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Medical Officer Cadet
Job Role

Medical Officer Cadet

Get paid to study at university, and gain all the skills you need for life as a world-class medical practitioner.

AdventureHealthcareMedical
  • £18,000 - £145,000
  • Undergraduate Degree
  • Surface Fleet
  • Medical
  • Officer level

At a glance

Start your journey at university by applying to finish your studies in the Royal Navy, earning a salary and having the final three years’ fees paid for by us. Then travel the world and specialise in an area of medicine that interests you.

6 weeks

Of paid holiday every year

Tuition fees paid

Financial support through medical school

£18,000

Starting salary during medical school as a cadet

Free

Medical and dental care

£60,505

Earn at least this amount on completion of FY2

Travel

All around the world
Medical
I’ve learned a lot, both through my medical training at university, and within the Royal Navy where I’ve seen things I never imagined and provided primary and emergency care to personnel around the world.

Harriet

Medical Officer Cadet, Medical Branch

Role details

What you’ll do

The Medical branch of the Royal Navy is full of dedicated healthcare professionals who support people in the UK and all over the world. And a Medical Officer Cadetship is designed to support the development of the next generation of military practitioners, giving them the skills they will need to tackle uniquely challenging environments, all over the world.

Your journey will start at university, where you’ll be able to apply to finish your studies in the Royal Navy, earning a salary and having the final three years’ fees paid for by us (not including any intercalation year). You'll complete your foundation years within military Joint Hospital Group Unit and go on to serve on board ships, submarines and shore establishments as a General Duties Medical Officer (GDMO), primarily responsible for the provision of first-class health care to our personnel.

Your role

  • Following medical school you will complete your foundation training in one of the Joint Hospital Group's (JHG) NHS hospitals, you will complete clinical rotations, including primary care and emergency care before undertaking your officer training at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.
  • Flexibility is essential. You could be on the battlefield advancing the treatment of trauma victims, or specialising in major disciplines, from surgery to anaesthetics
  • Be part of a world-class medical service that’s respected far beyond the Armed Forces

 

Pay & benefits

  • A salary of at least £60,505 once qualified
  • Final three years of medical school fees paid for by us
  • Six weeks of paid holiday every year
  • Free medical and dental care
  • Sports and adventurous training opportunities

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain

  • Funding opportunities to continue personal and professional development and education
  • After spending time as a General Duties Medical Officer, the Royal Navy will offer to fund selected specialisms, subjective to service requirement

Skills you'll develop

  • How to be a leader and apply your medical knowledge in challenging conditions
  • Opportunities to specialise in major disciplines

Eligibility

  • Aged 18 to 36
  • Cadetships are available for your final three years at a UK medical school (not including your intercalation year)
  • 5 grades A*-C (9-4) Including grade 6 (B) or above in English Language and Maths
  • A National of the United Kingdom or Dual National
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28
  • Pass the Naval Swimming Test
     
     

Skills & Interests

  • Ambitious and passionate about medicine
  • A confident leader
  • Always calm under pressure
  • Have a spirit of adventure

Joining Process

From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.

Step 1

Submit an application

Once you’ve registered your interest and have satisfied the basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form. Your recruiter will then check for cadetship availability prior to proceeding

NB: Applications should be submitted in the first year of university and the full application process must be completed in time for the Cadetship Selection Board which takes place towards the end of the second year of university.
Apply
Step 2

Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
To prepare, you can practise the DAA

Step 3

Interview

A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role
Step 4

Medical and eye tests

These are quite comprehensive and must be completed by one of our Ministry of Defence-approved doctors
Step 5

Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT)

This involves completing a 2.4km run on a treadmill within a certain time, at a fitness centre near you
Step 6

Admiralty Interview Board

This stage is unique to officers and takes place in two parts. A Pre Recorded Interview (PRI) is an online assessment which assesses your motivation to join the Royal Navy as an officer and your awareness of the Royal Navy. The Group Planning Exercise (GPE) is the second stage of the AIB and is an online competency based assessment which will take place on a separate day to the PRI. It will be conducted in a virtual group environment and you will be assessed on your contribution to the team based on your individual performance

Career Progression

From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.
Day one
Study at university, learn military skills, weekends at BRNC
First two years
Join a trust foundation program, rotate around specialties
General duties
Join Britannia Royal Naval College for 10 weeks of officer training
First promotion
Become Lt Cdr, start working towards your chosen specialism

Got a question?

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