New ‘fast-track’ medical degree launched in the UK
King’s College London has launched the UK’s first medical degree specifically designed to support qualified professionals in becoming doctors.
The new Healthcare Entry Medicine MBBS is a four-year course designed to support nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, paramedics, physician associates, and other patient-facing professionals to transition into careers as doctors. Building on students’ existing clinical experience, the programme is uniquely designed to further develop their knowledge and skills.
Unlike King’s existing Graduate Entry Medicine course, this new programme is designed with current healthcare professionals in mind. It focuses on key areas such as bioscience and population health, with less emphasis on early clinical practice, which applicants will have already mastered in their current roles.
In order to apply, candidates will need a 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent), at least two years’ full-time experience in a patient-facing healthcare role, and to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) as part of the admissions process.
The programme will allow students to learn from some of the world’s most influential clinicians and scientists, who are global leaders in life sciences and medical research. Students will benefit from teaching at partner hospitals, including Guy’s, King’s College, and St Thomas’ Hospitals, and gain hands-on experience through clinical placements at district general hospitals across the South of England, as well as at over 350 general practices.
Applications for the new Healthcare Entry Medicine MBBS will open via UCAS in September 2025, with the first cohort starting in 2026.
“King’s has a long-standing reputation for excellence in medical education,” said Professor Nicki Cohen, Dean of Medical Education, King’s College London.
“This new course opens the door to a diverse pool of talented professionals who are already making a difference in patient care and wish to take the next step in their medical careers,” she said.
