About this course
In 2026, BM4 Year 1 students will study an improved and updated course. Details will be available once the University has approved the changes.
You will study medicine over 4 years and draw on your existing knowledge and experience to train to be a doctor. You'll be part of a small group of graduates embarking on this intensive but rewarding programme. You'll get clinical experience from the first weeks of your course, meeting patients in hospital and primary care settings.
This graduate entry medicine degree is designed to support graduates to achieve excellent learning outcomes over 4 years instead of the usual 5. You can apply with any 2:1 degree or equivalent qualification, including arts and humanities degrees.
We offer a number of places to this BM4 programme for graduates from the University of Southampton. Applicants must meet both the non-academic and academic criteria for this programme.
As part of your course, you can take your final-year elective placement anywhere in the UK or abroad. You can also get involved in research and entrepreneurship. We work on life-changing treatments and therapies in partnership with industry and with experts in the physical sciences, computing, engineering and mathematics.
You'll meet patients in clinical settings and will learn from volunteer patients, simulated environments and prepared patient cases.
In years 1 and 2, students will be placed in partner trusts including Winchester as well as Southampton. In the final 2 years of the programme, students are placed across the Wessex region.
We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.
Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).
Accreditations
Learn more about this subject area
Course location
This course is based at Highfield.
Awarding body
This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.
Download the Course Description Document
The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.
Entry requirements
For Academic year 202526
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be 18 or over at the start of the course.
Only Home students are eligible, International applicants must apply to BM5.
Applicants must meet the Degree and GCSE academic entry requirements listed below.
All applicants must sit the UCAT test before the 15th October UCAS deadline. Applicants must take UCAT in the year they are applying.
Degree
Graduate applicants (for BM4 and BM5) are required to achieve an Upper Second-Class Honours (2.1) in their first degree, this must be equivalent to a UK Honours degree. The degree can be in any subject and no preference will be given to applicants based on the subject taken.
Please note we do not have any A Level requirements for graduate applicants (for BM4 and BM5).
Please see below for GCSE requirements.
Other requirements
GCSE requirements
Graduate applicants (for BM4 and BM5) must hold 4 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English language, mathematics and either biology and chemistry, combined science, or science and additional science.
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:
IELTS score requirements
- overall score
- 7.0
- reading
- 7.0
- writing
- 7.0
- speaking
- 7.0
- listening
- 7.0
We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
You might meet our criteria in other ways. Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Non-academic entry requirements
UCAT
All applicants must take the University clinical aptitude test (UCAT) prior to the 15th October medicine application deadline. Please visit ucat.ac.uk for further details about the test.
Selection to Interview
All applicants who meet the academic entry requirements through either achieved or predicted grades at the point of application are ranked by UCAT score and the top number of applicants invited to interview. Please see the ''How to apply'' tab for further interview details.
Non- academic Entry requirements
In addition to academic entry requirements, the selectors will look for evidence of non- academic criteria during the selection process.
At interview applicants must be able to show they;
• Are self -motivated and resilient
• Have reflected on and learnt from life experiences (this may include work experience, paid employment and personal experiences both in and outside health and social care settings)
• Can communicate effectively
• Are able to interact successfully with others
• Can demonstrate an understanding of the values of the NHS Constitution
Offers
Offers are made based on interview performance. UCAT will be used post interview if there is a tie between applicants selection day scores.
Additional Requirements
If you are offered a place after attending an interview you will need to meet the following requirements along with any academic conditions:
Certificates
Supply official copies of certificates for all completed qualifications listed in your offer.
Health Clearance
Occupational Health Completion and confirmation of a satisfactory health screening, including confirmation of appropriate vaccinations, will be a condition of all offers. All students must comply with the vaccination requirements of the programme which must be met in order to undertake placements. The list of vaccinations required is updated by the NHS and may change over the course of your programme.
DBS
All incoming students will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) as part of the induction process. This is a legal requirement for those involved in contact with children or vulnerable adults.
For Academic year 202425
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be 18 or over at the start of the course.
Only Home students are eligible, International applicants must apply to BM5.
Applicants must meet the Degree and GCSE academic entry requirements listed below.
All applicants must sit the UCAT test before the 16th October UCAS deadline. Applicants must take UCAT in the year they are applying.
Degree
Graduate applicants (for BM4 and BM5) are required to achieve an Upper Second-Class Honours (2.1) in their first degree, this must be equivalent to a UK honours degree. The degree can be in any subject and no preference will be given based on the subject taken.
Please note we do not have any A Level requirements for graduate applicants (for BM4 and BM5).
Please see below for GCSE requirements.
Other requirements
GCSE requirements
Graduate applicants (for BM4 and BM5) must hold 4 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English language, mathematics and either biology and chemistry, combined science, or science and additional science.
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:
IELTS score requirements
- overall score
- 7.0
- reading
- 7.0
- writing
- 7.0
- speaking
- 7.0
- listening
- 7.0
We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
You might meet our criteria in other ways. Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Non-academic entry requirements
UCAT
All applicants must take the University clinical aptitude test (UCAT) prior to the 16th October medicine application deadline. Please visit ucat.ac.uk for further details about the test.
Selection to Interview
All applicants who meet the academic entry requirements through either achieved or predicted grades at the point of application are ranked by UCAT score and the top number invited to interview. Please see the ''How to apply'' tab for further interview details.
Non- academic Entry requirements
In addition to academic entry requirements, the selectors will look for evidence of non- academic criteria during the selection process.
At interview applicants must be able to show they;
• Are self -motivated and resilient
• Have reflected on and learnt from life experiences (this may include work experience, paid employment and personal experiences both in and outside health and social care settings)
• Can communicate effectively
• Are able to interact successfully with others
• Can demonstrate an understanding of the values of the NHS Constitution
Additional Requirements
If you are offered a place after attending an interview you will need to meet the following requirements.
Health Clearance
Occupational Health Completion and confirmation of a satisfactory health screening, including confirmation of appropriate vaccinations, will be a condition of all offers. All students must comply with the vaccination requirements of the programme which must be met in order to undertake placements. The list of vaccinations required is updated by the NHS and may change over the course of your programme.
DBS
All incoming students will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) as part of the induction process. This is a legal requirement for those involved in contact with children or vulnerable adults.
Got a question?
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Course structure
The 4 years of the programme are described as years 1, 2, 4 and 5. This is because BM4 students undertake a four-year programme. Years 1 and 2 are taught independently of the BM5 and BM6 programmes and the final 2 years are taught alongside years 4 and 5 of BM5 and BM6.
Over the first 2 years, your learning will be focused on a series of clinical topics. You'll work in graduate groups to apply problem-solving skills, with the help of a facilitator. From year 4 onwards, you'll study the same curriculum as students taking the 5-year degree.
You'll get clinical experience from the first weeks of your course. This may involve some weekend and evening working.
You must pass all the course modules to progress to the next stage and graduate.
Year 1 overview
BM4 phase 1
The first 18 months of the course are made up of 4 university semesters. You'll develop your understanding of the role of a doctor as a practitioner and a professional. From the beginning, you'll meet patients and learn in the context of primary medical care and hospital-based medicine.
You'll cover a series of clinical topics, taking placements, lectures and practical sessions. Your understanding of clinical practice will integrate:
- biomedical science, including anatomy, molecular biology and pharmacology
- health science
- psychology
- social, legal and ethical aspects of clinical practice
- your own knowledge and life experience
Full-time clinical attachments start after Christmas in year 2, when you'll undertake placements in medicine, surgery and primary care.
Year 2 overview
You'll complete BM4 phase 1.
Year 3 overview
This course has no year 3.
Year 4 overview
Phase 3: Developing Clinical Practice
This phase takes place through year 4 over 37 weeks. It continues through the first half of year 5 and ends with the year 5 exams. During this phase your studies and clinical practice will include the following modules:
- acute care
- child health
- clinical ethics and law
- speciality weeks (neurology, dermatology, head and neck and ophthalmology)
- obstetrics and gynaecology and genitourinary medicine
- psychiatry
In year 5, in the 24 week placement leading up to finals, you will have clinical placements in medicine, surgery and primary care. You can also choose to complete a fourth student selected unit.
Year 5 overview
You'll continue with phase 3: Developing Clinical Practice, and move into phase 4.
Phase 4: Preparing for Independent Practice
After finals you will undertake an elective: an 8-week placement abroad or in the UK. You will also complete an assistantship module where you will shadow a Foundation doctor for 2 weeks each in Medicine and Surgery. This will prepare you for entering the Foundation programme as a newly qualified doctor in August.
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
Modules
The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Find out why, when and how we might make changes.
For entry in academic year 2024 to 2025
Year 1 modules
You must study the following modules in year 1:
BM4 Y1 Foundations of Medicine
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks in which st...
Clinical Medicine 1
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks in which st...
Integration of Knowledge and Clinical Medicine 1
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learnt through clinical topic weeks, in which st...
Year 2 modules
You must study the following modules in year 2:
Clinical Medicine 2
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks in which st...
Foundations of Medicine 2
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks in which st...
Integration of Knowledge and Clinical Medicine 2
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learnt through clinical topic weeks, in which st...
Medicine, Surgery and Primary Care
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks in the firs...
Year 4 modules
You must study the following modules in year 4:
Specialty Weeks (Dermatology, Head & Neck, Neurosciences & Ophthalmology)
This module focuses on the dermatology, neurosciences, ophthalmology and head & neck knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of an F1 doctor, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. The BM p...
Acute Care
This module focuses on the Acute Care knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of an F1 doctor, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. The BM programmes are however highly contextualised and ...
Child Health
This module focuses on the Child Health knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of an F1 doctor, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. The BM programmes are however highly contextualised an...
Medical Ethics & Law
This module will run throughout the year with a variety of activities occurring during the placements of other clinical modules in year 4. Teaching will take place within the clinical module placement hours. This module focuses on developing the critical ...
Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Genitourinary Medicine (O and G and GUM)
This module focuses on the Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Genitourinary Medicine ( for BM(EU) also Urology) knowledge, understanding and professional skills required of an F1 doctor, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. The ...
Psychiatry
This module focuses on the Psychiatry knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of an F1 doctor, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. The BM programmes are however highly contextualised and...
Year 4 Applied Knowledge Test (AKT)
This is a synoptic assessment module that comprises the two MCQ Papers at the end of the year along with revision sessions that help prepare students for this assessment. The BM programmes are highly contextualised and integrated programmes in which t...
Year 5 modules
You must study the following modules in year 5:
Data Interpretation & Summarisation Assessment (Final)
This module is a synoptic assessment module incorporating all previous modules in the programme and together with the other 3 assessment modules constitutes ‘Finals’. This module comprises the data interpretation and summarisation component of ‘Finals’...
Applied Knowledge Assessment (Final)
This module is a synoptic assessment module incorporating all previous modules in the programme and constitutes the Applied Knowledge Assessment (AKT) component of ‘Finals’. This module comprises the Applied Knowledge Assessment (currently MCQ format...
Assistantship
The Student Assistantship is a four week clinical placement undertaken in the last six months of Final Year. It is a transitional bridge to prepare students for practicing as competent Foundation Doctors. The module will normally take the format of a 4...
Clinical Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA) (Final)
This module comprises the clinical professional skills assessment (CPSA) component of ‘Finals’ along with revision sessions. The CPSA module is aligned to the proposed plans for the MLA, and will be updated as the GMC defined key performance indicators ar...
Elective
This module provides the students with the opportunity to gain experience in different health, social or community care settings which can be in the UK or abroad - in accordance with prevailing University and Foreign-Commonwealth Office travel guidance. ...
Medicine (Final)
This module provides the students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes which are necessary to practice in Medicine as a newly qualified doctor. This module builds on earlier Medicine attachments and the Acute Care and Ethics...
Personal Professional Development
The module is ‘nested’, running alongside clinical attachments in Medicine and Surgery, Primary Medical Care and SSU4. It provides students with the opportunity to translate the Duties of a Doctor into day to day clinical practice in a variety of settings...
Primary Medical Care (Final)
This module focuses on the knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of a newly qualified doctor in Primary Care, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. The BM programmes are however highly c...
Student Selected Unit 4
The Selected Unit allow students to develop skills and experience in any clinical postgraduate speciality provided within the final year training centres. The module will normally take the format of a 3 week placement in one or more of our University o...
Surgery (Final)
This module provides the students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes which are necessary to practice in Surgery as a newly qualified doctor. This module builds on earlier Surgical attachments and the Acute Care and Ethics ...
Workplace Based Assessment (Final)
This module is a synoptic assessment module incorporating all previous modules in the programme and together with the other 3 assessment modules constitutes ‘Finals’. This module comprises Workplace Based Assessment (WpBA) component of Finals. This in...
Learning and assessment
The learning activities for this course include the following:
- lectures
- classes and tutorials
- coursework
- independent learning (studying on your own)
Course time
How you'll spend your course time:
Year 1
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:
How we'll assess you
- oral presentations
- portfolios
- written and practical exams
- placement assessment
Your assessment breakdown
Year 1:
Year 2
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 2:
How we'll assess you
- oral presentations
- portfolios
- written and practical exams
- placement assessment
Your assessment breakdown
Year 2:
Academic support
You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.
Course leader
Benjamin Chadwick is the course leader.
Careers
With a medical degree from Southampton, you'll have excellent career prospects. All of our students are in work or further study within 6 months of completing their degree.
At the end of the course you will be qualified to register with the GMC and apply for a Foundation Year 1 post. Most of our graduates do this. Learn more about the Foundation scheme and what happens after graduation.
At the end of the undergraduate course you will have the following qualifications: a Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSc) and a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) degree, which is a primary medical qualification (PMQ). Holding a PMQ means you can apply to work in the NHS.
Our graduates go on to work in a wide range of medical careers including:
- accident and emergency
- anaesthetics
- armed forces medicine
- general practitioner (GP)
- gynaecology
- hospital medicine specialties
- medical research
- obstetrics
- orthopaedics
- paediatrics
- pathology
- primary care
- psychiatry
- public health
- radiology
- surgery
You'll be supported by your personal academic tutor who can advise you on your career path throughout your course.
Careers services at Southampton
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:
- work experience schemes
- CV and interview skills and workshops
- networking events
- careers fairs attended by top employers
- a wealth of volunteering opportunities
- study abroad and summer school opportunities
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Fees, costs and funding
Tuition fees
Fees for a year's study:
- UK students pay £9,250.
- This course is not available to EU and international students.
The Government has recently announced changes to UK tuition fees from September 2025 onwards. We will update our website to reflect this shortly.
What your fees pay for
Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.
Find out how to:
You will be responsible for paying certain costs not covered by the tuition fee. These include:
- vaccinations and immunisation
- £100 per year towards travel costs associated with clinical placements
- medical insurance if you choose to do an elective in another country
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.
Explore:
Bursaries, scholarships and other funding
If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.
If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.
Get in touch for advice about student money matters.
Scholarships and grants
You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.
We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.
Support during your course
The Student Hub offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.
How to apply
What happens after you apply?
We’ll assess your application on the strength of your:
- predicted or actual grades
- University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) scores
- performance at a selection day
Please note: your reference is not used as part of the selection process, but you must provide it as part of your application.
Selection days
We rank applicants by UCAT score and invite the top candidates to one of our selection days.
We offer a number of interview places to the BM4 programme for graduates from the University of Southampton.
The selection day process includes an interview and a group task. At the interview, we draw on the information you gave us in your application personal statement.
During the selection process you must show how you meet our non-academic criteria by demonstrating that you:
- are self-motivated and resilient
- have reflected on relevant life experiences
- can communicate effectively
- can interact successfully with others
- understand the values of the NHS constitution
Selection day invitations
If you’re invited to attend, we’ll email you full event details beforehand.
Applicants will be invited to attend 2 to 3 weeks before the selection day.
We're unable to offer an alternative date to the one on your invitation. However, if another applicant cancels their place, we sometimes send invitations with a shorter notice period.
Selection day dates
Selection days take place in Southampton between January and March each year. You must attend your interview in person.
Dates for the 2025 Selection days will be available in Autumn 2024.
Application decision
We aim to respond to you by the end of March with a decision about your application.
Offers are made based on Selection day performance. Where selection days scores are tied we may use UCAT as a determining factor between candidates.
Selection Policy
Download our full selection policy for 2025 entry (ODT, 84KB)
Inside Uni Medicine
Inside Uni Medicine is a new free resource. It's supported by the Medical Schools Council and NHS England and delivered in partnership with Inside Uni; a community of students sharing advice on applying to university.
It gives advice from current students sharing their tips for applicants on applying to university including students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Equality and diversity
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.
Got a question?
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Related courses
Medicine BM4 Graduate Entry (BMBS) is a course in the Medicine subject area. Here are some other courses within this subject area:
