Program Overview

---

MB ChB Medicine (A100)

2026 entry | view 2025 entry

Course summary

This course is the primary medical qualification awarded by the University of Bristol and is recognised by the General Medical Council.

On this course, you will learn about the art, science and craft of medicine through:

• early clinical exposure in hospital, community and primary care settings;
• a blend of lectures, case-based learning and practical work;
• state-of-the-art anatomy facilities including cadaveric prosections;
• integration of basic science and clinical learning throughout the course;
• inter-professional working on placement with allied health professional students;
• broad experience in a variety of clinical academies;
• a substantial student choice programme to explore personal interests in more detail, experience potential career options, and gain the opportunity for involvement in audits and research;
• an exciting opportunity to choose the placement of your final year elective;
• a final year that is constructed explicitly to prepare you for your first job as a foundation doctor.

Health and conduct

Certain health conditions may be incompatible with some careers in medicine. Further information can be found with our pre-course information, within General Medical Council guidance "admission to medical school", or you can contact our Occupational Health team.

If you have a chronic health condition please contact the enquiries team for guidance on making an application.

We have excellent support services available including Disability Services, Students' Health Services and Student Counselling.

Medical students must complete a health questionnaire and undergo a medical examination. Non-immune students must be immunised against hepatitis B and tuberculosis.

In accordance with General Medical Council guidance, all medical students undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in line with other UK health-related courses.

Age Requirement

Applicants must be 18 years of age (or above) on the 1 September of the year that they enter the undergraduate medical programme. This is to ensure that our students have the legal capacity to be bound by the rules of confidentiality of our NHS partners and enable them to undertake clinical experiential learning in our teaching general practices and clinical academies.

Interviews

Applicants must be available for an interview from November to April immediately following the submission of their application.

Accreditations

Our Medicine MB ChB is accredited by GMC.

Overview

Typical offer

• A-level standard offer: AAA
• A-level contextual offer: ABB
• Go to entry requirements for the full entry criteria and contextual offer eligibility.

Programme duration

• 5 year(s) full-time.
• Part-time study is not available for this course

Application deadline

• The closing date for Medicine UCAS applications is 15 October. UCAS advises that no more than four choices from a possible five are used for Medicine.

Application method

• UCAS (Code: A100)

Location

• Clifton campus, Placements

Fees

• £9,535 per year, home students
• £44500 per year, international students
• More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.

Fees quoted are for 2025 entry only. Fees for 2026 will be confirmed, subject to government approval, later in 2025.

Course structure

First year

This year will help you to explore health and wellbeing through case-based learning, to provide a foundation for your knowledge and skills, alongside clinical placements in primary and secondary care.

Second year

In this year you will explore disease processes and differential diagnoses for common symptoms through case-based learning, alongside clinical placements in primary and secondary care.

Third year

You will work in primary, community and secondary care settings in our clinical academies, where you will meet patients presenting for care, and learn about how common conditions are managed in the NHS.

Intercalation

Between years three and four, there is an opportunity to spend an additional year studying for an intercalated degree at Bachelors or Masters level in a range of subjects.

Fourth year

You will learn about the care of patients across the life course, from birth to old age in primary, community and secondary care in our clinical academies in preparation for your final knowledge-based and clinical examinations.

Fifth year

Following an elective study period, you will prepare for your Foundation Programme posts by working within clinical teams, experiencing teamwork and decision-making in primary, community and secondary care.

Throughout your studies, you will be supported to deal with the challenges and uncertainties inherent in the practice of medicine to equip you to provide safe and effective care in all clinical settings.

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

A-level standard offer

• AAA including Chemistry and either Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics. Graduates are required to obtain a 2:1 in their degree plus BBB at A-level, including Chemistry and either Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics.

A-level contextual offer

• ABB including A in Chemistry and B in one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics.

BTEC

• DDD in Applied Science BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma, with Distinctions in five specified Chemistry units.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

• 36 points overall with 18 at Higher Level, including 6, 6 at Higher Level in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations).

International Baccalaureate Diploma contextual offer

• 32 points overall with 16 at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in Chemistry and 5 at Higher Level in one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations).

European Baccalaureate

• 85% overall, with 8.5 in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

• Advanced Higher: AA in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics, and Standard Higher: AAAAB.

Access to HE Diploma

• Access to HE Diploma in Science, Biomedical/Medical/Health Science or Psychology (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include at least 30 credits at Distinction and 15 at Merit or above; at least 12 credits at Distinction from Chemistry units; and at least 12 credits (with 9 at Distinction) from one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics.

Welsh Baccalaureate

• Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales or the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.

Cambridge Pre-U

• Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.

International qualifications

• The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Selection process

• Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement are found in the University admissions policies and procedures.
• If applying with extenuating circumstances please see our policy.
• Full information about our selection processes for Medicine can be found in the Admissions Statement.

Applicants must also meet these requirements

GCSE profile requirements

• Advanced numeracy requirement (7 or A in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent) and Standard literacy requirement (4 or C in GCSE English or equivalent).

English language requirements

• If English is not your first language, you need to have one of the following:
  • IELTS 7.5 overall with 7.0 in all skills
  • GCSE English Language grade B or 6
  • an alternative qualification outlined in our Profile level A.

Additional requirements

UCAT

• The University Clinical Aptitude Test (formerly UKCAT) is required. Bursaries are available to cover the cost of taking the UCAT - please see the UCAT website for details. The combined score from all subtests, with the exception of Situational Judgement, will be used to select applicants for interview. For 2025 entry, the final UCAT threshold score to be invited to interview was 3010 for home applicants and 3080 for overseas applicants. The number used as a threshold for interview is subject to change year-on-year.

Work experience

• Work experience is not a requirement for this course, but it is encouraged. Please see the Admissions statement for further details.