Medicine MBBS

Medicine will provide you with an exciting range of career opportunities. Our 5-year Medicine MBBS course will enable you to graduate with the educational, clinical and professional skills you will need as a new doctor, ready for further training in the UK or overseas.

The Medicine MBBS is open to International students only for 2021 entry

At the earliest opportunity we will be discussing with Health Education England and the Office for Students about offering our medicine degree to students from the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions. 

Application is open (2021 entry) - How to apply

UCAS - You can apply through UCAS. 

Direct to Brunel - You can use our application form to apply directly to the University.

The link to the application form is here.

If you meet the Medicine MBBS entry requirements you will be invited for interview. Successful candidates will receive a provisional offer to study Medicine MBBS. Your application will then be processed by UCAS at which point you will receive a formal offer to study Medicine MBBS. 

You can apply now. Applications will close once all Medicine MBBS places have been filled.

Graduates - If you already have a degree in a subject related to Medicine you can apply for the MBBS programme. Please see our entry requirements for more information.

Brunel University London 

Brunel University London, a university for a changing world, is a highly regarded multidisciplinary research-intensive technology university, with a vibrant  and dynamic population of 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, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Social Work programmes. This will provide important opportunities for interprofessional learning.

View our London campus here.

Scholarships 

Brunel Medical School will award up to 10 scholarships specifically for MBBS Medicine for 2021/22 entry. For information please visit the scholarships web page.

Team-based Learning (TBL)

Our MBBS course has a strong emphasis on developing teamwork skills. Teamwork is required in all healthcare settings where you will be working with many different types of professionals to care for patients.

We are among the few medical schools in the world to use Team-based Learning (TBL) as our main method of classroom instruction, replacing traditional large group teaching and providing you with high quality online lectures.

In the classroom, facilitated by experienced academics and clinicians, you will be working in teams of six students with whom you will exchange ideas and refine your understanding of the topics.

Learn more here.

Clinical and communication skills

We have developed a curriculum that puts people and patients first. You will learn to deliver compassionate care, and this will start in the first weeks of year 1 with communication skills sessions involving simulated patients – actors trained to role play as patients.

You will learn how best to listen to patients, ask the right questions at the right time, show empathy and overcome language and cultural barriers. You will also learn clinical skills using simulation technology, including manikins, virtual reality and augmented reality.

Early patient contact

In parallel with the clinical and communication skills learned on campus, from term 1 you will also learn about patient care from supervised interactions with real patients, through regular placements in General Practice clinics.

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

The latest digital technology

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, healthcare costs and developments in artificial intelligence and robotics.

Our modern and innovative curriculum incorporates these digital technologies to enhance the way that you learn and the environment that you learn in. You will also learn about the use of digital technology in healthcare practice.

An outstanding student support service

We recognise that studying medicine can at times be stressful, and that many of our students will be far from home. You can be rest assured that you will be in a supportive environment, with a robust system of student support embedded throughout the course, to promote wellbeing and resilience, and to foster a sense of belonging and identity.

Support includes 1:1 sessions with an academic and clinical mentor, peer support sessions and teaching on healthy living and lifestyle medicine.

Clinical placements

You will undertake a wide range of clinical placements in locations across greater London and the South East of England. You will have access to a diverse patient population providing you with the experience needed to become a well-rounded doctor.

A focus on the UK health system

As a Brunel medical student, 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. A dedicated assessment advisor in the School will offer guidance on the format and function of the USMLE and MCCQE assessments, discuss individual needs, and provide advice on approved preparatory resources, which includes review texts, practice question banks and online courses.

Student electives

You will have the opportunity to choose and experience medical practice in a completely different environment. Learn more here.

Interviews 

Those who meet our MBBS entry requirements will be invited for interview. Interviews will be held online.

Please visit our Multi Mini Interview web page for details.

Foundation Colleges 

We accept qualifications from Colleges offering University Foundation Courses in the UK or in other countries and will consider each Foundation qualification we receive on a case by case basis. 

Some example Colleges that have been approved by Brunel Medical School are:

• Bellerbys College
• CATS Colleges
• David Game College – University Foundation Programme
• Kings Education.

Please refer to the entry requirements for more information.

The MBBS programme specification is subject to amendments.

Years 1 and 2 form Phase 1 of the MBBS course. Phase 1 is characterised by the student experience of their learning environment.

Year 1

In year 1 you will develop your understanding of basic scientific concepts that are necessary for understanding health and disease in your patients. You will then go through the main body systems, examining the anatomy and the workings of body, starting with the heart, circulation and the respiratory system.

Hormone regulation and the glands will be studied next. This will be followed by the renal system and then the limbs and movement. Throughout the year, the learning about body systems will be interspersed with clinical skills and communication skills, an understanding of medical ethics and important aspects of professionalism and law, including respect to patient confidentiality. Digital health and the scientific method will also be taught.

You will enjoy regular placements in primary care throughout Years 1 and 2 where you will interact with real patients, under the supervision of experienced clinicians. You will also have the opportunity to learn from, and with, other health professionals, such as physiotherapists, physicians associates and nurses.

Year 2

In year 2, you will continue to study body systems, starting with digestion, the nervous system and mental health, reproduction and ageing. You will learn about diseases, infections, drugs and diagnosis. The emphasis on skills, communications, digital health, ethics and professionalism will continue. There will also be opportunities for you to select special study topics, such as research projects or learning more about a medical specialty or non-medical healthcare profession.

Years 3 and 4 make up Phase 2 of the course, which is characterised by an intensive clinical experience in a range of high quality hospitals and general practice clinics across Greater London and South East England.

Year 3

In year 3 you will rotate through a range of medical and surgical placements in a range of specialties where you will apply your knowledge, clinical and communication skills and work in teams in the clinical settings. Your placements in primary care settings will continue.

Year 4

In year 4, you will continue rotations in primary and secondary clinical care settings. You will learn about holistic patient management and further extend your knowledge and expertise. Your performance will be assessed by the professionals with whom you will be interacting on a daily basis.

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

Year 5

Year 5 is designed to help you in the transition from student to doctor. This includes a series of apprenticeship placements in clinical settings. You will also be able to apply for an elective placement abroad. You will be formally taught about safe prescribing and expectations of professional behaviour.

After the MBBS 

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

As a UK medical school, all Brunel Medical School graduates will be eligible to apply to the UK Foundation Programme for Foundation Year (FY) Clinical Training. In so-doing international students will need to transfer from a Tier 4 student visa to a Tier 2 visa for postgraduate training.

The Foundation School to which they will be allocated will be dependent on the chosen FY1 post.*

*This information is correct as of May 2020 but please be aware that regulations in this area are subject to change.

The MBBS is open to International students only.

At the earliest opportunity we will be discussing with Health Education England and the Office for Students about offering our medicine degree to students from the UK.  

Medical School aptitude test e.g. BMAT, UCAT and GAMSAT: 

These tests are not a requirement; however, applicants who have taken such tests may wish to submit their tests as evidence.

• A-levels: Applicants should normally have, or be expected to achieve, a minimum of grades AAB at A-level, to include either Chemistry or Biology, a second science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Mathematics) and a third subject (except General Studies).
• International Secondary School Qualifications: Applicants should have, or be expected to achieve, a pattern of grades equivalent to AAB at ‘A’ level, to include either Chemistry or Biology and a second science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Mathematics) at the most senior level studied. 
• International Baccalaureate: Applicants should have, or be expected to achieve, a total score of at least 33 points with Higher Level 6 and Higher Level 5 in either Chemistry or Biology and a second science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Mathematics).
• Mathematics proficiency: The required mathematics competence of at least Grade C in Maths GCSE (or equivalent).

Graduates: An upper second class (2.1) degree in a subject cognate to medicine will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Graduates with a non-UK degree

Graduates with a degree with at least an upper second class honours or equivalent, who have graduated from a university outside the UK will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 

Prior to applying, please email your qualifications, a transcript of your degree and evidence of High School qualifications to International-Admissions@brunel.ac.uk 

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 serious extenuating circumstances.

Foundation colleges (UK and international) 

We welcome applicants from Colleges offering University Foundation Courses in the UK or in other countries and will consider each Foundation qualification we receive on a case by case basis. We would be looking for applicants to secure a good overall result to include good results in a Chemistry or Biology module, and good results in a further science module from Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Mathematics, and with no failed modules.

A typical offer could be -

70% overall, including 70% or above in either Chemistry or Biology; and 70% or above in a second science subject from Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Mathematics, and with no failed subjects.

IELTS :7.0 overall (min 7.0 in all areas)

The MBBS is open to International students only.

At the earliest opportunity we will be discussing with Health Education England and the Office for Students about offering our medicine degree to students from the UK.  

Annual tuition is £40,000 for 2021/22 entry. Tuition fees will increase annually by no more than 5% or the RPI (Retail Price Index), whichever is the greater.

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.

More information on any additional course-related costs.

See our fees and funding page for full details of undergraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.

Patient-first  

We have developed a curriculum that puts people and patients first. You will learn to deliver compassionate care, and this will start in the first weeks of year 1 with communication skills sessions involving simulated patients – actors trained to role play as patients.

You will learn how best to listen to patients, ask the right questions at the right time, show empathy and overcome language and cultural barriers. You will also learn clinical skills using simulation technology, including manikins, virtual reality and augmented reality.

Anatomy 

You will learn anatomy using preserved human anatomical specimens (plastinated specimens). These specimens, prosected and displayed to museum-quality standards, will help you develop an understanding of the three-dimensional arrangements of organs.

These will be used together with medical imaging, which is how doctors visualise body structures and organs, as well as ultrasound, where imaging is combined with physiological function and movement.

As a new school, we will take programmatic approach to assessment, namely observing your behaviour and knowledge many times throughout the year so that we can build a reliable picture of your progress through the programme and your preparation to becoming a doctor.

You will receive detailed feedback about your performance and progress to help you improve and excel. You will sit exams, but your responses will be looked at in conjunction with the information we have collected through the years. This reduces exam pressure and gives a fairer assessment of your preparation to becoming a doctor.