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Gateway to Medicine

  • Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
  • 6 Years
  • Full-Time
  • September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Clifton Campus
More about University of Bristol

Course options

2025-20262026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Gateway to Medicine is aimed at students with the potential to become doctors who do not meet the standard academic entry criteria to apply directly to our five-year Medicine course. Our Gateway courses are a widening participation initiative for UK students who fulfil specific criteria and wish to apply for a clinical programme.

During the gateway year, students will learn alongside each other, benefiting from shared interprofessional insight and the unique community of Bristol's medical, dental and veterinary schools. Students will be taught by teachers who are scientists and clinicians.

The Gateway course builds on core basic sciences underpinning clinical subjects (chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, anatomy and physiology). It encourages reflection and places emphasis on personal and professional development; strengthens practical, numeracy, research and library skills; and considers attributes and behaviours that enable a successful transition to university study. Successful completion of the gateway year allows automatic progression onto the five-year MB ChB Medicine.

Eligibility

This course is open to applicants who live in an Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile 1 or 2 area, those who have spent 3 months or more in care and/or those who have been eligible for free school meals. For further information visit the contextual offers and Gateway courses eligibility webpages.

The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is required for admission to this course. You may be eligible for a UCAT bursary to cover the cost of taking the test.

Health and conduct

Certain health conditions may be incompatible with some careers in medicine. Further information can be found in our pre-course information, or you can contact our Occupational Health team.

If you have a chronic health condition contact the enquiries team for guidance on making an application.

Medical students must complete a health questionnaire and undergo a medical examination. Non-immune students must be immunised against hepatitis B and tuberculosis.

In accordance with the General Medical Council guidelines, all medical students undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in line with other UK health-related courses.

This course is not accepting applications for deferred entry.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Clifton Campus

Study options

  • Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery • Full-Time • 6 Years

Start dates

  • September 2027

Apply by
15 October 2026

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
A108
Institution code:
B78
Campus name:
Clifton Campus
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Bristol has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
15 October 2026

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
A108
Institution code:
B78
Campus name:
Clifton Campus

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
BBC

BBC including B in Biology or Chemistry.

Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of AAB or above (or points equivalent), or with A in Chemistry, are not eligible for this course.

This course has additional eligibility criteria, please check these before applying.

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

Scottish Higher
BBBBC

Higher: BBBBC.

Applicants with achieved or predicted Advanced Higher grades of AA, or with Chemistry at A grade, are not eligible for this course.
This course has additional eligibility criteria, please check these before applying.

Access to HE Diploma
Not accepted

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants must also meet these GCSE profile requirements: standard literacy requirement (4 or C in GCSE English or equivalent) and Standard numeracy requirement (4 or C in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent).

Further information about GCSE requirements and profile levels: bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/gcse/

Scottish Advanced Higher
BB

Advanced Higher: BB including Biology or Chemistry.

Applicants with achieved or predicted Advanced Higher grades of AA, or with Chemistry at A grade, are not eligible for this course.
This course has additional eligibility criteria, please check these before applying.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Offer: 29

29 points overall with 14 at Higher level, including 5 at Higher Level in Biology or Chemistry.

Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of 33 points overall including 16 at Higher Level, or with 6 at Higher Level in Chemistry, are not eligible for this course.

This course has additional eligibility criteria, please check these before applying.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales or the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DMM

BTEC Extended Diploma Applied Science (RQF): Grades DDM or DMM, including five specified Biology or Chemistry units in any combination. Applicants with predicted or achieved grades of DDD or above cannot be considered for Gateway programmes but could be considered for the five-year standard entry course instead.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)

Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/ D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/ M2 is B, and M3 is C.

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/2027/medicine/mb-chb-gateway-to-medicine/#entry-requirements

Additional entry requirements

Other
This course has additional eligibility criteria, please check these before applying: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/gateway-eligibility/
Health Checks
Medical students must complete a health questionnaire and undergo a medical examination. Non-immune students must be immunised against hepatitis B and tuberculosis.
Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) / Disclosure Scotland Check
In accordance with the General Medical Council guidelines, all medical students undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in line with other UK health-related courses.
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (formerly UKCAT) is required. Bursaries are available to cover the cost of taking the UCAT - please see the UCAT website for details. Work experience is recommended; please see the Admissions statement. For 2026 entry, the final UCAT threshold score to be invited to interview was 1800. The number used as a threshold for interview is subject to change year-on-year.

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Republic of Ireland & InternationalTBC

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Fees are subject to annual review and are liable to rise each year. Home fees will be set in line with UK government policy and updated as per their guidance, while international fees increase annually in line with expected inflation rises. Visit bristol.ac.uk/ug-fees-funding for further information, including estimated fees for subsequent years and typical total costs.

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