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UK medicine · 2027 entry

Transferring into MedicineThe UK universities that publish an internal route

Published routes 4 universitiesFrom other universities not accepted where stated
The short answer

Very few UK universities publish a route for moving from another degree into medicine. We could confirm only four on official pages — Birmingham, Plymouth, Anglia Ruskin and Leicester — and each is open only to students on that university's own feeder courses, with minimum marks and an interview or selection stage.

Several other medical schools state the opposite: Imperial, Nottingham, Manchester, UEA, Lincoln and Aston say they do not accept transfers onto medicine; Manchester and Aston tell students on another degree to apply through UCAS in the final year of that degree instead.

Published routes

Which UK universities let you transfer into medicine?

Thresholds are copied from each scheme's page. All four describe the route as competitive or limited; none guarantees a place.

Internal transfer routes into medicine confirmed on university pages (accessed 19 September 2026)
UniversityFromIntoKey conditions
University of BirminghamBSc/MSci Biomedical Sciences, year 1 (Edgbaston and Dubai students eligible)MBChB Year 1Apply in semester 1; shortlisting needs to be on track for at least 70.0% with no module below 65%; MMI score at least the average of UCAS entrants; no UCAT; only one application, and those previously interviewed and unsuccessful at Birmingham are not normally eligible.
University of PlymouthStage one of BSc Biomedical Science or BSc Medical Sciences at PlymouthBMBS stage oneAAB at A level (A in Biology and a second science); at least 70% average across year 1; apply via UCAS by the medicine deadline; interview but no UCAT; 20 interviews and 10 offers across medicine and dentistry.
Anglia Ruskin UniversityYear 1 of BSc Medical Science or Cert HE Medical Science, BSc Biomedical Science, or MOptom OptometryMBChB Year 1, from September 2028At least 75% average with no module below 65%; a current UCAT score; GCSE and 112 UCAS tariff points; UCAS application by 15 October; MMI; one attempt only.
University of LeicesterBSc Clinical Sciences, end of Year 1MBChB Year 2Transfer if places are available on the MBChB, through a competitive process meeting that year’s academic and entry criteria.
Plymouth also considers its own Biomedical Sciences graduates with a first-class degree for BMBS stage one (valid two years after graduation, no UCAT or GAMSAT). Graduates from other universities are told to sit GAMSAT instead — see the GAMSAT guide and Graduate Entry Medicine.
Not accepted

Which medical schools say they do not accept transfers?

Statements from course and admissions pages. Where a school says nothing, ask its admissions team.

Published statements that transfers into medicine are not accepted (accessed 19 September 2026)
SchoolWhat the school says
Imperial College LondonDoes not accept students who have started or are studying at another medical school, and does not accept transfers from other Imperial courses.
University of NottinghamRequests to transfer onto its medicine course from another Nottingham course or another university are not considered.
University of Manchester“We don’t accept transfers.” Students in the first year of another degree should apply in the final year of that degree.
University of East AngliaUnable to accept transfer students because of the integrated nature of the course.
University of Lincoln“Transfers onto this programme are not permitted.”
Aston UniversityWill not consider applicants wishing to transfer from a medical degree or a degree in any other subject; expects graduates to apply in the final year of their degree.
Queen's University BelfastTransfers from other medical schools are not permitted.
Edge Hill UniversityNo transfers from other medical programmes; will consider students in the early stages of a non-medical degree who withdraw, if they meet standard MBChB entry criteria (no recognition of prior learning).
University of PlymouthNo transfers or degree study considered from any university other than Plymouth.
Funding

How does starting another degree affect student finance for medicine?

For students from England, GOV.UK sets out two systems depending on when the new course starts:

  • Courses starting before 1 January 2027: you usually only get student finance for a first higher education qualification; Tuition Fee Loans go to the final years of a new course, calculated as the years you apply for, plus one, minus the years already studied.
  • Courses starting on or after 1 January 2027 (the Lifelong Learning Entitlement): a total Tuition Fee Loan amount of £39,160, with previous government tuition funding deducted — though GOV.UK says you may get more through LLE funding for certain courses such as medicine.

Plymouth also warns applicants who have already completed a degree that they may not be eligible for a second student loan. Check with Student Finance before withdrawing from a course.

FAQ

Transferring into medicine — FAQs

Can you transfer from biomedical science to medicine?

Only at a few universities, and only from their own courses. We found published internal routes at Birmingham (Biomedical Sciences), Plymouth (Biomedical Science or Medical Sciences), Anglia Ruskin (Medical Science, Biomedical Science or Optometry, from 2028 entry) and Leicester (Clinical Sciences). Each is competitive and has minimum marks.

Can I transfer to medicine from another university?

Not at the schools we checked. Plymouth will not consider transfers from any university other than Plymouth; Nottingham, UEA, Lincoln and Aston state they do not accept transfers, and Manchester says to apply in the final year of your current degree instead.

Do I start medicine from year 1 after a transfer?

At Birmingham, Plymouth and Anglia Ruskin, successful students start Year 1 of medicine. Leicester’s Clinical Sciences route is to Year 2 of the MBChB.

Will I get student finance for medicine after starting another degree?

Previous study affects it. For courses starting before 1 January 2027, GOV.UK says Tuition Fee Loans are applied to the final years of a new course after deducting years already studied. For courses from 1 January 2027, the Lifelong Learning Entitlement caps loans at £39,160 minus previous funding, though GOV.UK says more may be available for courses such as medicine.

Sources

Sources (accessed 19 September 2026)

Every fact on this page comes from one of these documents, each opened on the date above. Where a source did not state something, this page does not state it either. Admissions rules change between cycles — check the source before you act on it.

  1. University of Birmingham — BSc/MSci Biomedical Sciences to MBChB Medicine and Surgery transfers — scheme eligibility, thresholds, MMI, no UCAT, conditional offer termshttps://www.birmingham.ac.uk/about/college-of-medicine-and-health/biomedical-sciences/biomedical-science-to-mbchb-medicine-and-surgery-transfers
  2. University of Plymouth — BMBS (internal transfer options) — stage-one transfer from Biomedical Science or Medical Sciences; Plymouth graduate route; no transfers from other universitieshttps://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bmbs-bachelor-of-medicine-bachelor-of-surgery
  3. Anglia Ruskin University — Internal transfer to MBChB Medicine — feeder courses, 75%/65% thresholds, UCAT, UCAS application, single attempt, 2028 entryhttps://www.aru.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/medicine/how-to-apply/internal-transfer
  4. University of Leicester — Clinical Sciences BSc — opportunity to apply to transfer to Year 2 of the MBChB at the end of Year 1 (page loaded 14 September 2026; Leicester’s site blocked every automated re-check on 19 September 2026)https://le.ac.uk/courses/clinical-sciences-bsc/2027
  5. Imperial College London — Medicine MBBS/BSc — no transfers from other medical schools or other Imperial courseshttps://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/medicine/
  6. University of Nottingham — Medicine BMBS — transfer requests from Nottingham or other universities not consideredhttps://www.nottingham.ac.uk/studywithus/ugstudy/courses/UG/2026/Medicine-BMBS.html
  7. University of Manchester — Medicine FAQs — does not accept transfers; apply in the final year of another degreehttps://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/medicine/apply/faqs/
  8. University of East Anglia — MBBS Medicine — unable to accept transfer studentshttps://www.uea.ac.uk/course/undergraduate/mbbs-medicine
  9. Aston University — Medicine MBChB — will not consider transfers from medical or other degrees; expects final-year applicationshttps://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/medicine-mbchb
  10. University of Lincoln — Medicine MBChB — transfers onto the programme not permittedhttps://www.lincoln.ac.uk/course/mdcmbcub/
  11. Queen's University Belfast — Medicine MB — transfers from other medical schools not permittedhttps://www.qub.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/medicine-mb-a100/
  12. Edge Hill University — Medicine — no transfers from other medical programmes; early-stage non-medical students may apply if standard criteria methttps://www.edgehill.ac.uk/course/medicine/
  13. GOV.UK — Student finance for undergraduates: eligibility — how previous study reduces Tuition Fee Loan years (courses starting before 1 January 2027)https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/who-qualifies
  14. GOV.UK — Student finance if your course starts on or after 1 January 2027: eligibility — Lifelong Learning Entitlement: £39,160 total, previous funding deductedhttps://www.gov.uk/student-finance-on-or-after-1-january-2027/eligibility