CertHE Medical Sciences Pre-Med (9-months)
A unique course for students that wish to enhance their medical or dental school application or study the first stage of the 2-year degree.
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Course overview
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FIND OUT MOREAbout the course
The CertHE Medical Sciences Pre-Med (9-months) is a unique programme, awarding graduates of this course with a Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) in Medical Science qualification. The Pre-Med has been developed for students that wish to enhance their application to medical or dental schools.
The biomedical science content of this course focuses on how cells, organs and metabolic systems function in the human body. Through this understanding of health and disease processes, new treatments and therapies can be created or developed, which makes it a very dynamic and exciting field of study.
Key benefits
- Core modules are taught from a clinical perspective which provides students with the theory and experience to make the transition to medical or dental school.
- Our teaching strategy promotes student centred learning with a focus on small tutorials and workshops rather than large lecture-based programmes.
- Part of the Pre-Med selection criteria is the successful completion of an MMA. Completing this prior to joining the programme, therefore, makes your application to our MB ChB an uncomplicated and streamlined process.
- Students who have achieved at least 70% on the 9-months Pre-Med will be eligible to make an application to The University of Buckingham MB ChB selection process.
As part of our standard Quality Assurance cycle, The University of Buckingham is conducting a review of the CertHE Medical Sciences curriculum. This process may lead to updates in the curriculum for September 2025, which could differ from the current published version. We aim to provide you with the updated details as soon as possible.
Progression route onto MB ChB
As part of our entry requirements for Pre-Med, as well as meeting our academic requirements, you would be required to attend a Selection Event – Stage 2 Multiple Mini Assessment (MMA). Depending on your performance at this, you would then either be given an offer or will be unsuccessful in your application.
When confirmed, Selection Event dates will be detailed on the course page of the website and generally commence from February each year.
Should you enrol on the Pre-Med course and wish to apply for our Medicine course, you would be required to submit a Medicine application for your intended year of entry as well as achieve a minimum of 70% overall on the Pre-Med programme in order to be eligible for a Medicine offer. Please note, you would not need to interview for the Medical School if you were offered a place on our Pre-Med programme, as you would have already passed the interview process.
View course modules
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Entry requirements
A-Levels
Required grades: BBC
International Baccalaureate
Required points: 30
Required subjects: an overall score of 30 points, excluding any additional points for Theory of Knowledge or Extended Essay. These must include HL Biology and Chemistry HL3 and HL4 (in either order) or SL5 Biology and Chemistry.
Equivalent Qualifications
- Approved Medical/Biomedical foundation programme
- Irish Leaving Certificate
- Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma/A levels: We require a Merit overall with B, C in Biology and Chemistry A Level
Equivalent International Qualifications
For country-specific requirements, please see our Entry Requirements document.
English language requirements
If English is not a student’s native language, they are normally expected to have passed a recognised test in English to the level of IELTS UKVI Academic score of 6.5 or equivalent (with no less than 6.0 in each section). IELTS General Training is not suitable for this level; other recognised Secure English Language tests (SELTs) can be found on the GOV UK website.
Student Contract for prospective students
When you are offered a place at the University you will be notified of the student contract between the University and students on our courses of study. When you accept an offer of a place on the course at the University a legal contract is formed between you and the University on the basis of the student contract in your offer letter. Your offer letter and the student contract contain important information which you should read carefully before accepting an offer. Read the Student Contract.
Admissions process
The selection processes operate in two stages. The first stage is Academic Screening, and the second stage is a digital Multiple Mini Assessment (MMA).
Stage One: Academic Screening
This first stage involves judgements on the basis of the written application, primarily related to academic achievement as an indicator of intellectual suitability for a medical course and the practice of medicine. Applicants may offer a variety of qualifications, but the overriding principle is that achievement should be at the highest level, and comparable to entrants to other medical schools in the United Kingdom. It is not intended that ability to pay the fees for the course should compensate for academic achievement that is less than usual for entry to a medical course in the UK.
Stage Two: Multiple Mini Assessment
The second stage of selection applies only to those who meet the academic threshold and is intended to judge personal attributes relating to suitability for practice as a doctor. It is a computer-based test, made up of a series of tasks intended to test applicants’ analysis, interpretation and judgement abilities related to ‘Good Medical Practice‘, published by the UK General Medical Council.
Applicants who successfully pass will receive an offer; unsuccessful applicants will be advised.
To learn more, view our Preparing for Medicine Selection events webinar.
Schedule of selection events
This course is currently undergoing a curriculum review. Successful applicants will be invited to attend a Selection event from April 2025 onwards.
| Date | Selection events: MMAs and MMIs for September 2025 entry |
| TBC | Stage 2 MMA |
More dates will be added throughout the year, please keep checking this page.
NB – The use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the MMA and MMI is not permitted. Any suspicion that AI has been used will be investigated and may result in exclusion from this event and all future events.
Teaching and assessment
The programme is taught using a range of teaching methodologies such as lectures, small group tutorial sessions, problem-based learning, one-to-one personal tutoring, seminars, practicals and personal assessments.
Level 4 (October-June)
- Matter and Energy in Medicine
- Professional Values and Behaviour
- Molecular Cell Biology
- Brain, Muscle and Coordination
- Gut, Hormones and Metabolism
- Circulation and Fluid Balance
After your course
Transferable Skills for your CV
You will gain experience in laboratory work during your degree and this will equip you with the skills you need to plan, conduct and evaluate experiments. It will also enable you to comply with health and safety regulations and research and interpret scientific literature.
Transferable skills gained on your course include:
- team working – from laboratory work or activities such as sport, societies or voluntary work
- analytical and problem-solving skills
- computing and the use of statistics
- data analysis, evaluation and interpretation
- project management
- numeracy
- organisation and time management
- oral and written communication.
Course fees
The fees for this course are:
| Start | Type | 1st Year | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Month Year Full-time (2 Years) | UK | £00,000 | £00,000 |
| INT | £00,000 | £00,000 | |
Month Year Full-time (2 Years) | UK | £00,000 | £00,000 |
| INT | £00,000 | £00,000 |
The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.
Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.
Scholarships and Bursaries
We have bursaries and scholarships available for both home and international students at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and these are awarded based on location, merit or financial need.
Funded scholarships and bursaries may be awarded across all schools of study, and represent a partial remission from tuition fees. Bursaries are means-tested and are intended for those who need a contribution towards their fees in order to study at Buckingham.
Students applying for this course may be eligible for the following:
View all scholarships and bursaries.
How to apply
Apply direct
Apply online from this page as:
- The most flexible option.
- You can apply until shortly before the course starts.
- There are no application fees.
- Apply as an additional option to your UCAS choices.
You can apply directly through our website by clicking the ‘Apply Now’ button.
Apply via UCAS
Alternatively, if you do not wish to apply directly with us, you can apply via UCAS where you can easily make Buckingham one of your UCAS choices.
Do bear in mind that the application and decision deadline are set by UCAS and there is an application fee to UCAS.