UK Medicine and Disease Olympiad (UKMDO)
The UK Medicine and Disease Olympiad (UKMDO) is the United Kingdom’s premier competition for secondary school students passionate about medicine, human biology, and diseases. It serves as the national qualifying round for the International Medicine and Disease Olympiad (IMDO), a global event that brings together the brightest young minds interested in biomedical sciences. You can read more about the IMDO here: https://www.imdolympiad.org.
First launched in 2025, the UKMDO offers students across the UK and worldwide a chance to demonstrate their understanding of medical science in a challenging yet rewarding academic setting. Top performers in the UKMDO may be invited to represent the United Kingdom at the IMDO and compete against international peers at the highest level.
Format and Topics
The UKMDO is a fully online competition featuring a 160-question multiple-choice exam, designed to be completed within 2 hours. Participants will be given a 24-hour testing window on the competition day, allowing them to log in and take the test at a time that suits them — ideal for accommodating various schedules and time zones (yes, even for those on holiday in the Highlands).
The exam covers three key areas in medically relevant biology:
Cell Biology and Genetics
Human Physiology & Anatomy
Pathology and Human Diseases
The questions are designed to challenge students to apply their knowledge, think critically, and make connections across disciplines — much like real-world medicine demands.
Who Should Participate?
The UKMDO is open to all secondary school students, typically aged 13–18, who have an interest in human biology, healthcare, medicine, or medical research. Whether you're dreaming of becoming a doctor, aiming for biomedical science at university, or simply love learning about how the body works and what happens when it doesn’t — this competition is for you.
Participation in the UKMDO is not only an excellent addition to your academic CV or UCAS application, but also a great way to test your knowledge against peers nationwide and potentially earn the opportunity to represent the UK on an international stage.
Get ready to flex your brain, fight for your future, and maybe even win some glory for Queen and country (or at least your school newsletter).
