Medicine and Surgery MBChB

Course overview

Studying Medicine will lead you to a long and rewarding career where you’ll transform patient lives every day.

With outstanding clinical placements and world-leading educators, we encourage you to develop your knowledge and skills to become a successful doctor from day one.

Exceptional placements

• Learn in an environment where clinical experience is second-to-none.

• Benefit from our long-established partnerships with major West Yorkshire teaching hospitals, local acute hospitals and GP practices. Here, you will have access to exceptional and varied placements with supervision from industry professionals.

Outstanding teaching

• Our curriculum is informed by the world-leading research carried out at Leeds, and delivered by experts with an exciting and dynamic approach to education,
• We are international leaders in digital learning. Our curriculum is constantly updated from investment and innovation in our teaching resources.
• We are a recognised leader in patient and carer involvement. At Leeds, you will gain first-hand insight from people with a medical condition or disability, and their carers from our Patient Carer Community.
• You will be continuously supported by personal and course tutors, support staff and peer mentoring. Your wellbeing is a priority, and we want to help you make the most of your time at Leeds.

Cutting-edge facilities

Our newly redeveloped School of Medicine building is home to dedicated teaching facilities to enhance your learning.

• The Medical Teaching Centre (MTC) is equipped with sector-leading technology, private study spaces and computer clusters for you to develop your understanding of core scientific principles.
• Our Clinical Skills Education Centre provides superb clinical skills training facilities, including simulation and state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment, and allows you to access independent learning opportunities and one-to-one clinical supervision.

GMC registration

Our programme includes preparation for the GMC Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA). Successful completion of the MBChB (and meeting Fitness to Practise criteria) allows you to register provisionally with the General Medical Council (GMC), the regulatory body for doctors in the UK.

Gateway Year to Medicine

At Leeds we believe that an outstanding medical education should be accessible for all students, regardless of background. That’s why we’ve developed a new Gateway Year to Medicine course, designed to enable students from widening participation backgrounds students to develop their skills and scientific knowledge to advance to the MBChB course. You can find details about entry requirements and the application process on our course page.

Values-based recruitment is carried out across our vocational programmes. Candidates who apply to more than one vocational course in the School of Medicine will only be considered for one course. Please note that if a candidate demonstrates motivation and insight for another non-School of Medicine vocational course (eg Nursing or Dentistry) they will be rejected without further consideration. Candidates therefore cannot apply to the Gateway to Medicine and Medicine programmes in the same application cycle.

Where possible, candidates who apply for multiple programmes within the School of Medicine will be informed that they must choose one course only.

Course details

Throughout your degree you'll benefit from the range of opportunities, expanding your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

Year 1

• Familiarise yourself with the core professional themes that run throughout the course, and the biomedical scientific principles which underpin clinical practice. The IDEALS (Innovation, Development, Enterprise, Leadership, Safety) theme addresses the challenges and requirements of modern practice, whilst Campus to Clinic develops your clinical decision-making and patient safety skills.

• Study biomedical sciences and integrate anatomy with radiology, physiology, clinical assessment and pharmacology. You’ll learn about the psychological and societal aspects of behaviour and human development, their role in health and illness and treatment of medical problems.

• Develop your communication skills with patients and fellow professionals through teaching and clinical placements. You’ll increase your understanding of research methods central to delivering evidence-based medical care.

• We're launching a new module in Year 1 called Enquire 1. Come back to our website soon to find out more information about this new module.

Year 2

Building on the fundamentals, you’ll enhance your understanding of clinical conditions, whilst developing insight into clinical laboratory science and the role of ethics and law in healthcare provision.

• Learn about the anatomy of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.

• Develop your consultation, diagnostic and practical skills with clinical practice. You’ll appreciate the different types of investigations carried out in diagnosing common conditions and diseases across populations, and the ways in which illness affects individuals and society.

• Grow your understanding of human experience and behaviour in health and illness through academic teaching sessions, patient visits and exposure to the Patient Voice Group.

• Expand your skills to carry out research effectively, how to investigate epidemiological data and to consider evidence in relation to the overall health of a population.

• Develop your critical reflection, enterprise and entrepreneurial skills by taking part in a two-week project on enterprise and study an area outside mainstream medicine.

• We're launching a new module in Year 2 called Enquire 2. Come back to our website soon to find out more information about this new module

Year 3

Increasing clinical exposure with clinical placements.

• Integrate your clinical skills and knowledge through five five-week clinical placements. Placements include Medicine, Surgery, Elderly Medicine, Primary Care, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT), Ophthalmology, Dermatology and Radiology, giving an excellent grounding in clinical practice and a diverse range of conditions. Clinical skills and consultation skills training takes place on campus and at our partner hospitals throughout the region. This includes simulation and digital technology to enhance you learning experience in a supportive setting.
• Develop and consolidate the programme’s core elements and learn about evidence-based medicine.
• Through clinician-led tutorials, you can learn to link our core curriculum with GMC-identified outcomes and standards of undergraduate medical education.

Year 4

Gaining in clinical experience with speciality placements.

• Develop a greater understanding of the genetic, social and environmental factors that determine disease, appreciate the principles of treatment and response to treatment.

• Learn about anaesthetic and perioperative care, acute and critical care, women and children’s health, recurrent and chronic illnesses, mental and physical disabilities, rehabilitation, relieving pain and distress, and palliative care.

• You’ll be expected to be able to synthesise more complex clinical information for diagnosis and management. This will involve practice in clinical reasoning, generating differential diagnoses, making a diagnosis, and deciding appropriate management plans for all common and important conditions.

• Build your leadership, team-working, conflict management and negotiating skills and learn about the NHS business and organisational environment, legislation, strategic analysis and how to manage change effectively. You’ll undertake five clinical placements of six weeks each, in specialist areas of medicine.

Year 5

The transition from medical student to doctor.

In your final year, you will be able to draw on your learning from throughout your course and prepare for life as a Ffoundation doctor.

The transition from student to doctor will be eased by six four-week placements, designed to help you build strong relationships with clinical teams. Of the six clinical placements one is based in Primary Care and one is a musculoskeletal placement in both rheumatology and orthopaedics. The other placements are in key clinical areas, with variations in clinical speciality to allow you to tailor this final year to suit your individual learning needs.

Additional course information

As well as our wide-ranging curriculum, you have the chance to tailor your studies through:

• Intercalation – taking an extra degree in one year, usually after year 2, 3 or 4 of the MBChB. It’s a chance to broaden your knowledge and enhance your career opportunities. Up to a half our undergraduate medical students choose to intercalate each year.

• 6-week elective – gain wider clinical experience or carry out a particular project in the UK or abroad. Between 4th and 5th year, this elective is about gaining wider clinical experience or carrying out a specific project. Past students have worked in health centres, charities, universities and hospitals in Australia, Samoa, Vanuatu, China, Italy, Nepal and Tanzania. MBChB students can study languages as part of the “Students without Borders” programme, so they are fluent enough to work as junior doctors in French- or Spanish-speaking countries after graduation. We also offer help and advice about North American licensing systems and examinations to assist students who want to train in the USA and Canada.

• Year in Enterprise – you will have the opportunity to undertake a “Year in Enterprise” in the Business School. During this year, you will develop an innovative business to transform patient care and healthcare delivery for the future. Students who complete the Year in Enterprise will graduate with their medical degree and an MSc in Enterprise.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Medicine and Surgery MBChB in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Year 2 compulsory modules

Year 3 compulsory modules

Year 4 compulsory modules

Year 5 compulsory modules

Learning and teaching

We want to inspire the next generation of doctors.

At Leeds you will learn from innovative, leading professionals who directly inform the curriculum with world-leading medical research. Our students are encouraged to fulfil their potential from day one and are empowered to apply their growing knowledge to the real patients they meet to develop their confidence and clinical skills.

Early exposure to clinical settings sets our doctors apart from other graduates. During placement you will begin establishing your own style as a doctor by growing your consultation, leadership, teamwork and practical skills under the supervision of skilled industry professionals.

In the classroom, you’ll find innovative technology embedded across our course. Whether it’s independent or group learning, you can record your development in your e-portfolio, test your decision-making in the virtual health community resource and use mobile devices in clinical practice.

Support

We take support of our students seriously. Regular contact with your personal tutor guides your academic progress and personal development, to enable you to achieve your full potential. You’re supported by your fellow-medical students through pairing with second-year students who mentor you and are there to help when you need it.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

We have an international reputation for high quality assessment. Throughout the course, assessment is designed to build your knowledge and skills, following two broad approaches:

• Assessment for Learning - an informal evaluation technique to identify areas for specific individual support and inspire personal reflection on your performance – through written and practical exams, coursework and clinical assessments.

• Assessment for Progression - formal written examinations, projects, case reports and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) - where you are tested in Clinical Anatomy, Clinical Skills and Practice, Knowledge Application, Critical Analysis, Writing and Project Skills, and Attitudes and Professionalism.

The MBChB with Honours is awarded to outstanding students.

Entry requirements

A-level: AAA including Chemistry and Biology.

Those taking a fourth A2 subject will not be at an advantage to those taking three. We do not rate A* as being higher than A, so we will not accept A*A*B instead of AAA.

We welcome general studies and critical thinking as a fourth A2, but they do not typically form part of our offer.

Please note that Human Biology, Sports Science, Further Mathematics and Statistics are only accepted as a 4^th A level noting that 4^th A levels do not form part of our scoring system.

Please note that A levels sat in Year 12 will not form part of the shortlisting scoring for interview and offers will be made on 3 A levels taken in Year 13.

EPQs are not considered within our scoring.

GCSE: A minimum of 6 GCSEs grade 6 or above required in Maths, English Language, Biology and Chemistry or Dual Science. Please note that applicants applying with these minimums are unlikely to be shortlisted to interview and that scoring is based on 8 GCSEs. The School of Medicine recognises that some applicants may have studied a more flexible curriculum, where they have been able to progress through their educational development at an appropriate rate according to their ability. Where a Level 2 (for example, GCSE) or Level 3 (for example, A Level) qualification has been taken ‘early’ the academic reference should include the reasons for this so that it can be taken into consideration by the admissions team. Please note that A levels sat in Year 12 will not form part of the shortlisting scoring for interview and offers will be made on 3 A levels taken in Year 13.

Other course specific tests:

Applications from applicants re-sitting exams are only likely to be successful in exceptional circumstances. Well-supported documentary evidence of any extenuating circumstances is required and must be mentioned in your personal statement or explained by your referee. Applications will not normally be considered from those undertaking a third attempt at an academic entry qualification.

Age

Please note that applicants must be 18 years of age or over by the first day of the programme.

Evidence of Study

Applicants will need to show evidence of being in full-time education in the last 5 years.

DBS Checks

As part of the student offer for our clinical programmes, an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate is required for students to undertake clinical placements as part of their studies within the Faculty of Medicine and Health. The certification process is undertaken on entry to the programme and repeated once every three years whilst they are still undertaking the same programme of study.

The Enhanced DBS certificate can only include background checks for time in the UK. Students who have been resident outside the UK will require a criminal record check from each relevant country

The University of Leeds is obliged to refuse admission to applicants for certain courses, which are regulated by national or statutory bodies, where an Enhanced DBS certificate or International Criminality check reveals prior criminal behaviour giving rise to concern for the protection of the public. Clinical placements cannot be attended by those who fail to comply with the clearance processes.

Occupational Health Clearance

All students will complete a pre-registration screening questionnaire which allows our occupational health team at the University support you to meet your true potential on the programme despite any pre-existing health concerns you may have. It is important that you notify us even if your symptoms are currently under control as we can ensure that you continue to be supported even if you are moving from different areas of the country.

The process also allows our occupational health team to check your immunity requirements so we can ensure that both patients and you are protected and kept safe. This will involve understanding your immunisation record to date.

Further details can be found on https://medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/medicine-undergraduate/doc/occupational-health-requirements-students-applicants-faculty-medicine-health

HEOPS offers guidance on occupational health resources and health surveillance.

UCAT

All applicants for the MBChB course will be required to take UCAT for 2024 entry onwards. This test must be taken in the year of application. We do not accept other aptitude tests instead, e.g. BMAT or GAMSAT.

UCAT is a computer-based admissions test used by a consortium of UK and international universities to help select applicants for their medical and dental degree programmes. We strongly recommend you prepare for the test. There are many materials to help you, including on the UCAT website. https://www.ucat.ac.uk/

Work experience

Medical schools are aware that work experience opportunities open to you have been affected and will take this into account. Additionally, keep in mind that clinical work experience is not generally a requirement for applying to medical school in any year.

Further information on work experience can be found at www.medschools.ac.uk/studying-medicine/making-an-application/work-experience

Personal statements

Applying for the MBChB course is very competitive. You need to make sure your application does you justice. Read advice on personal statement and reference, non-academic achievements and personal qualities here.

Alternative qualification

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions.

Access to Leeds Submission

In order for us to give your application due consideration, we'll need you to submit your Access to Leeds (A2L) application at the same time as you submit your UCAS application.

Typical Access to Leeds Offer

GCSE

A minimum of 6 GCSEs grade 4 or above required in Maths, English Language, Biology and Chemistry (or Dual Science/Double Science). Please note that applicants applying with these minimums are unlikely to be shortlisted to interview and that scoring is based on 8 GCSEs.

A levels

ABB. Chemistry and Biology must be taken with an A in either Chemistry or Biology.

We welcome general studies and critical thinking as a fourth A2, but they do not typically form part of our offer. Certain combinations are not acceptable, specifically:

• Biology and Human Biology or Sports Science plus Chemistry and another
• Mathematics and Further Mathematics or Statistics plus Chemistry and another

EPQs are not considered within our scoring.

Scottish Highers

AABBB at Higher level and BB at Advanced Higher level including B in Chemistry and Biology.

Irish Highers (leaving certificate)

AABBBB, including Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics.

IB

Overall score of 34 points overall, including 3 higher level subjects at minimum of grade 5, which must include Chemistry and Biology. If English and Maths not offered at GCSE, this must be offered with a mark of at least 5 at Standard level.

Cambridge Pre-U

Three Merits (M1) in 3 Principal Subjects, including Chemistry and Biology.

English language requirements

IELTS 7.5 overall, with no less than 7.5 in Spoken English. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Fees

UK: To be confirmed

International: £47,000 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
In November 2024 the UK Government announced that the tuition fee cap may rise to £9,535 from £9,250.

The tuition fee cap for some foundation years may also reduce to £5,760 from £9,250.

This would start from the academic year 2025/26. However, this is subject to final confirmation from the Government. Once available, we’ll publish the fees for the 2025/26 academic year and individual offer letters shall be updated via email and post.

The foundation year courses affected are:
·         Business Studies with Foundation Year BSc
·         Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year BA
·         Interdisciplinary Studies with Preparation for Higher Education BA
·         Social Science (foundation year) BA

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 and 2025/26 are available on individual course pages.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.
 

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Studying in the School of Medicine at Leeds is an amazing opportunity, but we know that the cost can be difficult for many people to meet. If you are keen to join us, a range of funding opportunities are available.

Intercalation scholarships

Find more information on funding for intercalation on our dedicated page.

School of Medicine scholarship

EXSEL at Leeds (Excellence in Scholarship, Enterprise and Leadership) is a unique scholarship scheme which nurtures undergraduate medical students with research ambitions to become academic clinicians.

Students selected to be scholars are given a bursary to conduct research during vacations. They then meet monthly with the two EXSEL directors to review their development. Under the supervision of their academic mentor, the students develop valuable skills for their future clinical posts. In return, they act as ambassadors for the Medical School at Leeds.

Applying

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

Values-based recruitment is carried out across our vocational programmes. Candidates who apply to more than one vocational course in the School of Medicine will only be considered for one course. Please note that if a candidate demonstrates motivation and insight for another non-School of Medicine vocational course (e.g. nursing or dentistry) they will be rejected without further consideration.

Where possible, candidates who apply for multiple programmes within the School of Medicine will be informed that they must choose one course only.

The application closing date for medicine is earlier than for many other courses – all full-time undergraduate applications must be made through the UCAS website by 15 October of the year preceding entry. The School of Medicine does not normally accept applications after the initial UCAS closing date and nor does it typically participate in the UCAS Extra scheme or in clearing.

Applying for the MBChB course is very competitive. You need to make sure your application does you justice, so make sure you read this advice before you write yours.

We welcome applications from applicants who are intending to undertake a gap year. Please use the personal statement section of the UCAS application form to explain your reasons for taking a gap year. You may normally apply for deferred entry for one academic year only.

Please see the latest School of Medicine Admissions Appeals and Complaints Procedure.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

School of Medicine undergraduate admissions policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of Medicine

Contact us

School of Medicine Undergraduate Admissions Team

Email: ugmadmissions@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Career opportunities

After Year 5 you'll begin foundation training before becoming fully registered with the General Medical Council.

The Leeds MBChB enables our graduates to embark on a variety of careers including general practice, hospital medicine, medical and scientific research, leadership in the NHS and international health development.

The School of Medicine is a major international centre for education and cutting-edge research. We offer higher degrees by research and taught postgraduate programmes with a rich variety of student experience, from basic discovery science through to applied healthcare research across our seven institutes. Find out more about our postgraduate study opportunities.

Careers support

Our MBChB students enjoy specialist careers support from a dedicated Careers Coordinator. Throughout the course you’ll have opportunities for self-reflection, to think about the different career routes and the skills you’ll need to develop to get into your chosen jobs. Thinking early about career routes helps our students make sound career decisions and increase their motivation and job satisfaction. We’ll help build up your career management and employability skills – ever-more important in a competitive jobs market.

Our Careers Coordinator also gives training to personal tutors and develops careers guidance resources for delivery throughout the curriculum.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

Study abroad and work placements

In Year 5 you can choose to spend your six-week elective abroad. This elective is about gaining wider clinical experience or carrying out a specific project. Previous students have worked in health centres, charities, universities and hospitals across different continents, ranging from world-leading research institutes to isolated units delivering healthcare in developing countries.

MBChB students can study languages as part of the 'Students without Borders' programme. This enables students to gain a level of fluency in French or Spanish which supports future employment in those countries after graduation.

Find out more on the Study Abroad website.

Clinical placements

Clinical placements are central to your training and run throughout the programme. Our strong partnerships with the major West Yorkshire teaching hospitals, local acute hospitals and GP practices mean we can offer our students a diverse range of placements.

You’ll be working in real clinical environments from your first year and this experience will increase throughout your course.