About

In 2025, BM5 Year 1 students will study an improved and updated course. This will have more clinical learning time and embedded research experience. The major change, to enable this, is the removal of the research project in Year 3 and the associated integrated BMedSc award.

On this Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) Medicine BM5 degree, you'll study medicine at one of the UK's leading teaching hospitals – Southampton General Hospital – and at our purpose-built Life Sciences facilities on campus. You'll get clinical experience from the first weeks of your course, meeting patients in hospital and primary care settings. You'll also benefit from our world-leading medical research groups, carrying out your own in-depth project.

If you already have a degree, you may be able to apply for our 4-year medicine course.

As part of your degree you will:

attend shifts as a healthcare support worker to experience multi-professional teamwork
benefit from teaching from our world-leading medical research groups, embedding research firmly in the curriculum
take a student assistantship module in year 5

You will meet patients in clinical settings and will learn from volunteer patients, simulated environments and prepared patient cases.

You can:

take your year 5 elective anywhere in the UK, or abroad
apply for a master's of medical science or a MSc at Southampton - or study for a iBSc or MSc at another university - between year 3 and year 4 (known as intercalation)
explore topics that interest you through our student selected units

You can get involved in research and entrepreneurship. We work on life-changing treatments and therapies in partnership with industry and with experts in the physical sciences, computing, engineering and mathematics fields.

In year 3, students may be placed in partner trusts including Portsmouth and Winchester as well as Southampton. In the final 2 years of the programme, students are placed across the Wessex region.

We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.

Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).

Requirements

Entry Requirements

For Academic year 202526

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be 18 or over at the start of the course. Any applicant under 18, if given an offer post interview, will potentially be offered a deferred place.

BM5 is open to Home and International students. International applicants must meet the entry requirements for either a School Leaver, Graduate or Mature Non-Graduate through the listed or equivalent qualifications. International applicants will also have to meet the IELTS or equivalent requirement listed below.

All applicants must sit the UCAT test before the 15th October UCAS deadline. Applicants must take UCAT in the year they are applying.

All applicants must meet one of the below entry requirement combinations.

BM5 School Leaver applicants must meet the minimum standard A Level and GCSE entry requirements listed below.

Any BM5 Home (UK) School Leaver applicant who meets two of the University contextual admissions criteria will be considered for the contextual A Level entry requirement, please see below. Graduate, Mature Non-Graduate and International applicants are not eligible for a contextual offer. Contextual applicants have to meet the standard GCSE requirement.

BM5 Graduate applicants (to BM4 and BM5) need to achieve an Upper Second-Class Honours (2.1) in their first degree, this must be equivalent to a UK Honours degree. The degree can be in any subject and no preference will be given based on the degree subject taken. Please note we do not have any A Level requirements for graduate applicants. Please see below for Graduate GCSE requirements.

Applicants being considered as Mature Non-Graduate applicants must be over 21 years old at the point of submitting their application (15th October) and not hold a degree. Applicants must meet the standard A Level or equivalent entry requirement. Please see below for specific Mature Non-Graduate GCSE requirements.

A-levels

AAA to include A level Biology and one additional science (with a pass in the practical element where it is separately endorsed). Please note applicants must offer AAA or above, we do not accept grade or tariff equivalents to AAA. BM5 graduate applicants please see BM4 entry requirements.

A-levels additional information

Acceptable science subjects are Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Studies or Geography. Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking. Subjects where there may be considerable overlap of material will not be accepted in combination (examples of combinations include, but are not exclusive to, Zoology/Biology; Biology/Sports Studies/Physical Education). If you believe there is a potential overlap, please contact us before applying.

A-levels with Extended Project Qualification

For this programme we do not make an alternative offer, however we welcome applicants who have achieved a good grade in the EPQ

A-levels contextual offer

We are committed to ensuring that all students with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a student’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Students who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme, as follows: AAB to include A level Biology and one additional science (with a pass in the practical element where it is separately endorsed).

BM5 Contextual offers only apply to School Leaver applicants. To be considered contextual School Leaver applicants need to meet two contextual flags in accordance with the University contextual admissions criteria.

or

International Baccalaureate Diploma

Overall score of 36 points with 18 at Higher Level, with 6 in Biology and one additional Science

International Baccalaureate Diploma additional information

Acceptable science subjects are Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Studies or Geography. Subjects where there may be considerable overlap of material will not be accepted in combination (examples of combinations include, but are not exclusive to, Zoology/Biology; Biology/Sports Studies/Physical Education). If you believe there is a potential overlap, please contact us before applying.

International Baccalaureate contextual offer

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

or

BTEC

AA from two A levels in Biology and one additional science and Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (360 GLH) at Distinction. Applied Science is not accepted. Subject provided reviewed on a case by case basis. Subjects where there may be considerable overlap of material will not be accepted in combination (examples of combinations include, but are not exclusive to, Zoology/Biology; Biology/Sports Studies/Physical Education). If you believe there is a potential overlap, please contact us before applying.

RQF BTEC

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Additional information

We do not accept the BTEC Diploma or Extended Diploma as a qualifications on their own, they must be offered in conjunction with the required Biology and Additional Science A Levels. BTEC Applied Science is not accepted for BM5.

QCF BTEC

AA from two A levels in Biology and one additional science and Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (360 GLH) at Distinction. Applied Science is not accepted. Subject provided reviewed on a case by case basis. Subjects where there may be considerable overlap of material will not be accepted in combination (examples of combinations include, but are not exclusive to, Zoology/Biology; Biology/Sports Studies/Physical Education). If you believe there is a potential overlap, please contact us before applying.

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

or

Entry requirements filter options

Show more entry requirements

Access to HE Diploma

Irish Leaving Certificate

Scottish Qualification offers

Cambridge Pre-U

Welsh Baccalaureate

T Level

Access to HE Diploma

Access to Medicine - May be accepted from approved institutions or with suitable scientific content. 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3 all of which must at Distinction.

Access to HE additional information

Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) will be accepted. Other access courses may be considered on a case by case basis, however, online access courses will not accepted. We would expect there to be a significant amount of time between the previous qualification (where relevant) and the Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) or alternative access course. We will not consider an application from an A Level student who undertakes an Access course shortly after completing their A Level but fails to achieve the required advertised A Level grades. Access courses are most likely to be considered for applicants who have not taken Science qualifications.

Irish Leaving Certificate

Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2017)

H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 H2, with H2 in Biology and one additional science

Irish Leaving Certificate (first awarded 2016)

A1 A1 A2 A2 A2 A2, with A2 in Biology and one additional science

Irish certificate additional information

Acceptable science subjects are Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Studies or Geography. Subjects where there may be considerable overlap of material will not be accepted in combination (examples of combinations include, but are not exclusive to, Zoology/Biology; Biology/Sports Studies/Physical Education). If you believe there is a potential overlap, please contact us before applying.

Scottish Qualification

Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.

Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

Cambridge Pre-U

D3 D3 D3, including Biology and one additional science

Cambridge Pre-U additional information

Acceptable science subjects are Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Studies or Geography. Subjects where there may be considerable overlap of material will not be accepted in combination (examples of combinations include, but are not exclusive to, Zoology/Biology; Biology/Sports Studies/Physical Education). If you believe there is a potential overlap, please contact us before applying.

Welsh Baccalaureate

AAA to include A level Biology and one additional science (with a pass in the practical element where it is separately endorsed) or AA from two A levels in including Biology and one additional science (with a pass in the practical element where it is separately endorsed) and grade A from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate

Welsh Baccalaureate additional information

Acceptable science subjects are Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, Sociology, Environmental Studies or Geography. Subjects where there may be considerable overlap of material will not be accepted in combination (examples of combinations include, but are not exclusive to, Zoology/Biology; Biology/Sports Studies/Physical Education). If you believe there is a potential overlap, please contact us before applying.

Welsh Baccalaureate contextual offer

We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

T-Level

T Level qualifications are not accepted for this course.

English Program Requirements

Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.

English language requirements

If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:

IELTS score requirements

overall score: 7.0
reading: 7.0
writing: 7.0
speaking: 7.0
listening: 7.0

We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.

Career

Careers

At the end of the undergraduate course, you'll have the following qualifications: a Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSc Honours) and a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) degree, which is a primary medical qualification (PMQ). Holding a PMQ means you can apply to work in the National Health Service.

At the end of the course, you will be qualified to register with the GMC and apply for a Foundation Year 1 post.

With a medical degree from Southampton you'll have excellent career prospects. 100% of our students are in work or further study within 6 months of completing their degree.

Most of our graduates go straight into work as a Foundation Year doctor. Learn more about the Foundation scheme and what happens after graduation.

Our graduates go on to practise medicine in a wide range of careers including:

accident and emergency
anaesthetics
armed forces medicine
general practitioner (GP)
gynaecology
hospital medicine specialties
medical research
obstetrics
orthopaedics
paediatrics
pathology
primary care
psychiatry
public health
radiology
surgery

You'll be supported by your personal academic tutor who can advise you on your career path throughout your course.

Careers services at Southampton

We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:

work experience schemes
CV and interview skills and workshops
networking events
careers fairs attended by top employers
a wealth of volunteering opportunities
study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

43,037 / year

Medicine BM5 (BMBS)