Medical school courses
To train as a doctor, the first stage is to take a degree at medical school. Depending on the university or course, you will be awarded an MB, BMBS, MB ChB, MB BS or similar, but they are generally called ‘first MB’.
The various types of courses:
standard, five-year programmes
programmes that include a foundation year
courses for graduates eg four-year accelerated programmes
overseas programmes
courses that include an intercalated degree
Entry requirements
Medical schools set their own academic entry requirements, so it’s important to check these with individual schools. However, for all courses entry means:
you’ll need excellent GCSE and AS level results or simillar International qualifications
gaining high grades in your A level or equivalent qualifications
passing an interview
demonstrating that you have developed some understanding of medicine, for example through relevant paid or unpaid experience and/or work shadowing
usually taking an admissions test
health and background checks
you’ll be asked to show how you think the NHS values would apply in your everyday work as a doctor.
Skills and interests
You need to prove that you:
have the capacity to learn and retain lots of information
have a genuine understanding of, interest in and commitment to medicine
have the necessary analytical and reasoning skills, the ability to think quickly and have an enquiring mind
have excellent people skills
have other skills such as time management and leadership skills
are a well-rounded person (eg by having some non-academic interests)
The minimum English language requirements for all International and EU students are:
Bachelor’s degrees: IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each band (or equivalent)
Masters degrees: IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each band (or equivalent)
Postgraduate research degrees: IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each band (or equivalent)
Nursing and Midwifery Degrees and Masters
Nursing and Midwifery programmes, which are accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the General Dental Council (GDC), consistently produce effective nurses and midwifes who embrace the highest standards of professional conduct and ethical practice.
Undergraduate Nursing and Midwifery programmes:
Three year Adult Nursing course will give you the ability to cope with a demanding and satisfying profession, leading to a BSc Adult Nursing (Hons) and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Children and Young People’s Nursing will provide you with the capability to cope with a demanding and satisfying profession, leading to a registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Our three-year course shapes your caring and compassionate attributes to provide excellent evidence-based knowledge to nurse children and young people from birth to adolescence.
BSc (Hons) Learning Disability Nursing course will develop your understanding of the needs of people with learning disabilities to enable you to work in a range of practice settings in health and social care. Our BSc (Hons) course gives you a registration through the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a learning disability nurse.
The Mental Health Nursing course takes you on a service user’s journey within community and hospital settings, allowing you to see the service through the patient’s perspective and identify where you can make positive changes. Our BSc (Hons) course enables you to you to gain a registration through the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a mental health nurse.
The Dental Nursing course provides you with a wide range of academic skills and work related competencies and on completion of the award you will be able to apply for registration with the General Dental Council.
Midwifery is a rewarding and unique career, that will allow you to be in the privileged position of working closely with women and families during pregnancy and childbirth. On completion of the course you will be awarded with a BSc (Hons) Midwifery degree and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Our course is BFI accredited by Unicef meaning that our Midwifery students will be equipped with knowledge and understanding of infant feeding to UNICEF UK standards.
This course enables nurses and health visitors who have had a break from practice to enhance and hone their existing knowledge and skills so that they can confidently return to professional practice.
This course is designed to prepare you to become proficient practitioners within specialist community public health nursing/practice and work at specialist practitioner level.
Postgraduate Nursing and Midwifery programmes:
The course prepares you to become a proficient practitioner within specialist community public health nursing/practice.
The course aims to enhance your skills of critical analysis and research in order to advance the application of evidence within Specialist Community Public Health Nursing
The minimum English language requirements for all International and EU students are:
Bachelor’s degrees: IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each band (or equivalent)
Masters degrees: IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each band (or equivalent)
Postgraduate research degrees: IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in each band (or equivalent)