Do you want to study UK Medicine, Dentistry or Health Science?

Medical Foundation Programme

(Accredited by NCFE, an Ofqual-authorised awarding body)

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Study mode

Face to face, blended or online

Tuition fee

£15,000

Intakes

January, May and September

Duration

6 months, full time

Course overview

The IFG (International Foundation Group) Medical Foundation Programme, accredited by NCFE, an Ofqual-authorised awarding body, is delivered by Veritas Pathways and can be studied face to face in London, blended, or fully online. Developed with leading universities, it prepares UK and international students for competitive Medicine and healthcare degrees, building the scientific knowledge, critical thinking and academic skills they need.

26progression routes after the MFP
17universities and institutions
10Medicine and Dentistry routes
8countries, including the UK and Ireland

Conditional disclaimer

Progression is subject to meeting academic and non-academic criteria. Entry requirements, places and fees are set by each university and can change.

Study mode

Face to face, blended or online

Tuition fee

£15,000

Intakes

January, May and September

Duration

6 months, full time

Scholarships

Up to 30%

English

IELTS 6.0 level, via the Veritas test

Entry requirements

Entry requirements: completion of high school with good grades in Maths, Chemistry and Biology, or 4 relevant IGCSEs at grade C (4). English at IELTS 6.0 level or equivalent, assessed by Veritas’s own test, so no IELTS certificate is needed to join.

What you study

English and study skills

Study Skills and Communication
Academic English

Academic subject modules

Genes, Cells & Development
Atoms, Molecules & Reactions
Measurements in Life Sciences
Medicine, Disease & Society
Tissues, Systems & Regulation
Periodic & Organic Chemistry
Investigations in Biomedicine

You also get

Interview preparation, including mock interviews
Personal statement and application support
Small classes and close academic support

Where it leads: the programme prepares you for

Progression route

Medicine

Progression route

Dentistry

Progression route

Pharmacy

Progression route

Biomedical Sciences

Progression route

Nursing, Physiotherapy and other health science degrees

Medicine and Dentistry routes

The IFG Medical Foundation Programme, accredited by NCFE, offers structured progression opportunities to 10 Medicine and Dentistry routes at universities and institutions in the UK and overseas, subject to meeting academic and non-academic criteria.

Country	University / institution	Degree route	Length after MFP	Interview	PLAB for UK
United Kingdom	University of Buckingham Medical School	Pre-Med (CertHE), leading to the MB ChB	9 months, then 4.5 years	Yes	No
United Kingdom	University of Lancashire Medical School	Medicine (MBBS)	5 years	Yes	No
Ireland	Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)	Medicine (MB BCh BAO)	6 years	Yes	No
Cyprus	University of Nicosia Medical School	Medicine (MD)	6 years	Yes	No
Cyprus	European University Cyprus, School of Medicine	Medicine	6 years	Yes	No
Cyprus	European University Cyprus, School of Medicine	Dentistry	5 years	Yes	No (GDC)
Grenada	St George’s University	Medicine (MD)	5 years	Yes	Yes
St Kitts and Nevis	Medical University of the Americas	Medicine (MD)	5 years	Yes	Yes
Malaysia	RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC)	Medicine	5 years	Yes	Yes
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Sarajevo School of Science and Technology	Medicine	6 years	Yes	Yes

Working as a doctor in the UK after graduating

UK medical school

No PLAB. The UKMLA licensing assessment is built into the degree. Buckingham, Lancashire

EU medical school

No PLAB. EU medical degrees are recognised in the UK. RCSI (Ireland), Nicosia and European University Cyprus

Outside the UK and EU

PLAB 1 and 2, plus an English test (IELTS or OET) and an internship. St George’s, MUA, RUMC (Malaysia) and SSST (Bosnia)

Dentistry: dentists register with the General Dental Council (GDC). EU dental degrees are usually recognised, so European University Cyprus graduates would not normally need the GDC’s Overseas Registration Exam.

Good to know

Every route includes an interview. Students get mock interviews and one-to-one preparation during the MFP.
Students aiming for UK Medicine can also take the Buckingham Pre-Med route: no UCAT, interview only. See below.

PLAB guidance is based on GMC (General Medical Council) registration routes as of October 2026; these rules are reviewed from time to time. The overseas schools do not require UCAT. Entry requirements, places and fees are set by each university and can change.

Allied health, pharmacy and nursing routes

The IFG Medical Foundation Programme offers structured progression opportunities to 16 allied health, pharmacy, nursing and life-science routes at 10 universities and institutions, subject to meeting academic and non-academic criteria.

Country	University / institution	Degree route	Length after MFP	Interview
United Kingdom	Queen’s University Belfast(Russell Group)	Pharmacy (MPharm)	4 years	Yes
United Kingdom	Aston University	Pharmacy (MPharm)	4 years	Yes
		Biomedical Science	3 years	Yes
United Kingdom	University of Reading	Pharmacy (MPharm)	4 years	Yes
		Biomedical Science	3 years	Yes
United Kingdom	University of East London	Pharmacology	3 years	Yes
		Pharmaceutical Science	3 years	Yes
United Kingdom	University of Sunderland	Pharmacy	4 years	Yes
		Adult Nursing Practice	4 years	Yes
		Mental Health Nursing Practice	4 years	Yes
United Kingdom	Swansea University	Pharmacy (MPharm)	4 years	Yes
United Kingdom	Robert Gordon University	Pharmacy (MPharm)	4 years	Yes
Ireland	Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)	Physiotherapy	4 years	Yes
		Pharmacy (MPharm)	5 years	Yes
Malta	IDEA College	Nursing Science	4 years	Yes
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Sarajevo School of Science and Technology	Pharmacy	5 years	Yes

All MFP routes together

10 Medicine and Dentistry routes (above) and 16 allied health, pharmacy and nursing routes make 26 progression routes at 17 universities and institutions in 8 countries.

Key points

Pharmacy is available at 8 universities: Queen’s Belfast, Aston, Reading, Sunderland, Swansea, Robert Gordon, RCSI (Ireland) and SSST (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
Every route requires an interview, and students are prepared with mock interviews.
University applications are made with Veritas support during the programme.

Every route requires an interview. Course titles, entry requirements, places and fees are set by each university and can change.

UK Medicine via the Buckingham Pre-Med route

IFG Medical Foundation ProgrammeVeritas Pathways: in London, blended or online
Buckingham Pre-Med (CertHE)Interview only, no UCAT
UK Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

How the pathway works

Stage 1

Complete the Medical Foundation Programme at Veritas Pathways.

Stage 2

Study the University of Buckingham CertHE in Medical Sciences (Pre-Med), a 9-month programme.

After the CertHE, students can

A. Progress to the University of Buckingham MB ChB, a 4.5-year accelerated Medicine degree with no UCAT.
B. Apply to other UK Medicine or Dentistry schools.
C. Apply to other universities for health science degrees.

Recognised for Medicine elsewhere

Buckingham Pre-Med is designed mainly as the route into Buckingham’s MB ChB. Other schools also recognise it: for example, Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) recognises the qualification.

Result needed in Pre-Med (BSMS example)

70–75%

Choose your path after the CertHE

ABuckingham MedicineNo UCAT
BUK MedicineUCAT usually required
CUK DentistryUCAT required
DHealth science degreeInterview may be required

Common questions

Does a student need an extra exam to join Buckingham Pre-Med?: No. Only an interview is required.
Does a student need UCAT for Buckingham Medicine?: No.
Does a student need UCAT for UK Dentistry?: Yes, UK dental schools require it.
Does the CertHE guarantee Medicine or Dentistry elsewhere?: No. Students must check each university’s requirements.