Medical education in England

The United Kingdom is known for its educational programs and medical education is no exception. A prestigious medical diploma obtained in England provides access to the widest opportunities for continuing education, notable research activities or successful international employment with a consistently high income.

In general, studying at medical universities lasts 7–8 years, and to obtain recognition as a qualified doctor in this country, you must continue your studies for up to five years, after which you must continuously improve your qualifications within the framework of courses, specialized seminars and symposia.

At the same time, the program is indivisible, so you should always start from scratch (you cannot transfer from a Russian medical university to a British one). Practice shows that the applicant will need not only strong specialized knowledge but also high motivation and strong character.

Structure of British medical education

Training begins with a bachelor's program, which lasts 6 years, followed by a two-year internship: the bachelor's degree involves the study of a wide range of diverse disciplines, and practice in the chosen field of medicine begins on the internship.

Bachelor’s degree

Universities are quite independent, and teaching is conducted according to their academic programs, which are united by general rules, namely:

• The first 2-3 years are devoted to the theoretical part (anatomy, biology, human health, general medicine, methods of anamnesis, etc.);
• After mastering the theoretical course, medical students undergo practical training in medical institutions, observing patients together with teachers;
• Study involves the active participation of students in research activities.

There are three semesters in the academic year, each of which ends with oral and written exams: in writing, students confirm their knowledge of core subjects, orally - their readiness to work with patients.

Foundation

Foundation is a practical internship that lasts 2 years and ends with an MB (Bachelor of Medicine / Surgery) diploma, which is equivalent to the diploma of a general practitioner in Russia. The MB diploma gives the right to start a professional career in a hospital with official registration with the General Medical Council of Great Britain (the annual income of a doctor is £ 37-69 thousand)

Foundation Year

Further study of a specific speciality ends with getting CCT (Certificate of Completion Training, or specialist certificate), which gives the right to be entered in the GMC Specialty Register, after which you can start private practice (Specialty Training or GP Training qualifications, the annual income of a specialist is £ 75-120 thousand).

Medical education in the UK: features of admission

The first step towards the cherished goal of becoming a doctor is entering a university. There are over fifty medical schools (including dental) in the United Kingdom. Education in this area is one of the most competitive in this country.

Taking into account the fact that Great Britain is very loyal to the admission of foreign students, about 21 thousand applicants, including about 7% of foreign citizens, “fight” for 9 thousand places in specialized educational institutions every year.

For foreigners, admission is possible exclusively through preparatory programs, and most universities prefer the two-year A-level program, based on which a certificate of complete secondary education is issued in the British education system and which simultaneously helps with pre-university training.

A-level makes it possible to choose 3-6 of 45 disciplines for detailed study with the subsequent passing of final exams. For those planning to apply to medical school, you should choose from subjects such as biology / human biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, psychology.

In addition to the A-Level diploma, an important role in the admission process is played by:

• General performance in secondary school (grades A / A * in all subjects);
• Individual interview (a classical or more complex type of MMI, which assesses not only the level of knowledge, motivation and awareness of the applicant but also several other parameters - up to the coordination of movements of the interviewee);
• Highly specialized tests for aptitude BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test) and UCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test).

In addition, the competition will necessarily take into account the work experience, internships, extracurricular activities in the chosen speciality, and foreigners must also show a high result of the international system for assessing knowledge of the English language.

A good start for Russian schoolchildren

All of the above shows quite convincingly that a graduate of a secondary school in another country can't receive a medical education in England without special pre-university training. At a minimum, you will have to spend another 2 years to overcome the A-level preparatory program, and knowledge of English cannot be confirmed without serious program lessons.

Unique opportunities for those wishing to study medicine in educational institutions of Britain are provided by CIS International School, a non-governmental educational organization that allows a graduate, simultaneously with a Russian state diploma, to receive a Cambridge international certificate, with which one can apply for higher education in the most prestigious educational institutions of the world. In addition, the study of English as the main subject ensures the knowledge of all graduates at the required level.

You can find out how the British CIS International School (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tashkent) works not only by phone but also by ordering a special school tour. Find out more about guarantees of admission to British medical school after completing secondary education in Russia.