By choosing to study medicine abroad, you can enjoy much lower tuition fees as well as a more affordable cost of living. This means that you can start your life as a medical professional without the burden of debt holding you back.

 If you’re a person who wants to study medicine, got decent grades in A-Levels or finished your first degree but couldn’t get into med school, the right people to go is SME, as they would do anything they could to get you to the right medical school in Europe.

Over the past ten years or so, the popularity of medical studies has surged while the number of university places has remained limited. Intense competition for university places in the UK means that many worthy candidates are unfairly missing out. By choosing to study medicine abroad, you open up a wide array of options and your odds of securing a university place are much greater.

The skills you develop (e.g. language skills, problem solving, making friends etc.) whilst living in a different country may serve you well down the line in your job-seeking efforts.

Studying abroad offers you the opportunity to enjoy the adventure of a lifetime. In addition to your studies, you can discover a whole new country and culture.

Click here to learn more about studying medicine in English in Europe.