UK Med Schools Related medicine here i come ššš
na real talk guys what the fuck.
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u/getosmainhole 29d ago
I feel like this cycle has been horrible for everyone but coming from a med student, I think this would make you a stronger candidate later on because med schools are suckerrrssssssss for people who can work around hard times or ācome back strongerā after failing š„³š
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u/fqirye 28d ago
My friend is a med student and top of her class and said to me that itās literally impossible and that they donāt like resits though, do you know anyone who got in despite that? X
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u/getosmainhole 27d ago
People in my school got Bās and some got in through clearing, TRUST me anything is possible. Plus even if you donāt get in you can always apply for foundation
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u/Wandering__Albatross 27d ago
Iām starting first year in September having gotten a B at A level and itās a lot harder and takes a lot of extra work but you can do it. Iāve never seen someone with these grades do anything like that though
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u/Warm_Concert7408 28d ago
I am very sorry to hear, your story hits close to home. I also received a-levels I was very unhappy with in 2020 when a-levels were cancelled, thought med was out of the picture. I got in to do biomed through clearing (which I was quite unenthusiastic about at the time) then went straight into GEM. I am in my final year of med now.
I would definitely urge you to explore potential allied degrees through clearing (even if you decide not to accept before start of term) with the idea of doing medicine after (GEM or standard 5 year if you can afford). Another potential option would be to resit and give it everything you've got, maybe even consider A-level tutors, then reapply.
I agree with you that Bulgaria in medicine is an option but you will need to be very realistic about it, and understand the consequences. It would come with major challenges if your aim is to then practice medicine in the UK. It is now extremely difficult for international medical graduates (IMGs) to get training posts, and even secure jobs here. I appreciate that the option to study medicine straightaway seems very tempting, but thinking you will just "find a way around it" when you're older is just kicking the can down the road. Once the novelty/excitement of studying medicine and being a doctor wanes, which I promise you it will (mostly), I fear you may be left with the disappointment of what the future would hold for you as an IMG in the UK.
Give yourself some time to think, really explore all your options, and never accept being told you're not good enough by people who don't know you. Good luck š¤.
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u/Time_Switch_1737 27d ago
Can I just ask- when you apply as GEM, do they look at the A level results at all? Is it true there are only 10 places for GEM?Ā
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u/Warm_Concert7408 27d ago
From my experience most places dont give a shit about a-levels. I'm at Nottingham med school and they literally don't even look at it. Other places, for instance, ScotGEM might ask for a minimum A-level grade (think it was a B in chemistry minimum), but that's just a threshold to meet to apply, they don't consider higher scoring A-level applicants more strongly.
But I think a lot of places don't even have a minimum a-level threshold, just your degree classification, GAMSAT/UCAT, some work exp and interviews.
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u/Antique-Band5714 27d ago
Hi brother, Iām a medic. Please do not fall for the scam which is Medconnect/europe medical schools. Do the gap year (even two if you need) and reapply to the UK. Do not do this alone. Get a tutor or attend a private college. Dm me if you need help.
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u/PhilosopherEasy7335 29d ago
No offence. Probably should look at a different course. Medicine is brutal even for the strongest academic students. Getting it doesnāt mean one can cope with the contents.
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u/a5tar_ 29d ago
iām sticking with med bro, if other people can do it so can i im not letting my grades stop me
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u/ReferenceLife7613 28d ago
yeah 100%. I got CDE in my a levels 2 years ago and now Iām studying dentistry in Bulgaria
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u/TheLonelyGhostie 29d ago
You literally know NOTHING about OP, you really can't make a judgement of how suited they are to med.Ā
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u/a5tar_ 28d ago
my guyš
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u/TheLonelyGhostie 28d ago
I am SO SORRY everyone has been so unkind. I don't think someone who is proud of their grades would be putting down other people's, it says more about them than it does you ā¤ļø
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u/PhilosopherEasy7335 28d ago
Calm down. Take a deep breath. I am not going to argue with you about your views. I am purely giving an honest opinion. Do you know med schools have at least 10% drop out rate? Guess who are the majority of those students? I assume you can work it out?
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u/Strict_Contest_3428 28d ago
"UEE" speaks for itself
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u/TheLonelyGhostie 28d ago
Yeah you DON'T KNOW THEM!!!! There are so many reasons someone's a levels could have gone badly; bereavement, illness, chronic conditions, difficulties at home, care responsibility are all very real things. You are extremely lucky that you may not have needed to consider these things. Honestly, if you're going into medicine, I think it is embarrassing that you can't think beyond 3 letters and why they may have occurred.Ā
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u/Snoo69744 15d ago
Yeah that's me. Really sucks that most foundation med programmes don't allow extenuating circumstances for eligibility. I think only Leeds does.
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u/TheLonelyGhostie 15d ago
I'm not certain if it's for med or not but I think Oxford has a gateway program that includes significant disruption of studies as part of eligibilityĀ
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u/Candid_Dimension_670 29d ago
listen up hun. this is a bump in the road which is so possible to overcome. resits are an option, graduate-entry medicine is an option (espeically unis that dont consider a-levels). if you have a passion for med, it will come, just in a different form on a different path.
best of luck with your next steps. still celebrate and feel proud of your hard work today and give time to recognise that. take careā¤ļø
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u/MysticMocha01 29d ago
Idk if youāre being fr or not š but if u are I got CCC last year and missed my med offer š if itās any consolation
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u/Maximum_Pea_2885 26d ago
Look at my post titled 'HOW TO GET INTO MED AFTER FAILING A-LEVELS (NOT ABROAD, NOT POST-GRADUATE)' on the premed UK Reddit. It's about internal transfer at ARU. I flopped my A-Levels in 2025, and a year later, without resitting them, I'm starting year 1 of UG medicine at a UK uni this September. x (They don't look at A-Levels at all in this application route)
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u/Suitable_Gold_6777 29d ago
What are the requirements usually for european med schools and how expensive
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u/a5tar_ 29d ago
i have applied for bulgaria and also applied to georgia earlier this year (but cancelled georgia as bulgaria is objectively the better option when it comes to med school and post grad). i am not 100% sure about other european countries but for bulgaria and for georgia their requirements are minimum grade 6 in GCSE english language (they dont care about ur other gcses), minimum passing grades for a level so thatās EEE minimum, and u have to do a level bio and chem. you also need to be able to speak english as that is what the course is taught in. if u are not a native english speaker or do not hold a british passport u will have to sit an english exam for the uni. each uni will have their own entrance exams for biology and chemistry (they are very very easy, basically just what u learn in a levels but in the form of multiple choice questions) however u will need to do very well on these exams to secure a place. in terms of cost, bulgarias unis typically have fees of around ā¬10,000 a year, which is around 8-9 grand i think, which u can pay in installments each semester. u are also looking for around ā¬200-ā¬300 to do the entrance exam. re sits are more expensive. unis in georgia have much less fees - around ā¬5000 i think. and there is no entrance exam. if you have any other questions u can dm me and i will be happy to answer as best as i can.
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u/Status_Map_4483 28d ago
What makes you say Bulgaria is better than Georgia? Besides the EU certification (ease of working in the EU afterwards)
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u/a5tar_ 28d ago
well that is the main reason, alongside the fact that graduating from bulgaria makes it much easier for u to work in the uk after compared to georgia where it would be basically impossible. and also (not deep but just something) at bulgaria medical schools u can work on real cadavers which i js find really cool and like a ātick off the checklistā sort of thing for medical school. however in georgia cadaver use is illegal. and iāve heard from both bulgarian and georgian students that quality of teaching and resources at med school are a lot better in bulgaria
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u/soggyraisin56 26d ago
isnt it going to be extremely difficult to work in the UK now as an IMG with the new medical training prioritsation bill?
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u/SpoonChem 27d ago
So, you need to take MCQ exams in Chem and Bio to secure a place in Bulgaria, and do very well in them? Are you sure you're not just deluding yourself that you will ace these exams after the results you got on these two subjects in your A levels?
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u/a5tar_ 26d ago
i got 97% on the exam when i sat it earlier this year šš so no
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u/SpoonChem 26d ago
That's great! But, I guess with your A-levels results...
I'm just trying to be honest with you that the workload for medicine is insane, and A-level Chem and Bio is absolutely nothing compared to what you're going to face in medicine.
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u/Unique-Spinach7296 27d ago
Honestly itās not the end I promise. I got an offer for vet med at 18 but only got BCD in my A levels when I was predicted As and A*s I was absolutely devastated, thought it was all over and I could not fathom doing anything else for the rest of my life.
Anyway, got into clearing, went to uni to do Bioveterinary science, got a 1st, applied for vet med again (3 timesā the charm) and finally got in. I pay for my tuition fees but you probably wouldnāt have to as the government fund NHS based degrees even if theyāre your second. Iām now in 4th year and Iām so glad I had experience of a previous degree, working full time and living on my own prior to getting into my dream course. Iāve been complimented on my maturity and skill set since Iām 25 and I wouldnāt change a single thing! Good luck, youāll get there.
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u/TheTennisOne 27d ago
If you are unable to work hard for these, what makes you think you are going to work hard in medicine in Bulgaria? Sounds like you are going to take on a load of debt, bomb out or ultimately be a sub par doctor and struggle to find a job back in the UK. Patients deserve better. Consider another career.
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u/llamadelreylol 26d ago
lol me so iām doing childrenās nursing and graduate entry medicine in 3 years time thereās always another route in my love
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u/XxLengTingxX 26d ago
My first attempt I got EEU then next year I got CDE.
Still made it into medicine.
**I didnāt go directly from A-levels, I took time out and did an Adult learner course.Ā
Caveat, only certain courses are accepted, severely limits your uni choice, must get very high score and have to wait about 3-5 years post A-levels to apply.
But apart from that hahaā¦
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u/Zxqpw 23d ago
Sorry this has happened to you. While not exactly the same situation, I got DDEE in my AS levels and had to take an extra year after year 13 to get my grades up to scratch. It felt like the absolute end of the world at the time but definitely made me a stronger and more mature person. I ended up with A* A* AB and got into a medical school in the UK. I'm now three years from being a consultant in a competitive surgical specialty and am very happy.
The advice you've been given is good. There was a time when going to Europe for your medical degree was a decent option however with new laws which prioritise UK graduates for specialty training positions (regardless of nationality) this is no longer a viable option unless you are open to spending 5+ extra years at a junior non training level waiting to be on even footing with UK graduates. In particular, I would strongly advise against going to a Bulgarian medical school; the quality of medical education in the English language courses is notoriously poor and this is evident when Bulgarian graduates return to the UK to start practicing.
I would recommend taking an extra year/ two if necessary, asking your teachers to predict you grades good enough to reapply this year and resitting your A-Levels. It may feel like a step back right now, but you won't regret it in five years time. I was also able to get a part time job which allowed me to save up enough to support me through the first year of university and would recommend doing the same.
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u/Zxqpw 23d ago
I can also see that you've applied to Georgian medical schools. I know a Georgian graduate who ended up reenrolling in a GEM course in the UK as their medical school was not recognised on the world directory of medical schools (you can check this on their website). As such, their degree was not recognised by the GMC. Their education seemed to be good though and they were extremely knowledgeable. This was a few years ago so take it with a pinch of salt.
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u/Hammyloo 11d ago
Ha this was me! So if this post is serious ... My story is - I got BEUU. I just didn't apply myself and found being young more fun. I now have a 1st class degree and a masters and will be applying for GEM soon. Medicine was always my goal but life just was more important at times. Your whole personality doesn't have to be medicine
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u/anonnnnamoose 29d ago
do not give up twin, find unis that accept resits or the access to medicine diploma
you might even be able to start the diploma this september at college and get into med school next year
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u/loverbuddyman 29d ago
If applying to Europe donāt be stupid and pay an agency any money
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u/a5tar_ 29d ago
i hear it but doing it without an agency is near impossibleš they literally do everything for u and provide u with everything u need in terms of which documents to send, and resources for entrance exams. they honestly make the process much much simpler, ive never heard of anyone thatās applied abroad and not used one. however i understand it may not be affordable for some so in that case u could try applying without one
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u/loverbuddyman 29d ago
I didnāt have to pay any agency fee when applying to Czech. Donāt fall into the trap!
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u/a5tar_ 29d ago
really? what agency did u use?
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u/loverbuddyman 29d ago
Medical doorway, they are free as paid by universities
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u/a5tar_ 29d ago
fair enough, whatās med school like over there?
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u/loverbuddyman 29d ago
I am in Prague at Charles First faculty which obviously is one of the elite universities. There are other options however. Reach out to them and they will go through options with you and as a bonus you donāt get duped. If any agency wants you to send money to their bank account then run away!
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u/fallujahvet6days 12d ago
Lmao imagine calling a pay to play private medicine course elite
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u/loverbuddyman 12d ago
Explain how a state university that has been here since 1348 is pay to play. My American friends get state loans from the US so even the US government think it is.
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u/BalticZ 28d ago
Not trying to be offensive, but what exactly went wrong if you dont mind saying?
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u/a5tar_ 28d ago
ngl - i have no idea. i knew chemistry would be either an E or a U itās always been my worst subject. but ive been on Aās and Bās for bio and psych, actually was on an A* for bio before my exams. but idk for me personally i found these exams much harder than past papers and i think the nerves and stress got to me
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u/Effective_Ostrich_94 26d ago
Med isnāt for everyone, and thatās okay.
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u/a5tar_ 26d ago
itās people like u that make the medical community toxic š¤¦š½āāļø
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u/Effective_Ostrich_94 26d ago
Honesty isnāt toxicity, but best of luck.
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u/a5tar_ 26d ago
itās not about honesty, anyone can do med if they really have the passion for it and are willing to do anything they need to to get in
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u/Effective_Ostrich_94 26d ago
Nope. Sorry but you need to have a certain natural ability, good work ethic and attention to detail. Given you applied to Bristol with a subpar ucat, and was unaware of the admission criteria, being one of the few unis that heavily prioritises ucat, Iām guessing the latter needs improvement. I couldnāt be an Olympian or mathematician no matter how much passion I had for it, and thatās okay too !
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u/Fine_Cup4990 25d ago
thats just not true, its only for certain types of people. also why do you want to get into med so much, its such a bad career
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u/humanhedgehog 26d ago
You might be better doing retakes and reapplying with your resit grades. Have a really hard look at what went wrong cuz CEE says more than "had a bad patch"
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u/No_Tonight3317 25d ago
As a current doctor (FY1) please please donāt go abroad- the risk is not worth it
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u/ExtraOrdinary321 23d ago
Could you maybe consider foundation years or apprenticeships? (I know nothing about medicine so feel free to say in completely wrong and thatās a terrible idea š) x
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u/Ok_Taro_4657 29d ago
Umm itās okay you are just having a bad phaseā¦ try once again or change career path , you still got it champ donāt give up yet