King’s has a long-standing reputation for excellence in medical education. This new course opens the door to a diverse pool of talented professionals who are already making a difference in patient care and wish to take the next step in their medical careers.
Professor Nicki Cohen, Dean of Medical Education, King’s College London
07 July 2025
King's College London launches the UK's first fast-track medical degree for healthcare professionals
King’s has launched the UK’s first medical degree specifically designed to support qualified healthcare professionals in becoming doctors.
The new Healthcare Entry Medicine MBBS is a four-year course designed to support nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, paramedics, physician associates, and other patient-facing professionals to transition into careers as doctors. Building on students’ existing clinical experience, the programme is uniquely designed to further develop their knowledge and skills.
Unlike King’s existing Graduate Entry Medicine course, this new programme is designed with current healthcare professionals in mind. It focuses on key areas such as bioscience and population health, with less emphasis on early clinical practice, which applicants will have already mastered in their current roles.
In order to apply, candidates will need a 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent), at least two years’ full-time experience in a patient-facing healthcare role, and to sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) as part of the admissions process.
The programme will allow students to learn from some of the world’s most influential clinicians and scientists, who are global leaders in life sciences and medical research. Students will benefit from teaching at partner hospitals, including Guy’s, King’s College, and St Thomas’ Hospitals, and gain hands-on experience through clinical placements at district general hospitals across the South of England, as well as at over 350 general practices.
As the first Russell Group university in the UK to offer a fast-track medical degree for healthcare professionals, King’s continues to lead innovation in medical education. King’s was also the first UK institution to introduce a dedicated widening access to medicine programme and is now the only UK university to offer five distinct routes into medicine, making it one of the most inclusive and diverse medical education providers in the country.
Applications for the new Healthcare Entry Medicine MBBS will open via UCAS in September 2025, with the first cohort starting in 2026.
Register and join our online information session on Tuesday 15 July, 18:00–19:00, to learn more about the programme and ask your questions directly to Dr Liza Kirtchuk, Programme Lead for Healthcare Entry Medicine.
In this story
Dean of Medical Education (FoLSM)
Clinical Lecturer in Medical Education