When asked about the top medical schools in the world, many of us would think of familiar names such as Harvard and Oxford. However, did you know that US universities only offers post-graduate medicine? Only UK universities such as Oxford, offer undergraduate medical courses.

Despite having numerous rankings of medical schools by year and countries, many do not distinguish the type of medical programme the school offers. Today, we will filter this broad list a little further and present the list of top 7 undergraduate medical schools in the world. All these schools are recognised by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC).

1. University of Oxford, Medical Science Division

University of Oxford, Medical Science Division has a 2020 QS Ranking of 2.

Duration of Course

The total duration of the course is 6 years.

These 6 years is structured into the pre-clinical stage and the clinical stage.

Pre-clinical

  • Year 1 to 3
  • Comprehensive grounding in the sciences underlying medicine
  • Completion grants students a Bachelor degree in Medical Science

Clinical

  • Year 4 to 6
  • Develop skills, knowledge and attitudes for effective clinical practice
  • Supervised clinical attachments
  • Specialty rotations
  • Completion awards students the BM, BCh

Entry Requirements

Students applying from Singapore can apply using either their A-levels or IB Diploma results.

Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-levels

  • AAA at H2

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

  • 39 overall points
  • Scores 7, 6, 6 in subjects taken at Higher Level (HL)
  • Applicants must study Chemistry at HL
  • Applicants must study ONE of the three subjects at HL – Biology, Physics, and Mathematics

All students applying into Oxford’s medical school will be required to sit for the BMATs.

Average Annual Fee

For international students applying to Oxford medical school, the average annual fee (as of 2021/22) is £35,380.00.

However, this figure is expected to increase after students finish their pre-clinical stage of studies.

Key Application Dates

  • Early September to Early October: BMAT registration window
  • Mid October: UCAS application deadline
  • Early November: BMAT test
  • Mid December: Interviews

2. University of Cambridge, School of Clinical Medicine

The University of Cambridge, School of Clinical Medicine has a 2020 QS Ranking of 3.

Duration of Course

The total duration of the course is 6 years.

These 6 years is structured into the pre-clinical stage and the clinical stage.

Pre-clinical

  • Year 1 to 3
  • Medically-relevant core scientific knowledge and skills
  • Specialise in one of a wide range of subjects
  • Visit community-based health-related agencies

Clinical

  • Year 4 to 6
  • Clinical placements
  • Develop knowledge, skills and attitude required to practice clinical medicine

Entry Requirements

Students applying from Singapore can apply using either their A-levels or IB Diploma results.

Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-levels

  • AAAA at H2
  • Subjects studied at a H3 level would require at least a Merit

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

  • 40 to 42 overall points
  • Scores 7, 7, 6 in subjects taken at Higher Level (HL)

All students applying into Cambridge medical school will be required to sit for the BMATs.

Average Annual Fee

For international students applying to Cambridge medical school, the average annual fee (as of 2021/22) is £58,038.00.

Key Application Dates

  • Mid September: Submit COPA, UCAS application, SAQ, and transcript
  • Early November: BMAT test
  • September to December: Interviews

3. University of College London, UCL Medical School

University of College London, UCL Medical School has a 2020 QS Ranking of 8.

Duration of Course

The total duration of the course is 6 years.

These 6 years is structured into the pre-clinical stage and the clinical stage.

Pre-clinical

  • Year 1 to 3
  • Modules focus on:
    • Fundamental of Clinical Science
    • Integrated BSc

Clinical

  • Year 4 to 6
  • Modules focus on:
    • Integrated Clinical Care
    • The Life Cycle and Specialist Practice
    • Preparation for Practice

Entry Requirements

Students applying from Singapore can apply using either their A-levels or IB Diploma results.

Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-levels

  • AAA at H2

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

  • 39 overall points
  • Three subjects at Higher Level (HL).
    • Students must study Biology and Chemistry at HL
    • Minimum scores of 6
    • Total grades for HL subjects must make up at least 19 points
  • Three subjects at Standard Level (SL)
  • If Mathematics and English Language are not offered as part of the Diploma, they should be offered as IGSCE at grade B/6.

All students applying into UCL medical school will be required to sit for the BMATs.

Average Annual Fee

For international students applying to UCL medical school, the average annual fee (as of 2021/22) is £36,900.00.

Key Application Dates

  • Mid October: UCAS application deadline
  • Early November: BMAT test
  • December to March: Interviews

4. Imperial College London, School of Medicine

Imperial College London, School of Medicine has a 2020 QS Ranking of 10.

Duration of Course

The total duration of the course is 6 years.

These 6 years is structured into three stages.

Year 1 to 3

  • Principles of Medicine
  • Integrated teaching on body systems
  • Early exposure to patient care in a variety of healthy community settings
  • Clinical skills laboratories

Year 4

  • Work towards the BSc
  • Undertake a series of modules in a specific area or medical interest
  • Supervised research project

Year 5 to 6

  • Preparation for clinical practice

Entry Requirements

Students applying from Singapore can apply using either their A-levels or IB Diploma results.

Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-levels

  • Not stated on website

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

  • 39 overall points
  • Scores 7 and 6 in Chemistry and Biology taken at Higher Level (HL)

All students applying into ICL medical school will be required to sit for the BMATs.

Average Annual Fee

For international students applying to ICL medical school, the average annual fee (as of 2021/22) is £45,300.00.

Key Application Dates

  • Mid October: UCAS application deadline
  • Early November: BMAT test
  • December to March: Interviews

5. University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Medical School

University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Medical School has a QS Ranking of 19.

Duration of Course

The total duration of the course is 6 years.

Year 1

Introduce scientific, sociological and behavioural principles of medicine and contextualising them to patient care

Year 2

Develop practical, research and clinical skills, homeostasis in the body, health promotion, global health and nutrition, statistical reasoning, and medical informatics

Year 3

Study a scientific discipline in depth, gain research experience, submit a dissertation

Year 4

Study all aspects of clinical medicine and healthcare delivery as part of a team; acquire practical experience through placements in hospitals and GP

Year 5

Clinical placements in a range of disciplines, complete an individual research project in partnership with a clinical tutor

Year 6

Work in an apprenticeship model; emphasis on developing practical skills and knowledge of general and acute medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, anaesthetics, and intensive care

Entry Requirements

Students applying from Singapore can apply using either their A-levels or IB Diploma results.

Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-levels

  • AAA at H2
  • Applicants must study Chemistry
  • Applicants must study one from Biology/Human Biology, Mathematics or Physics.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

  • 37 overall points
  • Scores 7, 6, 6 in subjects taken at Higher Level (HL)
  • Students must take Chemistry and one other science subject at Higher Level (HL)

All students applying into University of Edinburgh’s medical school will be required to sit for the UCATs.

Average Annual Fee

For international students applying to University of Edinburgh medical school, the average annual fee (as of 2021/22) is £33,700.00.

Key Application Dates

  • Early July to Early October: UCAT test
  • Mid October: UCAS application deadline
  • December to March: Interviews

6. King’s College London GKT School of Medical Education

King’s College London GKT School of Medical Education has a 2020 QS Ranking of 20.

Duration of Course

The total duration of the course is 5 years.

These 5 years are structured into three stages.

Stage 1

  • Year 1
  • Foundations of biomedical sciences, population sciences and risk management
  • Develop clinical skills in safe simulated learning environments

Stage 2

  • Year 2 to 3
  • Clinical practice around common pathological processes and the human life-cycle

Stage 3

  • Year 4 to 5
  • Integrate and consolidate clinical capabilities
  • Contribute to the care of patients under direct supervision.

Students who meets the university’s requirement may opt to take an intercalation year between stages 2 and 3.

Entry Requirements

Students applying from Singapore can apply using either their A-levels or IB Diploma results.

Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-levels

  • AAA at H2
  • Subjects exclude Knowledge and Inquiry, General Paper, and Project Work

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

  • 35 overall points
  • Scores 7, 6, 6 in subjects taken at Higher Level (HL)
  • Students must take Biology and Chemistry at Higher Level (HL)
  • The overall points is inclusive of TOK/EE

All students applying into King’s College London medical school will be required to sit for the UCATs.

Average Annual Fee

For international students applying to University of King’s College London medical school, the average annual fee (as of 2021/22) is £40,800.00.

Key Application Dates

  • Early July to Early October: UCAT test
  • Mid October: UCAS application deadline
  • November to May: Interviews

7. National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine has a 2020 QS Ranking of 21

Duration of Course

The total duration of the course is 5 years.

These 5 years are structured into five stages.

Phase 1

  • Year 1
  • Normal Structure and Function
  • Structure and Functions of systems with relevant basic pathophysiology

Phase 2

  • Year 2
  • Abnormal structure and function
  • Diseased systems and relevant investigations, interventions, prevention and health promotion

Phase 3

  • Year 3
  • Core clinical practice

Phase 4

  • Year 4
  • Acute and specialty clinical practice

Phase 5

  • Year 5
  • Internship (Medical/Surgery track)

Entry Requirements

Students applying from Singapore can apply using either their A-levels or IB Diploma results.

Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-levels

  • Good H2 pass in Chemistry
  • H2 pass in either Biology or Physics
  • Of the best 6 subjects used in. the computation of the University Admission score, at least ONE content subject must be from a contrasting discipline

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

  • A good pass in Chemistry taken at a Higher Level
  • A good pass in either Biology or Physics taken at a Higher Level (HL)

Students enrolling for NUS medical school are not required to take any entrance test.

Average Annual Fee

For local students applying to NUS medical school, the average annual fee is $154,800.00 without MOE tuition grant.

For Singapore Permanent Residents and International Students, the average annual fee is $159,600.00 without MOE tuition grant.

Key Application Dates

  • Mid Jan to Mid March: Portfolio submission
  • End March to Mid April: Focused Skills Assessment and Situational Judgement test