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Have further questions? How to apply | Entry requirements
Study to become a doctor at a world-class university, and work with a diverse range of patients presenting with a wide selection of clinical problems at some of London's greatest hospitals.
Queen Mary University of London's Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry is one of the oldest medical schools in the UK. We draw on our history and heritage to provide you with the best medical education and training, in some of the best teaching facilities, and prepare you for life in medicine wherever you choose to practice.
Our core curriculum will equip you with foundational knowledge and skills, as well as the fundamentals of professional practice necessary for being a new doctor. The curriculum content is underpinned by our world-leading bench to bedside research, linking your learning to the work of the faculty, who pioneer the discovery and development of new drugs globally, through to design and deliver effective public health interventions for our local community.
We use evidence-based educational approaches whether for small or large group teaching, and focus on developing your self-regulated learning ability necessary for independent clinical practice. You’ll start seeing patients from your very first week, in community and hospital settings, across all years of the course.
Alongside the core curriculum, you can self-select modules where you have interest or passion, from the fundamental or clinical sciences through to the psychological or social sciences as well as any area of study you want pursue with our support in order to be the doctor you want to be.
More information about the course including full entry requirements and selection criteria.
UCAS application deadline: 15 October
Campus-based teaching
You will take five systems-based modules and three student-selected components in each of the two years of Phase 1.
You will be introduced to applied biological sciences and address key topics, including:
Our evidence-based teaching methods in Phase 1 are carefully chosen to ensure you securely acquire the knowledge necessary for developing the skills and behaviours required for applying in clinical settings and mastering in Phase 2 and 3 of the course. We use small and large group methods such as lectures, practical (anatomy and physiology) teaching, and group work in problem-based, team-based learning, clinical and communication skills settings.
SSCs are self-selected modules that allow you to broaden your knowledge, skills and professional behaviours in areas where you have passion or interest. SSC modules vary in length with some ranging from two to five weeks, and others spanning throughout an academic year.
Clinical placements
Clinical placements are an essential part of your professional identity development as a medical student to being a doctor. Our course ensures patient contact from the first of the course, and across every year of the programme ensuring knowledge and skills learnt in the classroom, are consolidated into professional values and behaviours learnt in clinical settings. Clinical placements for MBBS students at Queen Mary, University of London start in September of Year 1 with a group placement in a community-based setting, usually a general practice (GP) surgery. Students in groups of 8 work with a GP tutor on a fortnightly basis throughout the length of Year 1. You will be introduced to the GP team at the surgery, the local area served by the practice and most importantly the patients. You will learn about the impact of ill health on the patient, their family and their community as well as all the factors that contribute to the experience of living with disease for the patient. In Year 2 you will experience innovative online teaching on the management of mental illness with Psychiatrists from our partner mental health Trusts – East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) and North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT). You will also continue to have teaching in community settings from our GP tutors.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Once you progress to Year 3 time spent in clinical placements is significantly increased. You will rotate through one of our partner Trusts for placements generally lasting 6 – 10 weeks in length. You will also return at regular intervals to the University for campus-based teaching blocks to support and scaffold your learning in the clinical environment.
Clinical placements will be in a variety of locations including those in inner city areas such as the Royal London Hospital, Homerton Hospital, Newham Hospital, Whipps Cross Hospital, King George Hospital and Queens Hospital. Placements at these locations are classified as in-firms due to their proximity to the University, and with the expectation that you would commute there every day rather than stay there on site.
You will also be placed at out-firms including Southend, Hospital Colchester Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital. Most students will stay in hospital accommodation while on out-firms due to the distance away from the University.
In Year 4 you will have placements in one of our mental health trusts alongside a series of primary care placements attached to GP surgeries. The variety of community and hospital-based experiences are designed to develop your clinical, communication consultation and reasoning skills so that by Year 5 you are able to be see patients independently under the supervision of your GP tutor.
Each placement site will offer a different experience, with different patient demographics and different specialist services.
You will again have the opportunity to explore clinical topics of particular interest or passion in your Phase 2 SSCs.
The final year of the programme provides you with emergency medicine, intensive care, surgical and anaesthetics placements and an eight-week GP apprenticeship where you will see patients independently under the supervision of your GP tutor.
Throughout the year you’ll again return at regular intervals to the University for campus-based teaching blocks to support and scaffold your learning in the clinical environment.
You’ll complete your SSC programme, which may include spending time in a specialism not previously experienced or gaining a deeper understanding in an area that already interests you.
You will also complete your Intermediate Life Support qualification.
Elective
After your final examinations, you’ll complete a six-week elective in the UK or outside the UK, depending on your choice and circumstances. For many students, this is one of the most eagerly anticipated and memorable experiences at medical school – an opportunity to explore medicine in an entirely new environment, both socially and culturally.
Student assistantship
Following your elective, you’ll spend three weeks shadowing a current Foundation Year (FY1) doctor in the hospital where you’ll be based for your own FY1 training.
Take a year out of your medical studies to earn a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. You might choose this route through the course to gain a deeper understanding of the scientific basis of medicine, demonstrate your commitment to a particular area, or simply broaden your career options.
You can apply for an intercalated BSc to start after your second, third or fourth year on the course. Selection is based on your exam results and performance at interview. Browse our intercalated degrees.
A small number of students also take intercalated degrees at other institutions.
We also offer Master of Science (MSc) degrees for intercalation, taken after your third or fourth years.
Our MB PhD programme is designed for medical students who are interested in clinical academic careers, You may join this 3 year programme after the third or fourth year of your MBBS to undertake a research-based PhD, before returning to complete your MBBS degree. Find out more about MB PhD
Find out more about intercalated degrees.
The elective period in your final year is self-funded.
For some electives the host institution charges up to £6,000, while others incur no additional expense. You’ll also need to factor in the cost of flights and accommodation. Placements taken within the UK can be a more financially viable option for students on a limited budget.
Clinical placements are an essential part of your development as a medical student and you will have have patient contact in every year. You will learn theory and skills through your training and be able to apply those in your clinical placements.
Clinical placements for MBBS students at Queen Mary start in September of year 1 with a group placement in a primary care setting. Students in groups of 8 work with a GP tutor on a fortnightly basis through the year. You will be introduced to the practice team, the practice area and most importantly the patients. You will learn about the impact of ill health on the patient, their family and their community.
In year 2 you will take part in innovative online teaching on management of mental illness with the psychiatrists from our partner mental health trusts – ELFT and NELFT. You will also have teaching on primary care with GP tutors.
I love how practical and hands-on the degree is – we start placements straight away in year 1, and by year 3 we spend most of the year in hospital, learning from patients and doctors in real-life situations.
We use a variety of evidence-based educational approaches depending on the knowledge, skill or behaviours that need to be developed:
Throughout your first two years you’ll apply your theoretical knowledge in problem-based learning or team-based learning sessions. Small groups of students and a facilitator work together to understand and explain a clinical scenario through teamwork, application exercises and independent research.
You’ll have access to an extensive online virtual learning environment (VLE), which includes rich multimedia content from across the programme.
Your progress is evaluated through a system of programmatic assessment that includes monitoring of learner engagement continuously across the academic year, through to performance in written and practical examinations at end of each academic year.
A scheme of merits and distinctions recognises excellent or outstanding attainment across each area of the curriculum. Prizes reward outstanding achievement across all the assessment methods and in specialist areas of the curriculum.
As a medical student studying on the London MBBS course, you’ll learn across three Queen Mary University of London campuses - Whitechapel, Mile End and West Smithfield - benefitting from the excellent resources of each to aid your studies:
We have recently opened a new satellite campus in the heart of Ilford. The space will be used for education purposes, enabling medical students to learn both in the classroom and mock ward environment. Watch our video below to see for yourself.
UCAT
Fourth decile or above, SJT Bands 1- 3.
A-Level
A*AA (results must be achieved in one sitting over a study period of no longer than two years)Must include Biology or Chemistry, and a second science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Mathematics)
IB
37 points overall and three Higher Level subjects at 666 including Chemistry or Biology plus one further science subject from (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths).
BTEC
BTEC qualifications are not considered for entry to this programme.
Degree
2:1 or above in any degree subject with supporting Biology and Chemistry qualifications where necessary. Please see the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry webpage on entry requirements for further information.
GCSE
Six GCSEs at grades 777666/AAABBB including Biology, Chemistry, English Language or English Literature and Mathematics. The Science Double Award may substitute all sciences at GCSE.
If you are an international student who does not study GCSEs/IGCSEs as part of your qualifications, then we would not expect you to have met this requirement. GCSEs are not required for graduates.
Contextualised admissions
We will take into account some of your personal circumstances and background when considering your application. Find out more about contextualised admissions.
To see a list of the international qualifications we accept, please see our full entry requirements.
Find out more about our English language entry requirements, including the types of test we accept and the scores needed for entry to the programme.
You may also be able to meet the English language requirement for your programme by joining a summer pre-sessional programme before starting your degree.
We will take into account some of your personal circumstances and background when considering your application.
See our general undergraduate entry requirements.
Candidates must be aged 18 or over by the start of the course (mid-September). Applicants who will be under the age of 18 by the start of the programme can apply for deferred entry so that they will meet the minimum age requirement by the start of the course the following year.
Years 1-4: you can apply for the same package of student finance as students on other courses. Graduate students are not eligible for a tuition fee loan from the UK government.
Year 5 and beyond: the NHS will pay your tuition fees. Grants, loans and bursaries are available to cover living costs for UK and EU students, including graduate students.
Read more about financial support for medical students.
The John Abernethy (Barts) Scholarship of £5,000 per year is available to two new medical students and one new dental student each year, on the basis of household income and academic achievement. All first degree home students who enrol in the School of Medicine and Dentistry are considered for the scholarships – you do not need to enter a separate application.
Find out about other bursaries and scholarships.
Find out more about fees and funding.
We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.
Take a look at our Student Advice Guides which cover ways to finance your degree, including:
Most graduates work as doctors within the NHS, following training programmes in general practice or hospital medicine. Some of our overseas students return home to work.
A small number defer starting work as a doctor to pursue a specialist postgraduate degree.
Recent graduates have been hired by a range of NHS Trusts and hospitals in London including:
Our graduates also work across the UK and beyond from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust to Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Scotland, NHS Wales and States of Jersey. Other destinations include the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Department of Health, and Health Education England (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20 and 2020/21).
You will have access to a bespoke careers programme, which includes a medical careers fair, talks by consultants and the opportunity to rotate through many different medical specialisms, covering both hospital and primary care.
In your final year we give you specific support in applying for foundation training.
The Queen Mary careers team can also offer:
Learn more about career support and development at Queen Mary.
The Discover Uni dataset (formerly Unistats)
The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry is one of the oldest medical schools in the UK.
We’re in an unrivalled position to offer you the very best student experience. You’ll be taught by experts who are passionately engaged with their subject, and our degrees have extremely high satisfaction rates – in the most recent National Student Survey, 92 per cent of our students were satisfied overall with the quality of their programme.
You'll also get exceptional support throughout your degree and as you transition into employment: we pride ourselves on being a friendly School, with excellent staff–student relationships and a General Medical Council-commended student support and mentoring programme.