Medicine is a five/six year course studied at university and in hospitals which qualifies applicants to become a doctor. “Doctor” is a broad term encompassing many careers including GP (general practitioner), surgeon, specialist (pathologist, anaesthetist, etc). Completing a degree in medicine is the only way to legally become a doctor in the UK. Please note that many courses offered do not do this and are purely science degrees e.g. medical sciences, biomedical sciences, clinical sciences, etc.

Medicine is a rewarding and varied career. Applicants will cover subjects as wide-ranging as broken bones, skin conditions, mental illness, open-heart surgery, pregnancy and post mortems. It is also very demanding and challenging and applicants need to be 100% sure that this is right career path before embarking upon the course. Applicants will be required to make important decisions and the way they interact with people can have a large impact on people’s lives. Although most doctors work for the NHS, there are opportunities in other exciting settings such as the armed forces, prisons or the Home Office working as a police surgeon.

Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science are perceived as the most challenging choices of study at University. The workload is very demanding with continuous rounds of assessment. A doctor needs to be committed to life-long learning and study as the field is constantly changing and another set of tests or exams are always around the corner at all levels.

Entry into Medical School is not based on solid academic achievement alone. Students need to be well-prepared and well-informed about issues in medicine, be comfortable in the interview, gain suitable work experience and have a genuine and strong ambition to become a doctor. Medicine is also emotionally and spiritually demanding and skills such as interacting with patients and managing distressing situations are essential to becoming a successful doctor.

Doctors are generally well paid and their working hours have improved in recent years; however, students should be aware that due to the longevity of the course they may amass substantial debts while at medical school as a result of tuition fees, living expenses and book/equipment purchase.

Vital Statistics:

- In 2007/2008, King’s College, London received 4,800 applications for their medical school.
- They made 700 offers…
- 360 students took up places…
- of which 24 were from overseas.
- So, your chances of getting an offer were under 15%, much lower for international students.You have to be good to get an offer!