The Best Medical Schools in the UK
Universities for medicine in the UK ranked! These are the best medical schools in the country.
Embarking on a medical career in the UK means navigating a landscape of exceptional institutions, each offering a unique pathway to success. Applicants will find a spectrum of approaches, from those prioritising smaller learning environments and high student satisfaction to those looking for cutting-edge research and early clinical exposure.
The choice extends beyond academic reputation, encompassing factors like teaching methodologies, research opportunities, and the overall student experience. Below we explore some of the top medical schools in the country.
Top Medical Schools in the UK
University of Aberdeen
For AAA students, Aberdeen should be a strong contender on your list of institutions, with a low student to staff ratio of 7.5 (lower than that of Oxford or Cambridge), it is no surprise that 92.9% of students say that they are satisfied with the teaching and that 99% of students are employed within 15 months of graduating. The interview for entry takes the form of Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI), the details of which can be found on our Guide to studying Medicine in the UK.
University of Cambridge
Unsurprisingly, Cambridge has one of the highest entry requirements (A*A*A). It is highly recommended that you gain some work experience prior to applying, and they opt for the more traditional panel style of interview. But this is certainly reflected in its quality of study. Medistudents reports that it has the highest spend per student so admission to this university will, in theory, give you the best value for money. Especially considering that 99.6% of first year students carry on into their second year of study. Furthermore 99.6% of Cambridge medical students are in employment 15 months after graduation.
St Andrews University
An impressive 100% of first year students carry on into their second year of study at St Andrews and although a slightly lower (though still high) rate of 97% of students enter employment after graduation, it has one of the highest student satisfaction ratings of 95.7%. Furthermore, it has lower entry requirements than some other universities in the top ten, AAB.
Swansea University
Swansea has a relatively small cohort each year so students are able to get to everyone very well and act as a strong support system for one another. Furthermore, it has a strong graduate employability of 99% after 15 months. This may be owing to its focus on early clinical exposure and hands-on experience which sets its students up well for jumping straight into work. However, it should be noted that Swansea only offers graduate entry, so although there is no minimum A-Level requirement, students must have an achieved or predicted 2:1 Bachelor’s degree. This can be in any subject.
The University of Edinburgh
It could be argued that Edinburgh, like Swansea, enhances employability to a greater extent owing to its more integrated approach – it integrates placement into the first few years of the course rather than having a preclinical/clinical split like other universities, such as Cambridge. This means that from your first year you will be exposed to clinical settings alongside your studies. This is reflected in the numbers – 100% of students are reported to be in employment after 15 months.
Keele University
Excluding St Andrews, Keele has one of the most impressive figures for continuation, with approximately 99.7 first year students staying on into their second year. Its small class sizes and supportive learning environment has also led to consistently high student satisfaction ratings. Furthermore, for such a prestigious medical school, Keele has one of the lowest entry requirements. Typical UCAS scores of successful applicants average at 174.
Imperial College
Like Edinburgh and Cambridge, 100 percent of Imperial students find employment within fifteen months of graduation. However, it has comparatively lower student satisfaction rates, just 57.5 percent of those asked reported that they were satisfied with feedback. Nevertheless, it is a leader in technology-enhanced learning such as VR and AI simulation. In addition, its location in the capital gives students the chance to work in some of the UK’s best hospitals such as St Mary’s, Charing Cross and Hammersmith.
University of Oxford
Like Cambridge, Oxford spends more money per student per year in comparison to competing universities. This is also reflected in the high entry requirements (A*AA). Traditional panel interviews are also standard for Oxford application which some students may find more intimidating but with the right preparation, the interview should be an incredibly enlightening and rewarding process. Oxford, however, typically appears below Cambridge on ranking tables owing to its slightly lower statistics on student continuation after first year (97.2%) and its higher student to staff ratio. Cambridge comes out on top with a ratio of 7.8 compared to Oxford’s 10.4 students to staff. However, both of these are lower than Aberdeen so don’t let the Oxbridge name fool you.
Full list of Medical Schools in the UK
Ranked in alphabetical order:
| Anglia Ruskin |
| Aston |
| Birmingham |
| Brighton Sussex |
| Bristol |
| Brunel |
| Buckingham |
| Canterbury Christ Church |
| Cardiff |
| Central Lancashire |
| Chester |
| Dundee |
| Edge Hill |
| Exeter |
| Glasgow |
| Hull York Medical School |
| Kent |
| King’s College London |
| Lancaster |
| Leeds |
| Leicester |
| Liverpool |
| Manchester |
| Newcastle |
| Nottingham |
| Plymouth |
| Queen’s Belfast |
| Queen Mary |
| Sheffield |
| Southampton |
| South Wales |
| St George’s |
| Sunderland |
| UCL |
| UEA |
| Ulster |
| Warwick |
How can Simply Learning Tuition help?
Our expert university placement consultants can help you with your application to medical school. Our consultants work with you from the start of Year 12 to ensure your application is competitive enough to secure a place at one of the top medical schools. We help you with your application including work experience and wider reading, provide guidance on your personal statement and interview preparation.
We are also able to provide you A Level and IB tuition we work with that have successfully helped students to achieve the subject grades needed for UCAS. We can also provide tuition for the medical school entrance tests, including the UCAT. (Please note the BMAT is no longer in use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many medical universities are there in the UK?
There are 44 certified medical schools in the UK.
How many years is medical school in the UK?
It takes five or six years to graduate from medical school in the UK. Some universities include three years of preclinical studies before students go on to placements in hospitals to complete the clinical section of their training. For graduate students, medical school can take just four years.
Which is the hardest medical school to get into in the UK?
Cambridge is typically considered to be the hardest medical school to get into owing to it’s high entry requirements (A*A*A).
Is it hard to get into medical school in the UK?
Yes, entry into medical school is extremely competitive and students must be prepared to demonstrate their aptitude and knowledge throughout a rigorous application process. However, with the right motivation and passion of the medical profession, the competitive nature of medicine should not put you off.
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