Studying medicine in the UK

PTE Author
PTE Author
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Reading time: 5 minutes

Are you interested in studying medicine in the UK?  You’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we’ll learn about some of the best medical schools in the UK and what you need to apply. We’ll also explore tuition costs, visa requirements, and more. Ready? Let’s take a look:  

Why study medicine in the UK 

Medicine can be a competitive degree. But, studying it in the UK can prepare you to work and practice in one of the best healthcare systems in the world. According to a 2017 study by The Commonwealth Fund, the UK and its healthcare system ranked number one in overall performance, compared to 10 other high-income countries – including in things like care process and equity. The UK’s health service, called the NHS, is publicly funded.  

The UK also boasts world-class Research and Development (R&D), which the government actively invests in. For example, the UK hopes to raise funding for R&D to £22 billion a year by 2025. This means studying medicine in the UK can provide you with the opportunity to learn at state-of-the-art facilities, as well as help give you more access to research support and funding.   

Best medical schools in the UK  

The UK is home to some of the best universities in the world. In fact, according to the QS World University Rankins 2021, the UK boasts four of the top 10 best universities to study medicine worldwide – including University of Oxford (2), University of Cambridge (4), University College London (9) and Imperial College London (10).

There’s also University of Glasgow, University of Dundee, University of Edinburgh, and University of St Andrews in Scotland, as well as Queen Mary University of London in England, and Swansea University in Wales. All of these are listed within the top universities for medicine in the UK by the Complete University Guide 2021 rankings.

Of course, the best university for study will come down to one very important aspect: you. Be sure to do your research on each university, try to speak to current students, and discover what career options the choice will give you in the future. 

Types of medicine degrees 

Medicine degrees in the UK can take between 4-6 years to complete. Students applying to study medicine in the UK have four types of courses to choose from:  

  • Standard Entry Medicine– a bachelor’s degree in medicine 

  • Graduate Entry Medicine – a graduate degree in medicine

  • Medicine with a Preliminary Year – a bachelor’s degree in medicine that includes an extra first year, for students who didn’t take the necessary science courses in school

  • Medicine with a Gateway Year– similar to the course above, this is made for students who’ve had barriers to education and offers different entry requirements 

No matter which degree you choose, you’ll have to sit an admissions test. There are three different admissions tests in the UK, and which ones you take will depend on what institution you apply for. The tests are:   

  • The UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) 

  • The BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test)

  • The GAMSAT (Graduate Medical School Admissions Test) 

In addition to these tests, you’ll need to look at the admission requirements for each medical school you intend to apply for. These might include mandatory school courses, personal statements, or an interview to talk about work experience.  

The Medical Schools Council of the UK has an excellent in-depth guide to entry requirements for dozens of universities across the UK, as well as more information on the courses and tests we list above. You can also learn more on their website. 

Visas 

If you’re coming to the UK to study medicine, you’ll need a Student visa. To apply, you’ll need to be offered a spot at a university, have sufficient funds to support yourself, and prove you’re proficient in English. And, our computer-based English language test at PTE Academic is approved by the UK Home Office for all Student visas. You’ll have to demonstrate you’re at a B2 level or higher, depending on your university. 

After graduating, you might be able to apply for the Graduate route to stay in the UK to work (or look for work) for 2-3 years, depending on your degree.

Keep in mind: We aren’t immigration agents. For the latest information and official updates, please visit the GOV UK website. 

Costs 

Studying medicine in the UK for international students can be expensive. According to Save the Student, medical degrees in the UK can cost up to £64,652 per year – which is a lot more expensive than other degrees. On average, students spend about £795 on living costs each month in the UK. However, the average salary for nurses in the UK is over £35,000 per year. Doctors who are general practitioners can make between £60,455 to £91,228 per year.  

Learn more on our blog: Living expenses in the UK for international students 

Studying medicine in the UK can be incredibly rewarding. You’ll have the opportunity to learn at a world-class university, and perhaps even contribute to cutting-edge research. On top of this, you’ll get to explore the UK’s beautiful landscapes, history, culture – and immerse yourself in all the great things it has to offer.  

Learn more about PTE Academic UKVI, our English test recognized by the UK’s Home Office.

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    Job opportunities for international students in the UK
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Studying abroad is rarely cheap. Even if you’ve got a scholarship, a job on the side can help you live a little more comfortably during your degree. Luckily, there are lots of jobs for international students in the UK. You just need to know where to find them.  

    Once you arrive, you’ll be able to do the traditional resumé drop-offs and ask about opportunities in the store. But you don’t have to wait until then to start your hunt. Jumping online and applying in advance is the best method for getting a job in the UK for international students. It’s also nice to know that you’ve got a casual or part-time position waiting for you.  

    This quick guide discusses a variety of jobs in the UK for international applicants including: 

    • Part-time jobs in the UK for international students

    • Summer jobs in the UK for international students 

    • Graduate jobs for international students in the UK

       

    Part-time jobs in the UK for international students

    If you’ve got strong time-management and organization skills, working a part-time job while you study can be an effective way to earn an income. On an international student visa (Student route visa), you’re able to work up to 20 hours per week during the term. 

    Common part-time jobs for international students in the UK include: 

    • Receptionist

    • Retail worker

    • Mystery shopper

    • Shelf packer 

    • Waiter/barista/bar tender

    • Student ambassador

    • Library assistant

    Would you prefer a part-time job that is more academic in nature will intellectually challenge you as much as your actual course? You might consider becoming a research assistant at your university.

    If you’re studying a postgraduate degree or PhD, you could even apply for part-time teaching jobs in the UK for international students. Sharing your experience with undergraduates in tutorials is a great way to solidify your own knowledge while earning some money.

    The UK’s largest job databases are a good place to start your hunt:

    If you’ve got a specific job in mind, try searching for a niche jobs website (e.g. C+D Jobs is a great place to find pharmacy jobs in the UK for international students).

    Most UK universities have support services that can help you find a part-time job (as well as a job after you graduate). As an example, the career center at University College London helps UCL students with all types of career-related activities – including finding part-time jobs in London for international students. Similarly, the University of Edinburgh runs a careers service where international students can get advice about part-time jobs in Scotland. Visit your chosen university’s website to see what kind of career services they provide.

    Summer jobs in the UK for international students 

    Prefer to focus all your time and energy on your studies? That’s alright – a casual job during semester breaks might be a good alternative for you. A student visa allows you to work full-time during vacation periods.

    Most of the part-time jobs listed above are also great options for working during your time off. You may also find an opportunity over summer to work as a:

    • Sales representative

    • Event assistant

    • Call center operator

    • Private tutor

    The resources previously mentioned for part-time jobs are also relevant for international students finding a summer job in the UK. You should also consider talking to your university’s career support staff about any summer internships that might be available – these can provide a great experience and give you a foot in the door.

    Graduate Jobs in the UK for International Students

    As your final exam and graduation approach, you’ll naturally start thinking about your first job after university. The UK’s immigration program will allow you to transition from a student visa to a working visa if you secure a position that meets the relevant salary and time criteria.

    This is where your university’s career center will really come in handy, so make sure you’ve made appointments with them well ahead of your last class. They can help you find and apply for UK jobs for international graduates.

    Many jobsites allow you to filter your search to jobs that are marked as suitable for new graduates. Check that you’re searching in the right area/with the right filter.  

    Whether you’re looking for a part-time role while you study or a full-time job to extend your stay in the UK, you’ll find a wide range of opportunities available to you.

  • Image- Woman reading - 800px
    Reading: Self-Improvement
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    There are many ways you can improve your chances of gaining points in Part 2: Reading during PTE Academic.

    To improve your reading skills, practice increasing your reading speed and comprehension at the same time. In turn, you will improve your writing, grammar and vocabulary skills.

    To do well in this part of the test, you need to be able to read quickly, using effective reading strategies, as there is a limited time to answer all questions.

    Speed reading tasks will help improve your reading speed. Practice speed reading every day and:

    • Aim to be reading at least 220 words per minute

    • Reading short articles of around 300 words

    • Read often for short periods of time

    You can also try this as a challenge with your friends to help keep motivated. Once you are happy with your comprehension and speed, focus on chunks (groups of words) rather than individual words.

    When your reading skills reach a level you are happy with, you will feel more confident to answer the questions.

    Multiple-choice, choose single answer

    In the Multiple-Choice, Single Answer question type, some test takers make the mistake of scan reading and matching the words in the text to the words in the answer. Generally, the words in the text are not used in the correct answer, therefore it is important to learn how to use synonyms and paraphrasing as it will be used in the test.

    Learn how to improve your grammar in our Reading: Core Skills part 1 article.

    Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers

    In this question type, you will need more time than in the Multiple-Choice, Choose Single Answer question type, as you need to intensively read the stem (the part before the options) as well as the options, then scan read the text on the screen until you find the part of the text that contains information that was in the stem.

    Read the options very carefully and match the meaning of the option with the text. Do not match the words – this is something test takers may make errors with.

    You should also make sure not to choose all the options since you lose one point for each incorrect choice. However, you cannot score below zero.

    Re-order paragraphs

    To do well in the Re-order Paragraphs questions, you will need to have a strong understanding of cohesive devices and how they work. You will also need to understand how articles work, as well as the logical and chronological order of information.

    In this question type, skim-read the text to get the ideas of the topic of the text. From there, you should read all the sentences carefully.

    Fill in the blanks and reading & writing: fill in the blanks

    For both Fill in the Blanks and Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks question types, you will need to understand a range of vocabulary, collocations, grammar, pronouns, and cohesive devices, as well as being able to identify when plural nouns are needed.

    You will also need to be able to skim read to get an idea of the meaning of the text, then read intensively before and after each blank. If unsure, you should guess based on the context.

    Make sure you do not leave any spaces blank. You do not need to correctly fill in all spaces to get points.

    To go back and review the question types within the reading test, we suggest learning more about the reading questions.

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