Medicine and Surgery with a Gateway Year

MBChB

  • UCAS code A104
  • Entry year 2026 or 2025
  • A level requirements BBB
  • Duration Full time 6 years
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We welcome applications from the United States of America

We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 7

    7th for Student satisfaction in Medicine

    The Complete University Guide (2026)

  • 15

    15th for Medicine

    The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)

  • Develop your clinical skills early in your studies

Join an established and and high-ranking university and gain the skills, knowledge and support you need to graduate as a skilled, empathetic and patient-centred doctor, whatever your background.

Supporting you to become an exceptional doctor

At Lancaster Medical School, we know that outstanding doctors can come from any background, and we are committed to developing skilled doctors who are as diverse as the communities they serve.

Our Medicine and Surgery MBChB with a Gateway Year is designed for talented UK students from backgrounds under-represented in medicine and who may be disadvantaged in applying to our five-year MBChB Medicine and Surgery programme. Find out more about our eligibility criteria.

It will provide you with a grounding in the medical sciences, building your academic skills, knowledge and confidence.

After successfully completing the Gateway Year you will progress to the five-year MBChB programme and continue your training to become a skilled, empathetic and patient-centred doctor.

An outstanding medical education in a welcoming environment

We have been training medics since 2006 - initially in collaboration with the University of Liverpool and independently since 2012 - and are proud of the thriving and welcoming community that we have become.

Since then, we may have grown steadily in size but our ethos as a highly-supportive, student-focussed learning environment remains. Our small group teaching means you’ll quickly feel at home and you’ll always have someone to turn to – be it a fellow student or your tutor – when you need a helping hand.

You should come to us with plenty of self-discipline and a willingness to work hard, as well as academic excellence. In turn, we will nurture your talent and support you to reach your full potential and become the most resilient, confident version of yourself.


What you will learn

Your Gateway Year is designed to prepare you for successful progression onto Year 1 of the MBChB programme by developing your knowledge, academic writing and independent study skills.

You will attend weekly support tutorials with the rest of your year group, which will build your academic skills and introduce you to broader topics in medicine, such as the sociology and psychology of health and medical ethics.

We are passionate about our research, which focusses on understanding the health needs of local, national and global populations, and we use this to inspire the doctors we train to have a positive impact on people’s lives.

As such, our connected curriculum will give you an understanding of the socio-economic, cultural and environmental factors that affect health and medicine, as well as population health and professional practice. Through it, you will build a diverse and flexible skillset and become adept at the joined-up thinking needed to excel in a rewarding career in medicine.

Our curriculum is built around core themes that will enable you to develop the knowledge and skills required for modern clinical practice including:

  • medical sciences
  • the psychology and sociology of health and medical conditions
  • population health
  • professional practice and values
  • medical ethics and law

Medicine is constantly advancing and we regularly review our curriculum to ensure that your education at Lancaster reflects that. For example, we integrate teaching on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine to prepare students for the changing technological landscape of the profession.

Lancaster Medical School’s unique location is ideal for getting an insight into the practice of medicine across a hugely diverse population and geography. Your clinical and community placements will offer you a breadth of experience in locations ranging from small, rural GP practices to urban hospitals and deprived coastal communities, helping you to become a resilient, work-ready medical practitioner.


How you will learn

At Lancaster Medical School, we combine lectures and clinical anatomy with small-group learning, complemented by clinical training and hospital and community placements.

Early clinical placements will allow you to apply your learning through contact with patients with complex needs. You will begin to hone your skills in history-taking, examinations and patient communication.

In later years, you will be embedded in teams delivering clinical care, supporting you to become a caring, community-focussed clinician who works collaboratively.
You will also learn via:

  • lectures
  • small group learning
  • case-based discussions
  • clinical skills and simulation
  • written examinations and coursework
  • Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE)
  • workplace-based assessments

What we’re looking for

Being a successful medical student and future doctor takes much more than academic ability.

We are seeking students who are committed to making a difference to the health and well-being of patients and communities.

You will need to be motivated, self-aware and conscientious and demonstrate respect for patients and a compassionate and caring nature.

Working in a team is a crucial part of medical practice, and working alongside and respecting your peers is essential within our small-group teaching environment.

Find out more about our entry criteria and how to apply.

Creating great communicators

We believe that developing good communication skills is essential to becoming a caring and empathetic doctor.

Because you will start placements early on in your studies, we also begin to build your confidence and experience in communication with patients early on.

Initially, you’ll build your skills through interactions with simulated patients and later during real interactions on clinical placements.

Supporting you all the way

Being a medical student can present many challenges, both academic and personal.

However, you can be reassured that our dedicated team will be with you every step of the way. We have a comprehensive network of formal and informal mechanisms that will provide support and guidance to help you cope with the transition to university and throughout your degree course and clinical training.

Our departmental Student Support Team provides specific pastoral care to our medical students. They can provide confidential help and advice on academic issues, physical and mental health, disability, personal or financial problems, in addition to the wider student support services offered by the University which you can also access.

As well as your academic tutor, you’ll be buddied-up with a year two peer mentor who will provide you with information, informal advice and guidance.

Download a Medicine and Surgery brochure

Careers

A career with purpose

Working in medicine offers a career with real purpose. Whether your training takes you towards hospitals, primary care, research or public health, you will play a trusted and respected role in society.

If you wish to be a doctor, you will apply for your Foundation Year 1 (F1) post during your final year.

Once you have completed your MBChB, you will be qualified to begin the two-year foundation programme as a junior doctor where you will gain experience in different specialties and complete advanced clinical training before you decide where to specialise.

With further postgraduate training, you can enter a career in one of more than 65 clinical specialties across primary and secondary care.

If you decide against a career in clinical practice, your transferable skills will prepare you for a career in public health, medical research, medical education, or even policy or communications.

Our graduate destinations and preparedness

Our alumni have gone on to a myriad of speciality training places, including emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry, radiology, surgery, paediatrics and child health, and ophthalmology.

According to the General Medical Council’s quality assessment ‘Foundation year 1 (F1) preparedness’ report, 99 per cent of our graduates enter their Postgraduate NHS Foundation Programme well prepared for clinical practice.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. This section will tell you whether you need qualifications in specific subjects, what our English language requirements are, and if there are any extra requirements such as attending an interview or submitting a portfolio.

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Important information

This course is only available to applicants who meet certain widening participation criteria.

This page will give you an indication of entry requirements but it is important that you visit the Lancaster Medical School web pages for full information on our entry requirements and selection process.

Help from our Admissions team

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.

We also have more details on our website about:

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

This programme is designed to prepare you for successful progression onto Year 1 of the MBChB programme by developing your knowledge, academic writing and independent study skills. You will study a range of modules to build your knowledge of the fundamental principles of bioscience.

We will also teach you about how the health and care system is structured in the UK, and how care is delivered across primary, secondary and tertiary care. You will also start your exploration of what it means to be a professional, ethical doctor.

Foundations of Medicine

We will introduce you to healthcare in the UK and how this is delivered across primary, secondary and tertiary care by multidisciplinary teams with a wide range of skills. You will learn about professionalism and what this means in practice for doctors and start your journey towards becoming a reflective practitioner, ready to progress with your medical studies.

Molecules to Cells

Cells are the basic building blocks of life. In this module you will be introduced to how cells use biological molecules to perform specific functions. All cellular life, from single celled bacteria and yeast to complex multicellular organisms, including plants and humans, synthesise simple organic molecules such as sugars, lipids, amino acids, and nucleic acids.

You will learn how organisms are able to synthesise these molecules to build complex biomolecules to store energy and genetic information. In addition, you will gain knowledge about the function of specific cell types, and intracellular organelles that perform essential processes within cells. You will learn how cells use defined programmes to precisely copy the genome to next generation cells. You will learn how defects in this process can promote cancer.

Anatomy and Physiology

This module provides an exciting opportunity to explore the anatomy and physiology of key body systems and build a solid foundation to support your future learning. Focusing on the human system, you will examine the structure-function relationships of the organs and tissues that protect, sustain, and maintain the body in health. You’ll also discover the mechanisms of communication within and between tissues that regulate responses to maintain homeostasis within an organism.

Through a combination of lectures, interactive workshops and hands-on laboratory sessions, you will develop essential scientific knowledge and practical skills, reinforcing your understanding of how the body maintains homeostasis and responds to internal and external challenges.

Genetics and Biotechnology

Explore the fascinating world of genetics and biotechnology, from the fundamentals of inheritance to cutting-edge genomics. You’ll examine Mendelian genetics and the molecular basis of inheritance through learning how DNA is replicated and how genes are transcribed and translated. You’ll examine the human genome, genome sequencing and be introduced to the role of bioinformatics in understanding genetic data. You’ll also discover how DNA damage can lead to genetic mutations that can in turn lead to heritable and non-heritable diseases and explore genetic testing techniques used today.

The module also introduces other key molecular biotechnologies, including microbial, plant and animal technologies, and how they are transforming research, healthcare, and industry. By the end of the module, you’ll have a strong foundation in genetics and biotechnology, equipping you with the knowledge and skills needed for further study in biomedical and life sciences.

Microbes, Pathogens and Immunity

This module introduces you to the essential skills required to support your studies in the biosciences. You will learn how to design and undertake safe, ethical, hypothesis-driven experiments, and gain hands-on experience of essential laboratory skills and equipment. This is complemented with training in carrying out scientific calculations and the use of computational tools to effectively analyse and present diverse types of data.

Finally, this module prepares you to communicate your research to a scientific audience through effective presentation of results and developing a scientific writing style that summarises and critically evaluates your results in the context of current scientific literature. By the end of the module, you will be able to conduct ethical research, analyse data and present your findings clearly and accurately.

On successful completion of this programme, you will progress to the five-year MBChB programme, where, over the course of a further five years at Lancaster Medical School, you will accumulate the knowledge and develop the skills required for modern clinical practice.

Fees and funding

Home undergraduate fees for 2026/27 are subject to UK Government approval. They will be confirmed later in the year.

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting at the beginning of each academic year.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2026/27 are:

Home International
TBC £48,620

Fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our  Charter and student policies.

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