Becoming a doctor has always been one of the dreams of many Hong Kong students, but the admission requirements for medical schools in Hong Kong are extremely high, and students may miss the chance to pursue their degree by just one point. However, studying medicine in the UK is also a popular option as the UK's medical degree programs are recognized by most countries around the world. So, what are the DSE requirements for studying medicine in the UK, and how much does it cost to study medicine in the UK (excluding living expenses)? If you are planning to study medicine in the UK, it's worth reading this article to plan your future career as a doctor.
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What other ways are there for students to apply besides UCAS?
Most students should know that they can apply to UK medical schools through UCAS. However, some UK universities' medical schools also accept international students to directly apply for admission. This method is only applicable to students who have missed the UCAS deadline or want to increase their chances of being accepted after applying through UCAS.
H2: Is it easier to study medicine in the UK than in Hong Kong? Is a DSE score of 30 sufficient for studying medicine in the UK?
The admission criteria of the medical schools of the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong have always been very strict. According to the admission criteria of the University of Hong Kong, they calculate based on the best six subjects of the students. If the subject score is "5**", it is equivalent to 8.5 points, "5*" is 7 points, and "5" is 5.5 points, with a full score of 51 points. The minimum admission score for the medical school of the Chinese University of Hong Kong is 40.5 points, and the median is 46.5 points. The minimum admission score for the medical school of the University of Hong Kong is 33.5 points, and the median is 43.5 points.
For DSE candidates, it means that an average score of "5*" or above is required in each subject to qualify for admission. As we all know, those who get "5**" are the top candidates, only accounting for a few percent of the total candidates. Candidates must achieve top scores to be admitted to medical schools in Hong Kong, so the number of students who can study medicine in Hong Kong is very limited. Compared to Hong Kong, the requirements for DSE candidates in UK medical schools are not as strict as those of CUHK and HKU. Candidates do not need to obtain "5**" and only need to achieve a score of "5" in their elective subjects to meet the admission threshold. However, it should be noted that students who apply for UK medical schools must have taken related science subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, combined science, and general science in their DSE. In addition to requiring DSE students to achieve excellent scores, UK medical schools also require a total score of 7.5 or above in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and no less than 7.0 in each individual section.
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Cost of studying medicine in the UK
The subject fees of most UK universities are around £20,000 to £30,000 per year (approximately HKD195,000 to HKD292,000). Among various subjects, studying medicine in the UK is the most expensive, with tuition fees ranging from approximately £30,000 to £42,000 per year (approximately HKD292,000 to HKD410,000).
Required Entrance Exams
Although the admission requirements for studying medicine in the UK are lower than those of universities in Hong Kong, UK medical schools require students to pass entrance exams before being admitted to evaluate their learning abilities. Below are two common entrance exams for medical schools:
BMAT（The BioMedical Admissions Test）
The BMAT (The BioMedical Admissions Test) is a test developed by the Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing of the University of Cambridge for various UK medical schools. The exam is divided into three parts: Thinking Skills, Scientific Knowledge and Applications, and Writing Task. The exam lasts for two hours. The purpose of the BMAT is to test the logical thinking, scientific application, mathematical knowledge, and essay writing skills of candidates. The scoring criteria range from 1.0 to 9.0 points, with 5 points being average, 6 points being good, and 7 points or above being excellent. According to statistics of BMAT scores from overseas, most students who are admitted to universities score between 4 and 6 points.
UCAT（The University Clinical Aptitude Test）
UCAT is another common entrance exam for UK medical schools. Some universities that offer medical, veterinary, dental, and healthcare courses may require students to take the test. The exam is mainly divided into five parts: Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Abstract Reasoning, Situational Judgement, and Quantitative Reasoning, which assess the thinking and logical reasoning abilities of the candidates to prove their learning ability. Except for the Situational Judgement section, the exam duration and number of questions for each section are different, ranging from 14 to 32 minutes, and the number of questions ranges from 29 to 69. The score ranges from a minimum of 300 to a maximum of 900, and the total score for all four exams is 3600. According to past statistics, the median score for candidates is between 620 to 630 points, with 650 points or above being good. According to the 2020 UCAT data, the total median score is 2511 points. To be among the top 20% of candidates, one must achieve 2730 points, which means an average score of 682.5 points for each section. The Situational Judgement section is scored based on the candidate's answers, and the exam results are displayed in Band 1 to Band 4, with Band 1 being the best performance and Band 4 being the worst. Since most medical schools only select students in Band 1 to Band 2, if a candidate performs well in the first four sections but fails in this section, they may lose the interview qualification.
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Students should note that some UK medical schools only require students to pass one of the tests, such as the Oxford University Medical School, which only accepts the BMAT test. To ensure that students can successfully study medicine in the UK, it is important to check carefully before applying to their desired UK medical schools. In summary, studying medicine in the UK has lower entrance requirements than Hong Kong, but it is still recommended that students plan carefully to successfully study medicine at their desired UK universities.
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