Careers · checked 29 October 2026
How doctors train in the UK
Becoming a doctor in the UK takes many years, and it happens in clear stages. This guide walks through each one, from medical school to becoming a consultant or GP. It uses official sources only, and it flags what is changing.
Before stage 1
Getting into medical school.
UCAT
Summer before you apply
Most UK medical schools use the UCAT. You sit it once per year.
UCAS application
Deadline 15 October, 18:00 (2027 entry)
Up to four medicine choices, a personal statement and a reference.
Interviews
Late November 2026 to March 2027 (varies by school)
MMI or panel. Formats and dates differ by school.
Offer, then results
Offers follow interviews
Most offers are conditional and confirmed when your results meet the grades.
Stages 1 to 5
From medical school to consultant or GP.
Select a stage to see the key facts and official sources.
Stage 1 · Usually 5 years (4 to 7 by route)
Medical school: key facts
- NHS Health Careers says medical school lasts four to seven years, depending on the route. Standard entry from school or college is normally five years.
- An intercalated degree adds one year. A foundation (gateway) year before the degree is offered by some schools for applicants without enough science or from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Graduate-entry (accelerated) courses last four years.
- From academic year 2024-25, students graduating from UK medical schools must pass the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) as part of their degree before they can join the medical register (GMC).
- From September 2024, NHS Health Careers notes that a five-year medical degree apprenticeship may be available in some areas.
Stage 1 · Usually 5 years (4 to 7 by route)
Medical school: key facts
- NHS Health Careers says medical school lasts four to seven years, depending on the route. Standard entry from school or college is normally five years.
- An intercalated degree adds one year. A foundation (gateway) year before the degree is offered by some schools for applicants without enough science or from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Graduate-entry (accelerated) courses last four years.
- From academic year 2024-25, students graduating from UK medical schools must pass the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) as part of their degree before they can join the medical register (GMC).
- From September 2024, NHS Health Careers notes that a five-year medical degree apprenticeship may be available in some areas.
Shortest common route: at least 10 years from starting a five-year degree to completing GP training. Routes such as cardiology or general surgery take about 8 years after the Foundation Programme, so about 15 in total. Many doctors take longer, for example by training less than full time or taking time out after F2.
After the Foundation Programme
Two ways specialty training is organised.
Dashed box = a second competitive application. CCT = Certificate of Completion of Training, which allows entry to the GMC Specialist Register or GP Register.
Drawn to the same scale
Examples of real training routes.
General Practice (GP)
run-through- 1 year Hospital posts
- 2 years General practice posts
GP training is a minimum of three years. Since August 2021 in England and Wales, trainees spend two of the three years in general practice. The RCGP has long called for training to be extended to four years, but we found no confirmed change to the length as of 29 October 2026. NHS England's Medical Training Review is ongoing.
Sources: healthcareers.nhs.uk, medical.hee.nhs.uk, rcgp.org.uk, england.nhs.uk
Paediatrics
run-through- 4 years Core level (ST1 to ST4)
- 3 years Specialty level (ST5 to ST7), general or sub-specialty
Under the RCPCH Progress+ curriculum (from August 2023), training is indicatively seven years. It is capability-based, so timing can vary. Trainees must hold the MRCPCH to leave core level.
Sources: rcpch.ac.uk, medical.hee.nhs.uk
Obstetrics and gynaecology
run-through- 7 years ST1 to ST7 run-through programme
NHS England describes O&G as a seven-year run-through programme that leads to eligibility to apply for a CCT.
Sources: medical.hee.nhs.uk
Cardiology (via Internal Medicine Training)
uncoupled- 3 years Internal Medicine Training (IMT)
- 5 years (indicative) Cardiology with General Internal Medicine
IMT lasts three years. From August 2022, cardiology is trained alongside General Internal Medicine over an indicative five years. The GMC lists the indicative length as eight years including core training. Entry to cardiology is a separate, competitive application.
General surgery (via Core Surgical Training)
uncoupled- 2 years Core Surgical Training (CST)
- 6 years (indicative) Higher general surgery training (phases 2 and 3, from ST3)
The GMC gives core surgery an indicative length of two years, after which most surgical trainees enter higher training at ST3. The general surgery curriculum gives an indicative six years for phases 2 and 3. Some surgical specialties, such as neurosurgery, are run-through from ST1.
Sources: gmc-uk.org, iscp.ac.uk
Psychiatry
uncoupled- 3 years Core Psychiatry Training (CT1 to CT3)
- 3 to 5 years, depending on specialty Higher psychiatry training (from ST4)
Core psychiatry usually lasts 36 months and includes the MRCPsych exams. Higher training starts at ST4 and lasts 36, 48 or 60 months, with a minimum of 36 months. There are six psychiatry CCT specialties, and dual training is possible.
Sources: medical.hee.nhs.uk
Lengths are typical or indicative minimums for full-time training, as stated by official bodies on 29 October 2026. Real timelines are often longer because of less than full-time training, research, time out of programme or exam timing. They are shown to explain structure, not to compare specialties.
Other routes and ways to train.
Academic training (Specialised Foundation Programmes, Academic Clinical Fellowships, Clinical Lectureships)
Doctors interested in research or teaching can join Specialised Foundation Programmes, which build skills in research, teaching or leadership alongside the Foundation Programme. Later, an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship usually lasts three years (up to four for GPs), with 25% research time and 75% clinical training. Clinical Lectureships are usually taken after a PhD and give about 50% protected academic time over four years.
Less than full-time (LTFT) training
Doctors in training can work at less than 100% of full time, with training and pay adjusted. Since the Gold Guide 9th edition (August 2022), all doctors in training can apply, with the only requirement being a well-founded individual reason. Approval still depends on the programme, and training usually extends, decided at each ARCP.
Locally employed doctors and SAS doctors
Not every doctor is in a national training post. Locally employed doctors are employed by a trust on local contracts, often while gaining experience or between programmes. Specialty and specialist (SAS) doctors are experienced doctors in senior, non-training roles. The Medical Training Review (October 2025) recommended valuing these routes and making the line between training and service roles less rigid.
Graduate-entry medicine
Applicants who already have a degree can apply for accelerated four-year medicine courses at some UK universities. Entry requirements and admissions tests vary by university, so check each course page for your year of entry. Graduates can also apply to standard five-year courses.
Questions applicants ask.
How long does it take to become a consultant?
Usually at least 13 years from the start of medical school if you train full time. That is about 5 years at medical school, 2 Foundation years and 6 to 8 years of specialty training, depending on the specialty. Many doctors take longer because of research, time out or part-time training, and that is completely normal.
And how long to become a GP?
Usually at least 10 years: about 5 years at medical school, 2 Foundation years and a minimum of 3 years of GP training. The RCGP has called for GP training to be four years, but no change had been confirmed when we checked on 29 October 2026.
Can you change specialty?
Yes. Doctors can apply to a different specialty through national recruitment. Some earlier training may count towards the new programme, but it depends on the specialties. The GMC and NHS England have both said they want training to be more flexible, so this area is changing.
What is a CCT?
A Certificate of Completion of Training. It shows a doctor has finished an approved UK training programme. With it, they can join the GMC's Specialist Register (needed to be a consultant) or GP Register (needed to work as a GP).
Are you paid during training?
Yes. From Foundation Year 1 onwards, doctors are employed and paid a salary, with extra pay for things like nights and weekends. National pay scales are agreed and published each year by NHS Employers and the government, so check the latest official figures rather than older numbers online. At medical school you are a student, not an employee.
What does run-through mean?
In run-through training, you apply once and continue to the end of the programme if you progress well. GP, paediatrics and obstetrics and gynaecology are examples. In uncoupled training, you complete core training first and then apply again for higher training, as in internal medicine, surgery and psychiatry.
What is LTFT training?
Less than full-time training. Doctors in training can work part time, for example at 80%, and their training extends to match. Since August 2022, any doctor in training can apply with a well-founded individual reason. Before 2022 this was limited to set categories, such as caring responsibilities or ill health. It needs approval and depends on the programme.
Use it at interview
Practise the stations this helps with.
- Mock MMI 4 · Station 1Your friend says medicine is too long. Knowing the real stages and timelines lets you answer honestly and calmly.
- Mock MMI 1 · Station 1Understanding a doctor's long training and responsibilities helps show why your motivation is specific to medicine, without putting other careers down.
- Mock MMI 2 · Station 5Training lasts a decade or more. Mentioning support like LTFT training and yearly reviews shows a realistic view of coping.
- Mock MMI 4 · Station 5Feedback is built into training through supervision and the yearly ARCP, so taking it well is a daily skill.
- Mock MMI 6 · Station 1The Medical Training Review and the 2026 prioritisation law are live examples of how doctors' careers are changing.
- Mock MMI 3 · Station 3Bottlenecks between Foundation and specialty training are one workforce challenge highlighted officially in 2025.
- Mock MMI 6 · Station 3Knowing that teams include doctors at every stage, plus SAS and locally employed doctors, helps you discuss who leads and how.
Keep going
Where to next.
This is general careers information, checked against official sources on 29 October 2026. Training rules change, and they can differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Always check the official pages for the year you apply.
- Training as a doctor (NHS Health Careers) (checked 29 October 2026)
- General practitioner (NHS Health Careers) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Cardiologist (NHS Health Careers) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Assuring readiness for practice: a framework for the MLA (GMC) (checked 29 October 2026)
- What is full registration and who is eligible? (GMC) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Specialist and GP application types (GMC) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Cardiology curriculum (GMC) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Core surgery curriculum (GMC) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Adapting for the future: a plan for improving the flexibility of UK postgraduate medical training (GMC, March 2017) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Timeline for F1 completion (UK Foundation Programme) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Prioritisation FAQs: allocation (UK Foundation Programme) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Specialised Foundation Programmes (UK Foundation Programme) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 (legislation.gov.uk) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Impact of Medical Training Prioritisation Act on specialty training recruitment (NHS England, June 2026) (checked 29 October 2026)
- England's leading doctors set out medical training recommendations (NHS England, October 2025) (checked 29 October 2026)
- The Medical Training Review: Phase 1 diagnostic report (NHS England) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Overview of Specialty Recruitment (NHS England Medical Hub) (checked 29 October 2026)
- GP Training key facts (NHS England Medical Hub) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Core training in medicine (IMT) (NHS England Medical Hub) (checked 29 October 2026)
- ST1 Training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (NHS England Medical Hub) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Overview of Core Psychiatry Training (NHS England Medical Hub) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Overview of Higher Psychiatry Training (NHS England Medical Hub) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Progress+: Frequently asked questions (RCPCH) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Training guide (RCPCH) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Cardiology specialty (Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians / JRCPTB) (checked 29 October 2026)
- General surgery curriculum: purpose (ISCP / JCST) (checked 29 October 2026)
- GP training: CCT guidance (RCGP) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Enhanced and extended specialty training in general practice (RCGP) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Academic Clinical Fellowship (NIHR) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Integrated Academic Training programme (NIHR) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Less Than Full Time (LTFT) Training: FAQ (Health Education England) (checked 29 October 2026)
- Medical and dental staff groups (NHS Employers, April 2025) (checked 29 October 2026)
Questions
How can we help?
Send your admissions or programme enquiry and we'll reply by email.