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What to know if you are considering medicine for university
What to know if you are considering medicine for university
Applying to undergraduate medicine is an extensive process that requires you to take specific subjects in IBDP / AP, participate in interviews, and undertake additional standardized testing. Check entry requirements carefully with universities and your A&CC.
It is also extremely important to gain relevant experience. This could be shadowing in a hospital, taking short courses related to medicine, volunteering in a health-adjacent field like in a nursing home, etc.
Note that the United States and Canada only offer medicine at the graduate level (not directly from High School). Future medics in these countries pursue a related bachelor's and then apply for medical school. If you are a citizen or permanent resident, this could be a viable pathway. However, if you are an international student, we recommend studying medicine in a country that allows undergraduate degrees or has more accessible graduate programs for international students in medicine. There are very very limited medical school spots for international students in the US / Canada, it is very expensive, and your license may not be transferable to your home country if you cannot get a visa to remain in the country for work.
An important consideration is where you want to practice medicine in the future. Medical licenses are not always transferrable between countries. For example, if you want to practice medicine in Singapore but are pursuing a medicine degree outside of Singapore, you can check which medical degrees Singapore recognizes.
What are Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs)?
Most universities around the world use an MMI as part of their evaluation process.
The "multiple" and "mini" means that you are rotating through multiple stations, each offering a brief (mini) interview. You spend about 5-10 minutes at each station before moving on to the next one. Each station will test a different skillset important to medicine: commitment, roleplay scenarios, medical ethic scenarios, data interpretation, teamwork (if a group interview), etc. MMIs for international applicants are delivered online. The A&CC team will support you with mock MMIs.
Studying Medicine in the UK
It is important to understand that medicine in the UK is extremely competitive and there are very limited spots for international students. While it is a transparent and clear process, it is also has additional exam and interview requirements. Even exceptionally strong students will face a challenging process. You must be prepared for the possibility that you will not receive any UK medicine spots and plan accordingly.
Students apply with anticipated IBDP / AP grades.
Additionally, medicine applicants must take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). You must take the UCAT between July and September, of the year you apply in October. Example: If you plan to apply to university while you are in Grade 12, you must take the UCAT either the summer before Grade 12 or in the first month of Grade 12. You can only take the UCAT once per year. It is delivered in-person at a testing center (options available in Singapore).
You will get your UCAT result before the UCAS deadline. This result can help you decide where to apply. Universities publish their UCAT thresholds so you can understand where your UCAT is competitive.
Medicine applicants have an early UCAS deadline of 15 October each year. Note that you can only apply to 4 medicine courses through UCAS. Your fifth choice must be another course (typically related, biosciences, biomedicine, etc).
Your UCAT results are delivered to universities in November.
Based on your personal statement, anticipated grades, and UCAT score, universities will shortlist you for a multiple mini interview (MMI) sometime between December and March.
Final results are delivered via UCAS between January and April, based on the MMI timeline for the university.
Additional information about UK medicine:
There are a handful of independent medical schools, or UK schools with campuses outside of the UK, that you can apply to in addition to UCAS (if you are an international student). These universities do not have a cap for international students. Some do not require the UCAT - check university websites carefully.
The University of Buckingham Medical School
Brunel University London Medical School
University of Central Lancashire School of Medicine
St Mary's University, Twickenham (new program beginning in September 2026)
University of Hertfordshire Medical School (new program beginning in September 2026)
Queen Mary University of London, Malta
Newcastle University Medicine, Malaysia
There are also a small number of schools that allow you to transfer to medicine during your undergraduate degree, or have streamlined pathways to graduate medicine. For example, Swansea offers applicants for degrees like applied medical sciences or biomedicine the chance for a guaranteed interview for graduate entry medicine. You might wish to research programs like this to use as your fifth, non-medicine course choice in UCAS. Do note these opportunities still require strong performance during your undergraduate degree.
Studying Medicine in Ireland
There are a few ways to apply to medicine in Ireland:
1) International students - Use the IUMC to apply to the 4 public universities that offer undergraduate medicine: Trinity College Dublin; Univeristy College Cork; University of Galway; University College Dublin; University of Limerick. International students based in Southeast Asia (you!) can apply to all four IUMC partner universities with 1 application.
2) Students with EU status - You must apply via the CAO. Please read our country guide for Ireland in the Europe tab for more information on how Ireland views fees status - it is more complicated than other EU countries and many students will not receive EU fee status in Ireland.
3) Any applicant - Apply directly to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (a private university). You can apply to RCSI in addition to the public universities.
International students are not required to take the UCAT for Irish medical programs.
Studying Medicine in Europe
There are many universities that offer English-taught medicine degrees in Europe, for a very affordable price compared to other countries. Entry requirements and applications processes / timelines can vary significantly between universities. Some universities will require you to take an exam like the UCAT, whereas others require you to take an online assessment, whereas others might only require an MMI.
While the degrees are taught in English, you might need to take a basic class in the country's language in order to complete your placement. For example, at Queen Mary University of London in Malta, you are required to take Maltese. This is so you can communicate with patients during your placement at a hospital.
As of August 2026, there are no more English-taught medicine degrees in the Netherlands. All medicine degrees are now offered in Dutch.
Medical Doorways is a good resource for exploring medicine options in Europe. Many European universities partner with Medical Doorways to deliver entrance exams.
Studying Medicine in Australia
There are two pathways into medicine for Australia: direct entry into undergraduate and graduate entry.
Direct entry
5-6 years to medicine degree completion.
Very high IBDP / AP entrance requirements
Commonly requires students to take the UCAT ANZ or the ISAT (universities have different requirements, check their websites!).
Due to the difference in academic calendars, students can only apply after graduation, with their final results. Direct entry medicine is not a typical pathway for our students because of the application timeline.
January - August (the year of application): Take the ISAT / UCAT ANZ. Yes, this means if you are an IBDP student you could be studying for this exam at the same time as you are studying for your IBDP exams. Consider whether this is realistic.
September: Exam results delivered to universities, applications for medical programs due
October - January: Students shorlisted for interviews
December - Feburary: Offers released
February - March: Begin your undergraduate degree
Direct entry testing notes
UCAT ANZ: You cannot take both the UCAT and UCAT ANZ in the same calendar year. Taking both exams is considered misconduct. You can only take the UCAT ANZ once per calendar year. Australian universities will only accept the UCAT ANZ (if required), not the UCAT. The UCAT ANZ is offered in July - August each year.
ISAT: For international applicants only. You can only take the ISAT once per calendar year. The ISAT is offered in January - August each year.
Some universities require the UCAT ANZ for direct entry. Others require the ISAT for international students. Others still will accept either option and leave the choice to you.
A small number of universities (e.g. Sydney) do not require UCAT ANZ or ISAT. However, their entry requirements are extraordinarily high (e.g. a 45 / 45 for the IBDP).
Graduate entry
This is the most common pathway. In fact, over the past few years several universities have closed their direct entry medicine programs as, for many students, graduate entry provides a higher level of preparation and commitment.
Students apply for and complete an undergraduate degree [e.g. biomedicine], then apply for a graduate program while in university.
7-8 years to medicine degree completion.
Requires students to take the GAMSAT or MCAT in order to apply for graduate medicine.
Apply to undergraduate degree per the typical Australian timeline, meeting typical undergraduate requirements (refer to the Australia country guide).
Studying Medicine in Singapore
Only two universities offer undergraduate medicine in Singapore:
NUS allows students to apply with anticipated grades, as long as they have the UCAT. However, keep in mind you will be going up against Singaporean system students who are already done with their exams at the time of application.
NTU does not allow students to apply with anticipated grades. You can only apply with final grades, which means applying during a gap year or during military service. They require all applicants to take the UCAT.
There are very limited spots for international applicants.
Due to the application timelines and the high level of competition, students considering medicine in Singapore should have well-considered Plan B / C / D.
There are two graduate medicine pathways in Singapore:
SMU-Duke-NUS Medicine Pathway. Applicants must be Singaporean citizens or PR. Students first apply to SMU for an undergraduate degree. If they expressed interest in the Duke-NUS Medicine Pathway, and are admitted to SMU, they will then be invited to a separate application process for Duke-NUS. In order to maintain their spot at Duke-NUS, they will need to achieve certain academic requirements while at SMU (e.g. certain GPA average, certain MCAT score). After graduating from SMU with their undergrad, these students then go on to Duke-NUS for their MD.
Duke-NUS MD Programme. Applicants apply after, or in their final year of, their undergraduate degree. Follows a typical medical school admissions process (MCAT / GAMSAT, interviews, etc).
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