REJECTED for medicine?? Read this...

[Elliott Rhys-Johnson]

Two very good friends of mine (X and Y) from sixth form college applied unsuccessfully through UCAS for medicine in 2003.

X got AAB at A-levels. He went on to do a Biomedical Sciences BSc and is currently in his final year (he's predicted to get a 1st in his degree). He reapplied for medicine (2006 entry) through UCAS, but was rejected by another 4 universities second time round.

My other friend, Y, got similar A-level results. After receiving his UCAS rejections, he applied for MBBS Medicine at International Medical University (IMU) in Malaysia and was offered a place straightaway (minimum entry requirements for MBBS Medicine at IMU are BBC at A-levels). He started the 5-year medical course at IMU in August 2003.

After 2 1/2 years of pre-clinicals at IMU, Y, together with more than 120 students in his class, will soon be entering reputable UK medical schools directly into Year 3 this coming September/ October. No need for interviews or entrance exams - it's a seamless transfer into the medical school of their choice here in the UK.

Y looks set to graduate with a fully-fledged UK medical degree and needn't disclose that he did 2 1/2 years of the medical course in Malaysia. I assume it's all perfectly legal as it's approved by the General Medical Council (UK).

It's a tough world out there - almost 20,000 people applied for just over 7,000 UK medical school places in 2005. It baffles me how 120 extra places in Year 3 are discriminately reserved in favour of IMU students at 11 renowned UK medical schools each year.


Elliott

[Dan1979]

Interesting, I've never heard of this - do you have some links with more information?

[Elliott Rhys-Johnson]

Sure!

List of UK universities which accept IMU students direct into Year 3 Medicine (N.B. University of Strathclyde does Pharmacy transfers only):
http://www.imu.edu.my/partner_about_overview.htm

I also quote the following from IMU's FAQ page:
'Once an IMU student transfer to a Partner Medical Schools (PMS), that student is integrated into the PMS system and is in no way any different from his/her PMS classmate. The degree that is given is no different either. Therefore, the IMU UK graduate IS a UK doctor and is fully registrable with GMC ...'
http://www.imu.edu.my/faq.asp?pageid=1&selfaqcat=43


Elliott

[Rivercard]

Wow! OMG i never heard about this ... it seems really unfair, do the students that come back in the third yr have to pay international fees even if they are from the U.K. ???
It is really sad ,because it just shows that if you have enough money there will always be a private way of getting round technical problems... not that i blame those who go for it! its a problem with the whole admissions process.

[KuteKitty]

That does sound interesting, ive never heard about this either. But im sure that when the students transfer from malaysia they must need to sit the PLAB test like any other international student? And also, maybe the transfer into a UK med school is not guaranteed? I know im looking at this in a sceptical way!...maybe im wrong! I feel bad for the friend (X) who didn't get in the 2nd time round either.

[KuteKitty]

Hey I just read this from the link Elliot gave:

Applicants who are citizens from countries where the IMU’s Partner Medical Schools (PMS) are located will not be eligible to apply for admission into the IMU-PMS option. These countries are Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States, and member countries of
the European Union. However, applicants may apply to the IMU Clinical School in Malaysia. The IMU is not responsible for housemanship training.

So from what I gather, a UK citezen cannot transfer to a UK med school after 2 and a half years!....how did ur friend manage to transfer then Elliot, just out of interest?
xxxx

[jane2]

...

[Fizzwizz]

Hi all
We should be careful of the clever advertising of non UK medical schools.

We will ban anyone using this forum to advertise.

I recommend extreme caution to anyone looking at international medical schools.

... Fizz

[MikeyU]

It's definately not as good as Elliot makes out...It seems all full of technicalities...It's pretty sick really- Elliot comes along to prey on people who have a dream...good for you Elliot...what a pure concience you must have!

[Punam]

all of what has been said on here seems very true, but i have to admit, IMU was my backup plan...and i guess it was just a means of doing what i really wanted to...which is medicine. so i wouldnt say it was preying on people with a dream, i would say it was showing another route of doing something u really want...but then i guess its a little prey-some to be advertising it on a medschoolwebsite...i dunno. :S