What Qualifications Do You Need To Be a Doctor?

FAQs

What qualifications are needed for a career in medicine?

In short, what qualifications are needed to become a doctor can be summarised as strong GCSEs, high A level grades, a successful admissions test and a medical degree, followed by supervised training in the NHS. Each stage builds on the one before, so the earlier qualifications matter a great deal.

What grade in GCSE Maths do medical schools expect?

Most medical schools ask for grade 6 or above in Maths, as well as in English and Science. The most competitive universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, expect grade 7 or higher in every subject. As requirements differ between universities, it is worth checking the GCSE requirements for medicine for each medical school on your list.

Can Functional Skills Maths be used instead of GCSE Maths?

Generally, no. Functional Skills Level 2 is widely accepted elsewhere, but it is not usually accepted on its own as an alternative to GCSE Maths for entry to a UK medical degree.

Is A level Maths required for medicine?

A level Maths is not a universal requirement, but it is one of the strongest choices for a third subject. Chemistry is required by almost every UK medical school, and Biology is required or strongly preferred by most. Maths or Physics then complements these two sciences well.

Should a student choose Maths or Physics as their third A level?

Both are well regarded by medical schools. The best choice is often the subject in which the student is most likely to achieve a top grade, as medical schools typically ask for AAA or A*AA overall. Reviewing the minimum A-levels for medical school can help with this decision.

How does maths feature in the UCAT?

The UCAT, required by almost all UK medical schools, includes a Quantitative Reasoning section that assesses how well candidates work with numbers and data. The test as a whole lasts two hours, is taken on a computer and also covers Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Abstract Reasoning and Situational Judgement. At York Maths Tutor, we know how valuable a confident grasp of numerical reasoning can be in a timed test of this kind.

How long is a medical degree?

The standard MBBS or MBChB takes five years at a GMC-approved university, with pre-clinical science in the first two years and growing clinical experience from the third year. Graduates with a 2:1 or above may apply for a four-year accelerated course, which usually uses the GAMSAT rather than the UCAT.

What happens after medical school?

New doctors complete the two-year NHS Foundation Programme and must be registered with the General Medical Council in order to practise. They then enter specialty training, which lasts between three and eight years depending on the chosen field. The National Careers doctor page provides a useful summary of the role.

What roles can doctors move into?

Qualified doctors work as GPs, consultants, surgeons, paediatricians and medical researchers, among other roles. This doctor career requirements guide explains the different pathways in more detail.

Where can I find a full overview of the requirements? If you are asking what do I need to study to become a doctor, the Pass Learn careers guide covers every stage in one place. Further information about qualifications and exams is available on the Pass Learn Exams page.