Transfer from UCL Medicine: Failed Exams, £57,300 Fees and Changing Medical School in 2026

Is a transfer from UCL Medicine possible?

Nothing you have passed at UCL is wasted. Your transcript travels with you, and it is the basis for your placement at the next faculty.

Why do international students leave UCL Medicine?

The first reason is cost. Six years of international tuition at about €66,500 per year add up to roughly €399,000, before rent in central London.

The second is progression. UCL, like every UK medical school, uses resits and repeat years. For international students, a repeat year means another full year of fees and a longer stay on a Student visa.

The third is the integrated BSc year. It is a strength of the UCL programme, but it also makes the degree a year longer than many five-year routes. Some students decide that a different structure fits their plans better. These are individual reasons, not a verdict on UCL.

Failed exams at UCL Medicine — what now?

A failed exam at UCL Medicine is not the end of your medical career. Resits are part of the system at every UK medical school.

It becomes critical after a failed resit, or when the faculty discusses a repeat year. At that point international students weigh another year of fees, their visa and their motivation. A transfer lets your passed modules count at a new faculty, so you continue instead of repeating.

Timing is everything here.

How much does UCL Medicine cost compared with other options?

International tuition for the Medicine MBBS BSc at UCL is about €66,500 (£57,300) per year for 2026/27 entrants. With a planning figure of about €1,750 per month for living costs in London, six years cost around €525,000.

English-taught medical faculties in Europe start at about €3,500 per year in tuition, or about €21,000 over six years.

Can you transfer from UCL without losing a year?

In many cases, yes. The result depends on your passed modules, how well they match the receiving curriculum and when you apply. Planning in spring leaves far more room than reacting to an August resit result.

Medschool Experts regularly achieves high placements for transfer students, including students from leading UK medical schools. The receiving faculty makes the final decision on your entry year, so we never promise a year before it has decided.

How do UCL credits convert into ECTS?

A full year at UCL carries 120 UK credits, which equal 60 ECTS. Two UK credits correspond to one ECTS credit, so the formal conversion is simple.

The content comparison needs more care. UCL teaches in integrated, systems-based modules, and the BSc year covers a specialist subject that may or may not map onto a European curriculum. Module descriptions with learning outcomes and contact hours help the receiving faculty see what you have covered. We prepare this with you.

Which universities accept transfer students from UCL?

Several English-taught medical faculties in Europe accept transfer students from UCL Medicine. Which ones suit you depends on your transcript, budget and career plans.

We answer this individually, based on your record. Book a free transfer consultation and we will tell you which options are realistic.

What happens to your Student visa when you leave UCL?

Your Student visa is sponsored by UCL. If you withdraw, UCL reports this to the Home Office and your permission to stay is shortened. For a faculty in the EU you then need a residence permit in that country. We time your transfer so that the change of status runs as smoothly as possible.

Which documents does a transfer from UCL need?

You will need your official UCL transcript, the module descriptions of what you have passed and confirmation of your enrolment status. Rules for apostilles and translations depend on the destination country. We give you the exact list once your options are clear.

How long does a transfer from UCL Medicine take?

Allow three to six months from the first consultation to your start at the new faculty.

Is your degree recognised after a transfer from UCL?

Yes. When you graduate from an EU medical faculty, your degree is recognised throughout the EU under Directive 2005/36/EC. Since Brexit the UK sits outside this system, so if you later want to work in the UK, you apply to the General Medical Council through its route for international medical graduates.

Why transfer from UCL with Medschool Experts?

A study transfer is a complicated undertaking, and leaving a UK medical school adds visa questions. Our experts have close to ten years of experience in study transfers worldwide and therefore plan and carry out a transfer from UCL Medicine with confidence. The consultation is free. Read more on our services page or in our student stories.