How To Study Medicine Abroad

When considering studying medicine abroad, it’s important to recognise the demand and commitment required. However, it is equally as important to have an awareness of the processes that can help you along your journey.

Studying Medicine is not for the faint hearted. The competition for admission is high and the study plan is intense, but it is all designed to prepare you for your dream career as a doctor.

What to Consider:

1. Choosing the right subjects in High School

The journey starts at high school by picking the right subjects to study. In the long run, this will make the journey a lot easier for you. Putting thought into it in high school means you can be more prepared, putting you at an advantage from the very start.

All medical universities look for students to have Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology in high school. These are the subjects that you will be studying throughout your medical degree, so it make sense to have covered the basics in your high school studies. Even if you intend to complete a Medicine Foundation programme, you need to have covered these subjects in you high school certificate mainly because Foundation programmes are usually intensive, so without the basic subject knowledge, you can quickly fall behind and struggle to get the high grades needed for admission to Medicine.

 

2. Complete Work Experience

Work shadowing or volunteering experience is increasingly becoming a key admission requirement for Medical universities. And really, it makes sense. But completing some work shadowing with a health professional, you can gain valuable insight into whether a career in Medicine is for you and learn what the day-to-to life as a doctor really is.

Generally, the minimum requirement for work experience is 75 hours – this can be done over 2 weeks full-time or over a longer period comprising of various difference placements.

 

3. Choosing the right pathway

For international students, the right pathway depends on your high school qualification. Some countries have high school qualifications that are recognised for direct entry to Medicine degrees around the world, others require students to complete A Levels or a Foundation programme.

A Levels takes 2 years to complete and are broadly accepted for University admission internationally. However, students must apply to Medical universities individually and are largely on their own when it comes to writing a personal statement, preparing for entrance exams or interviews. It can also be very difficult to decide whether a particular Medical university will suit your own career goals without expert advice.

Foundation programmes, on the other hand, are usually 6-9 months and are specialised in preparing you for admission to university. Foundation programmes are normally linked to one or selected Medical universities, so it’s important to understand what universities will recognise your Foundation qualification.

The International Foundation Year – Health Science programme offered by DIFC Ireland offers international students an ideal pathway to Medicine as it provides you with options to study Medicine in Ireland, UK, Caribbean and mainland Europe. During the programme, you will get tailored guidance and support on selecting the right universities, preparing your personal statements and examination/interview preparation.

 

4. Choose your dream university

Most Foundation programmes are linked to one single Medical university, which means you have very few options if you miss out on a place or don’t achieve the grades required for admission to the university.

The difference with the DIFC Medicine Foundation pathway is that it provides you a variety of Medical degree options to suit different learning styles and budgets. Students on the Medicine Foundation pathway with DIFC can apply to:

• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (both Dublin and RUMC programmes)
• University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
• Queen Mary Universty of London (Malta campus)
• St George’s University, Grenada
• Charles University, Czech Republic
• Lithuania University of Health Science
• University of Debrecen, Hungary
• European University Cyprus

Having a number of options available, can make the process of applying to medical university less stressful and give you a greater chance of securing a place.

 

Join our Medicine Foundation Pathway Webinar

To find our more about the entry requirements for DIFC partner universities and how DIFC can help you get there, register for our Medicine Foundation Pathway webinar.

11.00am GMT
Tuesday, 18 February 2020

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