MBChB Medicine

The MBChB Medicine degree prepares you to meet the knowledge, skills, and professionalism expected of all new doctors as they begin their careers. The course is fully approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) following a successful quality assurance process.

Apply now Register your interest

Medicine and nursing students assessing a patient simulation manikin in a hospital bed on a mock ward

Start date/study mode:

UCAS codeA100

Duration5 years

Fee (UK)£9,535

LocationOn campus

Course summary

You’ll study in a modern, forward-thinking environment using a spiral curriculum and problem-based learning. Each year builds on the last, helping you develop independent thinking, problem-solving, clear communication, and a deep understanding of the wider social, environmental, and global context of healthcare.

We’re partnered with three hospital trusts, two mental health trusts, community services, and 63 GP practices, and have five dedicated Directors of Undergraduate Clinical Studies. You'll also learn alongside biomedical, sports and physiological scientists; pharmacists; nurses; and paramedics – preparing you for interdisciplinary teamwork.

Medicine is a diverse profession with a wide range of career paths. Through strong clinical placements and a supportive learning environment, you’ll graduate with a solid foundation in general and social sciences and extensive patient contact in both hospital and GP settings. You’ll gain insight into the health needs of diverse communities and patients’ experiences within the NHS.

At the end of the course, you’ll receive a GMC-approved Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ), allowing you to apply for provisional GMC registration and a licence to practise medicine in the UK, provided there are no fitness to practise concerns.

All UK medical students must also pass the GMC’s Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA), which tests the core knowledge, skills, and behaviours required for safe practice. The MLA is built into your degree and must be passed to join the UK medical register. It ensures a consistent standard for all new doctors, giving patients and employers confidence in your training – no matter where it took place. Read more about the MLA(opens in new tab).

My experience of studying medicine has been amazing! I've felt very supported from the beginning, and I can’t wait to see what the next few years bring.
Muneera Ali
Read Muneera Ali's story

What you'll study

Many of our courses include a range of modules you can choose from. Some of these options may only be available if you’ve already studied specific required modules. If you’re not sure what you need before picking a module, your course leader can help.

Undergraduate module credits should total 120 credits per academic year. If optional modules are available alongside core modules on your course, you should choose an amount that totals 120 credits.

How you'll learn

Studying medicine relies on methods that are clinically realistic. You'll be taught via scheduled teaching and learning activities (mainly in small class sizes and groups, but also in lectures and seminars), anatomy teaching based in the Anatomy Lab, problem-based/case-based learning, extensive clinical placements in hospital and community settings, and guided independent study.

Our course is designed to help you maximise your career progression and leadership potential through opportunities to study a range of complementary subjects drawn from the University, including the humanities. We make learning enjoyable through small group learning, early clinical experience, and helping you to develop into a highly competent and self-aware professional.

You'll be assessed by in-year written work, written information management skills assessments, written knowledge examinations, reflective assignments, and practical examinations.

You’ll have regular feedback and one-on-one tutor sessions, which will help you improve your performance and address any difficulties you might be having.

The curriculum has three phases delivered at the University and in primary and secondary care settings. Years 1 and 2 are based predominantly at City Campus. Clinical placements in Years 3-5 are based in well-established local teaching hospitals and GP practices.

Intercalation is available as an option after Year 2 as a BSc degree or Year 4 as an MSc degree. You'll have the opportunity to undertake a course at the University, or at another university, subject to approval by the School of Medicine.

Phase 1 (Years 1 and 2):

This will be an overview with early clinical exposure. You'll learn the fundamentals of biomedical, behavioural, and social science with a focus on sciences, research, study and communication skills, basic clinical skills, and professionalism.

Phase 2 (Years 3 and 4):

You get a second run through of many aspects of biomedical, behavioural, and social science with an increased emphasis on complexity and pathology, combined with learning fundamental clinical skills and knowledge. You'll also undertake clinical placements, building on the foundations of clinical knowledge and skills developed in the preceding years.

Phase 3: Preparation for Professional Practice (Year 5):

This will consist of extensive student assistantships to prepare you for practice as a Foundation Year 1 doctor.

Entry requirements

For a full list of the subjects we accept, please see our academic qualification requirements. Please note, we're unable to accept international applicants. We're also unable to accept applicants who don't hold the A Levels and GCSEs required below. Equivalent qualifications won't be accepted.

A Level

A Levels in three subjects at grades AAA are required, including biology or chemistry, plus another designated science subject (biology, chemistry, physics, maths/further maths/statistics) and a third academic subject. Any science A Level (biology, chemistry, physics) completed in England from 2017 must include a pass in the practical endorsement. Without this, the qualification will be judged to have failed, regardless of the headline grade. Please note, some subjects aren't accepted. Only one subject from a combination of maths or further maths or statistics will be considered within the three A Levels. A Level grades must be achieved in one sitting.

The primary admissions criteria which is being considered (for example, A Levels) must have been completed within the past five years.

GCSE

We also require five passes at GCSE grade A (numerical grade 7), with a minimum of grade B (numerical grade 6) in maths, English language, biology, chemistry, and physics. GCSE English Language as a second language isn't accepted. GCSE resits are accepted and must be gained prior to application. A maximum of two resit attempts per subject will be considered.

Graduate route

If you already hold a degree, please see our standard entry graduate route.

Access to Higher Education

Please note, we don't accept Access to Higher Education/Access to Medicine courses.

UCAT

All applicants must take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)(opens in new tab) during the year in which they apply. Scores must be within the top 8 deciles of the cohort and situational judgement test (SJT) must be within bands 1-3. The adjusted UCAT scores for the past five years, based on the removal of abstract reasoning, are:


Year	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
Minimum score	1670	1680	1650	1670	1690

Numeracy test

The numeracy test is now part of the interview selection process and consists of a 40-minute online test that contains 25 multiple-choice questions.

Interview Selection Tool

The interview selection tool is a survey used as part of the shortlisting process for selection for interview. Applicants meeting the minimum academic requirements (including appropriate aptitude tests and numeracy test) will be issued this online form.

Applicants are encouraged to write about and reflect on work experiences they've had which they believe allowed them to develop the skills and attributes they may need for a future career in medicine.

Interviews

Shortlisting for interview is based on academic requirements, our interview selection tool, a numeracy test, and UCAT score. Our interviews take the form of multiple mini-interviews (MMIs). Read more about the interview process.

Fitness to practise

This course is a registered professional programme and the ability to practise safely and effectively is essential. All students will be subjected to Fitness to Practise procedures which include DBS clearance checks, Health Declaration, and Declaration of Good Conduct.

Under 18

We require all applicants to be 18 years old by 31 December in the year they intend to start the course due to our early clinical placements.

Contextual offer

We have a contextual offer of AAB for applicants that fulfil both our local postcode (North East and Cumbria) and meet one of our Widening Participation requirements:

POLAR 4 quintiles 1 and 2 (home address) criteria
You're a refugee
You receive free school meals or were eligible within the last six years
You received a UCAT bursary
You're a student from a UK armed forces family (military service child).

You can check your postcode on the Office for Students website(opens in new tab). Applicants must still meet the normal entry requirements, including the required UCAT score.

If you're unsure about your local status please email medicineapplications@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab).

Work experience guidance

We expect applicants to have work experience. This is in line with the Medical Schools’ Council Work Experience Guidelines. Find out more about work experience requirements.

Fees and finance support

UK£9,535

Please note, we're unable to accept international fee-paying applicants. Fee assessment is made at the point of application; you must be assessed as a home fee payer for your application to be considered.

Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. The fee for your first year of study for 2026/27 will be £9,535. You'll pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.

Check your fee status(opens in new tab).

See all course tuition fees.

Apply now