Medicine and Surgery MBChB

Master the practical, theoretical, and communication skills essential to becoming a safe, compassionate, and ethical doctor. Stand out for your professionalism and excel in making a meaningful impact on others' lives. We're proud to shape the doctors of the future, embracing constant change and innovation to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving NHS. 

• Step away from your degree for a year to study an area of interest to you through our intercalation opportunities. 
• Join our Medical School community as you study alongside Pharmacy, Biomedical Science and Nursing students to prepare you to excel in today’s modern, interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Our highly regarded Prescribing teaching means our students are now achieving some of the highest success rates in the national Prescribing Safety Assessment.

Join the UK's largest student medical society, MedSoc

Become part of the UK's biggest (and best) student medical society and connect with a vibrant community of over 3,000 members. With more than 60 societies, sports teams, and charities, MedSoc offers something for everyone. It's the perfect way to make friends, meet new people, and fully embrace our Medical School community.

We prepare you for real-world medicine. Learn from expert clinicians and develop your clinical skills and knowledge ready for your practice placements at leading hospitals. With a modern, updated curriculum, you will step into the world of medicine equipped to tackle today’s challenges and shape tomorrow’s solutions

Assessment methods

Assessment methods may include written and practical examinations. At the start of each module, you'll receive details on your assessments and get feedback within four weeks to help you improve.

Support during your studies

You will have access to a comprehensive support system to help you make the transition to higher education when you start at Birmingham:

Personal academic tutors – You will be assigned your own personal academic tutor who will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.

Student Services Centre - Located within the Medical School, our Wellbeing Officers are here to support you every step of the way. Whether you need advice and guidance, referrals to internal and external services, or help with extenuating circumstances, drop into our student services centre for comprehensive support.

Our Student Experience Team will help you get the most out of your academic experience. They offer research opportunities, study skills support, and help you prepare for your post-university career.

Contact hours

Year 1: Daily campus-based teaching with one day per week spent learning clinical skills (alternating between simulated practice and real-world experience in General Practice). Campus-based teaching will be a mixture of lectures, small-group teaching (including anatomy practical sessions), and self-guided study. There will also be opportunities for formative assessment and feedback.

Year 2: Daily campus-based teaching with one day per week spent learning clinical skills (alternating between simulated practice and real-world experience in General Practice). Campus-based teaching will be a mixture of lectures, small-group teaching (including anatomy practical sessions), and self-guided study. There will also be opportunities for formative assessment and feedback.

Year 3: Teaching will predominantly take place on clinical placements. In year 3, there are two 14-week hospital placements, each designed to give a different mix of internal medicine and surgical specialities, as well as experience of primary care. You will also have campus-based teaching and self-directed study to supplement your learning.

Year 4: Teaching will predominantly take place on clinical placements. These will build upon the skills you have learned in year 3 and comprise placements in child health (paediatrics), obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry, cancer care, and specialty medicine.

Year 5: Teaching will predominantly take place on clinical placements. There are two 8-week blocks comprising an acute care placement and a chronic care placement (including both primary and secondary care) designed to help you summate your learning before the Medical Licensing Assessment, which you sit as part of your final professional examinations. After this, you will undertake a medical elective (a placement of your choosing, which may be in the UK or elsewhere) as well as two assistantships to ensure you are equipped with all the skills you need to begin life as a qualified doctor.

The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.

New curriculum launched in 2026

With advances in medical education, and the NHS calling on our agility to meet the challenges of the future, the new curriculum will be centred around the skills, knowledge and experience that modern doctors will need for the future of healthcare. We are focussing in depth on our students wellbeing, study support and practical experience so that we ensure all graduates are proficient doctors and personally and professionally ready for the challenges that Medicine and Surgery may bring.

To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.

Number of A levels required: 3

Applying to Medicine

For full entry requirements for all applicant categories please visit our Applying to Medicine website. You will also find a breakdown of our medicine admissions process, how we select for interview as well as a description of our interview process.

Number of A levels required: 3

Required subjects and grades

A levels must include Chemistry and a second science from Biology/Human Biology, Physics or Maths. You must be predicted a minimum of AAB. We do not have a preference of a third A Level however, General Studies, Critical Thinking and EPQ are not accepted as a third A level. Practical elements in the sciences must normally be passed. 

GCSE

Required subjects include English Language at grade 6/B or higher, Mathematics (or one, but not both, of Methods in Mathematics and Applications of Mathematics) at grade 6/B or higher, Biology and Chemistry or dual award science at grade 6/B or higher. 

International Baccalaureate

• Higher level: 6,6,6 to include Chemistry plus a second science from Biology/Physics/Maths and one other approved subject.  
• Standard level: The subjects must include English, Biology and Mathematics (either programme) if not offered at the higher level. 
• Minimum of 32 points must be attained.

Minimum age requirement

As this programme has a mandatory clinical placement, every applicant for admission to the University must have reached the age of 18 years on 1 October of the year of entry.

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.

• TOEFL iBT tests taken before January 2026: 95 overall with no less than 23 in any band.
• TOEFL iBT tests taken from January 2026: 5 Overall with no less than 5 in each skill
• IELTS*: 7.0 overall with no less than 7.0 in any band.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): PTE 67 in all four skills.
• Cambridge English(exams taken from 2015)***: Cambridge English: Advanced or Cambridge English: Proficiency Minimum overall score of 185, with no less than 185 in any component.
• Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI): Not applicable.
• Trinity ISE II: Not applicable.
• Trinity ISE III: ISE IV: Pass in each Skill.

*Further information on can be found at the IELTS website. IELTS tests must be the Academic version, we cannot accept the General test.

** For more information on the Pearson Test of English visit their website.

*** For more information on Cambridge English exams, please visit their website. For Cambridge English exams taken before 2015, please see under Alternative Qualifications for the accepted grades.

**** Business School programmes require one of the following scores: A TOEFL score of 88 overall with a minimum of 22 in Writing and Speaking, an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with minimum of 6.5 in Writing and Speaking, a Pearson Test of English score of 67 overall, with 67 in Writing and Speaking, a Cambridge English score of 176 overall with 176 in Writing and Speaking, a Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI) score of B2 ‘Communicator’ with no less than 33 in Listening and Reading and 38 in Speaking and Writing, or a Trinity ISE III score of Merit in Speaking and Writing, Pass in other skills.

Presessional English courses

If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September, including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.

Scholarships, grants and bursaries

At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.

All applicants must:

• Apply through UCAS
• Offer acceptable academic qualifications
• Sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) in year of application
• Attend interview if invited

View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.

After completing two foundation years, you'll be ready to pursue your chosen specialty. Most of our graduates secure positions in hospital and primary care within NHS England and trusts across the UK. Some start a career in education as well as other exciting opportunities in laboratory research, the pharmaceutical industry, politics, medical journalism, and the media. Examples of roles include Foundation Year doctor, General Practitioner, Medical Doctor, Clinical Researcher and consultant.

General Medical Council 

At the end of your course, you will receive your MBChB degree, which is a primary medical qualification (PMQ). Holding a PMQ entitles you to provisional registration with the General Medical Council (GMC), subject to its acceptance that there are no Fitness to Practise concerns.

Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA)

The GMC has introduced a Medical Licensing Assessment for all medical students graduating from UK university to ensure those with a license to practice medicine meet a common threshold for safe practice. You will need to pass the MLA as part of your degree and demonstrate your fitness to practise before you can join the medical register. 

Careers Network

Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.

Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.

Flexible programmes to suit you

Not sure what you want to study?

Explore your options for combining subjects and shape your degree around your interests, whilst developing key skills for the world of work. 

Intercalated years

Our intercalated opportunities offer the chance to take a year out from your existing course to study within another field. This takes place usually between year 2 and year 3 of your programme.