Becoming a doctor in the UK usually takes 10 to 14 years. This includes medical school, foundation training, and specialist training. The exact time depends on whether you choose general practice or a medical specialty.
Many students ask how long does it take to become a doctor because the journey is long and structured. The UK medical pathway includes education, training, and supervision. Each stage builds essential skills and experience. Understanding the timeline helps you plan your future clearly.
Medical School
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How to Study Medicine with BTEC
How Many Years Does It Take to Become a Doctor at Medical School?
- Standard medical degree: 5 years
- Graduate entry programme: 4 years
- Intercalated degree option: adds 1 year
- Total medical school time: 5–6 years
This explains how many years to become a doctor at the education stage.
What You Must Know About the GMC, WFME, and ECFMG?
Foundation Programme (Step-by-Step)
- Complete medical school
- Enter Foundation Year 1 (F1) with supervised practice
- Achieve full GMC registration
- Complete Foundation Year 2 (F2)
This stage lasts 2 years and is required for all doctors in the UK.
Specialist Training
After foundation training, doctors choose a specialty. The length depends on the career path.
- General Practice: 3 years
- Surgery: 6–8 years
- Paediatrics: up to 8 years
- Other specialties: 5–8 years
This determines how many years does it take to become a doctor in UK fully qualified.
Why the Ranking of the University is Not Important?
How Many Years Will It Take to Become a Doctor in Total?
- Medical school: 5–6 years
- Foundation Programme: 2 years
- GP training: 3 years
- Total for GP: about 10 years
- Total for specialists: 11–14 years
This answers how many years does it take to become a doctor UK and how long to become a doctor overall.
What A-Levels Do You Need to Be a Doctor?
Are There Shorter Routes?
- Graduate entry medicine takes 4 years
- Prior science degrees can reduce study time
- Training length remains the same after graduation
This is the shortest answer to how long do you study to become a doctor if you already hold a degree.
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FAQs (People Also Ask)
How log does it take to become a doctor in the UK?
It usually takes 10 years to become a GP and 11–14 years to become a specialist.
How many years to be a doctor?
Most doctors train for at least 10 years before becoming fully qualified.
How many years does it take to become a doctor?
It depends on the specialty, but typically between 10 and 14 years.
How long does it take to become doctor after university?
After medical school, it takes at least 5 more years of training.
How many years take to be a doctor?
Medical school plus training usually totals over a decade.
Author
Reviewed by: Medical Education Content Team
Expertise: UK medical training pathways
Last Updated
15 January 2026