What can I do if I didn’t get into medical school?

3 August 2023

Studying medicine at university is extremely competitive. Demand always outweighs supply, so if you haven’t managed to secure a place then don’t panic, as you still have options. Find out more about what you can do if you didn't get into medical school.

Medicine students standing in a group looking at books and wearing white coats

No matter where you choose to study medicine, the number of places available each year is capped by the government, meaning securing a place has become progressively more challenging.

If you didn't get into medical school, we have several options available for you to choose from at Sunderland. You can play the long game and study a bachelor’s degree and then reapply through the graduate entry route, or you can choose an alternative career path. We have lots of science and healthcare professional degrees available, all of which offer very rewarding careers.

Graduate entry

If you didn’t quite get the grades at A Level to study medicine, then you could try the graduate entry route. This is where you choose to study a bachelor’s degree for three years and then reapply to study medicine once you graduate. You’ll need to achieve at least a 2:1 at undergraduate level to be considered for our medical course.

Ultimately, I think taking a different path into medicine gave me [a greater appreciation for the opportunity], and the confidence to make the most of it." Emma Carnell, MBChB Medicine

Alternative careers

If you don’t want to study for an additional three years before applying through the graduate entry route, we have lots of health science courses which may be of interest to you, some of which you may not have ever considered before.

If healthcare is where your passion lies, we offer several degrees including nursing, midwifery, and biomedical science. If chemistry is your strong suit, we have degrees in pharmacy, biochemistry, and medicinal chemistry. Psychology is also a great option if you’re interested in the human brain and neurology. Read on to find out more about these degrees and where they can take you in your career.

Nursing

A career in nursing is probably one of the most rewarding careers you can have. We offer three different undergraduate nursing pathways so you can really narrow down your specialism. Choose from:

Average salary: The average starting salary for a nurse in the NHS is £31,049 a year at band 5 according to the Agenda for Change(opens in new tab) pay scales. However, this can rise for senior nursing roles, with band 7 nurses with five years experience earning up to £54,710. Find out more about what you can do with a nursing degree.

Entry requirements: Typically, you'll need 112 UCAS points from a minimum of two A Levels (ideally including a health or science subject) to study one of our nursing degrees.

Visit our Nursing and Midwifery subject area to find out more.

Midwifery

Midwifery is a rewarding, dynamic, and highly-skilled profession. The role of the midwife is central in ensuring that women/persons have a safe and life-enhancing experience throughout pregnancy, labour and the first few weeks after birth. As a midwife, you'll also be responsible for making sure newborn infants and families have the best possible start in life.

Average salary: According to National Careers(opens in new tab), newly qualified midwives can expect to earn around £31,000 a year rising to around £47,000 for more experienced midwife roles.

Entry requirements: Typically, you'll need 128 UCAS points from a minimum of two A Levels or equivalent, which should include a science-related subject (biology, chemistry, or physics).

Visit our BSc (Hons) Midwifery Practice course page or the Nursing and Midwifery subject area to find out more.

Biomedical science

Studying biomedical science will develop your knowledge of scientific investigation into human health and disease, through learning how the human body functions and what happens when disease affects it. The BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science course offers four degree routes:

Biomedical Science
Applied Biomedical Science
Biomedical Science (with placement)
Healthcare Science (Life Sciences).

Average salary: The starting salary for those working in the NHS is in line with Agenda for Change(opens in new tab) pay scales, which is £31,049 on Band 5. With experience and specialist knowledge, you could increase to a band 8a, with earning potential of up to £62,682.

Entry requirements: Typically, you'll need in the region of 120 UCAS point points from a minimum of two A Levels (including biology or chemistry) to study biomedical science.

Visit our BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science course page or the Biological Sciences subject area to find out more.

Pharmacy

Studying pharmacy will allow you to become an expert in the design, development, and therapeutic use of medicines. We have over 100 years’ experience of teaching pharmacy at Sunderland and have a reputation for excellence.

Average salary: According to National Careers(opens in new tab), a starter pharmacist can earn around £39,000, with a more experienced pharmacist earning up to £63,000.

Entry requirements: Typically, you'll need 120 UCAS points from a minimum of two A Levels (including chemistry and one other science subject at grade B or above).

Visit our (MPharm) Pharmacy course page or the Pharmacy subject area to find out more.

Pharmacy students working with medicine and equipment on the mock ward

Pharmaceutical and cosmetic sciences

We also offer a range of pharmaceutical and cosmetic science degrees, including:

Average salary: According to Prospects(opens in new tab), the average starting salary in the science and pharmaceuticals sector is between £18,000 and £25,000. With experience and further training, this can rise to over £100,000.

Entry requirements: Typically, you'll need 112 UCAS points from a minimum of two A Levels (including chemistry and one other science subject at grade B or above).

Visit our Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Sciences subject area to find out more.

Psychology

Psychology is the study of the human mind and brain, as well as a wide range of phenomena such as behaviour, motivations, memory, and other cognitive processes. We offer a range of psychology degrees, including:

Psychology can lead to a range of careers including a psychotherapist, psychologist, teacher, and mental health practitioner.

Average salary: According to National Careers(opens in new tab), a starter chartered psychologist earns around £48,000, with more experience allowing you to earn around £63,000. Find out more about what you can do with a psychology degree.

Entry requirements: Typically, you'll need in the region of 120 UCAS points from a minimum of two A Levels or equivalent.

Visit our Psychology subject area to find out more.

Allied and public health

We have a range of health professional courses available including:

Average salary: Salaries for paramedics and physiotherapists are in line with the NHS Agenda for Change pay scales(opens in new tab), where the starting salary is £31,049 at band 5, with opportunities to progress to band 7 with salaries reaching £54,710.

According to National Careers(opens in new tab), the average starting salary for a registered occupational therapist working in the UK is around £31,000, with the potential of earning up to around £47,000 with more experience.

Entry requirements: Typically, you'll need 120-128 UCAS points depending on which course you choose to study.

Visit our Paramedic Science, Physiotherapy, or Occupational Therapy subject areas to find out more.

Sound interesting? Why not join us on-campus for an Open Day? It's a great opportunity to meet our staff, ask questions, and explore our fantastic facilities and city.