Medicine MBBS

Medicine will provide you with an exciting range of career opportunities. Our 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.

Important news about the programme start date

Due to challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we have taken the difficult decision to delay the date that our first cohort of students enters the MBBS programme. We are planning for a revised start date of January 2022, with a 4.5-year programme that would allow students to graduate in July 2026 (the same as if students had started in September 2021).

We would be offering a fee reduction in recognition of the reduced length of the programme.

We are seeking the advice and approval of the UK General Medical Council (GMC) for our proposed new start date, and we have now submitted the necessary documentation to them. The GMC may approve the January 2022 start date, or may require us to delay this until September 2022.

How we will keep you informed

We expect our revised start date to be confirmed in March and we will post the latest information on this web page.

At BMS, we are committed to ensuring that all our medical students will benefit from a high-quality digitalised curriculum, clinical placements in the West London area, experienced staff, first class facilities, and the necessary IT infrastructure. Our plan to delay the launch of the medical school by four months is to ensure all this is in place well in advance of the arrival of our first students.

For MBBS applicants only

We will email you once the programme start date has been confirmed.

Pending the GMC’s decision about the new start date, we regret that we are unable to advise about progressing any applications to the interview stage. In March we will begin to schedule interviews. In the meantime, please accept our sincere apologies for the current situation.

The Medicine MBBS is open to International students only for 2021/22 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. 

How to apply (2021/22 entry)

Direct to Brunel - You can use our application form to apply directly to the University. The link to the provisional application form is here.

In view of the large number of applications received to-date, we no longer guarantee an interview. You will be placed on our Medicine MBBS interview waiting list. The list will be reviewed in early May.

Please note that any candidate invited to interview will have their application processed by UCAS.

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.

Ranking- 28th in the world: Times Higher Education, World University Rankings - International Outlook (2021).

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 

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.

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 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.

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 Medicine.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.

Under 18 policy

Entry into the Medicine MBBS programme requires students to have reached the age of 18 by the time they are to be in contact with patients in clinical settings. This means that applications from applicants who will not be 18 years old by 4 April 2022 cannot be offered an interview for this academic year.

For applicants who applied before 22 January 2021, their applications will be evaluated in the normal way, and if successful, will be offered an interview in the next admissions cycle for September 2022/23. An applicant who has applied through UCAS, will be asked to reapply directly to the University.

Work experience

We understand that finding the relevant work experience is challenging in the current climate. We therefore do not require you to have completed any work experience.

References

We require at least one academic reference at point of application.

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. Students will be required to gain an enhanced disclosure certificate from the UK Disclosure and Barring Service or the equivalent criminal record declaration from their country of domicile prior to joining the School. The School will assist students in obtaining these records.

Occupational Health Clearance

All MBBS offers are subject to satisfactory occupational health clearance. Applicants who accept our offer as their firm or insurance choice will be asked to complete and return the Health Questionnaire and other relevant paperwork and consent to testing and immunisations. Compliance with the Occupational Health Clearance requirements is necessary prior to students joining the School and interacting with patients.

Singapore

The 5-year MBBS offered by Brunel Medical School is not currently recognised by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC). This means that graduates from Brunel Medical School would not be able to practise medicine in Singapore. To find out which Medical Schools are recognised in Singapore, and for more information, please visit the SMC website.

Malaysia

For those of you who wish to practise medicine in Malaysia following the MBBS, you may be asked to sit the Malaysia Medical Council Examination for Provisional Registration (MMC ERP). We advise that you check with the MMC about your pathway to becoming a doctor in Malaysia before joining Brunel Medical School.

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.

Meet our academics here

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.