Overview
The Graduate Entry Medicine programme is based out of our campuses in London and in Portsmouth as a collaboration with the University of Portsmouth. For information on the Graduate Entry Medicine programme in London please visit https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/medicine-graduate-professional-entry-mbbs.
The programme enables honours-degree biomedical/life science graduates and healthcare professionals with equivalent academic qualifications to study for a fast-track degree in medicine. The programme design enables graduate applicants to complete a conventional medical degree in four rather than five or six years resulting in the MBBS qualification.
Key benefits
- Delivered in Portsmouth and the surrounding region working with excellent local hospitals; with experts contributing from both the University of Portsmouth and King’s College London.
- Integrated medical science with clinical teaching with a focus on learning through patient contact.
- Achieve a King’s College London degree whilst living and studying in the Portsmouth area.
- Students benefit from secondary care clinical placements in regional NHS Trusts and significant time in primary care working with General Practitioners and community partners in the region.
- Benefit from a new state of the art purpose designed facility based at the University of Portsmouth.
- Learn from some of the world’s most influential clinicians and scientists, who are global leaders in life sciences and medical research.
- Twinned with leading medical schools around the world, providing opportunities for clinical exchanges during your elective module.
Course essentials
Portsmouth-based students have the same access to King’s online learning resources and student groups as London-based students but all the lecture theatres, classrooms, OSCE and simulation suites used are on the University of Portsmouth campus or at Portsmouth Hospital University NHS Trust. Assessments are identical for both London and Portsmouth-based students.
The MBBS degree at King’s aims to train students to become:
• critical scientific thinkers
• collaborative leaders and innovators
• outstanding patient-centred clinicians
• excellent team-players
• educators and life-long learners
• resilient and adaptable professionals.
The Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) curriculum consists of four years (GEM1, GEM2, GEM3, GEM4). The Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is our four-year fast-track entry route into medicine for biomedical/life science graduates and health professionals. GEM 1 and 2 of this programme equate to Stage 2 of the standard KCL London MBBS, GEM 3 and 4 to Stage 3. We have been running this course since 2004, opening a second campus in Portsmouth in 2024. Our GEM course has quickly become one of the most popular routes of its kind in the UK.
From the start of your course, you will be introduced to patients and clinicians. You will also work with other students destined for healthcare professions such as dentistry, nursing and midwifery. Inter- Professional Education and team-based learning are an integral part of the course, developing your teamwork, communication, and an awareness of your ethical and professional responsibilities.
GEM (years 1 and 2) bring together science and clinical practice in blocks organised around the human life-cycle and common pathological processes. It focuses on the care of patients with common conditions in a range of clinical settings. You will also have a longitudinal placement in General Practice enabling you to contextualise patient experience. This stage is underpinned by study in biomedical and population sciences.
GEM (years 3 and 4) is oriented towards future practice and includes the opportunity to undertake elective study abroad. You will also conduct quality improvement projects and develop skills to transform patient and population health at home and abroad. Inter-professional training and simulation are important parts of the curriculum.
Special features
Optional study abroad
Key Information
Course type:
Single honours
Delivery mode:
In person
Study mode:
Full time
Duration:
Four years
Application status:
Open
Start date:
August 2026
Application deadline:
15 October 2025
Administrative bodies
Course accreditation
Reviewed, inspected and accredited by the General Medical Council (GMC)
Partner
University of Portsmouth