Undergraduate award: Certificate of Higher Education in Pre-Medical Studies

Applications for this course have now closed, but we may be able to consider late applications. If you are still interested in applying, please use the 'Ask a question' button to get in touch with us.

Watch our course video here.

Course highlights

During this full-time online and in-person course, you will:

• Access a flexible way to prepare for a medical degree
• Explore future options for a career in medicine
• Gain a recognised qualification for medical schools at the University of Cambridge, University of East Anglia (Norwich) and Anglia Ruskin University (Chelmsford)

The Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) in Pre-Medical Studies has been developed in collaboration with the medical schools at the University of Cambridge, University of East Anglia (Norwich) and Anglia Ruskin University (Chelmsford) and aims to expand access to undergraduate medicine degrees to mature students in the East of England. 

Successful completion of the CertHE does not guarantee entry to medical school but it is a recognised qualification at the University of Cambridge, UEA and ARU. It is not currently recognised by other UK medical schools. 

Up to 12 tuition fee bursaries of £3000 will be available to eligible applicants wishing to try and progress to medical school. Find out more in our bursaries page. 

Cement your understanding of the core science topics required for medical school, while developing the academic skills and personal qualities you’ll also need. We’ll use case studies throughout the course to highlight the relevance of every topic to a career in medicine.

 The Certificate in HE in Pre-Medical Studies aims to:

• Provide students with the appropriate foundation biology, chemistry and maths knowledge and practical skills required for medicine.
• Foster an appreciation of psychological and sociological sciences in relation to healthcare.
• Offer opportunities for students to develop and use scientific inquiry methods to identify problems, acquire new knowledge from reliable sources, apply their knowledge and present solutions (within the constraints of the course).
• Foster an appreciation of the fact that health and disease knowledge and attitudes change over time and that medical research is ongoing and evolving.
• Allow students to experience the styles of learning and assessment they will encounter at medical school and develop the skills required to successfully engage with these (examples may include; independent study, PBL / small group discussions and exams).
• Develop the required academic literacies, learning mindset and coping strategies to be successful on a medical programme.
• Support student’s UCAS application, aptitude test and medical school interview preparation.

Course Breakdown

The course will run from 8 September 2025 to 3 July 2026.

Teaching will be delivered in two 15-week teaching blocks, with up to 20 days of in-person teaching spread across the programme. 

You will be expected to attend 2 full days of face-to-face teaching every month, which will take place at a University venue in central Cambridge. There will also be between one and three live sessions (of up to 2 hours) delivered online each week.

Students should anticipate that they will need to dedicate up to 35 hours per week to their studies.

Teaching block 1 (September to January)

Biology 1 (Cells and tissues), Chemistry 1 (Fundamentals of chemistry and biochemistry) and Pre-Medical 1 (Research, academic and interpersonal skills).

Term 1 Dates*:

Teaching: 8 September 2025  – 19 December 2025 (15 weeks)

Christmas break: 22 December 2025 – 09 January 2026 (3 weeks)

Exams: 19 January 2026 - 30 January 2026 (2 weeks)

Teaching block 2 (February to July)

Biology 2 (Organs and systems), Chemistry 2 (Intermediate chemistry and biochemistry) and Pre-Medical 2 (Health psychology and sociology).

Term 2 Dates*:

Teaching: 02 February 2026 – 05 June 2026 (15 weeks)

Easter break: 30 March 2026 – 17 April 2026 (3 weeks)

Exams: 22 June 2026 – 03 July 2026 (2 weeks)

*Dates are indicative and may be subject to change.

Entry requirements  

There are no formal academic entry requirements for this course. The course is aimed at mature students over the age of 21 at the point of entry. It is recommended that students have a foundation knowledge of biology and chemistry prior to entering the course.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate a good understanding of medicine, the scope of practice of doctors, and personal motivation to undertake a medical degree and career. This will be assessed through your online application and, if you are shortlisted, at interview.

Teaching is at first-year undergraduate level. If your first language is not English, you may need to demonstrate proficiency in the English language.

Please also note that if you intend to apply to medical school after completion of this course, you must have the following minimum level 2 qualifications and be able to evidence this when you apply**: 

6 GCSE subjects at grade B/6 to include: 

• English Language
• Mathematics
• at least two Sciences (one to be Chemistry) OR Core Science OR Additional Science OR Double/Dual/Combined Science Award. 

** All medical schools have different entry criteria. Applicants should check the requirements of individual medical schools. 

Whilst not a requirement of entry to this course, you will also be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check if you apply to medical school.  

The course is only open to UK nationals or those with permanent right to remain in the UK. It is anticipated the course will have a regional catchment with students residing in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, although we will consider applications from students based around the UK.

The course is aimed at mature students aged 21 years or older at the point of entry.  Younger applicants may contact the team to discuss their specific circumstances in order to determine their eligibility and the relevance of the Certificate oh Higher Education in Pre-Medical Studies course. 

Experience, in a paid or voluntary capacity, working with the general public, children, the elderly or people with special needs will help strengthen an application. This includes experience gained in healthcare or social care settings. 

Applicants with previous professional experience in health and social care settings are encouraged e.g., healthcare assistant, paramedic technician, forces medical technician, laboratory technician. 

English language requirements

If you are applying to study an Undergraduate  Certificate, Diploma or Advanced Diploma and your first language is not English, you will need to meet the requirements of one of the language proficiency tests below:

IELTS (Academic), IELTS for UKVI Academic, IELTS One Skill Retake

https://ielts.org/

Overall score of 7.0, with not less than 7.0 in Speaking, Listening and Writing, and 6.5 in Reading.

TOELF iBT or TOEFL Home Edition

https://www.ets.org/toefl.html

Overall score of 100, with no element below 25.

Cambridge English C2 Proficiency

https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/proficiency/

Overall score of 200, with no element lower than 185.

Technical requirements 

A significant amount of course content will be delivered using video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will therefore need to have access to: 

• the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device 
• speakers or headphones in order to hear any pre-recorded material
• a webcam and microphone for interactive online sessions  

Applying information

Selection process 

Deadline for applications: 21 June 2025

Please note that all shortlisted applicants will be interviewed prior to an offer being made. The interviews will be held either in person or online via Zoom. Interviews are expected to take place from week commencing 17 March 2025, on an on-going basis. 

The purpose of the interview, which will last approximately 30 minutes, will be to assess your motivations and suitability for the course of study. 

Supporting evidence 

There are a number of documents that you will need to provide to support your application to the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies. 

• Copies of all qualifications attained to date or a full academic CV.
• If you have GCSE qualifications and intend to go on to study medicine, you must include with your application copies of your GCSE certificates in English Language, Mathematics, and Science (uploaded as PDFs).
• A personal statement of no more than 500 words written directly into the available space on the application form. For further information about the personal statement please see the ‘FAQ’ section.
• Evidence of English language (if applicable).
• If you are made an offer, please note that you will be expected to provide proof that you are a UK National or have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). 

As part of our open and inclusive learning environment, you can enjoy the world-class resources, expertise and facilities of Cambridge University wherever you are on your academic journey.

Our video-based teaching platforms offer a flexible way to access lectures, while our Virtual Learning Environment makes it easy to study and learn online and interact with your tutor and fellow students.

This course will be delivered through a mixture of online and in-person activities such as live workshop sessions (online and in-person), pre-recorded lectures, recommended readings, and a variety of tasks and assignments such as essays, presentations exams and worksheets designed to consolidate learning. You will also develop essential practical skills through a practical laboratory programme.

During the course, you will be asked to submit assignments to demonstrate your learning. Formal assessment will be made up of 75% written examinations and 25% coursework. There are more details about how this course is assessed in the course guide we will send you once you have enrolled.

Qualifications 

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Higher Education in Pre-Medical Studies. This offers 120 CATs credits, which are recognised by higher education institutions and employers.

Academic team

Academic Lead: Dr Emma English

Course Director: Dr Detina Zalli

Tutors: To be confirmed

The fee for this course is £8,000. You can either pay:

• in full when you enrol,

or

• In two equal instalments: 1) when you enrol, 2) two weeks before Term 2 teaching starts. 

Important: your place on the course is not secured until we have received your first payment, along with any required documents, such as proof of English language proficiency. 

If you are offered a place, you will receive instructions as to how to register and pay your tuition fees. 

Help with fees

We have many sources of financial support that you can explore. 

There are two sources of funding specific to students of this course:

1. Student Finance England loans

Depending on your individual circumstances, you may be able to access funding from Student Finance England (SFE) to cover your tuition fees.

Students can access funding to cover the tuition fees for the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies (120-credits, level 4, resulting in a Certificate of Higher Education award from the University of Cambridge) and their subsequent medical degree at University of East Anglia, Anglia Ruskin University, or the University of Cambridge if they have not previously accessed higher education.

Any individual who has not yet engaged with SFE may be entitled to funding to cover the tuition fees for the duration of their course plus a ‘gift year’. If used, the loan taken out during the ‘gift year’ is added to the final balance that the student must repay to SFE after the completion of their course.  

For students enrolled on six-year medical degrees the first four years of study can be funded using SFE, while the final two years are funded by the NHS. Students are therefore entitled to a total of five years funding from SFE, i.e. four years for the duration of the course plus the ‘gift year’. This five-year entitlement can be used to cover the tuition fees for the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies (using the ‘gift year’) and four years at medical school, while the fees for years five and six are covered by the NHS. Please note that the ‘gift year’ can also be used if extenuating circumstances mean that your studies are disrupted therefore if you use it for the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies you will need to complete your subsequent study without interruption.

If you have previously accessed funding from SFE then your eligibility for finance will be affected and you are unlikely to secure loans for both the CertHE and medical degree.  It is important to note that even if you did not complete a course of study (e.g. HNC, HND, Foundation Degree, Degree) but you did take loan funding from the SFE, this is highly likely to preclude your ability to fund the CertHE through a student loan.

You must research the financial implications of undertaking study at this level and your personal circumstances will dictate the most appropriate funding route for you to ensure your completion of the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies and your medical degree. For further information about loan entitlement, please GOV.UK student finance website.  

2. Pre-Medical Studies bursaries 

The Pre-Medical Studies bursaries are intended to support mature students to enrol on our level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Pre-Medical Studies (120 credits). 

Up to 12 tuition fee bursaries of £3,000 will be available, reducing the tuition fee from £8,000 to £5,000. 

To apply for the bursary, please provide a personal statement (up to 200 words), outlining your motivations for applying for the bursary.  While all eligible candidates are encouraged to apply, we particularly seek to support applicants with a clear connection to the East of England, with an aspiration to improve access to and the quality of healthcare provision in the region.  

Bursary Eligibility Criteria (proof will be required): 

•  Home address at time of application must be in one of the following area postcodes - AL, CB, CM, CO, IP, LU, MK, NN, NR, PE, RM, SG, SS;
• UK Citizen, or holder of UK Indefinite Leave to Remain Status or holder of UK Refugee Status;
• Aged 21, or over, by 01 September 2025;
• Hold at least 6 GCSEs B/6 grades or higher - including Mathematics, English Language and two science subjects - by 01 September 2025;
• An intention to apply for medical school after completion of this course with this clearly articulated in the supporting statement 

The bursary application closing date is 14 July 2025. The Bursary Panel will meet to consider applications received up to this date and students will be informed of the outcome within one month of the closing date. 

There is no financial barrier criteria for this bursary. 

Refunds

This course will require a minimum number of students to run. In the rare event that the course is cancelled by us, due to minimum numbers not being met, or for any other reason, you will receive a full refund of any tuition fees paid to us.

Disability Support

The University’s Accessibility & Disability Resource Centre Non-Matriculated Service (ADRC NMS) provides advice, guidance, and resources to University of Cambridge Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) award-bearing undergraduate and postgraduate students who have a diagnosed disability or medical condition, including mental health conditions. The support provided can include:

• appointments with a Senior disability adviser or Neurodiversity disability adviser ​
• reviewing/assessing medical or diagnostic evidence​
• production of a Student Support Document (SSD)
• signposting to sources of disability-related funds (Disabled Students’ Allowances [DSA], as well as other internal funds for home and international students)​
• coordination of human support, such as specialist mentoring or specialist study skills​
• neurodiversity screening service (Autism, Specific Learning Difficulties, ADHD)​
• signposting to disability library services
• signposting to assistive technology and software support

If you would like to access support then please indicate this on your course application form and then complete the ADRC NMS online Student Information Form so they can work with you to fully support your studies. Please upload medical evidence (written in English) when prompted to within the Student Information Form. The following links to guidance on medical evidence or diagnostic evidence will help to answer any questions you may have. 

If you have any questions concerning disability support then please contact the ADRC NMS team via [email protected] or view their website.

Wellbeing Support

It is important that all our learners feel safe in their learning environment and student wellbeing is our key priority. We have a dedicated Student Support team who can offer a variety of support mechanisms to those who are experiencing challenges maintaining positive mental wellbeing. The PACE Student Support Team are here to support you throughout the duration of your studies with us and can:​

• meet with you via teams/zoom (camera can be off) to discuss any concerns surrounding your wellbeing, mental health, academic pressures, or welfare​
• advise you on options and signpost you to appropriate sources of guidance which range from self-guided resources to wellbeing conversations
• direct you to specialist support and help concerning welfare, wellbeing, safeguarding and prevent​
• in specific circumstances (where there is a clear need unmet elsewhere) provide access to counselling ​
• provide access to study skills resources

If you have any questions concerning learning support, then please contact us.

What should I include in my personal statement?  

This is your opportunity to tell us why you wish to join the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies. The statement does not need to be long - around 500 words - and should include your motivation and any relevant experience. Studying medicine at university and working as a doctor in the NHS are both incredibly demanding, and the Pre-Medical Studies programme has been designed to reflect the academic and professional challenges that students will encounter if they choose to pursue this career path. You should therefore use the personal statement to demonstrate, with examples, that you have the commitment, drive, and academic ability to be successful not only on this course but on a medical degree. To do this you will need to show that you have a good understanding of what life is like as a doctor and why this is something you aspire to, and that you have the required personal qualities. You must also illustrate that you have the scientific aptitude, resilience, and work ethic required to undertake this academically challenging programme. For shortlisted applicants the personal statement may be used as the basis for discussion at interview.    

Will I be guaranteed a place at one of the partner medical schools if I complete the course?  

Completion of the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies does not guarantee progression to a medical school. However, it is a recognised qualification by UEA, ARU and University of Cambridge. Students on the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies are eligible to apply to undergraduate programmes at the medical schools of UEA, ARU, and University of Cambridge via UCAS and will undergo the same selection process as other applicants, there is no guarantee of a place. Please note that applicants for medical schools will also be required to hold the minimum GCSE requirements as well as have an enhanced DBS check.  All medical schools have different entry criteria. Applicants should check the requirements of individual medical schools. 

Applicants should recognise that entry to medical school is highly competitive and their progression on to a medical degree will depend on a range of factors such as their overall application, their performance in pre-admissions aptitude tests and interviews, alongside a high-level performance on the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies. Students must also be prepared to undergo further Occupational Health and DBS assessments.  

What if I don’t get an offer at medical school?  

You can apply to up to five courses using the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This means that if you choose to apply to all three partner medical schools (i.e. Cambridge, UEA, and ARU) you have the option of applying for a further two non-medicine courses. Most students use these additional places to apply to courses that relate to medicine such as biomedical sciences or paramedic studies. The competitive nature of the medical school application process* means that we cannot guarantee that you will secure a place to study medicine despite completing the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies.  

If you are not offered a place on any course, then you can use UCAS Extra to find an alternative route (https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/after-you-apply/types-offer/extra-choices). This system is designed to give students another opportunity to find a suitable degree programme.  

*The number of places available for students to study medicine in the UK is capped because the training capacity of the NHS is limited by staff and resource availability. This, coupled with the large increase in applications that has occurred in recent years, means that only approximately 20% of medical school applicants are offered a placed.  

What if I don’t meet the requirements of my medical school offer?  

Students on the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies who are given a place to study medicine will need to meet the conditions of their offer. The specifics will vary between students and institutions, but it is likely that offer holders will need to achieve an average mark of 70-75% in their CertHE to be able to take up their place to study medicine at the partner medical schools. 

If you do not meet the conditions of your offer you will be eligible to enter Clearing; a process run by UCAS designed to match-up students without a place at university with courses that still have availability. Alternatively, you may choose to re-apply to university the year after you complete the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies, and your tutors will provide you with the necessary documentation to support your application.  

I’ve been offered a place on the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies – what do I need to do now?  

There are several things that you can do to prepare yourself to study on the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies:  

1. Correspond with the our admissions team to ensure that they have all of the documentation they need to enrol you on the course, e.g. copies of your GCSE certificates (if applicable) and evidence of British citizenship or indefinite leave to remain in the UK. 
2. Talk to your employer and family to come up with a plan that will allow you to fit your studies around your pre-existing commitments. 
3. Attend Open Days at the medical schools of the University of Cambridge, UEA, and ARU so that you can start to make decisions about which course is going to be the best fit for you if you intend to pursue further studies. 
4. Familiarise yourself with the UCAT (https://www.ucat.ac.uk/) and begin your preparations if you intend to apply to medical school – you can never start too soon! 
5. Dust off your GCSE biology and chemistry textbooks and refamiliarise yourself with the core content. The more familiar you are with the fundamentals of GCSE biology and chemistry, the easier you will find the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies. 
6. Remember that our team is here to support you so get in touch if you have any questions or concerns.  

Glossary of terms  

UCAS – the University and Colleges Admissions Service. You will apply to the medical schools at University of Cambridge, UEA, and ARU using UCAS. You can apply for up to five courses at five different universities. If you chose to apply for all three of the partner medical schools associated with the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies you will have an additional two courses that you can apply to. Staff at ICE will support you with your UCAS application.  

UCAT – the University Clinical Aptitude Test (https://www.ucat.ac.uk/). UCAT is used by the medical schools at UEA and ARU to assess candidates’ aptitude to study medicine and potential to forge a career as a doctor. The UCAT does not test subject specific knowledge, therefore students are expected to take the UCAT prior to starting the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies at ICE as their lack of recent scientific education will not be a disadvantage. The pre-sessional activities run in the summer before students start the CertHE will partly focus on UCAT preparation.