Canadian Applying to UK medical school

[susieQ]

Hi Deltoid,

It's unfortunate that we're still classified as IMGs, however, I think that having a parallel stream is not such a bad idea. At least we won't be competing with 2000 CMG's who did their clerkships at their first choice hopsitals and are more likely to get those spots. There's some good news as well regarding the return of service issue. The website states that if IMG's go through the second iteration, they can get matched for IMG as well as CMG spots. If they do indeed get matched to CMG spots, no return of service is expected of them...At least, there is hope to escape the return of service. I personally don't loathe ROS that much, but it becomes a problem when it is the sole condition upon which we (canadians) can come back home for residency, while CMG's are excempt from this requirement...
I've just applied Deltoid! So I'm currently waiting. I got my undergrad degree in neuroscience from U of T, but I also did Alevels, Olevels, etc..
So wish me luck!!!
By the way, sheffield asked me to write the TOEFL! Did you have to write an English test when you first applied?
Sorry for the barrage of questions, but you're the first Canadian med student in England that I found so far!!!
Good luck with your studies!
Farah

Just to add to this, you also have the option of buying out your return of service agreement. You'd basically have to pay back all the money you earn during training i.e. residency. Not really an option for most people I guess, though, since most IMGs are likely already in serious debt from the much higher international student fees But I thought I'd throw it out there anyway ...

BTW I graduated from U of T with Hon. B.Sc. and I'll be heading to King's College come September It'll be hard to return to Canada to practice, but certainly not impossible. You just really have to do your research and make sure it's worth it for you. And in the end, MD=MD so I might as well take my chances in the UK since none of the Canadian schools will take me!

[Deltoid]

And in the end, MD=MD so I might as well take my chances in the UK since none of the Canadian schools will take me!

True, although there is a slight technical difference! In the UK you won't get an MD after you graduate, but an MBBS, MBChB, or BMed BChir, or something like that. MD's are only given to people who do further postgraduate study (so in that sense, a UK MD is better than a Canadian/American MD.

[GAQ]

I have a Master's in Music and intend to pursue Medicine by first taken the necessary science prerequisites and then apply to Med Schools. Will my undergrad and/or Master's be considered in my application and GPA calculation?....How about High School?

I have UK citizenship but have lived in Canada my whole life. Will my UK citizenship by an asset (financially or otherwise) for studying in UK or elsewhere in Europe perhaps? Or do I need to be a permanent resident?

Thanks for any help with these questions!

[Sonal16]

Hey I also have a UK citizenship. I'm not sure if it helps in the application process, but it will help a lot after you have graduated and want to practice medicine in the UK. (We still have to pay international fees , unless youve lived there the last few years)

[Deltoid]

GAQ and Sonal16: Yeah, that's true about international fees. Unless you really have a strong case that you're "truly" British (e.g. your parents own a home in the UK and have retained UK bank accounts - AND have the paperwork to prove it so) then chances are you'll have to pay the full international tuition fee.

You will however still have the big benefit of applying for jobs post-graduation, as you will not require a work visa. Having said that, I'm told that people in my position (non-British citizens with a British medical degree) aren't at all that huge a disadvantage when it comes to applying for jobs. There's a bit more paperwork to be done, but we're not all that discriminated against, which is a huge relief.

And GAQ: about your highschool/university results, you'll have to contact the medical schools directly to find out that information. I imagine they'd probably take both into account, but I don't know this for a fact.

[medschool hopeful]

Just to add to this, you also have the option of buying out your return of service agreement. You'd basically have to pay back all the money you earn during training i.e. residency. Not really an option for most people I guess, though, since most IMGs are likely already in serious debt from the much higher international student fees But I thought I'd throw it out there anyway ...

BTW I graduated from U of T with Hon. B.Sc. and I'll be heading to King's College come September It'll be hard to return to Canada to practice, but certainly not impossible. You just really have to do your research and make sure it's worth it for you. And in the end, MD=MD so I might as well take my chances in the UK since none of the Canadian schools will take me!

hi
i too im a Canadian citizen looking to apply to the UK....i found that modt unis require a minimum of 2:1 =3.0 gpa...but in other posts it says that min is 3.5.... do you know which is true?

also im plannin on applying to Kings to the graduate [4yr program], do you have any advice on the application/interview process? do you know if they have a specific number of int'l students accepted?

thanx

[hogwarts10]

hi
i too im a Canadian citizen looking to apply to the UK....i found that modt unis require a minimum of 2:1 =3.0 gpa...but in other posts it says that min is 3.5.... do you know which is true?

also im plannin on applying to Kings to the graduate [4yr program], do you have any advice on the application/interview process? do you know if they have a specific number of int'l students accepted?

thanx

Hello Medschool Hopeful,
It is true that most unis require 2:1, however, from personal experience 2:1 does not translate to a specific GPA that is consistent across all UK schools. I've seen it equated to: 3.3, 3.5 and 3.6. As you know, these GPAs are drastically different in Canada in terms of what they indicate academically. What I did was email the schools that I was interested in and ask them if my GPA was decent enough to apply and took it from there. Remember that you only have four choices, so you can't really squander one of them on the basis of inaccurate information regarding GPA requirements.
In terms of King's, they take 30 students all in all (UK, EU and international). I believe that unlike other universities (like Oxford), King's doesn't have a quota for international students. In terms of advice, I'm afraid I have none! I applied and was rejected, but at the same time I got into Oxford. If I were to do it all over again, I'd pay a lot more attention to my UKCAT and try to achieve the highest score that I can, because it seems to be one of those factors that are decisive in getting an interview...

Best of luck!

[stat]

I'm from Toronto. I have a full set of UKCAT prep materials. I found them them very useful, and they certainly helped me with the UKCAT.
If anyone is interested, please PM me.
1. UK Clinical Aptitude Test and BMAT ($15)
2. Getting into Medical School 2008 Entry ($12)
3. The Essential Guide to Becoming a Doctor ($20)
4. How to Get into Graduate Entry Medicine ($12)
5. Kaplan Review Materials + 2 Practice Tests with Full Solutions ($30)
6. Test Prep Review Materials on Abstract, Verbal and Logical Reasoning ($30)
7. Succeed at Psychometric Testing – DATA INTERPRETATION ($12)
8. Succeed at Psychometric Testing – DIAGRAMMATIC and ABSTRACT REASONING ($12)
9. Succeed at Psychometric Testing – VERBAL REASONING (Advanced Level) ($12)
10. Perfect Psychometric Test Results ($10)
11. How to Pass Graduate Psychometric Tests ($12)
12. How to Pass Advanced Numeracy Tests ($12)
13. How to Pass Verbal Reasoning Tests ($12)
14. IQ and Aptitude Tests ($12)
All Books and Practice Materials are Either New or In Good Condition.

[lil-lauren]

Hey, I applied for Medical school this year and I'm a Canadian from Newfoundland but I've lived in Scotland for almost ten years now- I don't have citizenship though. I applied straight from high school and when I was speaking to some of the admissions people from unis, they rated the UKCAT as one of the lesser factors in choosing applicants- they all said grades were most important followed by personal statement, work experience and reference. I don't know if that applies for graduate students, but I wouldn't worry too much about the UKCAT- its not that difficult to get above average scores with no practice. Also, almost every year, they say that there is something wrong with one of the sections so it 'won't count' which makes you feel like your efforts are a bit wasted!

Oh and UK dual citizenship is definitely a bonus- it makes applying for student loans easier and although its not supposed to, it seems to make you more attractive to med schools here as you are more likely to stay in the country after completing your degree but you will still pay international fees which give the uni extra revenue! Even though I've lived here since elementary school, i think it was still counted against me by one med school that i was a 'home student' but didn't have UK citizenship, as that means they get less funding for students like me.

[arsasyed]

I'm from Toronto. I have a full set of UKCAT prep materials. I found them them very useful, and they certainly helped me with the UKCAT.
If anyone is interested, please PM me.
1. UK Clinical Aptitude Test and BMAT ($15)
2. Getting into Medical School 2008 Entry ($12)
3. The Essential Guide to Becoming a Doctor ($20)
4. How to Get into Graduate Entry Medicine ($12)
5. Kaplan Review Materials + 2 Practice Tests with Full Solutions ($30)
6. Test Prep Review Materials on Abstract, Verbal and Logical Reasoning ($30)
7. Succeed at Psychometric Testing – DATA INTERPRETATION ($12)
8. Succeed at Psychometric Testing – DIAGRAMMATIC and ABSTRACT REASONING ($12)
9. Succeed at Psychometric Testing – VERBAL REASONING (Advanced Level) ($12)
10. Perfect Psychometric Test Results ($10)
11. How to Pass Graduate Psychometric Tests ($12)
12. How to Pass Advanced Numeracy Tests ($12)
13. How to Pass Verbal Reasoning Tests ($12)
14. IQ and Aptitude Tests ($12)
All Books and Practice Materials are Either New or In Good Condition.

Do you still have these? I'm also from Toronto. I'd be willing to buy some of the things you mentioned here.