How to become a doctor
Do you want to become a doctor in the UK? This step-by-step guide will tell you what you need to do. We'll look at the qualifications, timescales, and key steps involved in pursuing a career in medicine.
Why become a doctor?
Many people want to work in medicine because it allows them to make a significant positive impact on people's lives. As a doctor, you'll be able to contribute meaningfully to the world. It's a deeply rewarding career, offering the opportunity to improve the wellbeing and happiness of others.
If you work as a doctor, no day will be the same. In the field of medicine, you'll always be intellectually engaged. You'll face diverse challenges that demand the application of your knowledge and skills to help those in need. If you want to be consistently challenged, medicine is an excellent choice.
You'll have many diverse career options after completing medical school. If you choose to specialise, you'll be able to tailor your career to match your interests, skills, and personality. Beyond traditional hospital settings, doctors are in demand across various sectors. This includes the armed forces, emergency services, and research institutions. You'll have the ultimate flexibility and the chance to forge a unique and fulfilling career path.
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Whether you're doing A Levels or an undergraduate degree, the time spent preparing for medical school can vary. The application process involves many different stages.
Your first five years will be spent training at a medical school. Medical schools in the UK are usually part of a university, such as our School of Medicine and Dentistry. There is normally also an option to study for an extra year, which is known as an intercalated year. During this additional year, you'll be undertaking another degree separate from your medical degree. If you're looking to learn more about a specific speciality or are considering taking a more academic or educational route in your medical career, it can be quite beneficial.
Once you graduate from medical school, you'll do two years of foundation training. During this period, you'll work as a doctor while enhancing your clinical skills to get ready for specialty training. You'll also be exposed to different medical specialities. In your second year you'll then get the opportunity to choose which speciality training you want to undertake.
After your foundation programme, you'll go on to train in a chosen speciality. This can be General Practice (GP) or another another medical speciality. If you train as a GP, this will take at least another three years. Training in another speciality can take five to eight years.
Doctors are expected to take part in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) throughout their careers. You'll need to stay updated with medical advancements to maintain your General Medical Council (GMC) registration.
A step-by-step guide to training as a doctor
You might be a high school student considering a future in medicine, or someone looking to make a career change. Whatever your path, this guide will tell you the process of becoming a doctor in the UK.
Step 1: Prepare and apply for medical school
Getting ready for medical school takes hard work, dedication, and good grades, but it's the first step to becoming a doctor.
Before applying to medical school, it's important to understand what it means to be a doctor. Start by researching the role, talking to doctors, and exploring different medical specialties. To gain experience and insight, you can volunteer or shadow doctors in healthcare settings. This will give you a realistic view of the demands and rewards of the profession. It will also show your commitment to becoming a doctor.
You'll also need to decide what medical schools you want to apply to. Most UK medical schools, such as our School of Medicine and Dentistry, offer the integrated Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. Others may also award separate Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees in addition to the MBBS.
Typically, you'll need grades 9 to 7 (A* or A) in at least five GCSE's. You'll also need good grades in 3 A levels in specific subjects like Biology and Chemistry, or equivalent qualifications. This is often from A Levels or equivalent qualifications. Some universities accept other qualifications like the International Baccalaureate. Additionally, some medical schools allow entry after completing an undergraduate degree.
If you don't meet the academic entry requirements, you can consider applying for a foundation year. As a UK student you could consider the BSc (Hons) Medical Sciences (with Foundation Year) as a route to the MBBS. We are also currently offering the MBBS (with Foundation Year) for international students.
You'll need strong letters of recommendation and a persuasive personal statement as part of your application. Your personal statement should be like a job application. You should show you have the qualities needed for a trainee doctor. Your reference is usually written by a Head Teacher, College Principal, Head of Year, or Form Tutor. This should show who you are as a person, not just talk about your academic achievements and potential. For more information on how to write a personal statement, check out our How to apply for medicine guide.
Applying as a UK/home student
If you're applying as a UK/home student, you'll have to complete the UCAS application, including personal statements and reference letters. This means you'll need to pay attention to the relevant deadlines for your application. For example, if you’re applying for September start you'll need to submit your UCAS application by October the year before.
Applying as an international student
International students applying for UK medical school may not need to apply through UCAS. You can make your application with us as an international via UCAS or direct via our application portal.
Some UK medical schools may ask you to take admission tests, so be sure to check specific requirements on their websites. To get ready for tests like the Universities Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) learn about the test format and practice with sample questions.
If you make it through the initial screening, you will most likely be invited to interview. To get ready for these interviews, prepare for both traditional and Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). Showcase your motivation, communication skills, and ethical awareness.
Step 2: Enrol and study at medical school
Medical school programmes in the UK typically last for five or six years, depending on the university.
Your study will focus on foundational science courses such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and medical ethics. Usually, the first two years involve classroom and lab work, but some schools, such as ours, start hands-on learning in Year 1.
At our School of Medicine and Dentistry, you will learn in a number of ways. This includes:
- Small group tutorials
- Seminars
- Laboratory-based teaching sessions
- Workshops
- Clinical placements in primary and secondary care
In medical school, you'll learn important clinical skills. This includes talking with patients and doing physical exams. You'll also learn to perform medical procedures and how to understand test results.
At our School of Medicine and Dentistry, you'll get the opportunity to practice the skills you need with our advanced clinical skills labs and equipment, including high fidelity simulators. You'll build key skills needed in settings like hospitals and medical centres.
During medical school, you'll learn how to care for patients. You'll discover how to ask about a patient's medical histories, do physical exams, figure out diagnoses, and create treatment plans. You'll also do clinical rotations, where you'll work in real hospitals and healthcare settings. Here, you'll get hands-on practice in different medical areas and work with patients. You'll also be supervised by experienced doctors.
The way you're assessed at medical school will vary. At our Medicine programmes, we use a mix of ongoing assessments and regular exams throughout each course. Continuous assessment lets you regularly review what you've learned and talk to your tutor about any challenges you're facing early on.
Continuous assessment includes:
- An ePortfolio for reflection.
- Formative assessments at the end of the first semester and informally throughout the year.
- End-of-year exams, which include computer-based knowledge tests, objective structured clinical exams (OSCEs), and oral and poster presentations.
- Professionalism, which we assess throughout the course in various ways.
Step 3: Complete the foundation training
After graduating, you'll need to complete the UK's foundation training programme. This is a postgraduate training period of two years.
The first year of the programme, known as FY1, typically lasts for one year. As a new doctor, you'll be supervised by experienced healthcare professionals in different clinics. This includes hospitals and primary care settings. You'll also gain experience, build clinical skills and get the opportunity to rotate through different medical specialties.
If you successfully complete FY1, you'll progress to FY2, which also lasts for one year. During FY2, you'll continue to work in clinical settings. At this stage, you'll often have more responsibility and autonomy in patient care. The FY2 year is a transition between medical school and specialty or general practice training.
Step 4: Medical specialty training and CPD
After foundation training, you'll apply for specialty training. This is where you'll train to become an expert in your chosen medical field.
After finishing foundation training, you'll receive a Foundation Programme Certificate of Completion (FPCC). You'll then decide to go on to train in general practice (GP), or a chosen medical specialty. There are around 60 specialties available including surgery, paediatrics, or cardiology.
Programmes vary in duration and might require you to pass membership exams related to your chosen specialty. You can find out more information on the NHS careers website.
After completing your foundation and specialty training, you'll get full registration from the General Medical Council (GMC). This allows you to practice medicine independently. Additionally, you'll need to prepare for membership exams for your chosen medical specialty. This could include the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom (MRCPUK) or the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP). These memberships are crucial for you to advance in your medical career.
As a doctor, it's important to keep learning and stay updated with medical advancements. You'll be expected to attend conferences, take courses, and do research. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is vital to stay current and maintain your GMC registration.
UCLan have a range of CPD courses for medical professionals.
What skills do I need to become a doctor?
You'll need a deep understanding of human anatomy, physiology, diseases, treatments, and medical procedures to diagnose and treat patients accurately.
You'll need the practical ability to perform examinations, conduct and interpret tests. As you will be required to carry out procedures, and make evidence-based treatment decisions, having clinical skills is essential.
As a doctor you will need to be understanding and caring about your patients’ emotional and physical well-being. As such, an empathetic approach will be needed to help them feel supported and respected. You'll also need key communication skills such as active listening and a non-judgemental approach.
Depending on the speciality in which you are practising, you may often be required to quickly identify health issues and create safe, effective solutions under pressure. This will need sound judgement and an ability to problem-solve in high pressure situations.
You'll also need to be precise in recording information, prescribing medications, and following clinical guidelines to avoid errors.
As you'll be working with nurses, specialists and other healthcare staff regularly, you'll need to know how to work with a variety of teams to deliver the best patient care.
What is the salary of a doctor in the UK?
Starting salaries for junior doctors in the NHS in 2025 are between £32,398 and £42,00, with experienced doctors earning up to £100,870, according to UpGrad. Your salary as a doctor will also heavily depend on what speciality you are working in. Dentists, for example, can command a higher starting salary at £36,288 with their earning potential going up to £126,281 with experience, according to PROSPECTS.
