Institutions awarding UK medical degrees

We decide which organisations can award UK primary medical qualifications.

In most cases, a medical school is part of a single university which gives degrees to medical graduates. In some cases, universities come together to run a single medical school. These combinations of universities form a single institution for the purposes of holding examinations for and awarding primary medical qualifications.

We have a duty to make sure medical education and training in the UK is of a high standard. As well as approving and quality assuring postgraduate training, we also have a responsibility to make sure undergraduate education meets our standards.

All institutions looking to establish a new medical school or programme (both overseas and within the UK) are subject to an extensive period of quality assurance. During this there are various stages that must be satisfied before we can add a new body to the list of bodies able to award a primary medical qualification or new programme.