MBBS Medicine with a Gateway Year
Course
options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
- UCAS Course Code
- A104
- Entry Requirements
- BBB or ABC
- Course Length
- 6 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Why you should choose us
Course Overview
What to expect in your Gateway Year
You'll join a small cohort of enthusiastic and motivated students who will work together to gain the academic knowledge and skills you need to progress smoothly onto our five-year medical degree. We work hard to support you and to ensure that you feel like a medical student from day one, as you start developing your professional identity through dedicated modules delivered by Norwich Medical School. The medicine foundation year offers opportunities for clinical shadowing and clinical experiences with local health care providers including the NHS.
The Medicine with a Gateway Year programme maps to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We encourage students to be curious and invest in the world around them and to be agents for positive change.
What to expect after the Gateway Year
Upon successful completion of the Gateway Year, you'll continue your medical studies on the five-year MBBS Medicine degree programme, which is organised into modules based on body systems. We aim to produce fully rounded medical graduates; therefore, you'll study the underpinning biological, social and clinical sciences of medicine. You'll then put theory into practice while on placements in hospitals and general practices.
You'll continue to work in small groups, using problem-based learning (PBL) techniques to apply your learning to virtual scenarios. In parallel you'll receive teaching in primary care; meeting the patients that can bring these scenarios to life. You'll have opportunities for practical, hands-on opportunities, to hone your knowledge and practical skills through dissections and communication skills in both simulated and real healthcare environments.
Your learning will be supported by a weekly programme of lectures and seminars, and complemented by attachments in secondary care hospitals, some of which may be residential.
For information on subsequent years of study, please see the full MBBS Medicine course profile.
Study and Modules
Structure
What to expect in your Gateway Year
You'll join a small cohort of enthusiastic and motivated students who will work together to gain the academic knowledge and skills you need to progress smoothly onto our five-year medical degree. We work hard to support you and to ensure that you feel like a medical student from day one, as you start developing your professional identity through dedicated modules delivered by Norwich Medical School. The medicine foundation year offers opportunities for clinical shadowing and clinical experiences with local health care providers including the NHS.
The Medicine with a Gateway Year programme maps to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We encourage students to be curious and invest in the world around them and to be agents for positive change.
What to expect after the Gateway Year
Upon successful completion of the Gateway Year, you'll continue your medical studies on the five-year MBBS Medicine degree programme, which is organised into modules based on body systems. We aim to produce fully rounded medical graduates; therefore, you'll study the underpinning biological, social and clinical sciences of medicine. You'll then put theory into practice while on placements in hospitals and general practices.
You'll continue to work in small groups, using problem-based learning (PBL) techniques to apply your learning to virtual scenarios. In parallel you'll receive teaching in primary care; meeting the patients that can bring these scenarios to life. You'll have opportunities for practical, hands-on opportunities, to hone your knowledge and practical skills through dissections and communication skills in both simulated and real healthcare environments.
Your learning will be supported by a weekly programme of lectures and seminars, and complemented by attachments in secondary care hospitals, some of which may be residential.
For information on subsequent years of study, please see the full MBBS Medicine course profile.
Compulsory Modules
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
While studying on the Medicine with a Gateway Year programme, you'll encounter a wide range of teaching methods to support your learning throughout the six years and to ensure you graduate with the essential skills required to become a competent doctor. These include:
- Keynote lectures, seminars and delivered by expert academics and clinical educators
- Laboratory classes, delivered by expert academics and associate tutors
- Small group working - using PBL techniques and extending into general practice-based teaching
- Consultation skills tutorials - with tutors and actors to cultivate excellent communication skills
- Clinical skills training - including practical skills and simulated scenarios to ensure you're well prepared for practice when you graduate
- Clinical placement opportunities - allowing you to integrate theory with practice
- Developing professionalism - you'll be given guidance throughout your primary and secondary care placements, to help you develop the values and behaviours' that will enable you to become a safe, respected and trustworthy doctor
Assessment
We'll assess your progress on a regular basis throughout the course, to support your learning and development, and to keep you on track to become a qualified medical practitioner.
In your Gateway Year, you'll encounter practical write-ups of laboratory experiments, as well as presentations to your fellow students. In your introduction to Clinical Medicine module, you'll be assessed through reflective writing (portfolio). End of module examinations will also be used in both ‘short answer’ and ‘single best answer’formats.
In order to progress on to the MBBS programme, students need to achieve an average mark of 70% for all modules within the Gateway Year programme.
From your first year, the MBBS is a pass all components course. This means that in order to progress into the next year of study, you must pass all summative assessments in your current year of study.
Employability
After the Course
Once you have successfully completed your MB BS, if there are no concerns regarding your fitness to practice, you’ll be entitled to provisional registration with the General Medical Council. You'll then be able to practise in approved Foundation Year One posts.
If you'd like our support during this year, you can apply to work in our local medicine Foundation year Programme. Once you have completed a satisfactory year as a Foundation Programme doctor, you'll gain full registration with the GMC.
Careers
Examples of careers that you could enter include:
- Hospital-based specialties including medicine, surgery, anaesthetics, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, emergency medicine, radiology and pathology
- General Practice
- Psychiatry
- Public Health
Discover more on our Careers pages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK fee-paying students. Choose UK above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
In 2024 we had 40 places. 2025 places are subject to confirmation by the Office for Students.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
All applicants must meet the contextual criteria.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements, GCSE requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- GCSE Requirements
Applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in a minimum of six subjects at grade 5 or B including English Language, Mathematics and either a single science subject (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) or Double Science. Triple Science, Science, Additional Science and Further Science GCSEs are accepted.
If GCSE Double Science or Triple Science is presented at the required grade or above, we will not consider any additional single science subjects to meet the minimum GCSE requirements.
If Methods of Mathematics & Application of Mathematics are taken, we require both. They will be considered as a single grade for screening purposes as together they are equivalent to the full Mathematics GCSE.
We will only accept one of the following GCSEs: Learning for Life & Work, Expressive Arts, Catering, Child Development, Business & Communication Systems (ICAA), Health & Social Care and Leisure & Tourism.
GCSE short courses, BTEC Level 2, OCR Level 2, AQA Level 2 and Functional Skills are not accepted.
GCSE resits considered. Applicants who do not meet the GCSE requirement MUST be resitting GCSEs and predicted to achieve the required grade. This should be evident from their UCAS application.
- Contextual Requirements
This course is a ‘Widening Access’ programme for students who are in the 13th year of education or left school no more than three years prior to the course start date. Applicants must have completed their GCSE and Level 3 qualifications in the UK. It is designed for students whose circumstances or educational opportunities have prevented them from realising their academic potential.
All applicants must meet the academic criteria and ONE of the following contextual criteria:- You are a Home fee paying student, living in England, with a TUNDRA MSOA 1 or 2 postcode. Please check the Office for Students website
- You are a Home fee paying student in receipt of the UCAT Bursary. This will be confirmed by UCAT when we receive UCAT results.
- You are a Home fee paying student who is (or has been) eligible or receiving free school meals (FSM) during secondary education. This will be confirmed in your UCAS application.
- You are a Home fee paying student living in the UK, who has experience of care in the UK or estranged from parents. This will be confirmed in your UCAS application.
- You successfully completed the UEA Preparing for Medicine Programme.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
BBB or ABC in the first sitting.
Applicants are expected to sit a minimum of three A levels in one sitting and A levels must be sat over no more than two years.
A level resits will not be considered.Where applicable Science A levels awarded by an English Exam board require a pass in the practical element.
Not accepted: General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies.
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Combinations of BTEC and A levels
Extended Diploma: DDM
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A level.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
Access to HE Diploma
Not accepted
T levels
Obtain an overall Pass including a B in the core of the T Level and a Merit in the Occupational Specialism. Acceptable subjects: Health, Healthcare Science and Science.
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
31 points overall including three subjects at Higher Level 555 or 654
IB resits will not be considered.
IB Middle Years considered if GCSEs not sat. A minimum of six passes at 6 including Mathematics, Science and English Language.
- Non-Academic Entry Requirements
Eligible for MBBS Medicine (A100) - Applicants predicted to meet the MBBS Medicine (A100) academic requirements are unlikely to benefit from this course and should apply directly to A100.
Gap Years - If applying with achieved qualifications, applicants must include in their personal statement what they have been doing or what they plan to do, during any gaps in education.
Previous Study - Applicants who have started or completed study post A level (degree study or equivalent) will not be considered.
Programme Conditions - Offers to successful applicants will be subject to a successful interview, a satisfactory occupational health check, including evidence of appropriate immunisations. As this course includes patient facing placements in a health or social care setting and these are a mandatory component of the course, you will need to comply with the placement vaccination policy. Failure to meet the placement vaccination policy may prevent you from joining the course or may lead to your withdrawal from the course in the future. Future employment may also be subject to this condition.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) - Applicants will also be required to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In the interests of patient and public safety, we may share some of the information provided in your application form with the Medical Schools Council in order to verify your fitness to practise. Where applicable an Overseas Police Check may be required. If a fitness to practise finding is made against you in the future, this information and a copy of the decision against you will also be stored on the Excluded Students Database maintained by the Medical Schools Council. The database is accessible only to other medical schools in the UK and the General Medical Council. It is used only for proper fitness to practise purposes to protect patients and the public.
Medical Students Fitness Standards - Further information regarding requirements for medical students in relation to blood born infectious diseases, and information on Medical Students Fitness Standards is available. Any offer holder with a current or past history of health conditions (physical or mental health) should tell occupational health about any health conditions they have, and may be subject to an early occupational health check, for the following reasons:
Medical schools have a duty to support their students, but students must help the school to do this by being open and honest about their health.
Being open and trustworthy is an important part of being a doctor – patients and the GMC expect this of practising doctors. Failure by a doctor on the medical register to disclose a health matter that could potentially impact on patient safety is a breach of this duty.A student should understand that their ill health could put their ability to study at risk. Where a student has this understanding – and shows this by getting help and support – their health condition rarely prevents them from completing the course. One way to demonstrate understanding from the start is for a student to declare whether they will need additional support when they begin their course.
Norwich Medical School will consider all requests for adjustments in line with the UK Equality Act 2010. Any student can graduate providing they are well enough to complete the course; they have no student fitness to practice concerns (having a health condition or disability alone is not a fitness to practice concern); they have met all the Outcomes for graduates, with adjustments to the mode of assessment as needed.
Further guidance and advice specific to undergraduate medicine courses, including clinical exams, can be obtained via med.senioradviser@uea.ac.uk. Student support and information regarding accessibility, written exam concessions and confidential advice and guidance on health and disability is also available.Progression and Continuation - Once enrolled onto your course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include your eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement, or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
After the Course - Postgraduate Foundation training and beyond.
- Interviews
Interviews are Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format and will be held on campus. All applicants will be required to attend an interview on campus.
Please note that we do not disclose interview questions. We look for applicants to demonstrate at interview:
- An acceptable approach to decision making when given incomplete or conflicting information
- The ability to learn and work effectively in partnership
- A caring and supportive attitude
- An empathetic and caring approach
- Insight into Medicine as a career and personal suitability for the profession
- Honesty, integrity and personal effectiveness
We will individually email invitations to applicants who are selected for interview. Interviews will take place between November and February.
Work Experience
If you are invited to interview you are required to provide two examples of relevant work experience which have informed your decision to study Medicine.
The Medical Schools Council has published some very useful information on Work Experience.- UCAT
All applicants must sit the UCAT in the year of application, prior to applying. UEA does not have a cut off score. A high score is advantageous; a low score does not disqualify an applicant from consideration.
How do we use the UCAT?
- The overall UCAT score is used to rank applicants for selection for interview.
- The overall UCAT score is used alongside the interview score to rank and select applicants to whom an offer is made.
- The SJT component score is included within the interview score.- Placements
After the Gateway Year, approximately 50% of this course will be spent on practice placement in a variety of settings that include hospitals, community services, general practice, social services and voluntary or private organisations. Placements are typically allocated throughout the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. Please refer to the MBBS Medicine course Teaching and Learning section under Study and Modules for further information.
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
Applicants should apply for their chosen year of entry.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Age on Entry
Applicants must be aged 18 or over by December 31st 2025. This is owing to the integrated nature of placements within the first year of study and safeguarding implications. In view of this, applicants who will not be 18 years old or over by this date, should consider applying for deferred entry.
- How will you process my application?
Briefly, all on-time applications proceed to primary screening, where checks are made to see that applicants meet, or are predicted to meet, our minimum academic entry criteria and contextual criteria, have a satisfactory personal statement and reference and have taken the UCAT test in the summer prior to submitting the application. Applicants are then invited to interview (from December onwards).
If the number of applications received, exceed the number of interview places available, those meeting primary screening requirements may also undergo secondary screening, where the overall UCAT score may be ranked against the applicant cohort, with the strongest applicants invited to interview.
Following the completion of interviews, interviewed applicants are ranked (by interview scores – which includes the UCAT SJT subsection score - and UCAT overall scores) within the applicant cohort. The interview score and UCAT score is weighted equally and the top ranking applicants will receive offers.
- Preparing for Medicine
Applying to study medicine can be daunting, especially without any experience of university or medicine in the family to draw upon. Preparing for Medicine supports Year 12 /Level 3 Year 1 students on their path to studying medicine through participation in a range of free activities.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
You can find information regarding additional costs associated with the course on our Additional Course Fees pages.
How to Apply
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: