A Guide to Medicine Courses

When you study medicine, you will have the opportunity to specialise towards the end of your medical degree. This specialisation will influence which area of medicine you work in, and will play a big part in your placement experience. Some specialisations include:

• General Surgery
• Oncology
• Cardiology
• Orthopaedics
• Neurology
• Gynaecology
• Radiology

The accreditation awarded for your degree will depend on where you choose to study. Different countries have different accreditation systems, meaning that your degree title could vary. Typically, you can expect to be awarded a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) or a Bachelor of Science (BSc).

Some countries may require you to be a registered healthcare provider. For example, in the UK, medical qualifications need to be approved by, or meet the standards of the General Medical Council (GMC) before you are able to become a practising doctor.

As well as this, you will continue to gain accreditation and certification throughout your career as a doctor or surgeon, as it is important that your professional development never stops.

Normally, a degree in medicine will take 5 to 6 years when studied full-time. If you choose to take a foundation year, this will add another year, at the very least. Once you have graduated, you will still be required to continue your training for several more years.

On successful completion of your degree, you can either choose to seek employment in your chosen area, or further your studies. Continuation of your studies could come in the form of a postgraduate degree, such as a PhD or an MPhil, or a graduate certificate or diploma. If you choose to seek employment, you will be required to take a placement or internship, followed by a residency, and possibly a fellowship. Your institution will be able to provide you with more information about the specific requirements for post-graduation.

The entry requirements will depend on where you choose to study. Requirements for a medical degree tend to be quite demanding, as the degree itself will be intense. Some universities may require you to sit an entrance exam, where others may rely on previous exam results. Some universities may prefer you to have studied specific subjects, and others may consider previous relevant work experience.

Some countries require you to have taken a related undergraduate degree, before taking a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. In other countries, you can start a medicine degree at undergraduate level.

You should check each institution to see what entry requirements they have for their medicine programmes.

• UK – 7.0 IELTS
• US – Bachelor Degree, MCAT Test

Tuition fees for international students are not fixed. This means that they can vary greatly from institution. Medical degrees tend to be quite expensive, but there is financial help available for students who require it.

You may be eligible for a scholarship or funding. This could be awarded by your institution, or by a separate funding body. For more information, visit our scholarships and funding section.

The most common destination for graduates of medicine is a healthcare professional, normally working as a doctor or surgeon. Due to the length and intensity of a medical degree, most people choose to stay in the medical field. The main difference in career paths tends to be the specialisation chosen by graduates.

If you do choose not to become a doctor, your wide range of skills means there are many career opportunities available to you. Other positions include healthcare scientist, healthcare researcher, educator and consultant.