With the right experience and training, you could be earning an excellent salary as an NHS doctor. The question is, how long does it actually take to become a doctor in the UK? On this page, we’ll dive into medical training and how long it takes.

Read on to plan your new career.

Standard Medical Courses

The first step in becoming a doctor is your medical degree. You’ll need excellent GCSE and A level grades in the five core subjects to be in with the best chance when applying. A standard medical degree usually takes 5 years in the UK.

Graduate Entry Programs

If you already have some form of science degree, you may be eligible for a graduate entry program. This takes your existing credits into account. This type of course typically lasts 4 years at most universities.

Other Requirements

As a general rule, you’ll also need to meet these criteria when becoming a doctor:

• Complete a 2-year foundation course in medicine
• Complete your core medical training (usually 2-3 years)
• Specialist doctors then complete a further 4-7 years of training

All this means that it can take between 8 and 15 years to become a fully registered doctor in the UK. It’s a long road, but it’s worth it for many.

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