At the end of the undergraduate course you will receive your BMBS degree, which is a primary medical qualification (PMQ). Holding a PMQ entitles you to provisional registration with the General Medical Council, subject only to its acceptance that there are no Fitness to Practise concerns that need consideration. Provisional registration is time limited to a maximum of three years and 30 days (1125 days in total). After this time period your provisional registration will normally expire.
UKFP Foundation Programme
Provisionally registered doctors can only practise in approved UK Foundation Year 1 posts: the law does not allow provisionally registered doctors to undertake any other type of work. To obtain a UK Foundation Year 1 post you will need to apply during the final year of your undergraduate course through the UK Foundation Programme Office selection scheme, which allocates these posts to graduates on a competitive basis. So far, all suitably qualified UK graduates have found a place on the UK Foundation Year 1 programme, but this cannot be guaranteed, for instance if there were to be an increased number of competitive applications from non-UK graduates.
Successful completion of the Foundation Year 1 programme is normally achieved within 12 months and is marked by the award of a Certificate of Experience. You will then be eligible to apply for full registration with the General Medical Council. You need full registration with a licence to practise for unsupervised medical practice in the NHS or private practice in the UK.
More information about the UKFP Foundation Programme.
Although this information is currently correct, students need to be aware that regulations in this area may change from time to time.
There is some discussion about whether to remove provisional registration for newly qualified doctors. If this happens then UK graduates will receive full registration as soon as they have successfully completed a BM BS degree. It should be noted that it is very likely that UK graduates will still need to apply for a training programme similar to the current UKFP Foundation Programme and that places on this programme may not be guaranteed for every UK graduate.
In addition the GMC has announced that from 2022, the students graduating in that year onwards will be required to undertake the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA).
Professional recognition
This course is recognised by the General Medical Council.
Average starting salary and career progression
In 2016, 99.6% of undergraduates in the school who were available for employment had secured work or further study within six months of graduation. The average starting salary was £27,958 with the highest being £40,000.*
* Known destinations of full-time home undergraduates, 2015/16. Salaries are calculated based on the median of those in full-time paid employment within the UK.
Postgraduate medical education
Find out more about training opportunities in the East Midlands region after graduation.
Careers Support and Advice
Studying for a degree at the University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take. Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills by:
- assisting with job or course applications
- searching for appropriate work experience placements
- hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers
Have a look at our Careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.