4 Things To Do The Day Before UCAT Make sure you do these four things the day before your UCAT test to get organised and avoid unnecessary stress. 4 Things To Do The Day Before UCAT Make sure you do these four things the day before your UCAT test to get organised and avoid unnecessary stress. Wondering what you need to do the day before UCAT? Here are four things you should do the day before your test to make sure you perform at your best.

Don’t spend the day studying

It might sound strange, but one of the worst things you can do the day before your UCAT test is revise for it! If you’ve planned your time well, you should have spent several weeks preparing for the UCAT – and there is very little you will achieve with last-minute cramming the day before.

By all means, look over some notes the day before your test if you really want to. For example, you might find it helpful to remind yourself of some key strategies for a subtest that you particularly struggle with, or you might want to go over some keyboard shortcuts. But don’t spend the whole day on UCAT prep, because you’ll probably end up feeling burnt out, stressed and definitely not in the right mindset for test day!

On a similar note, if you have any friends who are also doing the UCAT around the same time as you, try not to spend the whole day talking to them about it. You’ll just get each other worked up and worried if, for example, one person has done something to prepare that the other hasn’t. Get Trusted UCAT Strategies Discover the score-boosting strategies trusted by 150+ schools UCAT Courses UCAT Packages

Try to relax

It’s natural to feel nervous the day before your UCAT – but remember that you’ve done your prep, and no amount of extra work in the next 24 hours is going to make you feel more prepared. In fact, it might even have the opposite effect. For instance, if you get a low score in a mock exam the day before your UCAT, you’re only going to panic and spend the rest of the day worrying.

Try your best to relax and get into a good mindset before UCAT test day. Watch TV, read a book, go for a walk… do anything that usually makes you feel calm and content! If you’ve spent the day avoiding unnecessary stress, this means you should hopefully be able to get a better night’s sleep before your test too.

Make sure you’re ready for test day

For peace of mind, double-check the time and location of your test. You’ll need to be at the test centre at least 15 minutes before your test starts, allowing time for the check-in process, so make sure you know where you’re actually going. If you’re taking public transport, plan your route and give yourself plenty of time in case of delays.

When you get to the test centre, you’ll need to check in with your photo ID (your name needs to match the name you registered for the UCAT with) and your confirmation email from Pearson VUE (electronic or printed). Get these things ready the night before, so you aren’t rushing around looking for them on the day of your test. You aren’t allowed to take food or drinks into the test with you (you’ll have to leave your bag in a locker), but it might be wise to pack a drink and a snack to have before or after you’ve completed the test.

If you want to be extra-organised, you might also want to plan what you’re going to wear to the test centre. Make sure it’s something comfortable, and not too warm if the weather is going to be hot.

Get a good amount of sleep

This might be easier said than done if you’re feeling nervous, but you need to try and get a good night’s sleep before the UCAT. As mentioned before, you should find it easier to sleep if you’ve spent the day relaxing instead of panicking and trying to cram. You need to be as fresh and alert as possible to boost your chances of performing well and scoring highly.

Plan what time you’re going to get up, so you won’t be rushing around and getting yourself stressed. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to eat before your test – whether it’s breakfast before a morning test, or lunch before an afternoon test. You should also factor in some time to wake up your brain with an activity like reading or listening to music. More UCAT UCAT

How I Scored Over 3,000 In UCAT And Got Four Offers! Find out how Roisin scored so highly in the UCAT – and how this helped her to secure all four Medical School offers. How I Scored Over 3,000 In UCAT And Got Four Offers! Find out how Roisin scored so highly in the UCAT – and how this helped her to secure all four Medical School offers. Roisin scored above 3,000 in the UCAT test, which helped her to secure offers from all four of her Medicine choices. In this blog she shares her high-scoring tips, and explains how her UCAT score boosted her Medicine application.

I Used A Question Bank

I sat my UCAT at the end of August and started preparing at the end of June – giving me around 8 weeks for UCAT prep, which I found was adequate time.

My biggest tip when it comes to using a UCAT Question Bank is to remember the official UCAT mock exams too. Reviewing your answers, as well as the explanations behind the right answers, is the best way to make progress.

Don’t be put off at all by getting questions wrong at first. It’s amazing how quickly you will find yourself being able to recognise patterns in the questions.

The UCAT is all about consistent brain training. When you start to improve, you will really begin to get into it and should find yourself flying through the questions or seeing patterns that you recognise from previous practice.

I Had A UCAT Study Plan

The routine that I found worked best for me was to spend an hour on Abstract Reasoning first thing in the morning, and Situational Judgement before I went to bed at night. I found time to practise the other sections alternately during the rest of the day, e.g. Verbal Reasoning one day, Quantitative Reasoning and Decision Making the next day, etc. That way I was able to enjoy my summer while still getting in practice for the UCAT every day.

AR was my weakest section in practice but turned out to be my strongest in the exam. I found that breaking up my AR prep into an hour each day, instead of three hour blocks like I could with VR, QR and DM, made it much more manageable. Luckily, they’ve now removed AR from the UCAT, but the advice still applies for your personal least favourite section!

I like Maths and English in school, so preparing for the other sections didn’t bother me so much – but you need to find what works for you. If you are someone who can’t stand VR, for example, I would recommend doing an hour every morning to get it out of the way, so you won’t be dreading your ‘VR day’.

I would also say that it’s very important to still be able to go out with your friends and enjoy your summer. You have a tough year ahead of you with A-Levels and interviews, so think of the UCAT as a chance to train your brain little and often, and not a burden that keeps you stuck in your room all summer. Get Trusted UCAT Strategies Discover the score-boosting strategies trusted by 150+ schools UCAT Courses UCAT Packages

My Best Tips For A High UCAT Score

• Practise lots of UCAT questions. Doing this little and often is the key to doing well in the UCAT. Even pushing yourself to do 10-20 questions every morning can help you break the workload down and will continually get you thinking about the style of the questions.
• If you have to guess the answer to a question, try to eliminate the options that are definitely wrong. Using a process of elimination is one of the most practical ways to approach UCAT questions. Your chances of guessing a question correctly improve with every answer you can work out is definitely wrong. Switching to this mindset, instead of one where you have to find the correct answer, definitely saved me a lot of time on test day.
• Learn your keyboard shortcuts. Being able to use the UCAT calculator properly and knowing how to move between questions without using the mouse could save you many valuable seconds on test day. I would strongly recommend taking the time to learn and practise the different keyboard shortcuts.
• Don’t forget about Situational Judgement! SJT is often overlooked, but it can be one of the easiest sections to improve on if you put in the work. I listened to some episodes of the ‘How To Become A Doctor’ podcast with the GMC which went through all of the GMC guidelines, and explained how to apply the guidelines to practical scenarios that you will commonly face in SJT and also in interviews. I didn’t face a situation in the SJT that hadn’t been covered between the two episodes.

How My High UCAT Score Helped Me Get Offers

My high score helped me to get offers because it meant I was shortlisted for interviews, and in some cases my UCAT score contributed to my overall post-interview score.

Practising for Situational Judgement in the UCAT was also a helpful way to get a headstart on interview preparation, because lots of the situations faced in SJT applied to interviews! More UCAT UCAT https://www.themedicportal.com/tutoring/ucat-tutoring/ UCAT Tutors https://www.themedicportal.com/courses/ucat-courses/ UCAT Courses UCAT

What To Expect On UCAT Test Day Get the lowdown on what you can expect on UCAT test day – including what happens before and after you’ve sat the test. What To Expect On UCAT Test Day Get the lowdown on what you can expect on UCAT test day – including what happens before and after you’ve sat the test. You’ll feel a lot more comfortable sitting the UCAT if you arrive at the test centre knowing what to expect. Here’s some insight from Jordan, a medical student at Barts, into everything that happens on UCAT test day.

Preparing for UCAT test day

By the day before your test, hopefully you should have several weeks of solid UCAT preparation and revision under your belt.

My main advice at this point would definitely be: don’t try to cram any new material! Chances are you probably won’t retain the information anyway, and it will only make you feel stressed and distract you from more productive things.

Spend the day looking over any last-minutes notes you want to, try to relax, and make sure you turn in early for the big day tomorrow!

Arriving at the test centre

The venue for your UCAT test will vary depending on where you live – so make sure you know where you need to go.

It’s vital to familiarise yourself with the location of your test centre and how to get there beforehand. Work out how long the journey will take and try to set off with plenty of time, in case there are any travel delays. The last thing you want is the added stress of a road closure or a train cancellation on test day! You’re expected to be there at least 15 minutes before your appointment.

Once you arrive at the test centre, make your way to the front desk, where someone will show you where to leave your belongings and lead you to your station. Pack light, because all you really need is your appointment details (confirmation email) and personal ID. It can also be helpful to have a drink, a snack and possibly something to keep your mind active during the journey. Get Trusted UCAT Strategies Discover the score-boosting strategies trusted by 150+ schools UCAT Courses UCAT Packages

Sitting the UCAT test

So you’re at your station, waiting for the UCAT to begin… First and foremost, relax and focus on doing your best in the test! Jot down any key reminders on the whiteboard if necessary, and trust that all of your hard work and preparation up to this point will pay off during the next two hours.

From recalling my own experience of sitting the UCAT test, I felt less pressure than when I was doing practice questions at home – possibly because being in the official exam environment jolts your brain into a state of enhanced productivity and efficiency. If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, focus on keeping your breathing steady and have some visualisation strategies in mind where you ace the UCAT for a burst of motivation!

I actually ended up performing better in the real UCAT than I did during my practice, and I put this down to question triage. If you genuinely can’t work out a question within a minute of reading it, make an educated guess, move on and address it again if you have time at the end. Always keep an eye on the timer as this is a great way of keeping you grounded.

After the UCAT test

When you’ve completed the test, you can expect to receive your UCAT score straight away on a printout as you leave. Hopefully you will have good reason to celebrate your score, which has come as a direct result of all your hard work.

Try not to get too worried about comparing your score with others. The test is done and you need to think about the next stage in your Medical School application. When you get a chance, check your score against the entry requirements of your chosen Medical Schools. Adjust your choices if necessary, but hopefully your UCAT score is a good fit for your dream university!

Your next steps are to have some well-deserved relaxation time, celebrate that you have crossed the first hurdle in your journey to becoming a Doctor, and make sure you are refreshed as possible for tackling your UCAS application in the next few months. More UCAT UCAT

5 Of The Biggest UCAT Mistakes Learn the top five mistakes that people make in the UCAT – and find out how you can avoid them! 5 Of The Biggest UCAT Mistakes Learn five of the biggest mistakes that people make in the UCAT – and find out how you can avoid them! Here are some common UCAT mistakes that you’ll need to avoid if you want to ace the test and maximise your UCAT score.

Mistake 1: Forgetting to use the whiteboard (or using it too much!)

Every candidate gets a whiteboard and a pen for the UCAT exam. You might want to use it for jotting down key facts, doing calculations in Quantitative Reasoning, or drawing diagrams in Decision Making.

The whiteboard is invaluable – but make sure you pick the most appropriate times to use it. If you’re able to calculate something quickly in your head, do this to boost your speed and avoid wasting time.

Mistake 2: Leaving answers blank

There is no negative marking in the UCAT, so you won’t be punished for getting answers wrong. As such, you should never leave an answer blank.

If you leave an answer blank, you’re guaranteed zero marks for that question. You might as well make a guess, because there’s a chance you’ll get it right. If you’re about to run out of time in the UCAT test, with only a few seconds left, try to make educated guesses for any questions you haven’t answered already. You might find that you pick up some vital extra points! Get Trusted UCAT Strategies Discover the score-boosting strategies trusted by 150+ schools UCAT Courses UCAT Packages

Mistake 3: Getting into a panic

This is one of the most common UCAT mistakes. You see a question and can’t think of the answer. You decide to skip it and come back to it. You feel the same way about the next question. You start to feel anxious and worry that you won’t be able to answer anything… Don’t worry! Some questions are always going to be more difficult than others.

It’s natural to feel a little nervous during the UCAT exam, but try to keep calm and don’t feel overwhelmed if you can’t answer a question. Flag it, move on and come back to it later. If you start to panic, you won’t be in the right mindset to take the test. You’ll only end up wasting time and making common UCAT mistakes if you let your nerves get the better of you.

Mistake 4: Falling for common tricks

There is a whole repertoire of tricks that are designed to trip you up in the UCAT test. For example, in Verbal Reasoning, you need to look out for dispersion and contradiction. This is when key terms are referenced more than once in the text, with the second instance either negating or clarifying the first. You could end up with the wrong answer if you stop reading after the first instance.

UCAT Courses are a good way to pick up strategies for every subtest and learn about common tricks.

Mistake 5: Sitting the test if you’re unwell

You’re only allowed to sit the UCAT once per year, so it needs to count. If you’re feeling unwell and have time to reschedule your test for another date, don’t go!

Your UCAT score can make or break your chances of getting into Medical School, so if you aren’t feeling at your best, don’t be afraid of rescheduling – as long as you have time to fit it in. More UCAT UCAT

How To Manage Your UCAT Timings Wondering how to manage your timings for the UCAT? These are our top tips to save time across every UCAT subtest. How To Manage Your UCAT Timings Wondering how to manage your timings for the UCAT exam? This is your guide to UCAT section times and timing per question – with our top tips to save time across every UCAT subtest. If you’ve started preparing for the UCAT, you’ll know that the timing is tight – and it isn’t uncommon for candidates to run out of time in the test. Here are some UCAT tips and methods to help you speed up and ensure you finish answering UCAT questions within the time limit!

How Long Is The UCAT?

The UCAT test is two hours long. There are four subtests, and each subtest takes up a different amount of time. For three sections, you get one minute and thirty seconds to read instructions before starting to answer the questions, and for Quantitative Reasoning, it’s two minutes.

Tip 1: Know your UCAT timings per question

Our first tip is to make sure you go into the UCAT test knowing exactly how much time you have to complete each section. By knowing this, you can work out how long to spend on each question – and if you realise that a question is taking too long, you’ll know when to guess, flag and move on. 

Practice is key to boosting your UCAT score and increasing your chances of getting into Medical School.

Tip 2: Verbal Reasoning timing

In the UCAT Verbal Reasoning subtest, the average timing is around 30 seconds per question. You need to practise speed reading, so you can take in key information from a passage of text as quickly as possible. If you need to re-read, you will lose valuable time!

Another good tip is that for true/false/can’t tell questions in Verbal Reasoning, you should read the question first – then scan the passage for keywords, rather than reading the whole passage first. Make a mental note of key information, e.g. if there is a date mentioned in the passage, there might be a question about it!

See more: Verbal Reasoning tips Get Trusted UCAT Strategies Discover the score-boosting strategies trusted by 150+ schools UCAT Courses UCAT Packages

Tip 3: Decision Making timing

Questions in the Decision Making section can really vary, so it’s hard to give each DM question a fixed time allowance. If the timing was divided equally per question, you would get around 63 seconds to answer each one.

One key UCAT timing tip for this section is to use your whiteboard and pen, because doing things mentally might slow you down.

The Venn diagram and logical puzzles may take longer to work out, but you can compensate for this by being quick with the on-screen calculator for the probability questions and syllogisms. Identify the type of question being asked and then decide how you will approach it time-wise.

See more: Decision Making tips

Tip 5: Quantitative Reasoning timing

In Quantitative Reasoning, the average timing is around 43 seconds per question. It’s important to remember you get slightly longer to read the questions first in this subtest.

The maths involved in this subtest is not complicated, as it’s supposed to be GCSE level. Some questions require ‘eyeballing’ – looking at a graph to identify the tallest bar. The trap that people often fall into is spending too much time on questions which require multi-step calculations.

For example, if a question requires summation, division and then subtraction, it will obviously take longer. In these instances, it might be wise to make an educated guess or ‘guesstimate’, flag and move on, instead of devoting too much time to it and losing marks elsewhere.

Use the whiteboard in this section for any key numbers, like a total or average, in case an item within the same question requires it. Also, get used to using the UCAT calculator by completing practice questions with a UCAT Question Bank.

See more: Quantitative Reasoning tips

Tips 6: Situational Judgement timing

When it comes to Situational Judgement, you have around 23 seconds to answer each question. To make quick judgements in this subtest, make sure you understand the key traits and values of a good Doctor and can apply them to your own thinking.

By getting yourself into the mindset of a medical professional, the most appropriate answers should come naturally to you – and you won’t have to spend ages weighing up the different options to try and figure out what a good Doctor would do.

See more: Situational Judgement tips More UCAT UCAT

How I Scored In The Top UCAT Decile And Band 1 Learn what this test-taker did to score in the top UCAT decile and achieve Band 1 for Situational Judgement. How I Scored In The Top UCAT Decile And SJT Band 1 Learn what this test-taker did to score in the top UCAT decile and achieve Band 1 for Situational Judgement. Sharon scored above 3,000 in the UCAT and in Band 1 for Situational Judgement. In this blog, she shares her five best tips for reaching the top band of SJT. I achieved a UCAT score over 3,000 and reached Band 1 in SJT, which put me in the top 2% of test-takers in my year. My high score enabled me to get interviews (and subsequently offers) from the UCAT universities I applied to. Here are my best tips and tricks to help you reach Band 1 in Situational Judgement!

Make Sure You Know The Ethical Principles

Read the GMC’s Good Medical Practice document and you’ll identify some of the key standards that Doctors need to maintain, such as compassion, honesty and confidentiality. It’s also useful to know about the four pillars of ethics (autonomy, beneficence, autonomy, justice) so you can think about these too when you’re answering questions.

Understand Your Role In The SJT Scenario

The question will outline what your role is in the given scenario. It could be that you’re a student, a Doctor, or a friend to someone in need. Make sure you read this carefully, because it will influence how you respond as you need to act within your remit.

For example, if the situation involves you being a student on a work experience placement, you shouldn’t be diagnosing patients even if they ask you. The more practice questions you do, the easier it will become to make sure you’re carrying out your role properly. Get Trusted UCAT Strategies Discover the score-boosting strategies trusted by 150+ schools UCAT Courses UCAT Packages

Don’t Just Select What You Would Do

Although the question says to pick what you would do, it wants you to select what someone would ideally do in the given situation. Even if it’s something you wouldn’t want to do personally, think about what the examiners would consider appropriate and choose your answer accordingly.

Review Questions That You Found Hard

While you’re practising for Situational Judgement, make a note of any questions that you found particularly difficult – and have a look at them again before test day. This will help you if a similar question appears in your real exam, because you’ll know what steps you need to do in order to get the right answer.

Audit Your Prep Resources

Remember that there are only so many resources available for UCAT prep. Before you start using any of them, note down exactly what questions and practice tests you have access to. This will help you to plan your prep, because you don’t want to use up all your resources early on and then struggle towards the end of your practice.

Don’t forget to try The Medic Portal’s free UCAT practice test to get a sense of how you’re doing! More UCAT UCAT https://www.themedicportal.com/e-learning/ucat-question-bank-with-mocks/free-practice-ucat-test/ UCAT Practice Test https://www.themedicportal.com/tutoring/ucat-tutoring/ UCAT Tutoring UCAT

4 Things To Do Before Booking Your UCAT Test Make sure you’ve done these key things before you commit to a date and book your UCAT. 4 Things To Do Before Booking Your UCAT Test Make sure you’ve done these key things before you commit to a test date and book your UCAT. Test booking for UCAT 2025 opens 17th June. Katie, a UCL Med Student, shares four vital things you’ll need to do before booking your UCAT.

Think About Your Other Commitments

You can sit the 2025 UCAT between 7th July and 26th September, giving you a pretty big window to choose your preferred test date. The first thing you need to do is think about what else you already have planned during this time.

For example, if you know the date when you will be returning to sixth form and becoming busy with A-Level work, consider choosing a UCAT test day in the summer holidays. This way you can get the test done before you go back to school.

Also, if you have a family holiday planned during the summer, don’t book your UCAT test for the day after you get home! You won’t want to be revising on holiday and you won’t want it hanging over your head either.

Make sure you think about other aspects of your Medicine application too. For example, if you’re concerned about what sort of UCAT score you’ll get, doing your UCAT earlier will give you more time to choose your Medical Schools and think about how you can apply strategically. Get Trusted UCAT Strategies Discover the score-boosting strategies trusted by 150+ schools UCAT Courses UCAT Packages

Pick Your Preferred Test Date

There are many benefits to sitting the UCAT early. For example:

• You’ll have time to reschedule your test if you need to (e.g. due to illness).
• You will get your UCAT score on test day, which means you’ll have plenty of time to think about your Medical School choices.

However, you might prefer to choose a later test date because:

• You’ll get more time for UCAT preparation. Make sure you don’t burn out though!
• You may want to wait for your AS Level results before you actually decide whether to take the UCAT and pursue Medicine.

Some people prefer to sit the UCAT in the middle of the test cycle (i.e. August), as it can offer the most balance between preparing for the test and enjoying your summer holidays.

Try to decide on your preferred date early and book it as soon as you can, otherwise you risk missing out if the date you want gets fully booked.

* At The Medic Portal, we recommend booking your test for earlier in the test period if possible – in case you become ill and need to reschedule to a later date. Free UCAT Questions Practise UCAT questions for free or take our practice test Practice UCAT Questions UCAT Practice Test

Familiarise Yourself With The Style Of Questions

It’s important that you have a go at some practice UCAT questions as soon as you can. That’s because you’ll need to get some idea of how challenging you find different subtests in order to effectively plan your prep.

Once you have tried some questions and chosen your test date, you can make a study plan that covers every section and will help you to manage your time.

Make A Plan For Your UCAT Revision

Make sure you know how to prepare for the UCAT. Your plan should be broken into three stages:

1. Learn theory and strategies, e.g. through a UCAT Course.
2. Apply the theory with practice. Make sure you’ve got access to a UCAT Question Bank, and consider getting a UCAT Tutor if you aren’t sure how to improve.
3. Consolidate your knowledge by doing mocks in timed conditions. This is an important step to build your confidence and get you test-ready.

More UCAT UCAT

Studying Medicine in Europe Post-Brexit Find out how to apply for Medicine in Europe post-Brexit, and whether it’s a good move. Studying Medicine in Europe Post-Brexit Applying to Medicine can be stressful in any case, and applying in Europe brings more options as well as potentially more challenges. Read on for more information on applying post-Brexit. In a post-Brexit world, the concept of studying Medicine in Europe may not seem as straightforward as it once was. However, it is still a viable option for many applicants. While there are many things to consider and more factors involved, your approach to understanding the requirements for each medical school should remain the same as applying to a university in the UK – researching each medical school thoroughly. Read on for more on what to consider when applying to medical school in Europe. Please note this applies to those who are only citizens in the UK – if you have dual nationality or are a resident of a European or Schengen country, the process may be slightly different.

What has changed since Brexit?

Tuition Fees

Before Brexit, UK residents studying within the EU were typically entitled to pay ‘home fees’ for that country (the same as a resident of the country would pay). Post-Brexit, UK residents are considered international students, and therefore will need to pay ‘international fees’, which are often much higher. This is potentially one of the biggest barriers for some students wishing to study medicine in Europe, as many may not be able to afford the increased fees.

For example, at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, the annual tuition fee for non-EU/EEA citizens is approximately £20,000 for the 6-year Medicine course, whilst EU/EEA students are exempt from tuition fees. Similarly, at the University of Amsterdam, the tuition fee for UK students is approximately £20,600 per year, whilst EU/EEA students pay £2,200 per year.

These fees are, of course, in addition to any living costs. It is important to look at each university you may be considering, and confirm the tuition fee you will be charged, in addition to understanding the associated costs of living in each location.

Visa requirements

UK citizens are entitled to stay within the EU for up to 90 days in a 180-day period; this has not changed post-Brexit. However, for longer stays, you will be required to apply for a long-stay visa or a student residence permit for the specific country you wish to study in.

Requirements for every country within the EU may vary, so it is important that you look at each country’s criteria carefully. You can find more information on visa requirements for EU countries here.

According to the EU Commission website, you will generally require:

• A valid passport
• An admission letter from a recognised institution
• Evidence of financial means
• Proof of accommodation
• Health insurance 
• A completed visa application form.

Returning to practice in the UK

While unrelated to Brexit, there has been a change in the requirement to practice medicine in the UK after study abroad. As of 2024, all graduates (regardless of whether the medical degree was obtained in the UK or Europe) wishing to work in the NHS will have to take the UKMLA exam.

However, most European medical degrees are generally recognised by the GMC. Therefore, if you intend to return to the UK to practice, it is important to double check whether the medical degree will be recognised by the GMC, and if you will be eligible to sit the UKMLA. Need more personalised application advice? Check out our private consultation service for expert guidance Learn More https://www.themedicportal.com/tutoring/tutoring-private-consultation/

Why Europe Remains a Strong Option for Aspiring Medics

While there are a significant number of factors to consider, Europe still remains a popular choice for aspiring medical students. It gives students the opportunity to explore different cultures, meet new people and potentially learn a new language. In many European countries, the cost of living is far less than in the UK, which can be appealing to some students.

Additionally, entry requirements are often lower than in the UK. For example, at the University of Nicosia Medical School in Cyprus, A Levels of ABB are required, to include Biology plus one of Chemistry, Physics or Maths. This provides students who perhaps did not meet grade requirements in the UK with an alternative route into Medicine. You can read here about the real life experiences of two students who studied at the University of Nicosia.

Similarly to the UK, gaining a medical degree in Europe can often allow you to work not just in the UK, but in many countries across the globe. Studying in Europe also provides you with opportunities for personal improvement, such as team working, interpersonal skills and communication, experiences of which can be drawn upon in your medical career. 

Furthermore, obtaining a long-stay visa for a specific European country often allows you freedom to travel throughout Europe and the Schengen area, giving you plenty of opportunities to explore the continent!

What To Consider Before Applying

Language of study

While there are many medical schools within Europe that teach Medicine in English, there are many that do not, so this does need to be an important consideration if your only spoken language is English. Universities that teach Medicine in English include the University of Nicosia (Cyprus), Charles University (Czech Republic), University of Crete (Greece) and Plovdiv Medical University (Bulgaria). 

The University of Maastricht provides the first half of their Medicine programme in English, but the later years are in Dutch only. However, they do teach Dutch alongside the first 3 years of the degree in preparation for the later years, if this is required. Please note that the University of Maastricht will be discontinuing the English-taught course from 2026 entry onwards.

Cost

A big factor for many people will be the cost of studying and living abroad. Make sure you consider the cost of living, tuition fees and the travel costs if you intend to return to the UK to visit. It may be worth contacting each institution to see if they offer any grants, bursaries or scholarships to UK students.  

Entry requirements

As with any university application, it is important to be aware of the grades required for the programme, as well as any admissions tests and other supporting documents you will need to provide alongside your application. Ensure that you have researched each institution you are considering thoroughly so that you are aware of all the requirements.

GMC registration

Make sure you have given some thought as to where you may want to practice medicine after you graduate. If you intend to return to the UK, check the GMC’s website to ensure that your medical programme meets the requirements to sit the UKMLA and work within the NHS. 

Visas

As mentioned above, it is important that you have a valid visa for the country in which you intend to study. More detailed information should be available on each institution’s website, as well as the GOV.UK website, which can provide you with visa information for each country. 

Studying Medicine in Europe post-Brexit may feel impossible, but there are certainly many who still do. You will have the chance to experience different ways of living, healthcare systems and cultures that you may not see as a medical student in the UK. Make sure you do plenty of research, plan ahead and ensure you have considered all factors before making the decision. Good luck! HELP Study Abroad

How I Scored 680 In Verbal Reasoning Find out how Anna managed to beat the average Verbal Reasoning score by over 100 points. How I Scored 680 In Verbal Reasoning Verbal Reasoning is typically the lowest-scoring section of the UCAT. Find out how Anna managed to beat the average score by over 100 points. Anna scored an impressive 680 in the Verbal Reasoning section of the UCAT test, which is notoriously difficult. Discover her top Verbal Reasoning tips in this blog to boost your score.

It’s All In The Timing

Ask anyone who has taken the UCAT about Verbal Reasoning and they will probably tell you that the hardest part of this subtest is the incredibly tight time limit.

I tackled this by trying questions in timed conditions early on, so that I could get a feel for what I would face on the day. You can try free UCAT questions or use a UCAT Question Bank to practise.

Guess, Flag And Move On

As a general rule of thumb, it’s fair to assume that questions with longer passages will be harder to answer, because you have more text to scour for information. If a passage was particularly long, I would immediately guess, flag and move on to avoid wasting time.

Although you don’t need any background knowledge of the subject matter to answer the questions, some topics can be tricky if you generally struggle to wrap your head around the subject matter. For example, I often struggled to get to grips with passages on ancient history, so they were an immediate flag for me! Get Trusted UCAT Strategies Discover the score-boosting strategies trusted by 150+ schools UCAT Courses UCAT Packages

Read The Question First

During my UCAT prep, I saw this tip a thousand times, but I didn’t immediately realise how much it would help my score. As I did more and more practice, I realised that no matter how quick you can speed-read, you will never have time to read and digest each passage in full.

By reading the question first, you get an idea of which keywords you should be scanning the passage for. It may feel counterintuitive to begin with, but give it a go and it will really help you out.

Learn Strategies For True/False/Can’t Tell Questions

The secret to a high UCAT score is strategy. You need to know exactly how to approach every type of Verbal Reasoning question that you could face.

I found true/false/can’t tell questions hard. My approach was to start by eliminating either ‘true’ or ‘false’. Then, even if you have to guess, you still have a 50/50 chance of getting the answer right.

Don’t be afraid to select ‘can’t tell’. When you’re under pressure on the day, it’s easy to think you might have missed a vital piece of information that would have allowed you to answer either true or false confidently. Remember that the ‘can’t tell’ option is there for a reason, so don’t be scared to use it!

Don’t Be A Perfectionist

It’s easy to get bogged down in really getting to grips with the passage and trying to answer each question with 100% confidence. Unfortunately, there just isn’t time for this in Verbal Reasoning.

Remember that you are just trying to bag as many marks as possible, and you won’t need anywhere near full marks to do well in this section.

My Verbal Reasoning Top Tips

My tips for beating the average score in Verbal Reasoning are:

1. Remember that by flagging a question, you aren’t giving up on it – you’re simply allowing yourself to get the easiest marks first!
2. Practise some of the other subtests first. As Verbal Reasoning is the first section of the exam, most candidates will automatically try to learn it first. However many people find it the hardest section, so it might help your confidence to leave this section until a bit later on in your prep.
3. Don’t panic! Verbal Reasoning is the lowest scoring section for most test-takers, so don’t worry if you’re consistently doing better in other subtests.

Check out our best Verbal Reasoning tips for more inspiration. More UCAT UCAT https://www.themedicportal.com/tutoring/ucat-tutoring/ UCAT Tutoring https://www.themedicportal.com/e-learning/ucat-question-bank-with-mocks/questions/ Practice UCAT Questions UCAT

For the majority of students, medical school will be one of the toughest mental experiences in their lives. Being at university for so long invites unfortunate events, whether that’s a breakdown in mental health, financial or family problems, health issues or friendship troubles. All of these can contribute towards making medical school a much tougher experience.

Managing your mental health in medical school needs to become a priority. With long hours, overachieving colleagues and large class sizes, it can be easy to feel burnt out, alienated and under achieving.

1. Value your friends

One of the most important things you can do is have a group of friends you can talk to outside of medicine, who remind you that being a doctor is not the be all and end all in the world; that there are wonderful things happening outside of university, and that your identity is not solely around being a medical student.

2. Try a sport

Many medics choose to play a sport as a way to improve their mental health- not only for the exercise but for the camaraderie and friendships playing in a team affords them. Setting aside time to do what you love and get some exercise is a massive part of maintaining good mental health, helping to keep both your body and mind fit.

Whether you choose to play a team sport with your medic team, or you choose to run alone, sport provides a much needed headspace for you to concentrate on what you’re doing and not what is happening in the hospital.

3. It’s okay to ask for help

It can be tempting to believe that as a medical student you are not allowed to feel weak. With everyone around you seemingly managing masses of extra-curriculars as well as being brilliant in lectures and understanding everything, accepting and acknowledging you don’t feel as strong can be difficult. However, what you see around you is false – around 33% of medical students will experience a mental health difficulty whilst still at school, but you’d never guess from looking at them.

4. Speak to your medical school about your mental health

Talking to your GP, your friends, your medical school are all important steps, whether you feel like you’re struggling a little or a lot. Getting help early means the problem is easier to correct and you can spend more time at university enjoying the experience. Your medical school is very much used to looking after students – so use them, and keep trying. You may not find a GP or staff member you feel able to talk to straight away, but there is always someone you’ll be able to chat with, and professionals are used to students trying multiple avenues before finding the one they are comfortable with.

5. Get lots of rest and eat well

Maintaining a good physical health is also important for maintaining a good mental health. Whether that’s making sure you get some good quality sleep as well as partying with your friends, or taking the time out to batch cook healthy meals for the week ahead, planning is important.

Knowing when you’re too tired or run-down to commit to your normal activities is ok – resting is good for you, and will ensure when you do go back into the game, that you’re on top form. Medical students are in the unfortunate situation of having many more contact hours than other university counterparts- so remember to act accordingly!

You might not be able to fit in all the Netflix and partying they manage, but you can fit in some time for exercise, healthy meals and talking to your friends. If it makes you feel good, it’s important you stick to it.

If you don’t feel comfortable with your mental health, there are plenty of spaces for you to work through anything that might be worrying you. Whether that’s talking to an anonymous service specifically for students like Nightline, or looking up the blogs of medical students to see how they cope, there are plenty of choices for you to look after yourself.

Medical school can be one of the most exciting and fun times of your life, so if it isn’t, remember you’re not alone and you deserve to have some help with it. It doesn’t make you weak – it makes you strong for recognising you have an issue and seeking help early.

Words: Katie Hodgkinson