Medicine MBBS

Medicine MBBS is open to International students only

It is our aim to open our admission to home (UK) students at the earliest opportunity.

Medicine provides an exciting range of career opportunities. You will be equipped with the educational, clinical and professional skills you will need as a new doctor, and you will be well prepared for further training such as specialist training, in the UK or overseas.

After completing the medical degree, you will receive provisional registration with a licence to practise by the General Medical Council. You will be eligible to apply for the UK 2-year Foundation Training programme and the General Medical Council will grant you full registration with a full licence to practise after successfully completing the first year of the Foundation Training programme.

How to apply (2023/24 entry)

Apply directly to the University

Medicine MBBS is currently open to applications.

If you apply after 1 March 2023, and meet the entrance criteria, you will automatically be put on our Selection Panel waiting list. We will only run further interviews if all our places have not been filled.

Successful applicants will receive a provisional offer to study Medicine MBBS, and these applicants - both those who applied through UCAS and those who applied directly will then have their applications processed by UCAS.

UCAS application is now closed

You can find information on how to apply, what to include in your application and the selection process in the FAQ.

Interview dates 

Our first sets of interviews took place in December 2022 and February 2023. The next set of interviews will take place in March 2023. If required, a final set of interviews will take place in summer 2023. Interviews will be granted to the highest ranked students until all interview slots are filled.

Graduates can apply

If you already have an undergraduate or master’s degree in a subject related to Medicine and your degree qualification meets our minimum entry criteria, then you can apply for Medicine MBBS. Depending on your ranking, you will also be invited to interview.

More information: 

Contact 

Email: BMS-Admissions@brunel.ac.uk

Telephone: +44(0)1895 268083

Brunel University London 

Brunel University London, a university for a changing world, is a highly regarded multidisciplinary and research-intensive technology university, with vibrant, diverse  and dynamic staff and students from all over the world. Brunel Medical School is part of the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (CHMLS), which is a leading provider of undergraduate and postgraduate health professions education, including Physician Associate, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Social Work programmes. The College provides opportunities for interprofessional learning.

View our London campus here.

University Ranking- 20th in the world for International Outlook: Times Higher Education, World University Rankings (2022).

High number of MBBS places available for international students

Brunel Medical School has over 100 places available for international students; more than most other UK medical schools.

Up-to-date & innovative curriculum

We take an evidence-based innovative approach to learning and teaching. The Medicine MBBS curriculum has been produced by leading academics and clinicians working in partnership to provide the latest insights into medical advances and clinical practice.

You will be well prepared to practise medicine in the modern world. Changes in medical practice are accelerating, driven by molecular sciences, a greater understanding of the demographic variations in health and illness and of the specific needs of individual patients.

Our curriculum incorporates digital technologies to enhance the way you learn and the environment that you learn in and provides patient contact right from year 1.

Learn more here

Scholarships 

Brunel Medical School will award a number of scholarships specifically for Medicine MBBS 2023/24 entry. 

Learn more here

Diverse student population

You will learn and work with students from all over the world. The Medical School student body already has over 36 countries represented, with a mix of undergraduates and graduates.

Team-based Learning (TBL)

Brunel Medical School is among the few medical schools in the world to use TBL as the main method of classroom teaching instead of lectures. Working in teams of six in our purpose-designed TBL classroom, you exchange ideas and refine your understanding of the topics through discussions.

With this active-learning approach, you solve problems and debate whilst developing life-long, transferable skills - highly relevant to medicine, under the guidance of clinicians and scientists.

Learn more here.

Clinical and communication skills

Emphasis on the development of communications skills and clinical skills from Year 1 is demonstrated by dedicated spaces, in particular a suite of 18 video-equipped consultations rooms and the use of trained simulated patients as well as skills laboratories and simulated wards.

Simulation technology, manikins, virtual reality and augmented reality will also feature in your educational journey, and your learning will be enhanced by frequent feedback from your peers and from our educators.

Early patient contact

In parallel with the clinical and communication skills learned on campus, from early on in Year 1 you will also learn about patient care from supervised interactions with real patients, through regular placements in general practice (family medicine) clinics.

You will learn to look at healthcare and illness from the patient’s perspective and understand how teams of professionals work together and make a difference to people’s lives.

Student support service

Studying medicine can at times be challenging and being far from home in an unfamiliar environment can make things more difficult. At Brunel we provide an unrivalled support system to build your resilience and help you cope with any stress or concerns.

All students are supported by our dedicated Student Support and Wellbeing team who make sure that any issue is addressed rapidly and sympathetically.

Our School House system creates a home away from home where students are supported by their peers and expert tutors provide academic coaching to students.

Learn more here. 

Clinical placements

Clinical placements, which range from hospitals to primary care (family medicine) and community settings, account for a significant portion of the course. Primary care placements start early in Year 1, and placements in hospitals start later on.

Our west London location means that you have access to a hugely diverse patient population and will have the opportunity to work in major hospitals, some of which are globally renowned.

Learn more here

State-of-the-art facilities

You will benefit from learning in brand new teaching facilities in Brunel’s newly refurbished Quad North building. The building features our Anatomy Suite, Simulated Hospital Wards, Clinical Skills Laboratories and more.

Learn more and discover our virtual tour

A focus on the UK health system

You will be learning medicine in one of the most famous healthcare organisations in the world – The National Health Service (NHS). The experience gained here will help prepare you for entry to the two-year UK Foundation Programme, of which the first year (FY1) is the starting point for pursuing a medical career in the UK and an excellent preparation for careers overseas.

Medical Licensing Assessment

Our curriculum will prepare you for the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA).

Please note. From 2024, all UK medical school students will be required to pass the MLA in order to practise as FY1 doctors. International medical graduates will also need to pass the MLA in order to practise in the UK.

USMLE and MCCQE support and guidance

Some of you may wish to pursue your medical careers in Canada or the USA. The School will offer guidance on the USMLE and MCCQE assessments. The careers adviser will discuss individual needs, and provide advice on approved preparatory resources, including review texts, practice question banks and online courses.

Please note that access to USMLE examination may be delayed until when the first cohort graduate, and the School has obtained full accreditation by the UK General Medical Council. This is planned for 2027.

Student electives

In Year 5, you will have the opportunity to choose and experience medical practice in a completely different environment.

Learn more here.

Interviews 

Learn about Multi Mini Interviews (MMI) here

Guaranteed student accommodation on campus

You will have the opportunity to apply for student accommodation to live on campus for the duration of the MBBS course.

Learn more here

General Medical Council (GMC)

All medical schools are periodically reviewed by the UK General Medical Council (GMC), the body responsible for ensuring that medical education and training is of a high standard and that all medical schools meet the requirements set out in Promoting excellence: standards for medical education and training.

In addition, as a new Medical School, Brunel Medical School is subject to scrutiny through stages of the GMC’s rigorous quality assurance process. We have completed key stages of this process to date, and we will continue to be closely reviewed by the GMC until the programme has been successfully delivered and the final-stage approval for the award of the MBBS degrees is granted.

During the period of close review, the GMC requires all new medical schools to have a contingency school to partner with the new school and provide regular support. The University of Buckingham Medical School is Brunel Medical School’s contingency school.

The list of new medical schools under GMC review can be found here.

World Directory of Medical Schools

Brunel Medical School is listed on the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDoMS).

The World Directory defines a ‘medical school’ as an educational institution that provides a complete or full programme of instruction leading to a basic medical qualification; that is, a qualification that permits the holder to obtain a license to practice as a medical doctor or physician.

Please note that the listing of a medical school in the World Directory of Medical Schools does not denote recognition, accreditation, or endorsement by the World Directory of Medical Schools.

Medicine Virtual Open Days

Watch our latest open day here.

Phase 1 is characterised by the acquisition of essential foundational knowledge, the development of skills and professional attitudes and the early introduction to patient contact, to prepare for the more clinically focused years.

Year 1

In Year 1, you will develop an understanding of basic scientific concepts that underpin health and disease in your patients. You will study the main body systems in turn, examining the anatomy and the workings of the body, starting with the cardiovascular system, and then the respiratory system, integrating knowledge from molecules to organs.

You will study hormones and their regulation next, followed by the renal system and excretion, and lastly the limbs, joints, and movement. Throughout the year, learning about body systems will be complemented by relevant clinical and communication skills, and teaching of medical ethics and professionalism. You will investigate the use of technologies in healthcare and important principles of anatomy, biochemistry, physiology will be brought to life through practical experiences in the anatomy laboratory, and clinically focused application exercises in Team Based Learning (TBL).

Throughout Years 1 and 2, having gained confidence through your training in clinical communications, you will experience the first point of contact in the United Kingdom (UK) National Health Service (NHS) known as primary care (General Practice/Family Medicine). You will interact with patients, under the supervision of experienced clinicians to hone your skills. You will also learn from, and with, other healthcare team members, such as physiotherapists, physician associates, and nurses.

Year 2

In Year 2, you will continue to study body systems, starting with digestion and absorption, continuing with the nervous system and mental health, and finally learning about reproduction and ageing. There will be greater focus on diseases, infections, drugs, and diagnosis. You will continue to sharpen your clinical and communication skills and you will grow your understanding of digital health, ethics, and professionalism. You will have clinical placements in primary care which will allow you to continue to hone the skills that you started to develop in year 1, as well as learn more about Population Health and other areas of clinical pratice. The end of Year two is dedicated to student-selected course components (SSC) where you will get involved in a scholarly project. Examples include scientific laboratory projects, projects to explore improvements in healthcare delivery or those which give you the opportunity to engage with the local community.

Years 3 and 4 make up Phase 2 of the programme, which is characterised by an intensive clinical experience in a range of high-quality hospitals and primary care clinics across Greater London and South-East England. You will also have teaching on the Brunel Medical School campus every 6 weeks.

Year 3

In Year 3, you will rotate through a range of placements in hospitals, community mental health and primary care where you will apply your knowledge and clinical and communication skills. In these patient-facing placements, you will learn to integrate clinical knowledge and patient care. Your placements in primary care settings will continue. You will receive feedback to improve your knowledge, professionalism, and skills from the clinical and academic teams.

Year 4

In Year 4, you will continue clinical rotations to include some more specialist areas such as paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, dermatology, ENT, ophthalmology, as well as in primary care and others. You will learn about holistic patient management and further extend your knowledge and expertise. You will continue to receive feedback from the professionals with whom you will be interacting on a daily basis. This will prepare for your final year of the programme.

Phase 3 is the final, 5th year of the programme.

Year 5

Year 5 is designed to help you to prepare for the transition from student to junior doctor. This includes further placements in medicine, surgery, primary care, and emergency medicine, followed by the final MBBS Exams to include the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA). You will then undertake at least two Assistantship placements to prepare you for clinical practice as a Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctor in the NHS, followed by an elective placement which may be overseas. You will be formally taught about safe prescribing and expectations of professional behaviour.

Course structure

This course can be studied 5 years full-time, starting in September.

After the MBBS 

Achieving an MBBS degree from Brunel Medical School will provide you with a primary medical qualification (PMQ). Holding a PMQ allows you to apply for provisional registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) and license to practise in approved Foundation Year 1 posts in the UK.

As a UK medical graduate, following successful award of the MBBS degree, you will be eligible to apply to the UK Foundation Programme for Foundation Year (FY) Clinical Training (subject to Visa Regulations at the time).

Please note that Foundation training is remunerated by the NHS Trusts to which you are allocated. International students will not be paying fees but will receive remuneration.

The Foundation School to which you are allocated will be dependent on your allocated FY1 post. *

*This information is correct as of January 2023 but please be aware that regulations in this area are subject to change.

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2023/24 entry

Medicine MBBS is open to International students only

It is our aim to open our admission to home (UK) students at the earliest opportunity.

Applicants are advised that meeting the general criteria for admission, including the minimum academic criteria is not a guarantee of invitation to interview. All applications will be ranked according to merit, and interview invitations will be sent out to top-ranking applicants until all interview slots are filled for each series of interviews. 

General requirements 

• Fee status - International fee status
• English language – IELTS at least 7.0 in each component (or equivalent). English language requirement is one of the conditions of offer, and will be assessed once an offer has been made
• Personal statement - Satisfactory personal statement. Please visit our  FAQ below for more information on personal statements
• Reference - One satisfactory academic reference. Please visit our FAQ below for more information on academic references
• Age - We normally require applicants to be 18 years old by time of registration
• Work experience - Brunel Medical School takes reference from the Medical School Council’s guidance on work experience, including options which may be more feasible during the Covid-19 pandemic. This guidance can be found here Work experience | Medical Schools Council (medschools.ac.uk). In addition, please refer to the Brunel Medical School guidance on personal statements in our  FAQ below as this includes advice about work experience.

FAQ PDF document 

Minimum academic requirements

School leavers

• Mathematics proficiency: At least Grade B (5) in Mathematics GCSE (or equivalent)

• English language proficiency:  At least Grade C (4) in English Language GCSE (or equivalent e.g. IELTS).

And

A-levels: 

Applicants should normally have, or be expected to achieve, a minimum of grades AAB at A-level, to include:

• Chemistry or Biology and
• a second science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) or Mathematics and
• a third subject (except General Studies).

Or

International Baccalaureate:

Applicants should normally have, or be expected to achieve, a total score of 36 points with

• Higher Level 6 in Chemistry or Biology and
• Higher Level 5 in a second science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) or Mathematics.

Or

International qualifications: 

We accept a wide range of international qualifications from countries around the world, some of which are listed on our International Qualifications Entry Requirements document

Applicants should normally have, or be expected to achieve, a pattern of grades equivalent to AAB at ‘A’ level, to include

• Chemistry or Biology at the highest level studied and
• a second science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) or Mathematics.

If your country is not listed, or you are unsure if you meet the requirements, please contact BMS-Admissions@brunel.ac.uk

Graduates

• Bachelor’s degree:

Upper second-class degree or equivalent in a subject relevant to Medicine.

Or

• Master’s degree:

Awarded with Merit or equivalent, in a subject relevant to Medicine.

Applicants presenting university degree qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you are unsure if you meet the requirements please email your qualifications, a transcript of your degree and evidence of High School qualifications to BMS-Admissions@brunel.ac.uk

Students from India

If you are currently living in India, we recommend that you apply for Medicine MBBS with one of our approved University agents. The agent will guide you through the application process.

Please note there is no fee for this service.

If you would like to be put in touch with one of our agents in India, please email bms-admissions@brunel.ac.uk

University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)

UCAT should be taken in the year prior to planned entry.

The UCAT is a 2-hour test that must be taken at a Pearson Vue test centre. It is made up of 5 separate sub-tests, each varying in length. Before each sub-test applicants are given 1-minute reading time.

Australian and New Zealand students can either sit the UCAT ANZ or the UK UCAT exam at a Pearson test centre. Please note that the UCAT ANZ test dates are not the same as UK test dates.

To find your closest test centre and costs please visit the UCAT website.

Applicants who have not taken UCAT

We encourage you to apply if you have not taken UCAT, but your invitation to interview may be delayed, or you may not receive an invitation, depending on the availability of interview slots. If places are still available, applicants who have not taken UCAT are reviewed by the Selection Panel and are ranked according to their predicted or achieved academic scores.

UCAT ranking process

• Applicants scoring in band 4 in the SJT (Situational Judgement Test) are rejected
• The remaining applications are assessed by the BMS Selection Panel who review applicants’ personal statements and references against pre-determined criteria
• Applicants with satisfactory personal statements and references are ranked according to their total UCAT score
• The highest ranked applicants are invited to register for a vMMI, and invitations are sent by email normally no later than 2 weeks before the date of the next vMMI cycle.

More general information about UCAT can be found on the UCAT website.

Selection process

Please click here to view the MBBS admissions process pdf.

Stage 1 – Initial assessment

An initial assessment of all the applications is made by the Brunel Admissions Team. Applicants who meet, or are predicted to meet, the general requirements and minimum academic requirements advance to Stage 2.

Stage 2 – Application review

1. Applications are reviewed by the Brunel Medical School Selection Panel. Personal statements and references are checked to make sure they meet the requirements.
2. Applications are then ranked according to students’ UCAT scores. Those who so far meet the entry requirements, and, who have the highest UCAT scores will be invited to interview.

Applications without UCAT

Applicants will have their personal statements and references reviewed and will be ranked based on achieved or predicted academic grades.

The highest ranked applicants will be invited to interview once all passing UCAT applicants have been interviewed, and if there are Medicine places still available.

Stage 3 - Virtual Multiple Mini Interview (vMMI)

Information on the vMMI can he found on the Interviews web page

Our first set of interviews are taking place in December 2022. There will be further sets of interviews in February 2023, and March 2023. If required, a final set of interviews will take place in summer 2023. Interviews will be granted to the highest ranked students.

Stage 4 - Interview ranking

Candidates are ranked according to the total score obtained at vMMI (with no pre-determined requirement to pass a minimum number of stations). Candidates’ vMMI scores are presented to the Admissions Committee and a cut score is agreed, based on past and current cohort performance.

Applicants with a total score lower than the cut score are rejected.

Applicants reaching the cut score are offered a place or added to the Offer Waiting List, according to the number of available places.

For further details on offers please view the Admissions Policy 2023/24

Foundation qualifications

For 2023/24 entry we will not accept Foundation qualifications. We will accept applications from candidates enrolled in Foundation Colleges who are taking, or have taken, A-levels or International Baccalaureate. Applications will be considered alongside other applicants with A-level or International Baccalaureate qualifications.

Retakes

Applicants who have had to retake the matriculation qualifications required for entry onto the MBBS programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis where there have been extenuating circumstances.

Deferred entry

Applications for deferred entry will not normally be considered, and requests for deferrals after an offer is made are also not normally considered.

Exclusion criteria for admission

Applications in the following circumstances will not be normally considered:

• Previous enrolment on a medicine course, whether completed or not
• Transfer from another undergraduate science or medicine programme
• Previously undertaken Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) at Brunel Medical School.

Other entry requirements

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

MBBS students will be in contact with children and/or vulnerable adults as part of their programme of study on a regular and sustained basis. All students must therefore undergo an extended criminal record check as a condition of acceptance of an offer. This will include an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) record and (for applicants residing overseas) a Criminal Clearance Certificate which should be completed prior to arrival in the UK. Further information about the process can be found here. The School will assist the students to undertake the DBS checks.

Occupational Health Clearance

As a condition of acceptance for a place to study on the MBBS programme, all applicants must comply with occupational health requirements. Confirmation of occupational health clearance, evidenced by a fitness certificate issued by the Brunel Occupational Health service, must be obtained before the start of clinical placements in November 2023.

The purpose of occupational health clearance is to confirm that applicants are fit to study on the programme, identify the need for any adjustments to support learning and clinical training, determine whether there is clearance for exposure-prone procedures and whether, with necessary adjustments, applicants are expected to be able to meet the competencies required for graduation, as described in Outcomes for Graduates. This information will be recorded in the fitness certificate, in accordance with guidelines by the Higher Educational Occupational Practitioners (HEOPS) for medical students. The fitness certificate will be held securely, accessible only to nominated senior medical school staff and will not include any clinical information.

Immunisations 

For immunisation requirements please visit the Immunisation Information web page.  

MBBS recognition

We encourage all students to check with their home country’s Medical Council that the MBBS degree awarded by Brunel University will be recognised in their country before applying if they intend to return to their home country to practise medicine.

For any advice and guidance please contact BMS-Admissions@brunel.ac.uk

Information for US students

If you are planning to return to the US after graduating from Brunel Medical School, please email our Support & Well-Being team for specialist advice and guidance. Medicine.Support@brunel.ac.uk

Information for Singaporean students

The Medicine MBBS from Brunel Medical School is not currently recognised in Singapore. please email our Support & Well-Being team for further information. Medicine.Support@brunel.ac.uk

Course related expenses

Students will be expected to incur some course-related expenses, these include the cost of a stethoscope and the cost of travel to clinical placements.

• Students will need to fund their own placement travel, which will range from £500 - £2,500 per year. Travel costs will be towards the lower end in Years 1 and 2. Shared private transport may be required on occasion
• Students will need to purchase a stethoscope as part of their medical training. Costs of stethoscopes are approximately £100
• The University will supply lab coats. Students may be required to pay £15 for replacements if lost or damaged
• MDU / MPS membership: This is free and compulsory
• Students will be expected to have a laptop computer to be used for coursework, digital examinations, independent work and in class teaching sessions.

Student visa application information, including financial requirements

Please visit the Making a student visa application web page

Further information

Information on Excluded Students Database check, student visas, appeals and complaints, misconduct during the admissions process and feedback to unsuccessful applicants can be found in the Admissions Policy 2023/24.

IELTS :7.0 overall (min 7.0 in all areas)

Pearson : 64 overall ( min 64 in all subscores) 

BrunELT : 68% overall ( 68 in all subscores)

TOEFL : 98 overall (min 23 in all areas) 

Medicine MBBS is open to International students only.  

Annual tuition is £44,905 for 2023/24 entry for International students.

Fees quoted are per year and may be subject to an annual increase. International fees will increase annually, by no more than 5% or RPI (Retail Price Index), whichever is the greater.

It is important that your financing is organised before accepting an offer at Brunel University London. If you are seeking a loan or sponsorship funds from your home country we advise that this is organised in good time prior to starting the course.

Assessment will take place throughout the year (programmatic assessment) and will be a mix of coursework submitted online, individual Single Best Answer (SBA) tests done on campus during the TBL sessions and during invigilated in-person exams, as well as Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCE) and Anatomy Spot Tests.