Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) – A Guide

Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is an accelerated route into the medical profession, designed for students who already have an undergraduate degree and want to qualify as doctors.

In the UK, GEM courses are accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC). This means that once you’ve graduated, you’ll be able to progress onto a foundation training programme within a hospital trust as a junior doctor.

This guide will cover everything you need to know about GEM courses, including what they involve, how to apply, and funding options.

We will focus on Graduate Entry Medicine courses in the UK. However, it’s worth noting that many countries around the world offer 4-year medicine courses specifically for degree-holders. An important exception is the USA, where medical degrees are only available to students who have already completed a pre-med undergraduate course.

You can also browse Graduate Entry Medicine courses here on FindAMasters.

What is Graduate Entry Medicine?

Graduate Entry Medicine is an accelerated medical degree for university graduates. It covers all the material in an undergraduate medical degree (which usually take five or six years) in four years.

You’ll graduate will a full medical degree accredited by the GMC, which will then allow you to complete your hospital foundation training as a junior doctor.

Graduate Entry Medicine is an increasingly popular route into the medical profession, with over half of medical schools in the UK now offering GEM courses.

Who should apply for a GEM course?

Graduate Entry Medicine is a bit like a conversion course for aspiring doctors who didn’t study Medicine at undergraduate level.

You might choose to apply for Graduate Entry Medicine if you didn’t initially receive any offers for medical school and have since completed a Bachelors degree in a related subject, such as Medical Science or Human Biology. Many applicants are professionals who have been working in a different field and are looking to change career paths.

What’s it like to study a Graduate Entry Medicine course?

Most GEM courses are split into two distinct phases:

• During the first two years, you’ll acquire the core biological knowledge needed for a career in medicine, alongside basic clinical skills such as taking a patient history and performing a physical examination. You’ll learn about the presentation of common illnesses through examining case studies and clinical scenarios.
• The last two years of your degree will be clinically based. You’ll rotate through a series of placements in teaching hospitals and GP surgeries. This will give you an introduction to major medical specialities such as paediatrics, psychiatry and orthopaedics.

GEM programmes are fairly intensive. You can expect to have around 15 hours of contact time per week during the first phase of your degree, which will include anatomy, lab-based and clinical skills sessions as well as lectures, tutorials and group work. You’ll be expected to complete around eight hours of independent study alongside this.

In the clinical phase, you’ll generally spend 35 to 40 hours per week either studying or on placements.

How will I be assessed?

You will usually have formative examinations at the end of each academic year, which you must pass in order to progress. These include both written and practical examinations. Most courses also assess students through coursework, which might include extended essays, portfolios and clinical logbooks.

What are the entry requirements for Graduate Entry Medicine ?

Most GEM programmes will require applicants to have at least a 2:1 at undergraduate level. Of the 18 medical schools currently offering GEM courses, 10 consider applicants with a Bachelors degree in any discipline. The remaining eight will only accept applicants with a degree in a relevant (usually life sciences) subject.

Most medical schools strongly advise (if not require) applicants to obtain relevant work experience. This could include voluntary or paid wok in a care or medical setting.

How can I apply for a Graduate Entry Medicine course?

Unlike applications for most Masters courses, GEM applications are made through UCAS – which you will have used to apply for your undergraduate degree (if you studied it in the UK).

This will involve completing an application form with your personal details, academic qualifications and a personal statement. If you’re successful in the first stage of your application, you will be invited to an interview.

It’s worth noting that admission to GEM courses is very competitive. The majority of courses only have between 20 and 100 places and will often receive well over 1,000 applications. Make sure you’ve thought hard about your suitability for medicine and your motivations for becoming a doctor – and that you demonstrate these in your personal statement and interview!

How can I fund a Graduate Entry Medicine course?

The annual tuition fee for GEM courses is £9,250 (for UK students). Fees for international students vary but can be up to £48,600 per year.

UK students

If you’re a UK national, you can apply for the NHS Bursary scheme. This will cover £3,715 per year towards your tuition fee from your second year onwards. You’ll be able to cover the remainder of your fees with a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England (SFE).

The NHS Bursary Scheme only contributes towards your fees in your second, third and fourth years. This means you will have to pay £3,465 directly to your university in your first year. This is the only direct contribution you’ll have to make for the duration of your course.

Certain students will also be eligible to apply for a means-tested NHS bursary. You can find out more in our full guide to NHS funding.

You’ll also be able to apply for a maintenance loan of up to £9,250 per year from Student Finance England. The amount you’re eligible for will depend on your financial circumstances.

International students

EU nationals with settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible for funding from SFE and the NHS in the same way as UK students.

Funding options for non-EU international students applying for a GEM course in the UK are unfortunately quite limited. However, your university may have scholarships or bursaries available for international students looking to study a GEM course. Check your university’s website or contact them to find out what funding is available.