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The BMBS Medicine at the University of Exeter is a five-year medical degree designed for students who want to become compassionate, research-informed doctors through early clinical exposure and patient-centred learning. From the first month of the programme, you will combine biomedical science with real clinical experience, developing the knowledge, practical skills, and professional behaviours needed for a successful medical career.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1
Your first year builds a strong foundation in medicine by introducing core biomedical and psychosocial concepts through the BMBS Medicine Year 1 module. Alongside small-group learning, you will begin developing clinical skills, communication techniques, anatomy knowledge, and gain your first experiences in community and hospital placements.
Year 2
In BMBS Medicine Year 2, you deepen your understanding of biomedical science, psychology, sociology, and population health while expanding your clinical skills through integrated learning. Clinical placements continue alongside case-based teaching, helping you connect scientific knowledge with patient care in a variety of healthcare settings.
Year 3
The Clinical Pathways 1 module marks your transition into mainly hospital-based learning across NHS Trusts in Devon or Cornwall. You will rotate through medicine, surgery, general practice, reproductive health, mental health, and community placements while applying your medical knowledge directly to patient care.
Year 4
During Clinical Pathways 2, you continue to develop your clinical reasoning through specialist placements covering acute care, chronic disease management, child health, palliative care, oncology, and other medical specialties. Academic teaching runs alongside your placements, helping you build confidence in managing increasingly complex clinical cases.
Year 5
Your final year focuses on Preparation for Medical Practice, where apprenticeship-style clinical attachments prepare you for Foundation Year 1. You will also complete a Student-Selected Elective, allowing you to gain additional clinical or research experience in the UK or abroad before graduation.
Focus areas (in a string)
Patient-centred care, Biomedical sciences, Clinical skills, Anatomy, Communication skills, Population health, Psychology, Sociology, General practice, Surgery, Medicine, Mental health, Acute care, Chronic disease management, Child health, Oncology, Palliative care, Medical research, Evidence-based medicine, Professional development, Interprofessional healthcare
Learning outcomes (in a string)
Develop strong clinical knowledge, Apply biomedical science to patient care, Perform clinical examinations and practical procedures, Communicate effectively with patients and healthcare professionals, Demonstrate ethical and professional medical practice, Use evidence to support clinical decisions, Work effectively within multidisciplinary healthcare teams, Understand public health and disease prevention, Deliver holistic patient care, Prepare for UK medical licensing and foundation training
Professional alignment (accreditation)
The programme is accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC). Graduates receive a Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ), allowing them to apply for provisional GMC registration and progress to the UK Foundation Programme after meeting the required licensing standards.
Reputation (employability rankings)
The University of Exeter is ranked among the UK's leading medical schools, placing in the Top 10 for Medicine in The Complete University Guide 2027, 12th for Medicine in The Guardian University Guide 2026, and 1st in the UK (4th globally) for Health and Wellbeing in the QS World University Sustainability Rankings 2026.
The BMBS Medicine programme at the University of Exeter is designed to help you build practical skills from day one. You'll start working with patients in your first month, combining classroom learning with real clinical experience in hospitals, GP practices, and community healthcare settings across Devon and Cornwall. As you progress through the course, you'll strengthen your clinical confidence through simulation-based training, small-group learning, and placements in a variety of healthcare environments:
Begin clinical placements in primary care, hospitals, and community healthcare settings from the first month of the programme.
Complete extensive NHS placements across Devon and Cornwall, gaining experience in urban, rural, and coastal healthcare settings.
Take part in small-group, case-based learning that encourages teamwork, clinical reasoning, and problem-solving.
Train in the Clinical Skills Resource Centre, featuring electronic patient simulators, mock hospital wards, emergency care simulations, and communication skills rooms with video recording.
Practise essential clinical procedures such as physical examinations, injections, venepuncture, basic life support, patient consultations, and diagnostic techniques.
Learn anatomy in the Life Sciences Resource Centre using plastinated specimens, anatomical models, living anatomy sessions, X-rays, MRI scans, ultrasound imaging, and digital learning resources.
Develop practical scientific knowledge in the Medical Imaging Suite and Medical Sciences Laboratory.
Access specialist University and NHS health libraries, along with a wide range of online learning resources and digital study materials.
Study at the Knowledge Spa in Truro, a dedicated medical education centre with specialist teaching rooms, the Constance Fozzard Clinical Skills Suite, the Cornwall Health Library, and life sciences facilities.
Complete a Student-Selected Elective in your final year through a clinical placement, research project, or a combination of both in the UK or overseas.
Choose an optional intercalated Bachelor's or Master's degree between Years 3 and 4 to gain additional research experience and specialist knowledge.
Learn alongside leading medical researchers and develop skills in evidence-based medicine, scientific enquiry, and critical analysis.
A BMBS Medicine degree from the University of Exeter gives you the knowledge, clinical experience, and professional skills to begin a rewarding career in medicine. After graduation, you'll be ready to enter Foundation training and continue into a wide range of medical specialties, while also having opportunities to pursue research and leadership roles in healthcare. Typical career paths include Foundation Doctor, General Practitioner (GP), Hospital Doctor, and Medical Researcher:
Earn a Primary Medical Qualification (PMQ) that allows you to apply for provisional registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) after successfully completing the programme and the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA).
Progress to the UK Foundation Programme, the first stage of postgraduate medical training, before moving into specialist or general practice training.
Benefit from the University's Career Zone, which provides one-to-one career guidance, CV and interview support, employer events, internships, career planning resources, and graduate recruitment opportunities.
Gain valuable professional experience through the University's long-standing NHS partnerships across Devon and Cornwall, offering extensive clinical placements and networking opportunities.
Graduate from a programme that is accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC), ensuring it meets the professional standards required for medical practice in the UK.
Prepare for the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) through a curriculum designed to meet the national licensing requirements for UK medical graduates.
100% of BMBS Medicine graduates progressed into employment or further study within six months of graduation, demonstrating excellent graduate outcomes.
According to Discover Uni, Medicine graduates earn a median salary of £37,000 fifteen months after graduation, £47,500 after three years, and £52,500 after five years.
Further Academic Progression:
After completing the BMBS Medicine programme, you can continue your training through the UK Foundation Programme before progressing into specialist or general practice training. If you wish to develop your expertise further, you can pursue postgraduate study through Master's degrees, research programmes such as MRes, MPhil, or PhD, or follow a clinical academic pathway that combines patient care with medical research and teaching.
The BMBS Medicine programme is based primarily at the St Luke's Campus in Exeter, England, with students also studying for part of the degree at the Truro Campus (Knowledge Spa at the Royal Cornwall Hospital) in Cornwall and completing clinical placements across Devon and Cornwall.A-Level: A*AA Required subjects: A in Chemistry and A in BiologyIB: 38/766 Required subjects: HL 6 in Chemistry and HL 6 in BiologyGCSE: B or 6 Required subjects: English LanguageApplicants must demonstrate English proficiency through IELTS Academic (including Online and One Skill Retake) with an overall score of 7.5, with at least 7.0 in Listening and Speaking, and no less than 6.0 in any other section.Alternatively, TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition, Paper Edition, and MyBest scores) is accepted with a total score of 110, including minimum section requirements of 25 in Listening and Speaking, and 21 in Reading and Writing. For tests taken from 21st January 2026, a revised requirement applies: overall score of 5.5, with no less than 5.0 in Speaking and Listening, and no less than 4.0 in other sections.India: Accepts a range of Class XII qualifications including CBSE, ICSE, several State Boards, NIOS, West Bengal Board, and Maharashtra Junior Year, with typical requirements of at least 80% overall (70% for West Bengal Board and around 85% for some other regional boards considered individually).China: Applicants can enter via Gaokao (around 75% overall with higher subject requirements depending on the course), an approved foundation programme (such as INTO Exeter) or the Maple Leaf World School Diploma, however BMBS Medicine does not accept direct entry through Gaokao scores.USA: An academic level equivalent to A*AA A-levels, typically met through a combination of a High School Diploma with strong SAT (around 1430) or ACT (around 32) scores, plus essential AP subjects such as Biology and Chemistry at high grades (usually AP 5 level or equivalent).PhysicianSurgeonFamily Medicine DoctorEmergency Medicine PhysicianMedical ResearcherClinical Trials CoordinatorEpidemiologistPublic Health AdministratorMedical EducatorHospital AdministratorMedical Science LiaisonHealthcare ConsultantTelehealth PhysicianHealth AdvocateForensic PathologistOccupational Health PhysicianSports PhysicianMedical WriterHealth Informatics Specialist
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University of Exeter
