Quick Information
| University | University of Oxford; University of Cambridge |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fee | GBP 49,400 per year pre-clinical / GBP 65,250 per year clinical (Oxford, overseas, 2026/27) |
| Eligibility | A*AA at A-level including Chemistry + UCAT admissions test (Oxford) |
| Last Verified Date | November 10, 2026 |
| Official Source | https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/medicine?wssl=1 |
What an MBBS or Medicine Degree Is
MBBS stands for Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. In the UK the same qualification is often written as BM BCh at Oxford or MB BChir at Cambridge. It is the first medical degree: a long undergraduate programme that combines science, clinical skills and patient care, and it is the first step towards becoming a doctor. Graduation alone does not give the right to practise medicine; every country has its own registration, licensing and postgraduate training requirements, and graduates must complete those before working as doctors.
How Long It Takes and How the Course Is Organised
At both Oxford and Cambridge the standard course lasts six years. Oxford’s course has a distinct three-year pre-clinical stage, in which students study towards a BA Honours degree in Medical Sciences, followed by a three-year clinical stage. Cambridge follows a similar pattern: pre-clinical medicine in the first two years, a third year spent studying one subject in depth for a BA, and then a three-year clinical course at the teaching hospital. Oxford also offers a four-year graduate-entry course for graduates in an experimental science subject, which is a separate route with its own entry rules.
Entry Requirements
Medicine is one of the most competitive undergraduate subjects. Oxford asks for A*AA at A-level, including Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics or Maths. Cambridge asks for A*A*A, including Chemistry and two other science or mathematics subjects. Both universities require the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test), which must be registered for and taken in the summer before applying. Applicants must be at least 18 years old by 1 November in the year they start, because of the clinical work involved. Interviews are a major part of selection at both universities. Applications go through UCAS, and medicine shares the 15 October equal-consideration deadline with Oxford and Cambridge applications.
Tuition Fees
Medicine is expensive for international students, and the fee changes between the pre-clinical and clinical years. Oxford’s official course information sheet for 2026 entry lists overseas fees of £49,400 per year for the pre-clinical years and £65,250 per year for the clinical years. Living costs are separate and must be budgeted on top. Cambridge’s overseas medicine fee was not confirmed on an official Cambridge page in this research, so it is not stated here; check the university’s official fees page before applying.
Where the Degree Can Lead
After graduation, doctors complete foundation or internship training and then specialise — in areas such as general practice, surgery, paediatrics, internal medicine or psychiatry — depending on the country and its training system. Some graduates move into medical research, public health or academic medicine. The path is long and demanding, and the exact steps after graduation differ from country to country, so students should research the licensing rules of the country where they plan to practise before they apply.
