What are the advantages of going to Medical School in London?

**allypally1** · 23-01-2012, 08:31 PM

Hi All,

I am a 'mature' student applying for entry into some graduate entry degrees. I am completely stuck in choosing between St Georges, Nottingham (Derby) & Swansea as a first choice.
Although all seem to have an excellent course, I have seen it mentioned on here before that there are advantages to being part of a London school. Could anyone tell me what these are?
I wonder if they outweigh the enormous cost!

Alternatively, if anyone has any pros, cons or advice about any of the 3 courses - I would be EXTREMELY GRATEFUL!

Thanks!
Ally

**persianmd** · 23-01-2012, 10:17 PM

Well for one there is the RSM for events, library and networking. Part of UoL. Working opportunities whilst a student. Then there is also the social life, but depends on what you are looking for in that department. Living outside of london has its advantages too. Less expensive and fewer distractions to your study. End of the day they are all good uni's who have been approved by the GMC.

**allypally1** · 24-01-2012, 12:09 AM

Cheers Persianmd. Much appreciated.
I was a bit put out when a couple of London doctors I spoke to turned their noses up at Swansea - with no knowledge about it. I have been living in London for a few years now and don't think I can face staying here without earning money and see all my savings burn! We will have to see...

**Dr Crunch** · 26-01-2012, 12:17 AM

I have not personally studies in London, but would agree that one of the pluses is the network, the events, the societies and the research opportunities. I currently work at the University of Cambridge - which offers similar opportunities - and it is amazing. I love that there are always interesting talks to go to, and people everywhere excited to give opportunities for research and learning. Although I do sympathize with concerns about cost. Oxbridge and the London schools offer up extra opportunities on platters, but it doesn't mean that you won't be able to find great opportunities at other universities. Have you been to open days at the 3 places? What are your personal criterias for where you study? As persianmd said, all med schools are GMC approved and are equal once graduated, so it comes down to where suits you best.

**allypally1** · 26-01-2012, 04:35 PM

Cheers Dr Crunch. Very helpful.
I have been to all 3 and have done a lot of reading about all of them. Ideally, I would be able to do the Swansea or Notts course in London

.
St Georges - it's full PBL - I was also told the anatomy is almost completely self-taught there. I like the idea of mixed lectures and group study. Some students that have been there hated it, some loved it. But you do have the extra opportunites like you say! It's London!!
Nottingham - Great course & great teachers - students love it. But Derby is the most miserable place I have ever been and you are totally isolated from the university.
Swansea - Great course & great teachers - students love it. Graduates only. By the sea

. Reputation is nil which will matter if I ever want to go abroad later. Brand new - maybe still ironing out some kinks?

There we go - brain spilled out

.

**Profanius** · 26-01-2012, 05:15 PM

Hello Allypally

As it stands, if you go to Swansea you will finish the last 2 years of your degree in Cardiff, and Cardiff Uni will be the awarding body on your degree certificate. Swansea recently failed it's assessment by the GMC to provide education beyond 2nd year, but this is more due to the fact that medicine is a relatively new course there rather than any overall lack of quality as a University. It may pass soon enough but I wouldn't make any assumptions.

London does present more opportunities, certainly more specialist hospitals, but London also presents considerably more cost which can add to financial pressures, it can also have more distractions. There's a lot to be said for quieter campus universities which give you the peace and space to knuckle down and study. What you do outside of lectures and clinical rotations can be just as important as what you do inside.

I applied to a London University but I know in myself that I would find London to be a struggle to live in, which would place extra burdens on my time and studies. If I'm lucky enough to get multiple offers I know I would have to balance that into my final decision. Only you know what environment you would work best in.

**Chwirkytheappleboy** · 27-01-2012, 06:50 AM

London is a great place to do clinical training because of the huge variety of injuries/diseases. It's the most multi-cultural city in the UK, which means it's the place you're most likely to see diseases that are uncommon in England but endemic in other parts of the world. Also certain parts of London are, shall we say, "rough", So there's plenty of trauma to go around. And you see the most extreme ends of the spectrum in terms of social backgrounds, from the most deprived to the most privileged. All different groups have different health needs and priorities, and you'll see the greatest range in London. Finally there are lot of world-class centres of excellence in London, so you can learn from those who really are at the cutting edge of medicine. There are, of course, other such places dotted around the UK, but London probably has the highest concentration of them

**allypally1** · 27-01-2012, 04:02 PM

Brilliant advice guys - thanks! I definitely want to do my foundation in London if I get the chance. Think I have just lived here so long - it feels very tempting to get out and have a break for a few years. Not that fast-track medicine is a break! I may not even have a choice - which I think could actually be a good thing. But there's no place like London

**sa119** · 27-01-2012, 05:39 PM

Swansea have actually been approved to teach the 3rd year now. It's only a matter of time before it's fully approved. Medical school is medical school is medical school! If you only got one offer from a school outside London, you wouldn't turn it down, would you?!

**Profanius** · 27-01-2012, 07:14 PM

Thanks for the correction.

Just checked and Swansea got the confirmation regarding 3rd year on 22nd December, although there's nothing about it on the GMC website - not that I could find anyways. 4th Year may be just a matter of time but how much time? Also, newly accredited medical schools face the issue of their degrees not being recognised in the U.S. and other non EU countries. This is currently a problem being faced by Keele graduates whose degree certificates where formally awarded by the University Manchester, and now find that Keele is not recognised by all the US state medical boards.

@Allpally
While London does offer many centres of excellence and top facilities this is only of use if it is a teaching hospital assigned to your chosen university. St Mary's has a world famous Tropical Disease centre (although not as good as Liverpool's), but this is no use to a student at KCL. Just because you study in London doesn't mean you will benefit from everything London has to offer, nor is it any guarantee that your foundation years will be in London either.

Somewhere like Newcastle on the other hand has teaching hospitals spread across a huge geographical area (Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham, Teeside) which could offer far more choice in regards to the specialities you might be interested in.