US citizen, UK med school, US residency, UK practice?

**jurrellharrison** · 16-05-2008, 07:44 PM

this isnt really a reply more like a question, i am a US student, its my first year in college and i intend to get a BS in either chemistry or Biology, i am also doing all the premed requirements as i want to become a MD. but i want to study medicine in the UK after i do my Undergrad here in the US so i was wondering
1) how long is it going to take me to become a doctor and actually practice medicine in the UK after im finished with my undergrad here in the US
2) what requirements would i have to meet to get into med school in the UK
3) if i wanted to return to the US to practice medicine here what would i have to do
If any one has a reply to this please contact me at jurrellharrison@gmail.com

**Scottish Chap** · 16-05-2008, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by jurrellharrison

this isnt really a reply more like a question, i am a US student, its my first year in college and i intend to get a BS in either chemistry or Biology, i am also doing all the premed requirements as i want to become a MD. but i want to study medicine in the UK after i do my Undergrad here in the US so i was wondering
1) how long is it going to take me to become a doctor and actually practice medicine in the UK after im finished with my undergrad here in the US
2) what requirements would i have to meet to get into med school in the UK
3) if i wanted to return to the US to practice medicine here what would i have to do
If any one has a reply to this please contact me at jurrellharrison@gmail.com

As a rule of thumb, it's highly advisable to attend a medical school in the country where you intend to practice. Licensing issues can be a nightmare.

To enter a British medical school, you'll need a four year undergraduate degree with a competitive GPA. Most medical schools in the U.K. do not have the rigid U.S. requirement that you complete physics, chemistry, biology, calculus and organic chemistry as an undergraduate, but few medical schools will accept you with a liberal arts degree; those that do are usually competitive graduate entry programs. Medical school in the U.K. is generally five years long. Most medical schools have an entry exam and the type of exam varies from school to school (UKCAT, GAMSAT, BMAT etc.). They are not as difficult as the MCAT. There are several four-year graduate entry medical schools in England and Wales, but most do not accept internationals.

To return to the U.S., you will need to do well on the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2CK, and USMLE step 2CS exams.; CS must be taken in the U.S. and the other two are taken by computer in most countries. Matching into highly competitive specialties in the U.S. is very, very tough if you choose to go overseas for medical training - in part because your application is only considered after U.S. medical school graduates. In addition, a lot of the minutia tested on the USMLE exams is not emphasized in the U.K. and you'll be on your own for that. If you choose to do your residency training in the U.K. (there are issues with that for internationals at the moment), you would have to repeat your training if you decide to return to the U.S.

It's by no means impossible to try to do what you intend to, but go into it with your eyes open and choose wisely. Good luck!

**t3odor** · 22-03-2009, 05:27 PM

Hey... I am a medical student from Romania, EU. I would like to know if anyone can help me with some information about the residency program in the UK. I would like to know what steps should I take in order to get in the program. If anyone can help me, please contact me: t3odor@yahoo.com.

Thank you in advance

**elle77** · 21-06-2009, 11:08 PM

Just a quick question.

I plan on going to Medical School in the UK (where I currently live) but I also want to do a general surgery residency in the States and I was just wondering if I would be required to do any more training or exams in order to do so.

Your help would be very much appreciated.

**Spencer Wells** · 21-06-2009, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by elle77

Just a quick question.

I plan on going to Medical School in the UK (where I currently live) but I also want to do a general surgery residency in the States and I was just wondering if I would be required to do any more training or exams in order to do so.

Your help would be very much appreciated.

Yes. As with anyone else who qualifies abroad, you'd have to do the USMLE exams.

**AmreekiMultani** · 07-12-2010, 07:41 AM

wondering if u could edit ur post and delete my quotes... it would be much appreciated! thanks!

Originally Posted by Scottish Chap

Studying for step 1 like your life depended on it will help; that will get you past the first screen. Get a hold of the Step 1 first aid book, BRS physiology, pathology, etc., and the Kaplan Q-bank. Practice, practice, practice. With preparation, you'll do well. International medical schools (exluding the Caribbean) do not emphasize some of the minutia on Step 1 like U.S. school and they do not 'teach to the exam'. We literally have nasty multiple choice exams every four weeks here--often on minutia--and they're taken under the conditions of the USMLE (no calculators, no talking etc.) and they're written in the USMLE format. I was actually educated in the British system (undergraduate) which is similar to your medical system and so the different thought processes required really are striking.

Keep in mind that all U.S. graduates have a Bachelors degree and many have graduate degrees. Everyone has studied organic chemistry, chemistry, and biology before medical school, and many incoming students have a working knowledge of biochemistry and physiology so they don't spend as much time on it in medical school. Also, classes are condensed into the first two years of the four-year M.D. (classes last all day at my school) and we have exams every four weeks. Contrast that to the rest of the world where a medical degree is usually 5-6 years from high school, so I think what you're seeing is another system catering to that system and working well.

Will you have elective time? If so, can you do some rotations in the U.S.? This will help you substantially - especially if you can secure a reference from a U.S. physician or two and get your name known.

You'll be fine - whatever you decide; you've come this far. Take one day at a time and focus on your immediate goal. It's not impossible to get back to the U.S., so believe it will happen. Good luck!

**AmreekiMultani** · 27-12-2010, 02:02 PM

Actually all i want is my NAME to be deleted. Because when you google my name it shows up and I'd rather residency programs not read this =)

Is that possible? I know it's hassle.

**AmreekiMultani** · 27-12-2010, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by Scottish Chap

Why?

because my name is mentioned in the quote at the end, and i'd rather people not search my name in google and read this.

that's post 19 and post 20, where you have quoted me, and in my quote i mentioned my name at the end.