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Doing MBBS at Oxford University- A Brief Guide

Doing MBBS at Oxford University- A Brief Guide

Q: Is MBBS available at Oxford University?

Oxford University offers the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) program for 6 years. This is a full-time and on-campus program.

Q: How many years is the MBBS at Oxford University?

There is a 6-year duration for the standard course with a UCAS code of A100. The pre-clinical years are 1-3, where students get their BA degree in Medical Sciences.

Q: What is MBBS in the UK called?

The MBBS degree in the UK is called the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. The acronym is MB BCh or MB ChB, depending on the institution.

Q: What are some of the Oxford University medical courses for international students?

The university offers MSc, DPhil, and PhD courses in various medical fields apart from MBBS.

By Sachin Pundir

Updated on May 05, 2025 | 1.36K+ views

Table of Contents

Pursuing an MBBS at Oxford University is a dream for medical aspirants worldwide. The medical program is steeped in history, with an organized curriculum dating back to the 1300s. Doctors training at Oxford were employed as royal physicians, and its first known teacher, Nicolas Tingewick, even treated Edward I.

Today, Oxford remains one of the most prestigious medical schools for MBBS. If you’re considering studying in the UK, it’s essential to understand the cost of living, which can significantly impact your overall experience. For detailed insights, explore our Cost of Living in the UK guide.

How to Apply for a UK Student Visa: The Step-by-Step Guide | upGrad Abroad 3 min

Program Highlights

Here are some of the highlights of an MBBS at Oxford University:

Course Name	Medicine (Undergraduate)
Duration	3 years (BA), 6 years (BM BCh)
Subject Requirements	Chemistry with either Maths, Further Maths, Biology or Physics
Admissions Test	BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test)
Admission Figures	23% interviewed, 8% successful, overall intake 155 (3-year average from 2020 to 2022)
Interview	Required
Admission Test Timeline	BMAT- 18th October, 2023. Registration Deadline- 29th September, 2023
International Student Quota	14 per year across both the accelerated and entry medicine courses
Admission Timeline	16th October is the deadline. The date is usually 15th October, unless it falls on a weekend
Fees	£43,670-£57,690 per year (The Oxford University fees in Indian rupees for MBBS are INR 44-59 lakh per year)

Cost of living in UK: Cost of living in UK

Eligibility Criteria

Here are the eligibility criteria for MBBS in Oxford University:

A-Levels- A*AA in three A-levels in the same academic year. Grade A in both Chemistry and at least one out of Mathematics, Biology, Further Mathematics or Physics.
Advanced Highers- AA (taken in the same year in Chemistry and one from Mathematics, Physics, or Biology) plus Highers: AAAAA (in the same academic year).
International Baccalaureate: 39 (inclusive of core points) with 766 at HL. Chemistry is required along with one out of Biology, Physics, or Mathematics to Higher Level.
Other national/international qualifications are also eligible.
There are no official GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education is a set of examinations taken in England and other British territories) requirements. Yet, applicants should have a basic education in Physics, Biology, and Mathematics.
English language requirements for those whose first language is not English.

Career Opportunities

Medical careers in the UK come with vast and wide-ranging specialty training pathways after the standard medical qualification. This may be general practice, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and any other relevant discipline. Along with working in operating theatres, clinics, and wards, graduates may also venture into research and academia. Oxford’s Clinical School holds career sessions for final-year clinical students to help them know about and apply for foundation posts. BM BCh graduates will also get provisional registration with the GMC (General Medical Council), with the license to practice.

There are several specialties to choose from, for doctors in the UK. There are opportunities as SAS doctors along with employment prospects in the Defence Medical Services, civil service, expedition medicine, law, management, medical communications and journalism, prison health service, pharmaceutical medicine, management, and medical politics and ethics. Graduates may also work abroad as foundation school program directors, clinical tutors, or directors of medical education, heads of schools, at royal colleges, and even at the GMC. Clinical academics can work as specialist doctors while also engaging in teaching or research.

The NHS is one of the biggest employers in the UK and offers various job roles spanning allergy, acute internal medicine, clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, clinical genetics, dermatology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and clinical neurophysiology among others.

Other leading employers include the Benenden Hospital Trust, Rivers Hospital, SBupa UK, The New Victoria Hospital, Kettering General Hospital, the National Autistic Society, and more.

Scholarships

Here are the scholarship options for MBBS at Oxford University:

Reach Oxford Scholarship-

This scholarship covers course fees and offers an annual grant for living costs and one return airfare per year. It is for students from low-income countries. The candidate should demonstrate the highest academic ability along with social commitment, financial need, and the lack of ability to study for a degree in his/her own country. The duration of the scholarship is 3 or 4 years. There are 2-3 awards each year.

Read More About Study in UK:

Summing Up

Doing an MBBS at Oxford University is a rewarding proposition for any medical aspirant. However, examining the eligibility guidelines carefully is a must before applying, along with ensuring adequate funds/funding for tuition and living costs. If you aspire to study medicine at Oxford University, here’s wishing you all the best!