Pharmacy to Medicine
Hi all, this is a bit of a long shot but I am really in need of any advice at all.
For a while now I've been considering switching from pharmacy to medicine. I'm currently a first year pharmacy student at a good university. For context - this uni does NOT offer medicine. I'm from Wales, where we do some a-level exams in Y12, and I achieved AAB in Maths, Biology and Chemistry respectively in Y12. I had a rough Y12 experience outside of school so was very put down by the 'B' in chemistry and thought I was not smart enough to do medicine. I was SO burnt out by the end of Y12 that I decided not to sit the UCAT and did not think I would have achieved the grades for medicine. I had done all the work experiences, volunteering and work for medicine prior. I decided to apply for pharmacy - did some work experience and found it really fun and thought it would be a great option! I got in to uni and am currently studying it. However, I am only now thinking that I should have just applied for medicine and sat that UCAT. I enjoy the pharmacy course currently, I find it interesting and would not mind working as a pharmacist in the future. But I would rather be studying medicine right now, it seems like a better fit for me. I am looking into options to make this switch. Here is what I have found right now:
1) I continue with my pharmacy degree (4 years), foundation year (1 year), then do medicine (5 years), foundation training (2 years)
2) I drop out of pharmacy now, sit the UCAT next summer (2026), and apply for the 2027 entry
3) I stay in pharmacy now, sit the UCAT next summer (2026) and apply for 2027 entry
I have not taken a gap year at any point, but I just happen to be born earlier in the academic year, so for option 1, I would start medicine at age 24. Option 2 and 3, I would start medicine at age 21. All of these options also come with the risk that I might not get in first time around.
My stats for entry are:
GCSES - 12 A*'s
A levels - A*A*AA (Maths, Advanced skills (accepted for med), biology, chemistry
Please can anyone help? Are there any other options I can do? I do not want to be wasting time. Thank you
For a while now I've been considering switching from pharmacy to medicine. I'm currently a first year pharmacy student at a good university. For context - this uni does NOT offer medicine. I'm from Wales, where we do some a-level exams in Y12, and I achieved AAB in Maths, Biology and Chemistry respectively in Y12. I had a rough Y12 experience outside of school so was very put down by the 'B' in chemistry and thought I was not smart enough to do medicine. I was SO burnt out by the end of Y12 that I decided not to sit the UCAT and did not think I would have achieved the grades for medicine. I had done all the work experiences, volunteering and work for medicine prior. I decided to apply for pharmacy - did some work experience and found it really fun and thought it would be a great option! I got in to uni and am currently studying it. However, I am only now thinking that I should have just applied for medicine and sat that UCAT. I enjoy the pharmacy course currently, I find it interesting and would not mind working as a pharmacist in the future. But I would rather be studying medicine right now, it seems like a better fit for me. I am looking into options to make this switch. Here is what I have found right now:
1) I continue with my pharmacy degree (4 years), foundation year (1 year), then do medicine (5 years), foundation training (2 years)
2) I drop out of pharmacy now, sit the UCAT next summer (2026), and apply for the 2027 entry
3) I stay in pharmacy now, sit the UCAT next summer (2026) and apply for 2027 entry
I have not taken a gap year at any point, but I just happen to be born earlier in the academic year, so for option 1, I would start medicine at age 24. Option 2 and 3, I would start medicine at age 21. All of these options also come with the risk that I might not get in first time around.
My stats for entry are:
GCSES - 12 A*'s
A levels - A*A*AA (Maths, Advanced skills (accepted for med), biology, chemistry
Please can anyone help? Are there any other options I can do? I do not want to be wasting time. Thank you
Reply 1
Hey there, thanks for posting a question in the Medicine forum.
The Medicine forum gets a high volume of questions being posted, and some of these are already answered by the resources and Megathreads that members of the community and volunteers have created. This is an automatic post which is designed to highlight these resources. Below is a list of threads and articles that could answer your question (you should be looking in the original post of the megathreads). If one of the below threads is a more relevant place to ask your question, please post a reply in that thread to ask your question. If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked below, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.
Megathreads (Please read the first post before posting any further questions you have within that thread.)
The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread
The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Angst Thread
Medicine A-Level subjects queries
Work Experience and Voluntary Work
GANFYD's "Which medical schools accept retake A-Levels" list
2026 Applicants :
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2026 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2026 Entry
Medicine 2026 entry for resit/retake/gap year applicants
International Students for Medicine 2026 Entry (overseas students applying to the UK)
UCAT 2026 Entry Discussions Megathread
GAMSAT Megathread 2026/2027 entry
GAMSAT Megathread 2025/2026 entry
2026 entry A100/ A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Medical Schools Index 2026 entry
Medical Schools Index 2025 entry
UCAS Extra and Clearing:
Medicine UCAS Extra for 2025
Medicine UCAS Clearing for 2025
Other application years:
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2027 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2027 Entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2028 Entry
Current Medical Students and Doctors:
Guidance on posting in this subforum
So, you're going to medical school.... MKII
OSCE Tips and Advice
Increase in the NHS Bursary and expenses for placement
The postgraduate exams thread
Useful Articles:
Work Experience as a Graduate or Mature student
Medicine Personal Statement Advice
Medicine Personal Statement Advice (Graduate Entry)
Interview Frequently Asked Questions
MMI Medicine Interview Tips
What to do after an unsuccessful first application
Funding medicine as a second degree
Our Community:
Medicine Community Feedback and Suggestions
Medicine Gap Year Stories
Project: Minimum UCAT Score Trends
If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked above, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.
The Medicine forum gets a high volume of questions being posted, and some of these are already answered by the resources and Megathreads that members of the community and volunteers have created. This is an automatic post which is designed to highlight these resources. Below is a list of threads and articles that could answer your question (you should be looking in the original post of the megathreads). If one of the below threads is a more relevant place to ask your question, please post a reply in that thread to ask your question. If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked below, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.
Megathreads (Please read the first post before posting any further questions you have within that thread.)
The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread
The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Angst Thread
Medicine A-Level subjects queries
Work Experience and Voluntary Work
GANFYD's "Which medical schools accept retake A-Levels" list
2026 Applicants :
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2026 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2026 Entry
Medicine 2026 entry for resit/retake/gap year applicants
International Students for Medicine 2026 Entry (overseas students applying to the UK)
UCAT 2026 Entry Discussions Megathread
GAMSAT Megathread 2026/2027 entry
GAMSAT Megathread 2025/2026 entry
2026 entry A100/ A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Medical Schools Index 2026 entry
Medical Schools Index 2025 entry
UCAS Extra and Clearing:
Medicine UCAS Extra for 2025
Medicine UCAS Clearing for 2025
Other application years:
Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2027 entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2027 Entry
Official Thread: Graduate Entry Medicine 2028 Entry
Current Medical Students and Doctors:
Guidance on posting in this subforum
So, you're going to medical school.... MKII
OSCE Tips and Advice
Increase in the NHS Bursary and expenses for placement
The postgraduate exams thread
Useful Articles:
Work Experience as a Graduate or Mature student
Medicine Personal Statement Advice
Medicine Personal Statement Advice (Graduate Entry)
Interview Frequently Asked Questions
MMI Medicine Interview Tips
What to do after an unsuccessful first application
Funding medicine as a second degree
Our Community:
Medicine Community Feedback and Suggestions
Medicine Gap Year Stories
Project: Minimum UCAT Score Trends
If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked above, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.
Reply 2
Original post
by LucyhurlHi all, this is a bit of a long shot but I am really in need of any advice at all.
For a while now I've been considering switching from pharmacy to medicine. I'm currently a first year pharmacy student at a good university. For context - this uni does NOT offer medicine. I'm from Wales, where we do some a-level exams in Y12, and I achieved AAB in Maths, Biology and Chemistry respectively in Y12. I had a rough Y12 experience outside of school so was very put down by the 'B' in chemistry and thought I was not smart enough to do medicine. I was SO burnt out by the end of Y12 that I decided not to sit the UCAT and did not think I would have achieved the grades for medicine. I had done all the work experiences, volunteering and work for medicine prior. I decided to apply for pharmacy - did some work experience and found it really fun and thought it would be a great option! I got in to uni and am currently studying it. However, I am only now thinking that I should have just applied for medicine and sat that UCAT. I enjoy the pharmacy course currently, I find it interesting and would not mind working as a pharmacist in the future. But I would rather be studying medicine right now, it seems like a better fit for me. I am looking into options to make this switch. Here is what I have found right now:
1) I continue with my pharmacy degree (4 years), foundation year (1 year), then do medicine (5 years), foundation training (2 years)
2) I drop out of pharmacy now, sit the UCAT next summer (2026), and apply for the 2027 entry
3) I stay in pharmacy now, sit the UCAT next summer (2026) and apply for 2027 entry
I have not taken a gap year at any point, but I just happen to be born earlier in the academic year, so for option 1, I would start medicine at age 24. Option 2 and 3, I would start medicine at age 21. All of these options also come with the risk that I might not get in first time around.
My stats for entry are:
GCSES - 12 A*'s
A levels - A*A*AA (Maths, Advanced skills (accepted for med), biology, chemistry
Please can anyone help? Are there any other options I can do? I do not want to be wasting time. Thank you
For a while now I've been considering switching from pharmacy to medicine. I'm currently a first year pharmacy student at a good university. For context - this uni does NOT offer medicine. I'm from Wales, where we do some a-level exams in Y12, and I achieved AAB in Maths, Biology and Chemistry respectively in Y12. I had a rough Y12 experience outside of school so was very put down by the 'B' in chemistry and thought I was not smart enough to do medicine. I was SO burnt out by the end of Y12 that I decided not to sit the UCAT and did not think I would have achieved the grades for medicine. I had done all the work experiences, volunteering and work for medicine prior. I decided to apply for pharmacy - did some work experience and found it really fun and thought it would be a great option! I got in to uni and am currently studying it. However, I am only now thinking that I should have just applied for medicine and sat that UCAT. I enjoy the pharmacy course currently, I find it interesting and would not mind working as a pharmacist in the future. But I would rather be studying medicine right now, it seems like a better fit for me. I am looking into options to make this switch. Here is what I have found right now:
1) I continue with my pharmacy degree (4 years), foundation year (1 year), then do medicine (5 years), foundation training (2 years)
2) I drop out of pharmacy now, sit the UCAT next summer (2026), and apply for the 2027 entry
3) I stay in pharmacy now, sit the UCAT next summer (2026) and apply for 2027 entry
I have not taken a gap year at any point, but I just happen to be born earlier in the academic year, so for option 1, I would start medicine at age 24. Option 2 and 3, I would start medicine at age 21. All of these options also come with the risk that I might not get in first time around.
My stats for entry are:
GCSES - 12 A*'s
A levels - A*A*AA (Maths, Advanced skills (accepted for med), biology, chemistry
Please can anyone help? Are there any other options I can do? I do not want to be wasting time. Thank you
Finish pharmacy then apply to GEM? It’s 4 years and better funded than undergrad med
Reply 3
12
Carefully check what universities you want before dropping out of pharmacy - some allow you to drop out early but after a certain time require you to finish your first degree.
Original post
by FiBoxCarefully check what universities you want before dropping out of pharmacy - some allow you to drop out early but after a certain time require you to finish your first degree.
This!!!
I strongly considered dropping out on my first year of undergrad, but at that moment in time, to have done so would have been to shoot myself in the foot and make myself ineligible to apply for Medicine to most universities. It seems like this is not specifically spelt out anymore on most medical courses, so maybe they don't care so much anymore? But you have to double-check by emailing the admissions department because this is a huge gamble.
But if they allow you to drop out and apply, then definitely do option 2. Option 3 comes with the inconvenience that since you use an extra year of Student Finance, you'll have used up the extra "gift year" of funding that Student Finance gives to students, plus paid fees for a second year, so you'd have to self-fund an entire year of your medicine degree. Which is no bueno.
But if unis are not happy with you dropping out, then you'll have to do option 1, which is not great because GEM is more competitive and funding a second degree is a big faff and economical consideration but whatever, you'll cross that bridge when you get to it. I don't know what you're writing about, doing a foundation year between pharmacy and medicine - it's not necessary. Many people jump straight to doing medicine as a second degree without any gap between their first degree and medicine.
(edited 1 month ago)
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