Newcastle University Medical School adopts an integrated curriculum, which includes early clinical experience to provide a clinical context, in addition to developing core knowledge. Within the first two years, you’ll undertake case-led learning, which further supports the integration of your learning, allowing you to make links with clinical practice through the use of clinical cases.
During the final three years of the programme, you’ll be based within ‘clinical base units’ across the region. Newcastle's 'placement model' means that you'll spend time in 3 geographical areas – one close to campus, one commutable from campus, and one where you may need to live away from the campus – offering a 'wide geographical and demographically diverse' experience within rural and urban settings. You can find out more about Newcastle's 'regional clinical placements' here.
During the programme, you’ll gain clinical experience through the following placements:
Gain access to a recording of our free webinar and find out what a day in the life of medical student Helen looks like. There's also videos covering all aspects of medical school applications and the UCAT.
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Within Year 3 and Year 4, you’ll undertake two 4-week block student selected components (SSC), allowing you to explore topics of interest. You’ll also undertake an eight-week elective at the end of Year 4, in which you’ll gain experience within a different healthcare system, anywhere in the world.
During your second year, you will also have the opportunity to study at the university’s branch campus in Malaysia for one semester.
As well as the standard five-year MBBS programme, Newcastle also offers an accelerated four-year course, available to graduates from any discipline and those suitably qualified with professional experience within the NHS. You can find more information about the programme here.
Newcastle University Medical School normally uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format for its interview for “Home/EU applicants”. This involves seven different 'stations', each lasting seven minutes, with an extra two-minute ice breaker question as part of the first station.
For 2025 entry, they are returning to the in-person MMI format which is detailed above. You can find more information about the MMI on their website.
These seven stations aim to assess you across the following categories:
Most UK medical schools require you to complete an admissions exam as part of the entry criteria and before you’ll be invited to interview.
Admissions exam for Newcastle: University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
The UCAT is designed to assess your skills, characteristics and professional behaviours against those required for medical school. The exam includes 5 subtests: Abstract Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Situational Judgement (SJT) and Verbal Reasoning.
Newcastle medical school uses your overall UCAT score and your SJT band to determine if you’ll be selected for interview. They also specify that you must achieve a band 3 or above in the SJT section. Therefore, you must perform well in the SJT section and achieve a competitive overall UCAT score, if you’re to be selected for an interview at Newcastle medical school.
To help you to prepare effectively, we’ve created a UCAT question bank which adapts to your learning needs. Using artificial intelligence to automatically assess your strengths and weaknesses, our algorithm ensures you’re given questions tailored to your individual needs, so you focus on developing the areas which will make a difference to your UCAT score.
You can also use the question bank dashboard to identify areas which you need to improve.
With your calculated skill level, response time and the number of questions you’ve answered correctly for each subtest, it’s easy to see what you’ve “mastered” and what you need to dedicate more time to if you’re to secure an interview for Newcastle medical school.
For more information and support with the UCAT, including the test dates and fees, and tips to help you prepare, visit our UCAT page.
