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We have three different medicine courses. Here are the main differences to help you figure out which course is right for you.

This information is accurate for 2026 and 2027 entry.  

Our courses mainly differ in the following areas:

• length of study
• offer requirements
• test
• places for international students
• finances

Length of study

The standard length of a medical degree is usually around 5 years, however this will vary depending on if a student has a foundation year or is on a graduate entry programme.

Length of study of medicine courses

Course	Medicine	Medicine with a Foundation Year	Graduate Entry Medicine
Length of Study	Five-years	Six-years	Four-years

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Offer requirements 

Typical offer requirements of medicine courses

Course	Medicine	Medicine with a Foundation Year	Graduate Entry Medicine
A level	AAA	BBC	N/A
IB	34	26	N/A
Degree	2:1	N/A	2:2 (2:1 from 2027)
Contextual A level	AAB	N/A	N/A
Contextual IB	32	N/A	N/A

Our courses with foundation years and any contextual offer requirements are only available to applicants who meet our contextual admissions criteria. Please check that you meet the criteria before applying.

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Test

All of our courses require a test to be taken as part of the application process, this will be either the UCAT or the GAMSAT depending on the course.

Required tests

Course	Medicine	Medicine with a Foundation Year	Graduate Entry Medicine 2026	Graduate Entry Medicine 2027
Test	UCAT	UCAT	GAMSAT	UCAT

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Places for international students

Most of our courses are open to international students, however, some are not so please make sure you check before applying.

Places for international students on medicine courses

Course	Medicine	Medicine with a Foundation Year	Graduate Entry Medicine
Open to international applicants	Yes	No	Yes

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Finances

If you have any specific queries about finances we'd recommend getting in touch with our Funding and Financial Support team directly.

NHS funding, bursaries and grants are only available to UK or home students. Please note that not all funding options, bursaries, or scholarships will be available to all students, so please check whether you meet the relevant criteria on our factsheets.

Finances on medicine courses

Course	Medicine	Medicine with a Foundation Year	Graduate Entry Medicine
Year 1 funding options	Student loans Self-funded	Student loans Self-funded	Part self-funded and part student loan Self-funded
Year 2 funding options	Student loans Self-funded	Student loans Self-funded	Part NHS funded and part student loan Part NHS funded and part self-funded Self-funded
Year 3 funding options	Student loans Self-funded	Student loans Self-funded	Part NHS funded and part student loan Part NHS funded and part self-funded Self-funded
Year 4 funding options	Student loans Self-funded	Student loans Self-funded	Part NHS funded and part student loan Part NHS funded and part self-funded Self-funded
Year 5 funding options	NHS funded Self-funded	NHS funded	N/A
Year 6 funding options	N/A	NHS funded	N/A
Available bursaries	Student Finance allowances NHS bursary in Year 5 and allowances University of Nottingham bursaries and scholarships	Student Finance allowances NHS bursary in Years 4 and 5 and allowances University of Nottingham bursaries and scholarships including University Core Bursary	Student Finance allowances NHS allowances University of Nottingham bursaries and scholarships

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