Sectors: Graduate medicine

If you already have an undergraduate degree, you will need to complete an accelerated graduate entry medicine course to become a doctor. Some courses will require a relevant Life Sciences subject, whereas others are open to students from any discipline. Check the entry requirements carefully. You will usually need a minimum of a 2:1 in your degree, and if you have not studied a Life Science subject you may need A Levels in Biology and/or Chemistry.

In September 2024 an apprenticeship route to train as a doctor is intended to be launched, whereby you complete a Medicine degree with a University alongside paid work in clinical settings. Apprenticeship opportunities are usually advertised via the NHS Jobs website or via the government apprenticeship pages

You can learn more about the full training pathway for doctors, including the further training that takes place following a medical degree on the NHS Health Careers website

Your personal statement will need to clearly articulate your motivation for becoming a doctor, reflecting on what you have learned from your experiences and how they have informed your decision to pursue this career path. You will need to provide evidence that you have the skills to work with patients and multi-disciplinary professionals in clinical practice.

You should also show that you have the academic capability and skills to balance the academic workload of the accelerated course with clinical placements and other demands.

Some institutions will ask applicants to complete additional, institution-specific forms after applying via UCAS. It is common for them to include a section on work experience. In most cases, it is expected that you will reflect on your experience, going beyond a basic description of your tasks.

At the time of writing, students taking graduate entry medicine can apply for partial-tuition fee and maintenance loans, along with NHS bursaries to fund their training. Further details are available from the Medical Schools Council.

There are numerous roles in the healthcare sector, many of which provide patient interaction, intellectual stimulation, and the opportunity to work as part of a multi-disciplinary healthcare team. Use the HealthCareers role explorer to find out about over 350 NHS roles. The Physician Associate role may be of particular interest: this role provides crucial support to doctors in both GP practices and hospital settings. Medic Footprints covers diverse careers for doctors.