Medicine | University of Oxford (2024)

About the course

This page is about the standard-entry Medicine course (A100).

The standard Oxford medical course has separate pre-clinical (years 1-3) and clinical (years 4-6). Students first gain a comprehensive grounding in medical science, before applying that scientific foundation in the clinical setting.

Visit the A101 pageto find out about our graduate-entry/accelerated medical degree.

The practice of Medicine offers abreadth of experiences impossible tofind in any other subject. Every daybrings different patients with differentneeds. It’s a great choice for scientistswho strive to understand and applyresearch findings to improve the lives ofthe patients in their care. It offers ameaningful career that is prestigious,secure and well paid.

However, practisingMedicine can be arduous, stressful,frustrating and bureaucratic and is notsuited to everyone. You need to be surethat Medicine is the right choice for you.These pages will help you work that out,but there’s no better way to find out forsure than by gaining insight into medicalpractice by seeing it in action and talkingto those who provide healthcare.Studying Medicine because that is whatis expected of you is never a good idea;make sure that your motives forchoosing to do so are well-reasoned.

The Medicine course at Oxfordprovides a thorough intellectualtraining with particular emphasis on thebasic science research that underpinsmedicine. We have retained a distinctthree-year pre-clinical stage thatincludes studying towards a BA Honoursdegree in Medical Sciences, followed bya three-year clinical stage.

TheSchool of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Oxford isrelatively small, allowing students andstaff to get to know one another andbenefit from a relaxed and friendlyatmosphere.

Research work

'I was attracted to the strong scientific grounding of the Oxford medical course. The pre-clinical course enables you to gain in-depth knowledge of the science behind clinical practice while experiencing the primary scientific research that fuels medical progression. The first year encompasses organisation of the body ... an incredibly useful tool in learning anatomy! Being lectured by people who are world leaders in their field is awe-inspiring and gives an edge to my learning. I’m currently in my third year and love the freedom and self-direction of my research project. I am developing skills as a scientist which will be useful in clinical practice, while also getting to grips with topics that fascinate me. I love being able to trace current developments in the field and apply them to potential future therapeutic applications.' Alex

Unistats information

Discover Unicourse data provides applicants with Unistats statistics about undergraduate life at Oxford for a particular undergraduate course.

Please select 'see course data' to view the full Unistats data for Medicine.

Please note that there may be no data available if the number of course participants is very small.

Visit the Studying at Oxford section of this page for a more general insight into what studying here is likely to be like.

The pre-clinical stage

Applicants are initially admitted to thepre-clinical stage of the course.

The first five terms of this course aredevoted to the First BM. This addressesnot only much of the science thatunderpins Medicine, but also the clinicalproblems that arise when systems fail.Students are introduced to the majorsystems of the body and study allaspects of their structure and functionin health and also the principles ofdisease processes.

Students areencouraged to develop an enquiringapproach and to consider theexperimental basis of the science in thecourse. Matters of clinical relevance areillustrated from the outset with studentsmaking regular visits to GP tutors.

The First BM is followed by a four-termBA Honours course (the FinalHonours School) in Medical Sciences.Students specialise in areas ofbiomedical science selected from a rangeof options. They will become adept atworking from primary research literature,and will be encouraged to think bothcritically and creatively. Students willgain in-depth knowledge of their chosenoptions, as well as advanced technicalskills at the laboratory bench and inscientific data handling and presentation.

A typical week

During the First BM, lectures andpracticals occupy about half of the time,and the remainder is free for tutorialwork, self-directed study and extracurricularactivities.

During the BAcourse, formal lecturing is kept to aminimum, and students are mostly freeto pursue their research and to preparefor tutorials and seminars.

The college tutorial system is acentral feature: students see their tutorsand are taught weekly in groups often assmall as two.This teaching can betailored to individuals’ needs andinterests andstrongacademic support ensures that studentsmanage their time effectively. Classes and seminars usually contain between 10 and 50 students, while lectures are for up to 200 students.

In the pre-clinical stage of the course (years 1-3), most tutorials, classes, and lectures take place in the Medical Sciences Teaching Centre in the Science Area andare delivered by members of academic staff, research staff or NHS clinicians (usually at the level of consultant). Many are world-leading experts with years of experience in teaching and research.

Some tutorial and class teaching may also be delivered by postgraduate students who are usually studying at doctoral level.

In the clinical stage of the course (years 4-6), most teaching is delivered by clinicians from the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust as well as local primary care physicians, and University academic staff.

To find out more about how our teaching year is structured, visit ourAcademic Yearpage.

Course structure

Terms 1-3 (First BM Part I)

Terms 4-5 (First BM Part II)

Terms 6-9 (Final Honour Schools in Medical Sciences)

Progress to clinical training

Registered Oxford medical students who are eligible to progress to Clinical studies may apply to transfer to Oxford Clinical Medicine during the final year of their pre-clinical studies.

Academic requirements

Wherever possible, your grades are considered in the context in which they have been achieved.

Read further information onhow we use contextual data.

Visit the Medical School's guidance on submitting information about extenuating circ*mstances.

Please note that we have no preference for whether the third or fourth A-level subject (or further subject in equivalent qualifications) is a science or not.

Level of attainment in Science and Mathematics

There are no formal GCSE requirements for Medicine. However, in order to be adequately equipped for the application processand for the academic demands of the course, applicants will need to have received a basic education in Biology, Physics and Mathematics. For example, students should have received at least a grade C/4 at GCSE, Intermediate 2 or Standard grade (Credit) or equivalent. The GCSE Dual Award Combined Sciences is also appropriate.

Visit theMedical Sciences Shortlistingpage for further details on how we assess GCSEs.

Graduates

Students with degrees may apply for the standard course. There are no places specifically reserved for graduates, and there is no separate application process. Graduates are in open competition with school-leavers, and need to fulfil the same entrance requirements.

Applying

All candidates must follow the application procedure as shown on ourApplying to Oxfordpages.

The following information gives specific details for students applying for this course.

No student is admitted without interview. Successful candidates must meet our requirements forhealth and fitness to practise.

Admissions test

Allcandidates must also take theUniversity Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)as part of their application.

Separate registration for this test is required and it is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that they are registered.

We strongly recommend making arrangements in plenty of time before the deadline. Please visit our UCAT webpage for further information.

Written work

You do not need to submit any written work when you apply for this course.

What are tutors looking for?

Please note that competition to studyMedicine at Oxford is particularly strongand only around 425 applicants areshortlisted for interview each year. No student is admitted withoutinterview.

Students are selected for theirscientific ability and for their aptitude forMedicine. Applicants are expected toshow that they have a realisticunderstanding of what a medical careerwill involve, and that they have thepotential to become effective and caringdoctors.

All colleges use a common set ofselection criteria that relate to academicpotential and suitability for Medicine.

Visit theSchool of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences website forfurther information about selection criteria.

Applicants are free to make referenceto skills or experience acquired in anycontext to illustrate how they might fulfilthe selection criteria.

Sometimescandidates refer to voluntary work andother extra-curricular activities, but manyforms of evidence can help demonstrateto tutors that a candidate has made aninformed decision regarding their ownsuitability to study Medicine.

The Medical Schools Council has released some useful advice on gaining relevant experience in healthcare when it is difficult to find volunteering or work opportunities.

International student quota

Please note that the number of internationalfee statusmedical students at each medical school in the UK is subject to a government quota. For Oxford this quota is currently a maximum of 14 per year across both the standard entry A100 and A101 graduate-entry/accelerated Medicine courses.

Application conditions

Oxford conforms to the UK Departmentof Health’s requirements regardingimmunisation status and the GMC’sconditions on Fitness to Practise, and asatisfactory Disclosure and BarringService check.

Students may be refusedentry to, or be removed from, theUniversity’s Register of MedicalStudents on grounds that may be eitheracademic or non-academic (for instancehealth or conduct).

Applicants should beaware that some practical studiesinvolving living animal tissue are anobligatory component of the course.

Note that students must have reachedtheir 18th birthday by 1 November inthe year they intend to start the course.

Fitness to Practise advice and support:General Medical CouncilandUniversity of Oxford Occupational Health Service.

Careers

A vast array of speciality trainingpathways are available after obtaining amedical qualification, ranging fromgeneral practice or emergency medicinethrough obstetrics or ophthalmology topaediatrics or psychiatry.

Of course, you need not remainconfined to the clinic, the ward or theoperating theatre: the lecture theatre orthe laboratory could also beckon. Someof our graduates end up leading theeducation of the next generation ofdoctors or directing biomedicalresearch.

You don’t need to know rightnow what you want to do when youqualify. The Clinical School organisescareers sessions for final-year clinicalstudents and helps students learn aboutand apply for foundation posts.

BM BCh graduates are entitled toprovisional registration with the GeneralMedical Council (GMC) with a licenceto practise, subject to demonstrating tothe GMC that their fitness to practise isnot impaired.

Tzveta is a consultant in oncology. She says:

‘Many universities can teach you how to be a foundationdoctor. Oxford taught me how to workthrough problems carefully and logicallyfrom first principles, and gave me thetheoretical grounding to be able to doso. I had the opportunity to read keypapers in my subject, then discuss themwith the academics who had publishedthem. Most importantly, Oxford taughtme that I was capable of much morethan I imagined or believed. Though Ihave gone from essay crises to nightshifts, from finals to Royal Collegeexams, the focused determinationit instilled within me remains, drivingme through any challenges faced alongthe way.’

Kanmin graduated from pre-clinicalmedicine in 2003. He is now a NationalInstitute of Health Research (NIHR)Academic Clinical Lecturer inophthalmology at the University ofOxford. He is undergoing 50:50 surgicalretina fellowship training andtranslational research into gene therapyfor inherited retinal diseases.Kanminsays:

‘The weekly essays and tutorialswith world-leading academics in thecolleges were an invaluable experience.In those intimate ‘mind sparring’exercises, you go beyond the standardcurriculum and probe the boundaries ofthe fundamental science behind modernmedicine. In this way, Oxford nurturesnot only sound medical practitionersbut also future explorers and leaders inmedicine… Of course, studying medicineat Oxford involves a lot of hard work.But the opportunities are also there totake part in the most vibrant studentsociety/club life, whatever your hobbyor background.’

Fees

These annual fees are for full-time students who begin this undergraduate course here in 2024.

Pre-clinical fees are charged in years 1, 2 and 3.

Fees for the later years have not yet been confirmed but please note that these may be different from the pre-clinical fees. Clinical fees are charged in years 4 to 6. As a guide, these are the annual fees for students who will complete the pre-clinical stage of their course and progress to the clinical years in 2024.

Please note that these fees apply to continuing students only.

Further details about fee status eligibilitycan be found on the fee status webpage.

Living costs

Living costs at Oxford might be less than you’d expect, as ourworld-class resourcesandcollege provisioncan help keep costs down.

Living costs for the academic year starting in 2024 are estimated to be between £1,345 and £1,955 for each month you are in Oxford. Please refer to the ‘Additional Fees and charges’ section below for information about the extended terms which apply for each year of the course in order to estimate your living costs.For further details please visit ourliving costs webpage.

Financial support

**If you have studied at undergraduate level before and completed your course, you will be classed as an Equivalent or Lower Qualification student (ELQ) and won’t be eligible to receive government or Oxford funding

Fees, funding and scholarship search

Additional Fees and Charges Informationfor Medicine

Pre-clinical Medicine

In the third term of the second year, students who undertake a research project may wish to remain in Oxford after the end of full term to facilitate completion of their project. However, this extended residence in Oxford is not a requirement and students should be aware that no financial support is available to help with any additional living costs during this time.

View thelikely range ofliving costsfor an additional month in Oxford.

Clinical Medicine

Students in the Clinical School study for extended terms. You will need to budget for higher living costs in these three years, as you will be required to be in Oxford for longer than the standard terms.

View thelikely range ofliving costsfor an additional month in Oxford.

• Year 4 – 40 weeks
• Year 5 – 48 weeks
• Year 6 – 48 weeks, including 10 weeks elective study

VisitFunding for UK/EU Medical Studentsformore information about fees and funding for this course.

Elective study

Each final-year student has a period of 10 weeks for elective study within the overall 48 weeks of the course. (This is year 6 for A100 students).

Your elective study may be conducted in Oxford, elsewhere in the UK, or anywhere in the world provided the content of the placement is appropriate experience for medicine. Approval must be granted by the Director of Clinical Studies.

A student who stays in Oxford for their elective would be expected to incur no additional costs apart from their living costs. Many students opt to travel outside the UK in which case the additional cost is on average around £3,000, but may be lower or higher depending on location (very occasionally a student has spent up to £9,000).

Students who have not completed the core training in clinical medicine may be required to follow a prescribed course of study in Oxford for all or part of their 10-week elective instead of arranging a placement.

There are opportunities to apply for additional financial support which varies depending on the destination proposed. This support is usually around £300 to £500 towards travel costs.