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Medicine with Foundation Year

  • BMBS
  • 6 Years
  • Full-time
  • September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
More about University of Plymouth

Course options

2026-2027
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Course summary

An exciting course offering an alternative entry route into medicine for able students whose education has been impacted by adversity. Using an Enquiry-Based Learning (EBL) approach, this course begins the journey towards the development of the academic, personal and professional skills needed for a career in medicine.
It aims to aid the transition to university through building a strong sense of belonging within the medical student community, as well as introducing you to our learning, teaching and assessment methods. Meeting the relevant entry requirements at the end of your foundation year will enable you to progress to Stage 1 of the standard 5 year BMBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery programme with no further selection process.

  • Offers an alternative entry route to medicine for those whose academic potential has been adversely affected by educational and social factors.

  • Bursary available for each new entrant to the BMBS with Foundation 6 year course.

  • Teaching sessions are not timetabled on Fridays to allow time for other commitments such as caring duties, community work or part-time jobs.

  • A strong inter-professional study component which incorporates shared teaching with Foundation students from other programmes in the Faculty of Health.

  • Hands-on, experiential learning in community healthcare.

  • Provides supportive and encouraging learning to help students develop in all aspects required to thrive in their future medical study.

  • Direct enrolment onto Stage 1 of the standard BMBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery programme without further assessment, subject to meeting the relevant entry requirements at the end of your Foundation year. Please note, we are unable to support transfer from our Foundation year to year 1 of other medical schools.

  • Responds to the University, government and GMC mission to ensure medicine is a career open to all and that doctors reflect the breadth of communities they serve.

Modules

Year 0
Teaching will be delivered across a mixture of shared and bespoke core modules. Shared modules are delivered in collaboration with the School of Biomedical Sciences.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BMBS • Full-time • 6 Years

Start dates

  • September 2026

Apply by
15 October

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
A102
Institution code:
P60
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Foundation

University of Plymouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
15 October

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
A102
Institution code:
P60
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

Open days

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Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff Not accepted

A level BBB

BBB to include Biology. The Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted in lieu of one A Level.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) DDM

BTEC National Diploma in a predominantly science subject area

Access to HE Diploma

45 level 3 credits with a minimum of 45 at Merit or Distinction including a minimum of 15 in Biology

Scottish Higher Not accepted

Scottish Advanced Higher BBB

BBB to include Biology

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme 28 - 32 points

Including 5 at higher level Biology

5 grade C's (4) at GCSE which must include English Language, Mathematics, and either dual award science or two from single award Biology, Chemistry or Physics.

The entry requirements above apply to you if you completed your GCE A levels, or equivalent qualifications, within five years of the start of the application cycle.
Applicants for this course must not meet the A level and GCSE grade requirements for the five-year BMBS Medicine (A100) course. However, if you meet either the GCSE or A level requirements for A100 but not the other, then you would be considered for the foundation course.
This course is aimed at widening participation, and all applicants must meet additional criteria as detailed on the website.
We welcome applications from home/EU direct school leavers, students who have not achieved a first degree, and refugees currently residing in UK/EU. All applicants must have achieved the required A levels, or equivalent level qualification, no more than five years prior to submitting a UCAS application.

Additional entry requirements

Admission tests
Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)
Health checks
Interview
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

We aim to build a picture of the circumstances that may have adversely affected an applicant’s education and academic potential. When assessing an application we will consider a range of educational, social, family, and individual characteristics and experiences. Applications for this course will therefore only be considered if the contextual entry requirements are met alongside the academic criteria.

Learn more on the University of Plymouth website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

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