Becoming a doctor in the UK

Before you become a UK doctor you first have to obtain a degree in medicine from a medical school whose medical degrees we accept. Courses normally last five years, or four years for a graduate entry programme. They involve basic medical sciences as well as clinical training on the wards.

After graduation, you'll enter the two-year Foundation Programme. You'll be provisionally registered with a licence to practise while completing the first year. Full registration is awarded when you've completed year one.

Our role in medical education is primarily one of quality assurance.