General practice doctor: Entry requirements

A degree in medicine recognised by the General Medical Council (GMC) is essential for entry into this profession.

Entry to medical school is becoming a popular but competitive option for postgraduates, given the expanded number of graduate entry schemes available. While some medical schools prefer science graduates, others consider graduates holding any relevant degree. Further information on general entry to medicine and medical careers is available from Medschools Online , the British Medical Association (BMA) and NHS Careers . Access courses, usually lasting one year, are also available for graduates whose degree is not in an appropriate area. See Widening Access to Medical School (WAMS) for details.

Ideally, candidates should offer some relevant voluntary/paid work experience in support of their application. Volunteering opportunities can be found at Medschools Online and Do-it .

Consult Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and individual universities for further information on precise entry requirements as practices vary between schools, but candidates will usually have to show evidence of the following:

personal qualities such as compassion, resourcefulness, stamina, motivation and perseverance;
the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team;
excellent communication skills;
leadership skills;
satisfactory sources of funding - you may need a written guarantee of your ability to finance the course;
a realistic idea of what the work involves;
an understanding of the demands of the course, which can be considerably more intensive than other degree programmes.

Extensive information about funding your course is available from Money4MedStudents . A means-tested bursary is available for specific years of the course (depending on whether you are on a graduate or standard five-year course) in addition to the standard maintenance loan available from the Student Loans Company . Check the current rate of fees and with funding bodies for your eligibility.

Other sources of funding to consider include:

a scholarship fund - contact individual universities’ registrar’s departments for details;
bursaries, loans or trust funds available through professional associations;
personal/professional bank loan schemes, or a career development loan;
medical cadetships - see the armed forces’ websites for details;
The British Medical Association (BMA) Medical Education Trust Fund - grants to students taking medicine as their second degree.

Identify other sources of funding by using resources such as:

The Grants Register: The Complete Guide to Postgraduate Funding Worldwide Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan ;
Guide to the Major Trusts Author: Traynor and Lillya Publisher: Directory of Social Change (DSC) ;
the FunderFinder database in your careers service or university or public library;
Hotcourses Scholarship Search ;
Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS)

Getting into medicine continues to be very competitive and so a candidate's motivation and commitment at entry level are rigorously assessed. Whole books of advice are available, but you can also find some free sample questions and tips for the interview process at ISC Medical .

For more information see work experience and find courses and research.

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