Medical Sciences

Studying medicine at Cambridge is intellectually stimulating and challenging, immersed in the research-rich environment of the University and its hospitals. The six-year course delivers a strong foundation in clinical medicine and in the biomedical and social science that underpins it. A unique third year allows you to specialise in your chosen subject, and you’ll graduate with both Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees.

Overview

Ucas code

A100

Campus code

X

Typical offers made per year

17

Typical Undergraduate cohort

28

Minimum offer level

A Levels: A*A*A, with A* in Chemistry

IB: 42 points, with 776 at Higher Level

Other qualifications: check what other international qualifications are accepted at Cambridge

STEP (SIXTH TERM EXAMINATION PAPER)

COURSE DURATION

MB, BChir 6 years full-time

Essential subjects

A-level/IB Higher Level Chemistry, and two of A-level/IB Higher Level Biology, Mathematics or Physics.

Desirable subjects

None

ADMISSIONS ASSESSMENT

All applicants for Medicine must take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). Find out more here.

Why Choose St John's for Medical Sciences?

Illuminated manuscript showing a physician with a vessel, from the College Library’s Special Collections.

Medical sciences in St John’s has an illustrious history, from William Heberden, the founder of rheumatology and of clinical observation to Nobel Laureates Allan Cormack who conceptualised the CT scan and Maurice Wilkins whose work, combined with others, led to the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA.

With more than a dozen Fellows in Medical Sciences, St John’s has outstanding academic breadth and depth. You’ll be taught by inspiring scientists working at the forefront of discoveries from treatment of high-risk breast cancer to therapeutic intervention in pharmaceuticals or foetal development.

We have a thriving student body in Medical Sciences, typically over 50 students across the six-year course. There is a College Medical Society and, unusually in Cambridge, a Clinical Medicine Society too. This all creates a vibrant academic community and lots of opportunity to benefit from the experience of those ahead of you.

In addition to the general academic prizes, Learning and Research Fund support and travel grants open to all undergraduates, the College’s Rolleston Fund provides additional grants to support our medics, helping with books and the costs of your fifth-year electives.

Our annual Linacre Lecture, delivered by a world-leading academic, fulfills a 500-year old bequest to support public lectures in medicine by Thomas Linacre, founder of the Royal College of Physicians.

Watch this video to find out more about studying Medical Sciences at St John’s.

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Our academics

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Jean Abraham

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Dr Michael Boemo

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Graham J Burton

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Steve Edgley

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Richard Gilbertson

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Dr Fleur Kilburn-Toppin

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Ann Louise Kinmonth CBE

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Graham Ladds

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Hugh Matthews

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Eric Miska

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Ole Paulsen

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Dr Ritwick Sawarkar

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Professor Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Dr Derek GD Wight

Fellow

Director of Studies

Sub-Director of Studies

Dr Ian Winter

Fellow

Course structure and information

Find out more about the flexibilities of the course, with its immersion in both new and familiar sciences before you decide where to specialise.

Find out more about the course structure and what to expect when studying at St John's College.

Learn more

Supporting your studies

Academic skills support

All St John's students have access to academic skills support throughout their studies. Academic skills workshops are offered throughout the academic year, and focus on a variety of topics including general study tips, essay-writing skills and revision strategies.

Some subjects hold compulsory academic skills workshops during the Michaelmas term. If you require individual support you can contact one of our Academic Skills Advisers, who each have a range of specialities, including essay writing tips, numeracy, presentation skills, prioritisation and revision skills. We have specialists in Arts and Humanities and in STEM, and in particular in Engineering.

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Summer Bursaries

Our generous Summer Bursary scheme enables St John's undergraduates to pursue their academic or educational interests or career-development opportunities for a period of up to eight weeks during the Long Vacation.

Any activity which would clearly add value to your career and personal development can be considered, and students have used their Summer Bursaries to fund a wide range of activities including research projects, summer courses at other institutions, intermediate and advanced language courses, unpaid work experience and volunteering work in the UK and overseas.

Members of St John's College Music Society performing

Music facilities

St John’s provides outstanding facilities for use by all students who are interested in contributing to the College’s rich musical culture, not just those studying music.

A wide range of practice and performance spaces are available, including individual practice rooms, a modern recording studio, atmospheric recital rooms, a fully equipped theatre/auditorium, and even the historic Chapel, where our world-famous Choir performs throughout the year and a variety of individual musicians and groups showcase their talents at the annual May Concert.

Our students have access to first-class instruments, including three Steinway grand pianos, three Boston grands, a harpsichord and a recently refurbished organ. Music undergraduates can borrow an electronic keyboard for use in their College room for the duration of their studies.

The College Music Society and the Master’s Concert series together ensure a full programme of evening concerts and lunchtime recitals including live music nights in the College bar. St John’s is also known for its jazz scene, thanks to the long-established Jazz @John’s, which hosts professional-standard student concerts, and the annual Reinstein Prize for Jazz.

Discover student life

meet our students

We’re well-supported as medics at St John’s, our Directors of Studies are world-class and they are very good at making sure nothing is out of our intellectual reach

David, Medical Sciences, undergraduate

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We’re well-supported as medics at St John’s, our Directors of Studies are world-class and they are very good at making sure nothing is out of our intellectual reach

David, Medical Sciences, undergraduate

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I liked the sciences and decided on Medicine after doing some NHS work experience. It’s a traditional course, the first two years are pre-clinical, when you learn what underpins everything. In the third year I chose to study physiology development and neuroscience, which was fun.

Then it’s three years of clinical rotations in different specialties. Fifth year is tough but incredibly enjoyable; I saw births, and spent time in paediatrics, A&E and psychiatry. Medics work hard and play hard, and I’ve tried lots of sports that I wouldn’t have had a chance to if I hadn’t been at St John’s.

Medicine at Cambridge is incredibly demanding but everyone at St John’s goes out of their way to help us succeed. The pastoral support is phenomenal and our Tutor is amazing

Firnaaz, Medical Sciences, undergraduate

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Medicine at Cambridge is incredibly demanding but everyone at St John’s goes out of their way to help us succeed. The pastoral support is phenomenal and our Tutor is amazing

Firnaaz, Medical Sciences, undergraduate

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Medicine has exceeded my expectations during my six years in Cambridge. It’s not for everyone; the first three years are a traditional scientific course, such as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, with little patient contact.

I prefer it because it gave me a strong scientific basis and understanding of the diseases and treatments before I went on the wards. I visited St John’s during a Taster Day and again during an Open Day and the wide range of extracurricular activities on offer here really encourages us to have a good work/life balance.

Applying

We are looking for students who are intellectually curious, academically ambitious and passionate about their interest in the Medical Sciences.

Successful applicants normally have read widely beyond their school curriculum and may have undertaken academic extension projects like subject Olympiads or through an EPQ.

Show you have a lively and informed interest in studying medicine. Try to get some practical experience in caring or healthcare, usually through volunteering or work shadowing. 

If you are invited to interview, you will have two interviews of about 20 minutes each – the Aptitude for Medicine interview and the Scientific Reasoning interview.

The Aptitude for Medicine interview is conducted by a subject expert in one of the basic Medical Sciences and a medical practitioner. This interview focuses on professional development and the wider aspects of medicine. You will be asked what your motivation is to study medicine as a vocation, and to show any relevant experience you have in healthcare or caring in general. The interview will also explore a number of general questions about your understanding of medicine, public health, interaction with patients and related topics.

The Scientific Reasoning interview is conducted by two Fellows in Medical Sciences. This academically based interview will draw together ideas that you have studied in your different subjects at school. The aim is to see if you can apply concepts that you have already met in ways that you will not have encountered before. This interview is normally divided into two approximately equal parts. One will typically explore a problem loosely related to Medicine. The other will be designed to test your scientific reasoning skills as you link together concepts from the basic sciences to address a problem that you have not met before.

University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)

All applicants for Medicine must take the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). Further information about this pre-registration required assessment can be found here:

Learn more

Life after St John's

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Our societies

Clinical Society

We are the Clinical Medicine society of St John’s. One of the few collegiate societies dedicated to the subject, we promote the study of Clinical Medicine and support College students through academic, social and welfare events, such as advice sessions, talks and large annual dinners.

Also known as ‘ClinSoc’, we are open to St John’s Clinical Medics, Fellows, researchers and Medical Studies undergraduates.

We foster engagement between College members, alumni, and often collaborate with other St John’s societies.

Find out more Visit society's website

Medical Society

Known as ‘SJCMedSoc’, our society represents the College’s medical and veterinary students across all years of study.

MedSoc facilitates academic, social and welfare support and enrichment for all our medics and vets, making the six years as a student at St John’s as enjoyable as possible.

Our events can range from trips to the Royal Society of Medicine and talks by world-leading academics to more informal social events such as our student-favourite mulled wine and mince pies evening, therapy dog visits, and Formal Hall swaps with other colleges.

Find out more Visit society's website

Discover all societies

Notable alumni

Professor Allan Cormack

1947

Nuclear Physicist

Nobel Laureate

Royal Medal winner

Academy Award winner

Pulitzer Prize winner

Olympic Medal winner

Poet Laureate

A South African who lectured in nuclear physics at Tufts University, USA, Cormack had a side interest in tomography (the use of waves for imaging sections of objects) and published the theoretical mathematics of CT scanning in 1963-64. However, it was seven years before these calculations were used in the construction of the first CT scanner, which took a series of x-rays from different angles for compilation into a 3D image – now a vital technique in medical diagnostics. It earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine in 1979.

Professor Sharon Peacock

2013

Microbiologist

Nobel Laureate

Royal Medal winner

Academy Award winner

Pulitzer Prize winner

Olympic Medal winner

Poet Laureate

Peacock was the founding director of the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium, formed in April 2020 to provide SARS-CoV-2 genomes towards the UK pandemic response. Its work was at the cutting edge of genome sequencing science and its findings were vital in informing the response to COVID-19 and preparing the world for future pandemics. Peacock is Professor of Microbiology and Public Health at Cambridge and was elected Master of Churchill College in 2024. Her advice to women embarking on their careers is "Why not you?".

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