School Student
What's surgery like?
Entry Requirements and how do I train?
Training to become a surgeon takes time and is competitive - not everyone who starts the process will finish. Although there are set exams that need to be passed, there are alternative paths you can consider at different stages in your career.
This table shows the most common raining route. There are a lot of alternative paths you can consider at different stages in your career, but this is the standard training route.
Click on each stage to see more information.
Medical School
| Duration | 5 - 6 years |
| Content | Basic knowledge required for all medical specialties. |
| Application method | UCAS |
| Normal entry requirements | GCSEs at grade C+ in your A level subjects, English and Maths. At least three A Levels: normally at grades AAB, normally including chemistry with at least one other science or maths. UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test) or BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test) |
Foundation Training
| Duration | 2 years |
| Content | A paid training job in a hospital (or other medical) setting Covers arrange of medical specialties, including surgery. |
| Application method | Applications via the Foundation Programme. Medical students are “matched“ to places based on application form. |
| Normal entry requirements | Successful completion of approved medical degree |
Core Surgical Training
| Duration | 2 years |
| Content | A paid training job in a hospital setting A range of surgical specialties. May be “themed” towards one particular specialty. |
| Application method | Applications to deaneries, via forms and interview /assessment etc. |
| Normal entry requirements | Complete foundation competencies GMC registration |
Specialty Training
| Duration | Approximately 6 years |
| Content | A paid training job in a hospital setting Training on one surgical specialty at the end of which you can apply for a senior appointment |
| Application method | Applications to deaneries, via forms and interview /assessment etc. |
| Normal entry requirements | Complete core competencies GMC registration MRCS examination |
Senior medical appointment
| Such as a consultant or a fellowship for further, more specialised training. |
The subjects you need to study at A Level, and the grades you need will depend on the medical school; you should check on their websites. Some medical schools accept alternative qualifications. You should check prospectuses carefully and speak to universities if you have queries that are not answered by the prospectus.
If you don’t have the right A Levels, you can to do a pre-medical course for a year. This can be quite a burden financially and competition for places is fierce. Alternatively, if you take a different (normally science based) degree and decide afterwards that you would like to study medicine there are special degree courses for Graduates.
