St Mary’s Medicine degree: redefining medical training, shaping global health.
The School of Medicine at St Mary’s University (SMU) will develop the future leaders in the medical industry: those who can provide human-centred care and create lasting change in the lives of many.
SMU is an established provider of health sciences, bioethics, and education, and our School of Medicine is committed to training ‘complete doctors’ equipped with the most recent medical curriculum, digital innovation, and outstanding teaching in a modern environment. In short, we’re redefining medical training.
During your Medicine degree, we’ll train you to lead with the expertise, excellence, and compassion to transform lives. You’ll focus on treating the whole person while accessing diverse community placements, small class sizes, and one-to-one support. This way, we’ll produce doctors prepared to thrive personally and professionally and, thus, support the global health crisis.
You’ll complete your MBBS on our historic London campus – the ideal location to start a career in medicine. You’ll benefit from:
- a wealth of green spaces essential for mental health
- a new state-of-the-art School of Medicine
- easy access to central London and famous local neighbourhoods like Richmond and Kingston.
We are working successfully with the General Medicine Council (GMC) to gain accreditation for our MBBS degree. As with all new UK medical schools, the GMC will review us every year following the first cohort from year one until graduation. Only then can they add SMU to the bodies that can award UK primary medical qualifications. In the unlikely event we do not get GMC accreditation, SMU has contingency arrangements in place so that students successfully passing all MBBS assessments can graduate with a GMC-recognised medical qualification.
Applications will open in 2025. In the meantime, you can enquire now.
Why St Mary's?
Digital innovation
Explore digital innovation in medicine through the latest advances in medical technology and digital health. As a result, you’ll be at the forefront of modern medicine and understand how to adapt to the needs of global healthcare systems. You’ll also develop research and analytical skills to make informed decisions with patients on the latest treatments and technologies.
Clinical experience from the start
A unique advantage of SMU’s MBBS is the diverse clinical experiences from year one. With us, you’ll gain expertise in contemporary settings, including:
- hospices
- refugee medicine
- international healthcare
- the independent health sector
- NHS hospitals
- GP Clinics.
Teaching excellence
You’ll be in safe hands at SMU. We’ve been educating students since 1850, delivering innovative research in bioethics and health sciences and an exceptional learning experience to ensure student success. We have a strong reputation for teaching excellence and student experience and are:
- Top 10 for teaching quality (Good University Guide, 2025)
- Top 10 for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024).
We’re committed to your journey. During your Medicine degree, you’ll get one-to-one support from teaching staff and the wellbeing team.
A Simmie (SMU student), Grace, says, “the tutors went above and beyond to support me and ensure I lived up to my full potential and got the qualification I deserve.” Another Simmie, Lucia, shares, “I feel like everyone is really invested in you.”
A multicultural environment
SMU celebrates diversity. You'll be part of multicultural community where "people are so interested in learning about different cultures", and our medical course will first open exclusively to international students.
Enquire now
Applications will open in 2025. In the meantime, you can enquire now.
Course content
Modules
In your first two years, you'll develop a good grounding in medical sciences and start to integrate this with communication and clinical skills. You’ll be taught by expert practitioners in our state-of-the-art laboratories and complete your first clinical practice placements.
In years 3 and 4, you’ll rotate through supervised clinical placements in a variety of specialties and contemporary settings. You'll also spend one day a week at SMU for additional teaching.
Year 5 will help you develop your early professional practice through a rotation of senior clinical placements in general practice, mental health, and acute care, as well as a period of ‘Clinical Assistantship’. You will then complete a six-week week elective and a speciality placement of your choice. These placements will encourage independent working but you'll also have close supervision from departmental mentors and your assigned clinical supervisor.
There are three themes which run throughout the five-year MBBS programme.
- Integrated Science and Clinical Medicine (ISCM): the scientific concepts that underpin biology, health, and disease in relation to the practice of medicine. In Years 3 and 4, ISCM becomes Medicine in Clinical Practice (MICP) which integrates patient care and science through study in the clinical setting.
- Evidence Informed Practice of Medicine (EIPOM): factors of health and wellbeing at community and population levels. You will learn about key concepts from epidemiology, public health, the sociology and psychology of health and illness, and evidence-based practice.
- Medical Skills and Quality Care (MSQC): where you'll develop the clinical and communication skills needed by a medical doctor, practising skills in a laboratory setting and with patients.
Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.
How the degree is taught
Teaching methods
You'll be taught on our beautiful and historic campus located in Twickenham, London.
Our Medicine course incorporates a range of teaching styles across the different areas. Throughout all five years, you will complete work-based placements in a variety of clinical settings. On campus you will learn through:
- traditional lectures
- workshops
- tutorials
- case-based learning
- simulation activities
- self-directed learning.
You'll also engage with our excellent modern facilities to enhance your learning.
Relocating during clinical practice placements from Year 3 onwards
During Years 3, 4, and 5 you may need to relocate to other parts of the UK to undertake your clinical placements.
Assessment methods
We combine continuous formative assessment and regular examinations throughout the MBBS degree. Continuous assessment provides you with regular opportunities to consolidate your learning. You'll monitor your progress with your tutor and identify early where you might need additional help. We'll provide you with one-to-one support whenever you need.
You will complete assessments, such as:
- an ePortfolio: an electronic reflective tool
- formative assessments: at the end of the first semester and informally throughout the year
- end-of-year examinations: these include computer-based knowledge exams, objective structured clinical exams (OSCEs), and oral and poster presentations
- professionalism assessments: you'll be assessed on these throughout the course.
Feedback
We adhere to the university’s policy of providing feedback on assessments within 15 working days.
Entry requirements
144
UCAS points
We will be accepting applications from international students for entry in 2026.
UK HE fee regulations prevent UK students applying for this programme at this time.
You can apply directly to St Mary’s University, or via the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS). We'll add more details in 2025.
We'll confirm entry requirements once we open applications in 2025. However, it is likely we will require the following international entry requirements.
- 144 UCAS Tariff points unless stated, including Chemistry and preferably another science. These points are calculated from your qualification grades.
- International Baccalaureate: Diploma 36 points overall and 144 UCAS tariff points achieved from Chemistry and another science subject at Higher Level H6, plus one other at H6.
- Evidence of sustained academic achievement with a broad study of Science, English, and Maths up to 16.
- IELTS 7.0 in all components (or equivalent).
We may accept foundation entry qualifications and full details will be available in 2025.
We understand that sometimes barriers you can't control get in the way of academic achievement. You are more than just your grades. We'll consider your application as a whole, taking into account things like:
- subjects studied at Level 3
- your GCSEs (or equivalent) profile
- non-academic achievements you mention in your personal statement
- your references and motivation.
International requirements
International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 in all components (or equivalent).
Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
This course will involve you working with vulnerable groups of individuals, including children. In order to ensure that the University offers places on their programmes to suitable candidates, you must have Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance (formerly termed CRB). We will arrange this for you.
For international students, an in-country police check is also required.
We will be able to guide you through this process once you have been offered a conditional place of study at SMU.
It is important to note that should your Enhanced DBS check prove to be unsatisfactory for the purpose of the course you have applied to, your offer of a place for that course may be withdrawn.
If you have already enrolled on a course and your DBS check subsequently discloses a criminal conviction, you may be required to withdraw from the course even if you have already started.
If you are aware that your DBS check will disclose a previous conviction, please contact the course leader for advice as not all convictions may preclude you from continuing with the course.
UCAS Personal statement support
Create your UCAS personal statement through our online builder and we'll email you a copy of your completed version at the end.
Further Information
For more information about entry requirements please email apply@stmarys.ac.uk.
How many UCAS points my grades are worth
A levels
A*
56 pts
A
48 pts
B
40 pts
C
32 pts
D
24 pts
E
16 pts
My qualification isn't listed:
If you can't find your qualification in this list please check the full list of UCAS tariff tables.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees
International
£48,000
*Please note: these fees are annual and may increase as detailed in our tuition fee variation disclaimer.
Information about tuition fees, student loans, and funding your studies can be found within our fees and funding section.
Additional costs
Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme.
Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.
For further information about additional costs please see our additional costs webpage.
Scholarships
Find out more about our range of scholarships and bursaries available to undergraduate students .
Living costs
A guide to your living costs has been created by our Student Funding Team.
Accommodation costs vary depending on whether you opt for an en suite room and on-site catering. Take a look at our accommodation options and the prices you can expect to pay.
Career opportunities
Once you graduate and successfully complete the GMC Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) (a requirement for all students graduating from UK universities 2024/25 onwards), you'll meet core requirements of a junior doctor and can apply for provisional registration with the GMC*.
You'll be eligible to apply for the UK Foundation Programme. This two-year foundation programme provides paid training to new graduates to further develop your skills and clinical and professional competencies. Upon completion of the foundation programme, doctors can then apply for specialist training in more than 60 different areas.
To enter onto this programme, you'll need to have the right to work in the UK. You will also complete a competitive process with other UK graduates. Places on this programme are not guaranteed for every UK graduate.
If you decide to work elsewhere in the world, we'll work with you to make sure you understand that route’s requirements.
At SMU, we offer lifetime career support. Please contact our Career Services at careers@stmarys.ac.uk for information and help regarding jobs, interview preparation, postgraduate opportunities, and more.
*In the unlikely event St Mary’s doesn’t achieve GMC accreditation, students will be transferred to complete their studies at our contingency partner university, The University of Central Lancashire. This will ensure that students who pass all their assessments will receive a GMC-recognised medical qualification.
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