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Application Guide 2025:
Medicine
UK Foundation Medicine Courses 2024
Medicine Admissions Expert
Introduction
One increasingly popular pathway to medicine is medicine with a foundation year, often known as UK Gateway to Medicine or UK Access to Medicine courses.
There are plenty of foundation courses in the UK. Some of these may also take the form of extended courses, which integrate simpler material with more complex material across the entire 6-year program.
Medicine with foundation year courses in the UK are generally only available to widening participation and international students.
A foundation year means a 1-year program designed to impart students with the background scientific knowledge that they may not have received at high school before they begin their medical education.
This can be a great option if you’re eligible for it but don’t have the grades to get into medicine right away.
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What are foundation year entry requirements?
MBBS foundation courses can be competitive, just like any other medicine course. However, they tend to have much lower entry requirements and could be right for you even if you took one or no science subjects at A-level.
Indeed, some will deem you ineligible if you have taken multiple science subjects to this level. Rather, UK medicine degrees with foundation years seek out candidates without a traditional medical student background. You are likely to find access to medicine courses near you by looking and searching at medical schools near you.
You are more likely to be eligible as an international or widening participation student, but every foundation medicine program is different so you should follow the links provided below to find one that suits you and your specific application.
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Are there any disadvantages of a foundation year?
Of course, the main disadvantage of a foundation year is that it’s an extra year of education that won’t give you any clinical contact.
However, as most applicants to a foundation year program won’t be eligible to study medicine right away this can still be better than not studying medicine at all for you!
If you are a widening participation student, then you should check to see if medical schools would consider making you a medicine contextual offer.
This is an offer for candidates with extenuating circumstances, such as disability or being a young carer, that gives them the opportunity to study medicine without needing to meet the same requirements as other students.
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Applying for a medicine foundation year
You can apply for a medicine foundation course just as you would apply for any other subject at a university in the UK - through UCAS.
Check out our UCAS guide for more information on exactly how this works, including the Clearing process for medicine with a foundation year which can be a great pathway to getting a spot even if your applications are turned down initially.
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What are the medical schools with foundation years?
There are plenty of medical schools with foundation years across the country. Searching “access to medicine course near me” can be a great way to find some that are local, or you can check out our alphabetised list below:
University of Aberdeen – Gateway2Medicine
This year-long course is exclusively for Scottish applicants from widening access backgrounds. A space on Aberdeen’s medical program is guaranteed following a good performance in the course and satisfactory performance in the UCAT and MMI interviews.
University of Bristol – Gateway to Medicine
Bristol’s course is available to students from widening participation backgrounds who don’t meet the standard academic entry requirements to apply to medicine.
University of Dundee – Gateway to Medicine
This one-year course is more personalised, allowing you to take classes that suit your specific needs.
Edge Hill University – Medicine with Foundation Year
This year-long course is exclusively for North-West England applicants from widening access backgrounds. Space on their medical program is guaranteed following completion of the course and meeting other criteria.
Hull York Medical School – Medicine with a Gateway Year
This course is available to widening participation students from underrepresented backgrounds. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed.
Keele University – Health Foundation Year for Medicine
This course is available to students from underrepresented backgrounds. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed.
King’s College London – Extended Medical Degree Programme
This program is for students studying A-Levels of Access to Medicine at non-selective state schools, or for those who participate in Realising Opportunities. It introduces you to medical study and provides additional support for two years.
Lancaster University – Medicine and Surgery with a Gateway Year
This course is available to widening participation students, or those with significant mitigating circumstances. It prepares you for their medicine course.
University of Leeds – Gateway Year to Medicine
This course is available to widening participation students. Once you complete the course with the required grades, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed.
University of Leicester – Medicine with Foundation Year
This course is available to students without the required grades for medicine. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed.
The University of Liverpool – Foundation to Health and Veterinary Studies
This course is designed for UK/EU students who may be mature or non-traditional students, often having taken a break from their studies. It also allows access to some of their other courses upon completion.
University of Manchester – Medicine with Foundation Year
This course is available to students without the required science qualifications for medicine. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed.
University of Nottingham – Medicine with a Foundation Year
This course is available to students who do not meet the entry requirements for medicine. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed.
Norwich Medical School (UEA) – Medicine with a Gateway Year
This course is available to widening participation students, or those with significant mitigating circumstances. It prepares you for their medicine course.
University of Plymouth – Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery with Foundation
This course is available to students who have been impacted by circumstances beyond their control. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed.
University of Southampton – Medicine BM6 Widening Participation
This course is designed for widening participation - for instance, if your parents receive benefits or you would be the first person in your family to attend university.
St Andrews – Gateway to Medicine
This year-long course is exclusively for Scottish applicants from underrepresented backgrounds. Once you complete the course, a spot on their Medicine course is guaranteed.
University of Central Lancashire – Foundation Entry Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
This year-long course is exclusively for international applicants and will prepare you for their medicine course.
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What next?
Check out the rest of our guide to deciding on medicine to figure out which schools are right for you to apply to!
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