Alternative Pathways
Gateway & Foundation Courses Guide
Gateway and foundation courses offer alternative routes into medicine and dentistry for students who meet widening participation criteria.
Unsure whether gateway courses apply to you?
I help students understand eligibility requirements, alternative pathways, and realistic application strategies.
Get personalised adviceWhat gateway courses are for
Gateway courses are designed to support students from underrepresented backgrounds who show strong potential.
They provide additional academic preparation before entering standard medicine or dentistry programmes.
What matters most
Gateway courses are not shortcuts
Gateway and foundation courses still require strong commitment and academic performance. They exist to support widening participation students.
Eligibility criteria matter
Most gateway programmes require specific eligibility, such as attending certain schools or meeting widening participation criteria.
They can lead to the same degree
Gateway routes often lead into the same medicine or dentistry degrees as standard entry courses.
Common eligibility factors
- Widening participation eligibility
- Attending specific eligible schools
- Living in areas of lower university participation
- Being first in family to attend university
- Meeting contextual criteria set by universities