So a little backstory about me before I ask some questions I haven’t found answers to during my frantic researching: I am currently a pre-med freshman at UC Davis studying Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior. I plan on getting a Bachelor’s of Science degree within the normal time range (AKA I will graduate after my fourth year in 2023). I have citizenship both in the US and the UK.
I have always planned on applying to med school in the US, but for the past year and a half I have had my heart set on applying to UK medical schools as well. The issue is, the UK school system is obviously drastically different.
I’ve spent the past couple months researching how a US university graduate can apply to graduate-level medical school in the UK, and I can only seem to find information for US students applying for undergraduate medical degrees. Is it even possible in the first place? I’m getting distraught; I want to figure this out now so I can plan accordingly for the rest of my time at university. I’m going to be reaching out to some UK schools soon to see if they can be of any help, but if anyone knows anything about this process and can offer any advice/guidance, I would be SO appreciative.
Note that it advises applicants that some courses will require science A Levels - in your case that would mean science APs I guess. You would need to check with each institution.
Even if you were to do an UG degree in Medicine, the structure of the UK system means that there are no Gen Eds or distribution requirements - you will be doing only the courses needed for your Medical degree.
I’d also consider whether you would ever want to return to practice in the US at some point, as transferring over can be difficult from I have read.
Wow thank you SO much for this link! I haven’t come across that page yet and it offers lots of great information! There’s definitely a lot to think about in regards to where I’d like to be after medical school. Luckily I’ve got family in both places!
A critical question for you to consider, is where you would want to start practicing medicine after graduation. If you prefer to do that in the UK, then a UK degree will make things much easier. If you prefer to do that in the US, then a US degree will make thing easier.
Does anyone happen to know anything about whether or not the MCAT is an equivalent for the BMAT/UCAT or would I be required to take the BMAT/UCAT as well in order to apply for graduate level medicine in the UK?
I doubt it. I would expect UK universities to require you to sit their entrance exam, the BMAT. It is designed to ensure you are suitable for a UK medicine course. But again, you could contact each institution you are interested in to confirm.
I’d also check the teaching style of each course. From what I have heard some are lecture based, and some more case study based. You might do better which one style of instruction. No idea which uni does what, you’ll have to investigate.