Entry requirements

On this page

• English language requirements
• Students from the UK
• Other university education
• Under 18s

We are looking for students who will be successful on the International Foundation Programme for Medicine. We also want you to do well on your undergraduate degree. To make sure you will be well suited, we look at your English language skills and high school grades. 

Application to the MB ChB undergraduate programme will be made via UCAS in the first weeks of the IFP for Medicine. As part of the UCAS application process you are required to include your UCAT score. Due to timing of the start of the academic year, students will be required to sit the UCAT entrance exam the summer before you begin the IFP for Medicine programme. Please see the UCAT website for test dates. 

If you have any questions about the entry requirements, contact us on medicine-ifp@bristol.ac.uk  

English language requirements

You must have a valid overall IELTS band score of 7.0, with no individual component band score below 6.5. You must have achieved this score within two years of the start date of the programme. We do not accept the IELTS Life Skills test.  

A valid IELTS Academic test certificate will: 

• have a UKVI reference number 

• be awarded from an approved test centre.

Academic requirements

Below you can see examples of academic entry requirements for the International Foundation Programme for Medicine.

Region	Academic requirement	Grade requirement*
A Levels	Completion of three full A Level subjects	BBC including B in Biology or Chemistry
International Baccalaureate	Completion of the IB Diploma in full	29 points overall with 14 at Higher level, including 5 at Higher Level in Biology or Chemistry
China	Senior Secondary School Certificate - 12 years of high school including 3 at senior high school	Overall average of 80% in your final three years of High School including 80% in Biology or Chemistry
Hong Kong	Completion of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education	443 in three Core or Elective subjects, no lower than 3 in all remaining subjects, including 4 in Biology or Chemistry
India	CBSE / ISC Standard XII examinations We will also consider other state boards with good grades	Overall average grade 75% in 4 best subjects including Biology or Chemistry at 82%
Jordan	Certificate of General Secondary Education (Tawjihi) ( شهادة الدراسة الثانوية العامة )	Overall 85% and 85% in Biology or Chemistry
Kuwait	Successful completion of the General Secondary Education Certificate (Shahadat Al-Thanawaya Al-Aama) - شهادة الدراسة الثانوية العامة	A grade average of 85% with 85% in in Biology or Chemistry
Malaysia	Successful completion of the SPM or UEC	An A in 5 relevant subjects including Biology or Chemistry, or UEC 80% overall
Oman	Successful completion of Thanawiya Amma	A grade average of 85% with 85% in Biology or Chemistry
Pakistan	Completion of High School leaving Certificate (after 12 years of education)	Average grade of 75% with 75% in Biology or Chemistry
Saudi Arabia	Successful completion of Thanawiya Amma/Tawjihiya	Grade average of 85% with 85% in Biology or Chemistry
Singapore	A Levels or Polytechnic Diploma	BBC at H2 level (excluding Knowledge and Inquiry) with B in Biology or Chemistry GPA 2.9 including a minimum of 3 Biology or 3 Chemistry modules all at B (excluding Biochemistry/Biostatistics/Chemical Engineering), with at least one taken in year 2/3
Qatar	Successful completion of Thanawaya Aa’ama Qatari	Grade average of 85% with 85% in Biology or Chemistry
UAE	Successful completion of Thanawiyah Amma or Tawjihiya	Grade average of 85% with 85% in Biology or Chemistry

*Minimum required grades for Biology or Chemistry must have been achieved in Grade 12 (or equivalent) or in the final year of the academic qualification.

We cannot list every country. If your country is not listed in the table above, but you think you have strong grades, contact us on medicine-ifp@bristol.ac.uk.

Students from the UK

The International Foundation Programme for Medicine is only open to Overseas students. This does not include Home students. If you are a Home student you may be eligible to apply directly for a Medicine course or for our Gateway to Medicine course. 

Other university education

If you have already enrolled on or graduated from a university course, including foundation courses, you are not able to apply to the International Foundation Programme for Medicine. 

Under 18s

Students must be at least 17 years of age by 1st September of the year that they enter the International Foundation Programme for Medicine. This is to ensure that all students progressing onto the undergraduate MB ChB Medicine programme will be 18 years of age (or above) at the point of entry, have the legal capacity to be bound by the rules of confidentiality of our NHS partners, and enable them to undertake clinical experiential learning in our teaching general practices and clinical academies. 

If you are under 18 when registering as a student of the University, you need to complete a form signed by a parent/guardian as a condition of registration. This provides confirmation that the parent/guardian understands the University’s responsibilities and gives details of an emergency contact in the UK. 

You will also need a guardian in the UK. The guardian should be someone who we can contact in an emergency, to help resolve problems – for example, if your parents do not speak English. The guardian should be able to take responsibility if for any reason you leave the University. If your parents do not know anyone who can act as a guardian, they can try the Association for Education and Guardianship of International Students. Your parents will remain responsible for your welfare while you are staying in the UK. We'd also recommend you live in a University residence.