International Foundation Year
If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.
Please note the course details apply to 2025 entry. Details for 2026 entry for our undergraduate courses will be published from September 2025.
Our Extended Medical Degree course MBBS (EMDP) is specifically designed for students who are studying A- levels or Access to Medicine at a non- selective state school or who are participants of Realising Opportunities across England. The course offers a more graduated introduction to medical study than the standard MBBS degree and provides greater academic and pastoral support.
The MBBS degree at King’s aims to train students to become: • critical scientific thinkers • collaborative leaders and innovators • outstanding patient-centred clinicians • excellent team-players • educators and life-long learners • resilient and adaptable professionals. The course is divided into three ‘Stages’ with the opportunity to take an intercalated one-year BSc course between Stages 2 and 3. Although we offer multiple entry routes into Medicine, all our students follow the same core MBBS curriculum. Stage 1 provides you with a foundation in biomedical sciences and population sciences, along with the skills to begin to integrate them with clinical practice. Stage 2 brings together science and clinical practice in blocks organised around the human life-cycle and common pathological processes. It focuses on the care of patients with common conditions in a range of clinical settings. You will also follow patients for prolonged periods of time to learn how to deliver whole- person care. This stage is underpinned by study in biomedical and population sciences. Stage 3 is oriented towards future practice and includes the opportunity to undertake elective study abroad. You will also conduct quality improvement projects and develop skills to transform patient and population health at home and abroad. Inter-professional training and increasingly realistic simulation are important parts of the curriculum. Through the programme there are a series of project modules, which offer a range of different learning, some of which can be adapted for student choice. We are looking to grow the range of Projects (and choice) we offer and this may result in changes to the Project modules in your programme. The intercalated degree is a one-year BSc course which gives you the opportunity to study the subjects of your choice in greater depth across King’s and the university’s clinical partners. As a multi-faculty institution, we offer an unrivalled range of intercalated degrees from clinical and biomedical sciences to humanities subjects. The Intercalated BSc is optional for students on the Extended Medical Degree Programme and can be taken between Stages 2 and 3 of the course. The EMDP is the UK’s flagship broadening- access-to-medicine degree. It is specifically designed for students from non-selective state schools and lasts six or seven (with the intercalated iBSc) years, allowing you to study the first stage at a slower pace. You will, however, follow the same medical curriculum as all other medical students and undergo the same rigorous assessments. We teach Stage 1 of the curriculum over two years, allowing you additional time for self- directed study, as well as a range of extra academic tuition and pastoral support. In your third year and onwards, you will sit exactly the same exams as the other medical students and you must achieve the same pass mark. At the end of the course you will graduate with the same MBBS qualification. Which course should I apply to? We will only consider your application for the EMDP if you apply for UCAS course code A101. If you wish to also be considered for the standard entry course (A100), then you must apply to UCAS course code A100 as well as A101, and we will consider each application separately. Our EMDP has the following five key aims:
The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.
Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office. Together with partner organisations around the world, you will be supported in navigating your international, educational journey, developing new skills and competences and learning to apply different perspectives to your chosen discipline.
General Medical Council (GMC)
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.
Must include grade A in either Biology or Chemistry and grade B in the other. Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process. All applicants must take the UCAT. Please see further details below.
33 points overall or an aggregate score of 16 from three Higher Levels.
Must include grade 6 in either Higher Level Biology or Higher Level Chemistry and grade 5 at Higher Level in the other. Notes: The total point score of 33 includes TOK/EE. GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Mathematics requirement can be met via IB Standard Level/Middle Years grade 5, if not studied/studying at Higher Level. All applicants must take the UCAT.
GCSE/IGCSE Requirements
GCSE grade 6/B in both English Language and Mathematics is required.
Notes:
Functional Skills, and Numeracy/Literacy modules studied within an Access to HE diploma, are not accepted for this programme to meet the GCSE/IGCSE requirements.
If you studied abroad and did not complete GCSEs/IGCSEs or IB Standard Level/Middle Years as part of your qualifications, then we would not expect you to have met this requirement. However, international equivalents can also be considered and we will look for evidence of the equivalency in your studies.
The UCAT
All applicants are required to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT), previously known as UKCAT, prior to applying to this programme. Please note the UCAT must be taken the same year you apply in order to be valid. Please refer to the UCAT website for details on registration and test dates.
King’s does not have a threshold UCAT score in any particular year, but all candidates are still required to take the UCAT examination for this course. The overall UCAT score averaged across the four subtests is given more consideration than the individual subtest scores. The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is also taken into account when shortlisting.
Non-Academic Requirements
Age on entry: King’s is only able to accept applicants who will turn 18 years of age before commencing the second year of the Medicine degree. Applicants who will not be 18 by this date should submit an application the following year.
Occupational Health clearance (Compulsory): Required for successful applicants. All offers of a place, and continued enrolment, are made subject to satisfactory Occupational Health clearance.
Enhanced criminal conviction check (Compulsory): Required for successful applicants. All offers of a place, and continued enrolment, are made subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be 60 credits in total.
Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits overall: 30 credits must be from units awarded at Distinction, with the remaining 15 at Merit. The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be in Medicine or Dentistry, and must include at least 15 Level 3 credits in Biology awarded at Distinction and 15 Level 3 credits in Chemistry awarded at Distinction. The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be a QAA accredited course which is studied through a UK Access to Higher Education Diploma Provider, listed on the QAA website here: https://www.accesstohe.ac.uk//en/course-search Additionally, GCSE grade 6/B in both English language and Mathematics is required. Notes: Functional Skills, and Numeracy/Literacy modules studied within an Access to HE diploma, are not accepted for this programme to meet the GCSE/IGCSE requirements. All applicants must take the UCAT. Please see further details above.
Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above
English language band: B
Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test. For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
If considering applying to study medicine, we advise you check details in this website - GMC Outcomes for Graduates – that sets out the skills, procedures and levels of competence newly qualified doctors must have, so they can practise safely when they start work.
To be eligible to apply, you must meet the following criteria:
You must have attended only non-selective state education since the age of 11. Please list all the schools that you have attended since the age of 11 on your UCAS application, even if some previously attended schools were not in the UK. A non-selective state school is a school that does not charge fees for attendance, and does not require you to pass an exam and / or undertake an interview to be considered for entry.
You cannot have started or completed a degree before submitting your application.
You must have sat the UCAT prior to submitting your application.
Special consideration will also be given to the following:
Applicants from schools with low attainment as defined by Progress 8 score
Applicants from low participation areas as determined by ACORN, POLAR and/or IMD
Participants of Realising Opportunities (who completed Realising Opportunities up until August 2021
Participants who have completed King’s K+ or Medview / Dentview programmes
Applicants who are care experienced
Applicants with other widening participation backgrounds
*You are able to check your ACORN profile by checking your postcode using the CACI website. You will be asked to register but the service is free.
Please note that students with Overseas fee status are ineligible to apply for this programme, irrespective of the criteria above. UKCISA has a number of resources to advise you of which fee status category you may fall into dependent on your circumstances, so we would recommend reviewing these prior to making an application.
Academic achievement
You should carefully check that you will meet the programme's academic standards before making an application. Please note that many applicants meet the minimum requirements and so all applications are considered within a competitive environment.
Contextual consideration
As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application, including the educational context of an applicant's formal achievement. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.
Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application. We are looking particularly for evidence of appropriate commitment to, and realistic appreciation of, the academic, physical and emotional demands of a medicine degree programme and career as a health professional. We would normally expect that you will have undertaken some voluntary work experience in a caring/health environment and/or observation in a medical clinical setting. Any voluntary contribution to your community is taken into account, e.g. volunteer in a care home. If this is not possible, we look for evidence that you have worked in a setting where you can interact with the general public, e.g. in a pharmacy or restaurant.
Communication skills and the ability to work successfully in a team are of great importance. We look for applicants who have participated as fully as possible in school, college or community life, making the most of the opportunities available to them and also demonstrated some experience of society beyond their immediate environment.
Your interests, achievements and contribution to your community are taken into account in addition to academic ability and scholastic activities. We look for applicants who not only have interests but may have also achieved in those areas. We aim to ensure that all of our students can cope with the heavy academic workload of the programme and display those professional qualities, skills and attitudes that help to make competent and caring medical professional.
We would expect your application to be strongly supported by your referee both in terms of academic achievements/potential and in terms of your character and suitability for medicine.
When considering applicants which will be shortlisted for interview we consider the following; GCSE (or equivalent performance), predicted or achieved A-level grades (or equivalent), the personal statement, the reference and the score in the UCAT. These contribute to the shortlisting of applicants, and we do assess for this programme holistically, taking in to account all these factors and your performance in the context of your educational background. Examination results and the UCAT score are perhaps the most important factors when considering applications. These are highlighted as they provide us with the fairest and most consistent method of assessing applicants.
No offers are made without an interview. Interviews are usually held between November to May and you must be available for interview in order to be considered for admission. If you are invited to an interview, you will be provided with further details about the expected interview format and guidance through the King’s Apply portal. A large number of applications are received for EMDP and although we recognise that this is an anxious time for you, all applications are carefully considered and therefore you should not expect a decision post-interview until the cycle has completed in May.
During the current Admissions cycle, interviews will be conducted remotely. Further information regarding interviews will be detailed in the information communicated via King's Apply to those who are invited to an interview. Interviewers will assess a range of values and personality based attributes, knowledge on topical medical issues and ethical reasoning. Communication skills will also be assessed during the interview. Interviewers have no prior knowledge of candidates before they meet them and will complete standardised interviewer assessment score sheets.
We operate a “fit-to-sit” policy for interviews, therefore, we are unable to take into account mitigating circumstances for the interview performance. If there are any issues within the interview which you consider affected your performance, you should ensure these are raised with the Admissions team.
Applications each year for our undergraduate medical programmes are around 5500 for a total of 410 places. Nearly 800 of these applications are for EMDP. Around 1200 – 1400 applicants are selected for interview across all medicine programmes and there are around 80 places available on A101. We aim to notify all applicants of final decisions by the end of May at the latest.
Resits
In a standard admissions cycle, we are able to consider applicants who have retaken their qualifications, however, you should bear in mind that your application for this programme will be reviewed alongside other strong applicants who might be viewed more favourably if they achieved the required grades within a standard timeframe, for example, a two year period for A-levels. We will only consider second resits if there are significant mitigating circumstances. In these situations we still cannot guarantee that your application will be considered, but you should submit a Mitigating Circumstances form so that this can be considered alongside your application. Please note, we consider taking the same subject again at the same level, even within a different qualification, to be a resit.
We consider applicants who have recently achieved grades which are below the entry criteria, and have subsequently studied/are studying another qualification to seek entry, such as an Access to HE Diploma or a Foundation programme, to be resit applicants.
Transfers
Transfers into this programme are not permitted.
UCAS Choices
A maximum of four choices on the UCAS form may be made for programmes which lead to a professional qualification in medicine. You may add one of the following alternative non-health programmes to your UCAS application: Anatomy, Developmental and Human Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics, Pharmacology, Physiology, Neuroscience, and Biomedical Science. Please be assured that you will be considered as having a full commitment to medicine whether you include a non-health programme choice or not.
If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.
If you have an offer from King's, but English isn't your first language, we have courses to help you.
We will provide you with high-level teaching from experts, which you will put into practice on your placements.
Stage | Lectures, seminars and similar | Placement | Self-study time |
1 (Years 1 and 2) |
30% including cadaveric dissection in anatomy. | 0% | 70% |
2 (Years 3 and 4) |
56% including cadaveric dissection in anatomy. | 44% | 0% |
3 (Years 5 and 6) |
8% including small group and case-based teaching in clinical blocks. | 81% | 11% |
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
You will learn in a wide variety of hospital and community care settings. Students undertake placements at general practices and district general hospitals located in south London and southern England, currently they are mostly in Kent and Sussex. Placements outside of London offer a different and rich perspective on clinical learning, complementing the experiences gained in central London hospitals.
Unless there are exceptional circumstances, all students will experience placements at London and peripheral sites during their programme.
On successful completion of the course you will receive your MBBS degree, which is a primary medical qualification (PMQ). Holding a PMQ entitles you to apply for provisional registration with the General Medical Council, subject only to its acceptance that there are no Fitness to Practise concerns that need consideration. Provisional registration is time limited to a maximum of three years and 30 days (1125 days in total). After this time period your provisional registration will normally expire.
Provisionally registered doctors can only practise in approved Foundation Year 1 posts. To obtain a Foundation Year 1 post you will need to apply during the final year of your undergraduate course through the UK Foundation Programme Office selection scheme, which allocates these posts to graduates on a competitive basis. Generally all suitably qualified UK graduates are allocated a place on Foundation Year 1, but this cannot be guaranteed, for instance if there were to be an increased number of competitive applications from non-UK graduates.
On successful completion of Foundation Year 1, you will be eligible to apply for full registration with the GMC. You need full registration with a licence to practise for unsupervised medical practice in the NHS or private practice in the UK.
Although this information is currently correct, you should be aware that regulations in this area may change from time to time.
Assessment is split between that which is formative (where the primary role is to give feedback to student, this does not contribute towards the overall module/degree score) and summative (where the primary role is to demonstrate competence against course standards and learning outcomes). Formative assessment occurs through the years. Of note, there is an early formative learning assessment in Stage 1 to identify those who need extra support.
Summative assessment includes:
There is also one external assessment in the final year of the programme that is necessary to support your Foundation Year 1 training. It is not currently essential to pass this in order to graduate from the MBBS course.
All students must pass the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) as part of their degree before they can join the medical register. The MLA will test the core knowledge, skills and behaviour of doctors who want to practise in the UK. Applicants should be aware that to obtain registration with a licence to practise, medical students will need to pass both parts of the MLA, and all their modules and be able to demonstrate their fitness to practise.
Course accreditation
Accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC), this Primary Medical Qualification entitles the holder to apply to the GMC for registration to practise medicine in the UK.
Regulating Body
King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
The Intercalated BSc is optional but must be taken between Stages 2 and 3.
The following Stage 1 modules are studied during years 1 & 2. You are required to take:
In addition, and in order to support the core medical curriculum, we require you to complete EMDP-specific tutorials and formative assignments, which currently include the following subject areas: • Chemistry • Numeracy • Pharmacology • Anatomy • Academic writing • Science communication • Enquiry-based learning
There are no optional modules for this year.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
Our course is accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC), this Primary Medical Qualification entitles the holder to apply to the GMC for registration to practise medicine in the UK.
The UK tuition fee for the 2025-26 academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.
Additional Costs
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). Please see the Study Abroad webpages for details of the relevant partner universities and information about tuition fees: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/abroad/discover/money/tuition-fees You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling. The following gives you an indication of additional costs associated with the Medicine course. These costs are not included in your tuition fees. Clothing: Students will need to purchase a white coat for laboratory work from any source. Cost at August 2023: £14.00. Course-related conferences: Conferences are optional. If you attend a conference you will need to pay for all costs associated e.g. accommodation, travel, food & beverages and appropriate clothing. If the conference includes travel abroad, you will need to budget for travel insurance and, if necessary, passport renewal and visas. Disclosure and Barring certificates/clearance: Students have to pay for an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance check. This is payable as part of course registration (cost at July 2023 : £38). Electives: Students have to pay for any accommodation required as part of your Elective. You will need to pay for travel insurance and medical insurance if you choose to undertake your Elective outside of the UK and if necessary, passport renewal and visas. Equipment: Approved calculators. Across all King’s campuses computer workstations are available. Students may wish to buy their own desktop/laptop/tablet computer to support their studies (optional). For medical equipment and materials for Stage 2 onwards, you will need to purchase a stethoscope, any make/model and can be purchased from any source. Students will need to buy a fob watch with a second hand that you can pin to your clothing or put in your pocket, as you are not permitted to wear wrist watches in clinical areas. No specific make or model is required. Health checks/immunisations/vaccinations: Students pay for any immunisation/vaccination costs required to ensure you have a complete immunisation/vaccination history prior to commencing the course. Further information on required immunisations/vaccinations is provided to those applicants made an academic offer of study. You will need to pay for any immunisation/vaccination costs associated with overseas travel if you chose to undertake your Elective outside of the UK. Insurance: Students need to pay for insurance and medical insurance if you choose to undertake your Elective outside of the UK. Travel: Students need to pay for travel to and from clinical placements.
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
The MBBS degree at King’s aims to train students to become: • critical scientific thinkers • collaborative leaders and innovators • outstanding patient-centred clinicians • excellent team-players • educators and life-long learners • resilient and adaptable professionals. The course is divided into three ‘Stages’ with the opportunity to take an intercalated one-year BSc course between Stages 2 and 3. Although we offer multiple entry routes into Medicine, all our students follow the same core MBBS curriculum. Stage 1 provides you with a foundation in biomedical sciences and population sciences, along with the skills to begin to integrate them with clinical practice. Stage 2 brings together science and clinical practice in blocks organised around the human life-cycle and common pathological processes. It focuses on the care of patients with common conditions in a range of clinical settings. You will also follow patients for prolonged periods of time to learn how to deliver whole- person care. This stage is underpinned by study in biomedical and population sciences. Stage 3 is oriented towards future practice and includes the opportunity to undertake elective study abroad. You will also conduct quality improvement projects and develop skills to transform patient and population health at home and abroad. Inter-professional training and increasingly realistic simulation are important parts of the curriculum. Through the programme there are a series of project modules, which offer a range of different learning, some of which can be adapted for student choice. We are looking to grow the range of Projects (and choice) we offer and this may result in changes to the Project modules in your programme. The intercalated degree is a one-year BSc course which gives you the opportunity to study the subjects of your choice in greater depth across King’s and the university’s clinical partners. As a multi-faculty institution, we offer an unrivalled range of intercalated degrees from clinical and biomedical sciences to humanities subjects. The Intercalated BSc is optional for students on the Extended Medical Degree Programme and can be taken between Stages 2 and 3 of the course. The EMDP is the UK’s flagship broadening- access-to-medicine degree. It is specifically designed for students from non-selective state schools and lasts six or seven (with the intercalated iBSc) years, allowing you to study the first stage at a slower pace. You will, however, follow the same medical curriculum as all other medical students and undergo the same rigorous assessments. We teach Stage 1 of the curriculum over two years, allowing you additional time for self- directed study, as well as a range of extra academic tuition and pastoral support. In your third year and onwards, you will sit exactly the same exams as the other medical students and you must achieve the same pass mark. At the end of the course you will graduate with the same MBBS qualification. Which course should I apply to? We will only consider your application for the EMDP if you apply for UCAS course code A101. If you wish to also be considered for the standard entry course (A100), then you must apply to UCAS course code A100 as well as A101, and we will consider each application separately. Our EMDP has the following five key aims:
The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.
Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.
On this programme, you will have the opportunity to apply to study abroad, supported by the Study Abroad Tutor in your department and King’s Global Mobility Office. Together with partner organisations around the world, you will be supported in navigating your international, educational journey, developing new skills and competences and learning to apply different perspectives to your chosen discipline.
General Medical Council (GMC)
King's is regulated by the Office for Students
Please note that A-level General Studies, Critical Thinking, Thinking Skills and Global Perspectives are not accepted by King's as one of your A levels.
Must include grade A in either Biology or Chemistry and grade B in the other. Notes: If you are taking linear A-levels in England, you will be required to pass the practical endorsement in all Science subjects. This is with the exception of private candidates who are unable to take the practical component. We do not consider the EPQ at any point of the assessment process. All applicants must take the UCAT. Please see further details below.
33 points overall or an aggregate score of 16 from three Higher Levels.
Must include grade 6 in either Higher Level Biology or Higher Level Chemistry and grade 5 at Higher Level in the other. Notes: The total point score of 33 includes TOK/EE. GCSE/IGCSE English Language and Mathematics requirement can be met via IB Standard Level/Middle Years grade 5, if not studied/studying at Higher Level. All applicants must take the UCAT.
GCSE/IGCSE Requirements
GCSE grade 6/B in both English Language and Mathematics is required.
Notes:
Functional Skills, and Numeracy/Literacy modules studied within an Access to HE diploma, are not accepted for this programme to meet the GCSE/IGCSE requirements.
If you studied abroad and did not complete GCSEs/IGCSEs or IB Standard Level/Middle Years as part of your qualifications, then we would not expect you to have met this requirement. However, international equivalents can also be considered and we will look for evidence of the equivalency in your studies.
The UCAT
All applicants are required to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT), previously known as UKCAT, prior to applying to this programme. Please note the UCAT must be taken the same year you apply in order to be valid. Please refer to the UCAT website for details on registration and test dates.
King’s does not have a threshold UCAT score in any particular year, but all candidates are still required to take the UCAT examination for this course. The overall UCAT score averaged across the four subtests is given more consideration than the individual subtest scores. The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is also taken into account when shortlisting.
Non-Academic Requirements
Age on entry: King’s is only able to accept applicants who will turn 18 years of age before commencing the second year of the Medicine degree. Applicants who will not be 18 by this date should submit an application the following year.
Occupational Health clearance (Compulsory): Required for successful applicants. All offers of a place, and continued enrolment, are made subject to satisfactory Occupational Health clearance.
Enhanced criminal conviction check (Compulsory): Required for successful applicants. All offers of a place, and continued enrolment, are made subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be 60 credits in total.
Access to Higher Education Diploma with 45 Level 3 credits overall: 30 credits must be from units awarded at Distinction, with the remaining 15 at Merit. The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be in Medicine or Dentistry, and must include at least 15 Level 3 credits in Biology awarded at Distinction and 15 Level 3 credits in Chemistry awarded at Distinction. The Access to Higher Education Diploma must be a QAA accredited course which is studied through a UK Access to Higher Education Diploma Provider, listed on the QAA website here: https://www.accesstohe.ac.uk//en/course-search Additionally, GCSE grade 6/B in both English language and Mathematics is required. Notes: Functional Skills, and Numeracy/Literacy modules studied within an Access to HE diploma, are not accepted for this programme to meet the GCSE/IGCSE requirements. All applicants must take the UCAT. Please see further details above.
Course specific subject requirements are indicated in subject requirements above
English language band: B
Please note that nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries (as defined by UKVI) who have successfully completed high school in the respective country, are not required to complete an English language test. For information on our English requirements and whether you need to complete an English language test, please see our English Language requirements page.
If considering applying to study medicine, we advise you check details in this website - GMC Outcomes for Graduates – that sets out the skills, procedures and levels of competence newly qualified doctors must have, so they can practise safely when they start work.
To be eligible to apply, you must meet the following criteria:
You must have attended only non-selective state education since the age of 11. Please list all the schools that you have attended since the age of 11 on your UCAS application, even if some previously attended schools were not in the UK. A non-selective state school is a school that does not charge fees for attendance, and does not require you to pass an exam and / or undertake an interview to be considered for entry.
You cannot have started or completed a degree before submitting your application.
You must have sat the UCAT prior to submitting your application.
Special consideration will also be given to the following:
Applicants from schools with low attainment as defined by Progress 8 score
Applicants from low participation areas as determined by ACORN, POLAR and/or IMD
Participants of Realising Opportunities (who completed Realising Opportunities up until August 2021
Participants who have completed King’s K+ or Medview / Dentview programmes
Applicants who are care experienced
Applicants with other widening participation backgrounds
*You are able to check your ACORN profile by checking your postcode using the CACI website. You will be asked to register but the service is free.
Please note that students with Overseas fee status are ineligible to apply for this programme, irrespective of the criteria above. UKCISA has a number of resources to advise you of which fee status category you may fall into dependent on your circumstances, so we would recommend reviewing these prior to making an application.
Academic achievement
You should carefully check that you will meet the programme's academic standards before making an application. Please note that many applicants meet the minimum requirements and so all applications are considered within a competitive environment.
Contextual consideration
As part of the assessment process, we take into account contextual information to gain a more complete picture of each application, including the educational context of an applicant's formal achievement. More information can be found on the Contextualised admissions website.
Your personal statement is one of the many factors in the overall assessment of your application. We are looking particularly for evidence of appropriate commitment to, and realistic appreciation of, the academic, physical and emotional demands of a medicine degree programme and career as a health professional. We would normally expect that you will have undertaken some voluntary work experience in a caring/health environment and/or observation in a medical clinical setting. Any voluntary contribution to your community is taken into account, e.g. volunteer in a care home. If this is not possible, we look for evidence that you have worked in a setting where you can interact with the general public, e.g. in a pharmacy or restaurant.
Communication skills and the ability to work successfully in a team are of great importance. We look for applicants who have participated as fully as possible in school, college or community life, making the most of the opportunities available to them and also demonstrated some experience of society beyond their immediate environment.
Your interests, achievements and contribution to your community are taken into account in addition to academic ability and scholastic activities. We look for applicants who not only have interests but may have also achieved in those areas. We aim to ensure that all of our students can cope with the heavy academic workload of the programme and display those professional qualities, skills and attitudes that help to make competent and caring medical professional.
We would expect your application to be strongly supported by your referee both in terms of academic achievements/potential and in terms of your character and suitability for medicine.
When considering applicants which will be shortlisted for interview we consider the following; GCSE (or equivalent performance), predicted or achieved A-level grades (or equivalent), the personal statement, the reference and the score in the UCAT. These contribute to the shortlisting of applicants, and we do assess for this programme holistically, taking in to account all these factors and your performance in the context of your educational background. Examination results and the UCAT score are perhaps the most important factors when considering applications. These are highlighted as they provide us with the fairest and most consistent method of assessing applicants.
No offers are made without an interview. Interviews are usually held between November to May and you must be available for interview in order to be considered for admission. If you are invited to an interview, you will be provided with further details about the expected interview format and guidance through the King’s Apply portal. A large number of applications are received for EMDP and although we recognise that this is an anxious time for you, all applications are carefully considered and therefore you should not expect a decision post-interview until the cycle has completed in May.
During the current Admissions cycle, interviews will be conducted remotely. Further information regarding interviews will be detailed in the information communicated via King's Apply to those who are invited to an interview. Interviewers will assess a range of values and personality based attributes, knowledge on topical medical issues and ethical reasoning. Communication skills will also be assessed during the interview. Interviewers have no prior knowledge of candidates before they meet them and will complete standardised interviewer assessment score sheets.
We operate a “fit-to-sit” policy for interviews, therefore, we are unable to take into account mitigating circumstances for the interview performance. If there are any issues within the interview which you consider affected your performance, you should ensure these are raised with the Admissions team.
Applications each year for our undergraduate medical programmes are around 5500 for a total of 410 places. Nearly 800 of these applications are for EMDP. Around 1200 – 1400 applicants are selected for interview across all medicine programmes and there are around 80 places available on A101. We aim to notify all applicants of final decisions by the end of May at the latest.
Resits
In a standard admissions cycle, we are able to consider applicants who have retaken their qualifications, however, you should bear in mind that your application for this programme will be reviewed alongside other strong applicants who might be viewed more favourably if they achieved the required grades within a standard timeframe, for example, a two year period for A-levels. We will only consider second resits if there are significant mitigating circumstances. In these situations we still cannot guarantee that your application will be considered, but you should submit a Mitigating Circumstances form so that this can be considered alongside your application. Please note, we consider taking the same subject again at the same level, even within a different qualification, to be a resit.
We consider applicants who have recently achieved grades which are below the entry criteria, and have subsequently studied/are studying another qualification to seek entry, such as an Access to HE Diploma or a Foundation programme, to be resit applicants.
Transfers
Transfers into this programme are not permitted.
UCAS Choices
A maximum of four choices on the UCAS form may be made for programmes which lead to a professional qualification in medicine. You may add one of the following alternative non-health programmes to your UCAS application: Anatomy, Developmental and Human Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics, Pharmacology, Physiology, Neuroscience, and Biomedical Science. Please be assured that you will be considered as having a full commitment to medicine whether you include a non-health programme choice or not.
If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, we can help with our Foundation year courses.
If you have an offer from King's, but English isn't your first language, we have courses to help you.
We will provide you with high-level teaching from experts, which you will put into practice on your placements.
Stage | Lectures, seminars and similar | Placement | Self-study time |
1 (Years 1 and 2) |
30% including cadaveric dissection in anatomy. | 0% | 70% |
2 (Years 3 and 4) |
56% including cadaveric dissection in anatomy. | 44% | 0% |
3 (Years 5 and 6) |
8% including small group and case-based teaching in clinical blocks. | 81% | 11% |
We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.
You will learn in a wide variety of hospital and community care settings. Students undertake placements at general practices and district general hospitals located in south London and southern England, currently they are mostly in Kent and Sussex. Placements outside of London offer a different and rich perspective on clinical learning, complementing the experiences gained in central London hospitals.
Unless there are exceptional circumstances, all students will experience placements at London and peripheral sites during their programme.
On successful completion of the course you will receive your MBBS degree, which is a primary medical qualification (PMQ). Holding a PMQ entitles you to apply for provisional registration with the General Medical Council, subject only to its acceptance that there are no Fitness to Practise concerns that need consideration. Provisional registration is time limited to a maximum of three years and 30 days (1125 days in total). After this time period your provisional registration will normally expire.
Provisionally registered doctors can only practise in approved Foundation Year 1 posts. To obtain a Foundation Year 1 post you will need to apply during the final year of your undergraduate course through the UK Foundation Programme Office selection scheme, which allocates these posts to graduates on a competitive basis. Generally all suitably qualified UK graduates are allocated a place on Foundation Year 1, but this cannot be guaranteed, for instance if there were to be an increased number of competitive applications from non-UK graduates.
On successful completion of Foundation Year 1, you will be eligible to apply for full registration with the GMC. You need full registration with a licence to practise for unsupervised medical practice in the NHS or private practice in the UK.
Although this information is currently correct, you should be aware that regulations in this area may change from time to time.
Assessment is split between that which is formative (where the primary role is to give feedback to student, this does not contribute towards the overall module/degree score) and summative (where the primary role is to demonstrate competence against course standards and learning outcomes). Formative assessment occurs through the years. Of note, there is an early formative learning assessment in Stage 1 to identify those who need extra support.
Summative assessment includes:
There is also one external assessment in the final year of the programme that is necessary to support your Foundation Year 1 training. It is not currently essential to pass this in order to graduate from the MBBS course.
All students must pass the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) as part of their degree before they can join the medical register. The MLA will test the core knowledge, skills and behaviour of doctors who want to practise in the UK. Applicants should be aware that to obtain registration with a licence to practise, medical students will need to pass both parts of the MLA, and all their modules and be able to demonstrate their fitness to practise.
Course accreditation
Accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC), this Primary Medical Qualification entitles the holder to apply to the GMC for registration to practise medicine in the UK.
Regulating Body
King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.
The Intercalated BSc is optional but must be taken between Stages 2 and 3.
The following Stage 1 modules are studied during years 1 & 2. You are required to take:
In addition, and in order to support the core medical curriculum, we require you to complete EMDP-specific tutorials and formative assignments, which currently include the following subject areas: • Chemistry • Numeracy • Pharmacology • Anatomy • Academic writing • Science communication • Enquiry-based learning
There are no optional modules for this year.
King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.
Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.
Our course is accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC), this Primary Medical Qualification entitles the holder to apply to the GMC for registration to practise medicine in the UK.
The UK tuition fee for the 2025-26 academic year is currently £9,535 per year. This is based on the UK Government's cap.
Additional Costs
In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:
If you choose the study abroad option with one of King’s partner universities, you will not be charged tuition fees by the host university (although some partners do charge a small administration fee for applying). Please see the Study Abroad webpages for details of the relevant partner universities and information about tuition fees: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/abroad/discover/money/tuition-fees You should also budget to pay for the associated subsistence costs, such as travel, visas, accommodation and food as well as any vaccination/immunisations required by the country to which you are travelling. The following gives you an indication of additional costs associated with the Medicine course. These costs are not included in your tuition fees. Clothing: Students will need to purchase a white coat for laboratory work from any source. Cost at August 2023: £14.00. Course-related conferences: Conferences are optional. If you attend a conference you will need to pay for all costs associated e.g. accommodation, travel, food & beverages and appropriate clothing. If the conference includes travel abroad, you will need to budget for travel insurance and, if necessary, passport renewal and visas. Disclosure and Barring certificates/clearance: Students have to pay for an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance check. This is payable as part of course registration (cost at July 2023 : £38). Electives: Students have to pay for any accommodation required as part of your Elective. You will need to pay for travel insurance and medical insurance if you choose to undertake your Elective outside of the UK and if necessary, passport renewal and visas. Equipment: Approved calculators. Across all King’s campuses computer workstations are available. Students may wish to buy their own desktop/laptop/tablet computer to support their studies (optional). For medical equipment and materials for Stage 2 onwards, you will need to purchase a stethoscope, any make/model and can be purchased from any source. Students will need to buy a fob watch with a second hand that you can pin to your clothing or put in your pocket, as you are not permitted to wear wrist watches in clinical areas. No specific make or model is required. Health checks/immunisations/vaccinations: Students pay for any immunisation/vaccination costs required to ensure you have a complete immunisation/vaccination history prior to commencing the course. Further information on required immunisations/vaccinations is provided to those applicants made an academic offer of study. You will need to pay for any immunisation/vaccination costs associated with overseas travel if you chose to undertake your Elective outside of the UK. Insurance: Students need to pay for insurance and medical insurance if you choose to undertake your Elective outside of the UK. Travel: Students need to pay for travel to and from clinical placements.
To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.
Chat with current students and King's staff to find out about the courses we offer, life at King's and ask any questions you may have.
Dr Sam Thenabadu is the Programme Director for the King's MBBS degree and a Reader in Medical Education within the Faculty of...
Take a look at our comfortable, safe residences to suit your budget, located close to King's teaching campuses.
Art, food, music, shopping – you'll never find yourself with nothing to do in the world's most vibrant city.
Information about living in London, including events, budgeting and expenses, travel and safety.
During your time at King's College London, a range of academic and personal support and guidance is available to you.