Salaam,
Here is some info regarding graduate entry to medical school.
As you mentioned there are two routes to choose, the standard 5 year MB.BS program or the so called Graduate Entry Program (GEP) - 4 year ‘fast track’.
Ultimately which course you go for depends on personal preference but there are definitely benefits for a graduate choosing the GEP. As its name implies it is only open to applicants holding a degree (BSc, MSc or the like) usually in a science subject though individual medical schools consider applicants from many different backgrounds, including the arts (they may take into consideration science A-levels or degree modules you may have done).
One of the first plus points to the GEP is that having just done a 3 year degree applicants may want to get through medical school in as short a time as possible so that you start working and earning. This would mean 7 years doing the GEP instead of 8 if you chose a standard course.
However a point of caution. The reason why GEP’s are shorter are that they have longer terms and shorter holidays in order to condense the course into 4 years, to the best of my knowledge there is not much difference in course content. One difference is that GEP students get more clinical exposure sooner. However as an example the summer holiday in the first year at UCL is 4 months compared to the GEP (I think at Warwick) where it is 7 weeks! The longer terms also mean that the course is far more intensive and requires more consistent hard work to get through (though being a graduate you are expected to have acquired the necessary study skills).
Another very important factor to consider is finance. Obviously having to fund yourself through 5 years of study will cost more than 4! Also, students on the GEP only have to pay tuition fees for the first year of their study, years 2, 3 and 4 are paid for by an NHS bursary. In contrast students choosing the standard 5-year course have to pay tuition fees for the first 4 years of their course with only the final (5th) year fees being paid by an NHS bursary. An additional cost regardless of which type of course you do will no doubt be living costs such as accommodation, food, books etc in which case the GEP (where you will not pay fees for 3 years) will save you a considerable sum of money.
Student loans (exactly the same as at undergraduate level) are available to students choosing either type of course so these can help with the cost to some extent. Also if you had taken out a student loan for your first degree you will not begin to repay until you have completed the second course as well, and are earning. One thing to consider regardless of which course you choose is that your LEA may not pay fees for your studies because policy is that they do not fund second degrees (again contact your local LEA for more info).
Its not all doom and gloom on a 5 year course though! As a graduate the pace of the course will mean you will be able to cope with it with relative ease (especially if you’ve covered material in your first degree). Also if like me you enjoy your holidays there is no shortage of them - at least until you reach clinics! The Christmas and summer holidays can provide an opportunity to work and save money and to travel etc.
As I mentioned the type of course you choose may well depend personal preference. I myself wanted to remain at UCL so I chose the 5 year course. Entry to the course at UCL requires you to submit a UCAS form and also sit the new Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT), further information about which can be found at
www.bmat.org.uk. Many GEP’s also employ some form of admissions test the most famous of which is the Graduate Australian Medical School Admission Test (GAMSAT). The difference between the two to the best of my knowledge is that GAMSAT is a lot harder! It also cost more to sit, £200 compared to £15 for BMAT. I would advise you to check the prospectus/website of the medical schools you wish to apply to check which type of test if any you will be required to take.
On a final note the medical school you choose may depend on the type of course (5year vs. 4year) but also the way it is taught. Some medical schools still use lecture based teaching (UCL included) whereas many others are increasingly using Problem Based Learning (PBL) - again a choice you will have to make!
I hope that this information is of help. If I have left anything out or if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to ask.
Wasalaam
Shayan.
. If anyone could email me a copy of a good personal statement to zcbty70 [at] ucl.ac.uk would be much appreciated. Any help, advice or info would be super. 
. If anyone could email me a copy of a good personal statement to zcbty70 [at] ucl.ac.uk would be much appreciated. Any help, advice or info would be super. 
