Cambridge Medical School is a world-class university, and we want to make sure that their students are just as impressive. That’s why we’re happy to tell you that they don’t have any special requirements for international students. You can apply with any qualification you have, so long as it’s valid in the country where it was issued.
If you do have any questions about applying or studying at Cambridge Medical School, please feel free to contact us!
Cambridge Medical School Requirements For International Students
Introduction
You may already be familiar with requirements that international students need to satisfy in order to be eligible for medical school in the United States. These requirements are quite similar, though not identical, to those of universities in the UK. For a student applying to study medicine at Cambridge University, they include:
Before you embark on this journey of studying medicine in the UK, there are some important requirements for international students that you need to satisfy.
Before you embark on this journey of studying medicine in the UK, there are some important requirements for international students that you need to satisfy. These requirements are set by the GMC and UCAS. They are the same for all medical schools in the UK and they apply equally to international and UK students.
Before applying to a medical school, you must have:
- A minimum of six IELTS* band scores of 6+ (no less than 5) or equivalent tests accepted by Cambridge, such as TOEFL or PTE Academic. You may also be required to take an English language test at interview.
- An undergraduate degree (or equivalent qualification) with good grades; ideally at least a 2:1 or above (or equivalent).
Requirements
- GMC requirements:
- A science degree with a strong link to medicine. If you have not studied a science degree, you may be able to apply for an integrated master’s programme. These combine a foundation year (usually one year) with a five-year medical course covering the same basic material as an undergraduate degree in medicine. The foundation year is intended to give students who have not previously studied biology and chemistry some exposure to these subjects before starting their medical course.
- UCAS requirements:
- To complete your UCAS application, you need to submit the following documents:
- Application form with personal statement explaining why you want to study medicine; where your interest comes from, what motivates and inspires you within this field; how this has developed over time; what experiences/skills would make up your ideal role model as a doctor; how would it be possible for them to improve themselves in order to reach their goals?
- Two academic reference forms completed by your teachers or tutors at university (if applicable) explaining how well they know about your potential as future doctor, which qualities are essential for success within this profession and why they think so. You can ask them specifically whether they believe that these qualities exist within yourself too!
The General Medical Council (GMC) and the Universities admissions body UCAS have set out a number of requirements that international applicants must satisfy before they can be considered as candidates for medical school in the UK.
The General Medical Council (GMC) and the Universities admissions body UCAS have set out a number of requirements that international applicants must satisfy before they can be considered as candidates for medical school in the UK. In addition, each individual university will have their own entry requirements which may differ from those set by the GMC .
Entry Requirements for Medicine Degree Programs
Applicants to medicine degree programs must meet certain basic requirements at undergraduate level:
These are:
The requirements for international students are:
- GCSEs A*-C/9-4 including English (or equivalent);
- Three A Levels at A* or A with one of these subjects being Chemistry (or equivalent);
- SATS/ACTS with a minimum score of 600/10.
Five GCSEs A*-C/9-4 including English (or equivalent);
GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. It’s a set of exams taken by students in the UK at the end of their secondary school education (usually around 16-18 years old). These exams can be taken in a wide range of subjects and are graded from A* to G, with A* being the highest and G being the lowest.
In some cases, grades below C may be acceptable if you have an appropriate foundation level qualification or experience that demonstrates your ability to succeed at university-level study. This is dependent on each department, so it’s always best to check directly with them before applying if you fall into this category.
Three A Levels at A* or A with one of these subjects being Chemistry (or equivalent);
If you’ve been offered a place on the course, it’s important to know that A levels are the most common way to study for a medical degree in the UK. You can also choose from many different subjects, including biology, chemistry and maths. In fact, your choice of subject is likely to depend on which degree you’re applying for as each course has specific requirements.
You’ll need three A levels (or equivalent) at A* or A with one of these subjects being Chemistry (or equivalent). If you’re only applying for one year of study then you’ll need two A levels at grade C or above plus one AS level in Biology and another science subject.
SATS/ACTS with a minimum score of 600/10;
SATS and ACTs are standardized tests that have been used in the U.S. for some time now. The University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) has an alternative to these, called the Cambridge Assessment English Test (CAE).
The SATS/ACTS exam is designed to assess your skills in reading, writing and math, while the CAE test is focused on your ability to use language effectively in written communication. Both types of assessments have a high correlation with other measures, such as TOEFL scores and grades from secondary school.
IELTS with a minimum score of 7.0 overall and no less than 6.5 in any paper;
IELTS is an international English language test that can be used by many universities to assess your ability to communicate in English. It consists of four parts: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Each part is worth 6 points and the overall score is reported on a scale from 1 – 9 (9 being the highest). The IELTS results must be sent directly from the testing center to Cambridge Medical School, or they will not be accepted.
NBDE Part1 with a score of 550 or higher.
The NBDE Part 1 is a prerequisite for admission to medical school in the United States. It is a multiple choice exam that tests basic science knowledge and clinical skills, such as reading an electrocardiogram and drawing blood from a vein.
NBDE Part 1 is also known as USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step1 or USMLE1.
These requirements vary from one medical school to another, but mostly they are the same.
- The curriculum and requirements are set by the General Medical Council (GMC) and UCAS.
- They are the same for international students, UK students and all medical schools in the UK.
- They are also the same for medical schools in other countries, such as USA or Canada.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! We hope that we were able to shed some light on the requirements for international students in Cambridge Medical School.
