Newbie - Urgent Advice Needed Please!

[AspiringDoc100]

Hello, I am based in London and would areally appreciate some advice as I am joining a university to gain a degree in medicine. What I'd like to know are the following:

1. Are university medical students paid while they study? If so from what year and how much?

2. What does the 5-6 year course process entail and at what point do you actually gain the title of a 'Doctor'? i.e. can this only be gained at the end of the 5-6 yr course or before it's finish?

3. I hear the use of real dead bodies are used for anatomy purposes for students in some countries, does this also apply to the UK? (scary).

Pardon the very novis/silly questions, I had to get some of the doubts and thoughts off my chest. I'll appreciate if you could laugh your way through answering the above 3 questions for me. Any extra advice for a newbie in the medical field would also be highly appreciated. Many thanks.


J.

[terpineol]

1 - No

2 - At the end, and its provisional until you pass your registration exams.

3 - Yes, depending where you go.

[Jacob-Ressa]

2. At most universities your first 2 years will be what are called pre-clinicals, where you study basic medical sciences. You then spend three years studying clinical based medicine, doing hospital rounds, observing procedures etc.

On six year courses such as those at UCL and Imperial you then spend a year studying for an intercalated Bsc. This is essentially a separate degree crammed into a year. It is not compulsory to do an intercalated Bsc at most medical schools, and in fact you may have to compete with other students for a place studying one. Intercalated degrees are availably in many subjects from biochemistry to physiology and often involve a high element of research. The intercalated Bsc is usually undertaken between year two and three, but can also be undertaken at other times.

Some courses are 'integrated' and the divide between preclinical’s and clinicals is less distinct. A good example would be UEA, where you will have patient contact from an early stage. Courses such as those at Oxford and Cambridge are very traditional and you will be unlikely to see anything like a patient until your fourth year.

Generally speaking traditional courses tend to have a slightly more academic emphasis, whereas highly integrated course tend to focus more on clinical skills. However, wherever you go you will learn all of the information and skills needed. There are no bad medical schools in the UK, all are different, it is a question of the style you think would most suit you. The best thing to do is it go to open days and speak to admissions tutors to get a good idea about a university before applying.