When it comes to international students’ entry to medical schools in the United Kingdom, the eligibility criteria and rules can vary from school to school. This information will be available on the website of each university. These are the basic admission criteria for international students.
Age:
Students who wish to pursue a medical degree in the UK should ideally be at least 18 years of age at the time of admission. Or, you may check with the university if they are interested in considering an applicant below 18 years.
Higher Secondary Marks:
For Indian students, Year XII qualification from recognised boards such as CBSE and CISCE (ISC) are only accepted. For CBSE students, you should secure an A1 in all science-related subjects, especially Chemistry, Biology and at least one in Physics or Mathematics.
On the other hand, CISCE student aspirants should achieve an overall score of at least 90% with 95% or above on all relevant subjects and 85% or above on the fifth subject. Some universities may also consider NEET scores for your UK MBBS degree, however, all students must complete the mandatory UK entrance exam.
The qualifications required for other international students from Australia, the USA or other countries will be different.
Entrance Exam:
Most top medical universities in the UK would require to take either University Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT or UCAT) or the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) entrance tests. It will depend on the university as to which entrance exam they prefer.
The UCAT applications must be registered between May to late September. The scores of the test will be directly sent to the university you have opted for. BMAT tests occur twice a year. The first one happens in early September and the applications for the same must be registered before the end of August.
The second test will take place either in late October or early November, and students should register before the end of September. The cut-off marks for international students will vary depending on the university and will be listed on their website.
Language requirements:
Aspiring medical students may be required to present proof of English Language Proficiency. Many medical schools prefer the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Students may also submit TOEFL or PTE scores. As a student, you must choose the Academic test. The minimum score for eligibility will be listed on the university website.