How to choose the right medical school for you

Abstract

The United Kingdom has 35 medical schools, and it is possible to apply to four in a single UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) application. All offer medical degrees that are recognised by the General Medical Council to practise as a doctor in the United Kingdom,1 but with so many available, choosing which to apply to might seem daunting. In this article I outline some aspects to consider, including course structure, type of university, location, entrance requirements, and league table rankings. Medical students are expected to acquire scientific knowledge relevant to a career in medicine and develop skills in clinical assessment and management of people who are unwell. Although graduates of all UK medical schools will have developed the necessary knowledge and skills to practise safely as a doctor, the course structure and teaching methods to achieve this vary between schools. It is worth considering your style of learning when choosing between them. There are three main types of course: traditional, integrated, and problem based learning. ### Traditional This type of course is available at Oxford, Cambridge, and St Andrews. The course is often split into two parts: a three year preclinical course followed by a three year clinical course. During the preclinical course, students attend lectures, small group teaching, and practical classes on basic medical sciences including anatomy (taught by cadaveric dissection), physiology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, and neurosciences. During the clinical course, students undertake placements in hospitals, clinics, and general practice surgeries to gain experience in clinical assessment and management of patients. Sometimes there is the opportunity to study at more than one university. Students at St Andrews move to other universities in Scotland or England to study the clinical half of their degree. A traditional course is ideal for students who would like to develop a firm grounding in …