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Last modified: 2026-09-24

# Studying Medicine in the UK as an International Student: UCAT, Quotas, MBBS Fees and GMC Registration

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UK doctors start training straight after school: an MBBS or MBChB degree takes five or six years, you apply through UCAS by 15 October, and most medical schools use a single admissions test, the UCAT. The BMAT no longer exists — Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial now require the UCAT too. International places are scarce: Oxford admits no more than 14 international medical students a year, and Imperial offered 74 overseas places against 271 home places for 2026 entry. Annual international fees for 2027/28 range from $62,132 (£47,000) at Aston to $93,270 (£70,554) at Cambridge.

After graduating, doctors complete the two-year Foundation Programme in the NHS. Since 2026, the law gives graduates of UK medical schools — including international students who trained in the UK — priority for these posts over doctors trained abroad. The last UCAT 2026 test day is 24 September 2026; anyone who has not sat the test by then has missed autumn 2027 entry and should plan for 2028.

St Thomas' Hospital on the River Thames, a teaching hospital of King's College London's medical school, London. Photo: Bill Boaden / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Thomas%27_Hospital_-_geograph.org.uk_-_4702877.jpg), [CC BY-SA 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0).

## How medical training works in the UK {#section-1}

Medicine is a first degree, not a graduate programme as in the US. Graduates receive a double bachelor's degree in medicine and surgery, abbreviated MBBS, MBChB or BM BCh depending on the university.

| Stage | Length | What happens | Who decides |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Medical school (MBBS/MBChB) | 5–6 years | Pre-clinical and clinical years, NHS placements, the MLA taken within the degree | The university |
| Provisional registration | On graduation | Provisional registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) | GMC |
| Foundation Programme (FY1–FY2) | 2 years | Paid work as a foundation doctor; full GMC registration after year one | UK Foundation Programme, NHS |
| Specialty training | several years, depending on the specialty | Training as a GP or specialist | National specialty recruitment |

Six-year courses add an intercalated year leading to a further degree such as a BSc or BMedSci. Oxford, Imperial and Edinburgh (where year 3 is research-based) all run six-year programmes — one more year of fees for international students.

Graduate entry courses last four years and are for applicants who already hold a degree. Many use the GAMSAT, and international places are especially limited.

The Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA, often called the UKMLA) is the GMC exam that all UK medical students pass as part of their degree: a written Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and a practical Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA). International medical graduates take the two-part PLAB test (PLAB 1 and PLAB 2), which the GMC keeps compliant with MLA requirements.

## Entry routes for applicants from Russia, Kazakhstan and the CIS {#section-2}

Direct entry with a CIS school certificate is almost never possible. Medical schools want A-levels or the IB with strong chemistry and biology, and rarely accept a generic foundation year.

| Route | Examples of requirements | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A-levels (2 years) | Oxford: A\*AA with chemistry and another science at A or above. Imperial: A\*AA with A\* in biology or chemistry | Students starting after grade 9–10 or willing to invest two years |
| International Baccalaureate | Oxford: 39 points with 7-6-6 at Higher Level. Imperial: 38 points | International school graduates |
| Medical foundation | Only where a specific medical school names the programme in its requirements | Rare cases — check each school |
| Graduate entry (4 years) | A science degree plus GAMSAT or UCAT | Applicants with a relevant degree |

For most readers from the CIS the realistic path is two years of A-levels (at a UK boarding or international school) or the IB, then UCAS for medicine. English requirements are also higher than for other courses: Sheffield, for example, asks for IELTS 7.5 with at least 7.0 in each component, and Imperial applies its higher-level English requirement to medicine. See [English tests for the UK Student visa](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-english-tests-for-uk-student-visa).

## UCAT: the one test most schools use {#section-3}

The University Clinical Aptitude Test is a computer-based aptitude test, not a biology exam. For 2027 entry, 50 UK universities require it for medicine and/or dentistry, including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, King's College London, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

What happened to the BMAT? Cambridge University Press & Assessment closed its admissions testing service and no longer delivers any admissions tests, BMAT included; it has not been used since the 2024/25 cycle (2025 entry). Every former BMAT user now appears on the UCAT list. Anyone offering BMAT preparation is out of date.

| UCAT subtest | Questions | Time | Score |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Verbal Reasoning | 44 | 22 min | 300–900 |
| Decision Making | 35 | 37 min | 300–900 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 36 | 26 min | 300–900 |
| Situational Judgement | 69 | 26 min | Bands 1–4 (1 is best) |

The three cognitive subtests give a total of 900–2700; Situational Judgement is reported as a band. The test takes just under two hours and there is no negative marking. Abstract Reasoning, which still appears in older prep books, is not part of the current format.

Key rules for UCAT 2026 (2027 entry):

- testing ran from 13 July to 24 September 2026; booking closed on 16 September;
- you may sit the test only once per cycle;
- the fee is $93 (£70) in the UK and $152 (£115) elsewhere;
- Pearson VUE centres operate in more than 130 countries; if distance, war or civil unrest makes travel difficult, the consortium allows online proctored testing (OnVUE) — check the Pearson locator before booking;
- results go directly to your universities in early November.

There is no pass mark; each school uses the score differently. For 2026 entry, Imperial shortlisted home applicants with at least 2320 and a Situational Judgement band of 3 or better. International applicants compete for a separate, small pool, so do not aim for a minimum threshold.

## How many places go to international students {#section-4}

The number of international-fee medical students at each UK medical school is limited by a government quota, as Oxford states on its course page. The figure that matters is the one each school publishes for its own course:

| Medical school | International places | Total | Period |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oxford (A100 and A101 combined) | maximum 14 a year | about 155 | annual cap |
| Imperial College London | 74 | 271 home + 74 overseas | 2026 entry |
| Aston University | 30 | 110 home + 30 international | 2026 entry |

Oxford interviewed 29% of applicants and admitted 11% on average over 2023–25. Imperial normally interviews the top third and makes no offer without an interview. Edinburgh invites about 800 top-scoring applicants to an assessment day and, because international places are limited, asks international offer holders for a deposit of one-third of first-year fees — $24,082 (£18,217) for 2026 entry. It is refunded only if you miss the academic conditions of your offer or cancel within 14 days of paying. Most schools use multiple mini interviews (MMIs) on ethics, communication, teamwork and insight into medicine, with invitations from December.

## What UK medicine costs international students {#section-5}

| Medical school | Year | Annual fee | Length |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Aston University (Birmingham) | 2027/28 | $62,132 (£47,000) | 5 years |
| Edinburgh (MBChB) | 2027/28 | $78,921 (£59,700), fixed for the course by year of entry | 6 years |
| Imperial College London | 2026/27 (2027 fee not yet set) | $77,467 (£58,600) | 6 years |
| Glasgow (MBChB, clinical programmes) | 2026/27 | $82,927 (£62,730) | 5 years |
| Cambridge | 2027/28 | $93,270 (£70,554) in the pre-clinical years plus an annual college fee | 6 years |

Budget implications:

- Tuition for the whole course is about $310,700 (£235,000) at Aston over five years if the rate does not rise (Aston reserves the right to raise fees by no more than 6% a year), and about $473,500 (£358,200) at Edinburgh over six years, since Edinburgh does not raise fees for international students during their course. Its rate for new entrants, however, rose 9% in a year (2026 entrants pay $72,390 (£54,650)), so 2028 applicants should build in a margin. At Cambridge the year-3 fee depends on the course taken that year and the clinical years are charged separately, so work out the total from the course page. Housing is extra.
- Living costs: the Student visa requires nine months of funds — $2,021 (£1,529) a month in London and $1,548 (£1,171) elsewhere for applications up to 29 November 2026, then $2,075 (£1,570) and $1,590 (£1,203) from 30 November 2026. Applicants for 2027 entry apply under the new amounts. Edinburgh estimates $2,044 (£1,546) a month for 2026/27.
- Scottish levy: international students at Scottish medical schools contribute to NHS teaching costs (the ACT levy); clinical fees can change if the government raises it.
- Extras: travel to placements, equipment, criminal record checks and health clearance.

Scholarships specifically for international medics are rare; Imperial Inspires ($19,870 (£15,000) a year for the length of the course) covers international students in four faculties, including Medicine, but only on participating courses; Imperial has yet to publish the full list, and competition is strong. See [cost of studying in the UK](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-the-uk).

## Visas and work after graduation {#section-6}

Student visa. Degree-level study is normally capped at five years on a Student visa, but medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and architecture are exempt (Appendix Student ST 19.4), so a six-year course is not a visa problem. The visa fee is $738 (£558) and the Immigration Health Surcharge $1,026 (£776) per year of visa, paid upfront — a substantial sum for a six-year course. Nationals and residents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Armenia and several other CIS countries need a TB certificate from an approved clinic; Kyrgyzstan has no approved clinic, so applicants test in another country. See [UK Student visa](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-uk-student-visa).

Foundation Programme priority. The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act received Royal Assent on 5 March 2026. It requires Foundation Programme places to go first to UK medical graduates and priority groups before other eligible applicants. Specialty training is prioritised too: for posts starting from 2027, at both shortlisting and offer stages. Introducing the bill, the Health Secretary stressed that what counts is where doctors trained, not where they were born. For international students graduating from UK schools this is protective; for doctors trained in Russia or Kazakhstan seeking NHS training, competition is tougher.

GMC registration. UK graduates who pass the MLA receive provisional registration, and full registration after FY1. International graduates need PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 and a separate GMC application. Registration decisions rest with the GMC alone.

Staying on. The Graduate visa lasts two years for applications made on or before 31 December 2026 and 18 months from 1 January 2027; today's medical applicants will graduate later, so 18 months applies to them. Doctors usually move to the Health and Care Worker visa, which GOV.UK describes as cheaper and exempt from the annual health surcharge.

Going home. A UK medical degree does not automatically license you elsewhere; in Russia, for instance, Article 69(6) of Federal Law No. 323-FZ requires recognition of the foreign qualification, confirmation by the federal health regulator that it meets qualification requirements, and specialist accreditation.

## Timeline for 2027 or 2028 entry {#section-7}

| If you… | Realistic scenario |
| --- | --- |
| Sat UCAT 2026 and are in your final A-level or IB year | Submit UCAS by 15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time: up to four medical schools plus one non-medical choice |
| Did not sit UCAT 2026 | Target 2028 entry: UCAT in summer 2027, UCAS by 15 October 2027 |
| Are in grade 10–11 in 2026/27 | Two years of A-levels or IB, UCAT the summer before your final year, entry in 2028–2029 |
| Already study medicine at home | Imperial, for example, does not accept transfers from other medical schools and many schools offer none; realistic options are a fresh UCAS application or graduate entry |

Step by step for 2028 entry:

1. September 2026 – May 2027. Shortlist six to eight medical schools and read their grade, English and work-experience requirements; arrange volunteering or shadowing in a healthcare setting.
2. May – June 2027. Register for UCAT 2027 once the consortium publishes dates; choose a test centre or the online option if you qualify.
3. July – September 2027. Sit the UCAT, then narrow your list to four medical schools that suit your score.
4. By 15 October 2027. Submit UCAS: personal statement, teacher reference and predicted grades.
5. December 2027 – March 2028. MMI interviews and decisions.
6. Summer 2028. A-level or IB results, confirmation of your place, CAS and visa.

## Common mistakes {#section-8}

- Preparing for the BMAT. It no longer exists.
- Applying with a school certificate and a generic foundation. Medical schools rarely accept one; you need A-levels or the IB with chemistry and biology.
- Listing five medical schools on UCAS. The maximum is four; the fifth choice must be a non-medical course.
- Comparing annual fees instead of course totals. Edinburgh's six-year MBChB at its fixed 2027/28 rate costs about one and a half times as much as Aston's five-year course.
- Missing UCAT booking. Booking closes about a week before the testing window ends, and you get one attempt per cycle.
- Ignoring the new prioritisation law if you plan to train in the NHS with a non-UK degree.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Do I need the BMAT for 2027 entry?

No. The BMAT is no longer delivered; Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and other former users require the UCAT.

### How long does it take to become a doctor in the UK?

Five or six years at medical school, then the two-year Foundation Programme. Specialty training adds several more years: general practice is shorter, surgical specialties longer.

### How much does medicine cost for international students?

Published 2027/28 fees run from $62,132 (£47,000) a year at Aston to $93,270 (£70,554) at Cambridge plus a college fee. Tuition for the whole course ranges from about $310,000 at Aston to $470,000 or more on six-year programmes.

### How many international students do UK medical schools admit?

Few: Oxford up to 14 a year, Imperial 74 for 2026 entry, Aston 30. Check the figure for your entry year on the course page.

### Can I take the UCAT outside the UK?

Yes, at Pearson VUE centres in more than 130 countries for $152 (£115), or online with a proctor if travel is impractical because of distance, war or unrest. You can sit it once per cycle.

### Can international graduates of UK medical schools work in the NHS?

They can compete on the same footing as UK students. They pass the MLA within the degree, receive provisional GMC registration and sit in the priority group for Foundation Programme allocation, ahead of doctors trained abroad. The UK Foundation Programme and the GMC make those decisions. The Graduate visa or the Health and Care Worker visa covers work afterwards.

### Is a UK medical degree recognised in Russia?

Not automatically. You need recognition of the foreign qualification, confirmation that it meets Russian qualification requirements and specialist accreditation under Federal Law No. 323-FZ. Kazakhstan and other CIS countries run their own procedures, so check them before you commit six years and the fees.

## Sources {#section-10}

- [UCAT Consortium — UCAT 2026 dates](https://www.ucat.ac.uk/about-ucat/ucat-test-dates/)
- [UCAT Consortium — universities for 2027 entry](https://www.ucat.ac.uk/about-ucat/universities/)
- [UCAT Consortium — test format and scoring](https://www.ucat.ac.uk/about-ucat/test-format-and-scoring/)
- [UCAT Consortium — eligibility, centres and OnVUE](https://www.ucat.ac.uk/about-ucat/eligibility/)
- [UCAT Consortium — FAQs and fees](https://www.ucat.ac.uk/faqs/)
- [Cambridge University Press & Assessment — admissions testing closed](https://pages.cambridgeenglish.org/cambridge-assessment-admissions-testing-website-closed)
- [Medical Schools Council — making an application](https://www.medschools.ac.uk/for-students/applying-to-medical-school/making-an-application/)
- [University of Oxford — Medicine](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/medicine)
- [University of Cambridge — international fees 2027](https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/international-students/international-fees-and-costs)
- [Imperial College London — Medicine 2027](https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/2027/medicine/)
- [University of Edinburgh — MBChB programme](https://study.ed.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/354-mbchb-medicine-6-year-programme)
- [University of Edinburgh — medicine fees 2027/28](https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/tuition-fees/find/undergraduate/2027-2028/medicine)
- [University of Glasgow — international fees and ACT levy](https://www.gla.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees/intlfees/)
- [Aston University — Medicine MBChB, 2027 entry](https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/medicine-mbchb/september-2027)
- [University of Sheffield — Medicine MBChB, English requirements](https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/2027/medicine-mbchb)
- [GMC — PLAB](https://www.gmc-uk.org/registration-and-licensing/join-our-registers/plab)
- [GMC — Medical Licensing Assessment](https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/medical-licensing-assessment)
- [UK Parliament — Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026](https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/4062)
- [GOV.UK — Health Secretary on the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/new-bill-to-prioritise-uk-medical-graduates-for-nhs-training)
- [GOV.UK — Immigration Rules Appendix Student](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-student)
- [GOV.UK — Graduate visa](https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa)
- [GOV.UK — TB test countries](https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa/countries-where-you-need-a-tb-test-to-enter-the-uk)
- [GOV.UK — Statement of changes HC 584](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-584-3-september-2026)

Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rates of 29 September 2026 (€1 = $1.1355 = £0.85718, so £1 ≈ $1.3247), rounded.

Comparing countries? See medicine in [Spain](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-in-spain), [Germany](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-in-germany) and [Italy via IMAT](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-imat-medicine-in-italy), plus our [UK study overview](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-great_britain) and guides to [UK universities for international students](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-the-uk-for-international-students) and the [Russell Group](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-russell-group-universities). University profiles: [Oxford](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-oxford), [Cambridge](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-cambridge), [Imperial](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-imperial), [Edinburgh](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-edinburgh).

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step. [Apply](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [English Tests for the UK Student Visa in 2026: When You Need IELTS for UKVI, Which SELTs Count and Where to Take Them](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-english-tests-for-uk-student-visa)
- [Russell Group Universities: All 24 Members, Rankings, Fees and How International Students Get In](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-russell-group-universities)
- [Cost of Studying in the UK in 2026/27: International Tuition Fees, Living Costs, Visa Charges and a First-Year Budget](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-the-uk)
- [UK Student Visa in 2026: CAS, 28-Day Funds, TB Test, Fees and Applying from Russia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-uk-student-visa)
- [Studying Medicine in Germany as a Non-EU Applicant: Quotas, Selection, TMS, German C1 and Approbation](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-in-germany)
- [Studying Medicine in Spain as an International Student: Admission, Cut-off Marks, Costs, MIR and Degree Recognition](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-medicine-in-spain)

Updated: September 2026