Medical & Dental Schools in the United Kingdom

Dr K M TekeliMBCHB DDS MFDS MRCS

Facial Surgical Registrar

Overview

• 132 000 EU students enrolled - 2013 UK• High quality education• Early adequate patient contact• EU wide degree recognition• High school fees though grants and loans

available for EU students

Introduction

• Medicine / Dentistry as a career

• Medical & Dental Scheme Overview - EU relationship

• Pathways of medical education & UK Medical Schools

• Pathways of dental education & UK Dental Schools

• How to apply to medical / dental school ?

• Academic criteria and exams

• Personal statement & interviews

• English language proficiency

• Funding and other possible pathways

• Top tips and websites

Medicine / Dentistry as a Career

• Why do you want to become a doctor / dentist ? • Do you have the necessary attributes ?• Your expectations and long term plans ?• Career path of a doctor / dentist• Differences• Lifelong learning

UK Medical & Dental Schemes

• General Medical Council (GMC) Regulates doctors Maintains standards for medical education Fosters high quality of care and good medical practice

• General Dental Council (GDC) Regulates dentists and dental care professionals Maintains standards for dental education Investigates complaints

•Medical & Dental Schools MB BS , MB ChB , BDS , BChD Degrees

•Regional Deaneries for Training Foundation Training (Full GMC Reg. after FY1)Dental foundation training Specialist Training

•Medical Royal CollegesOversees post graduate trainingOrganises postgraduate examsShort courses and specialist training

UK Medical & Dental Schemes (cont’d)

After qualification, if doctors want to work in a different EU country then , it is advisable to have their full registration with GMC / GDC.

( Additional academic pathways are not mentioned above )

Pathways of Medical Education

Medical School (MBBS , MBCHB)

Foundation Training

F1 & F2

(Full GMC Registration after F1 Year)

Specialist Training

GP, Surgery, Medicine, Obs & Gynae, Paediatrics

Pathways of Medical Education (cont’d)

High School - GCSE Level

A Levels (2 Years) (IB, BTEC)

Medical Course

5 Years

Oxbridge (6 Years)

Combined BSc/MBBS (6 Years)

Foundation +

Medical Course

5 + 1 Years

BSc Degree

3 Years

GEP Medical Course

4 Years

Dentistry

5 Years

MxFx Medicine

3 Years

UK Medical Schools

• 33 Medical Schools• 31 Undergraduate medical

courses• 15 GEP Medical courses• 12 Foundation courses• 4 Access to medicine courses

(after 1 gap year, semi mature student)

• Location• Type of degree course• Problem base Vs Lecture base

learning • Entry criteria

Pathways of Dental Education

Dental School (BDS, BChD)

Dental Foundation Year 2

( Hospital Based in Different Specialties )

Specialist Training

Oral Surgery, Restorative , Orthodontics etc.

Full Registration with GDC

Vocational Training – Dental Foundation Year 1 (Obtaining performer’s number )

General Dental Practitioner

Pathways of Dental Education (cont’d)

High School - GCSE Level

A Levels (2 Years) (IB, BTEC)

Dental Course

5 Years

Predental +

Dental Course

5 + 1

BSc Degree

3 Years

GEP Dental Course

4 Years

Medicine

5 Years

MxFx Dentistry

3 Years

UK Dental Schools

• 14 Undergraduate dental courses• 4 GEP Dental courses• 3 Pre-dental courses• BDS / BChD : 5 year degree course or 4 years as GEP

How to apply medical / dental schools ?

• UCAS application (centralised)

• 4 Choices of medicine / dentistry + 1 choice of other

• Deadline : 15th of October

• Academic criteria

• Non academic criteria (skills, experience, motivation)

• UKCAT , GAMSAT, BMAT

• Personal statement

• Interviews

• Reference(s)

GCSE • General Certificate of Secondary Education• Compulsory subjects: Maths,Science,Language and

Religious Studies • Variety of non compulsory subjects from humanity, art,

technology, language,business

GCE A Level Studies• General Certificate of Education Advanced Level• Subjects for medicine & dentistry: Maths, Physics,Chemistry • Variety of subjects from different areas

Academic Criteria (check with the school)

Undergraduate Courses• Combined GCSEs and GCEs• AAA at least in 3 subjects ; including chemistry, biology,

physics or mathematics • International Baccalaureate (IB) : 36-40 points• Diploma di Esame di Stato (opzione Classica / Scientifica)  :

overall 88 - 95

Graduate Entry Programmes (GEP)• At least 2:1 from a science BSc degree programme• Necessary GEP course exam

Academic Criteria (check with the school) cont’d…

Foundation Course • 1 year foundation course if you do not fulfil the requirements• If successful upon completion progress into the course• Not every foundation course accepts EU students

MxFx (Maxillofacial) Medicine / Dentistry Course• Prior Dentistry / Medicine degree• MJDT or MRCS Diploma from RCSENG• Previous maxillofacial experience in the UK

UKCAT, GAMSAT, BMAT

• Reasoning and decision making assessed

• In the past only for GEP but now almost all schools

• No curriculum content, tests examines innate skills

• Evaluation of different types of information and inferring results

• UKCAT - 26 medical schools , 9 dental schools

• GAMSAT - 3 medical schools

• BMAT - Oxbridge , Imperial and UCL

• Attend specialist courses

Personal Statement

• On UCAS form, 4000 characters max.

• Statement is crucial for getting shortlisted (interviews)

• Reasons behind why you want to become dentist / doctor

• Supporting evidence showing enthusiasm

• Work experience & placements

• Abilities and attributes

• Do your RESEARCH beforehand

Interviews

• Securing interview biggest obstacle

• After interview, chance of securing a place 50%

• Proper planning is crucial

• Questions on :

Motivations and reasons to become a doctor / dentistPrevious work experiences : shadowing, volunteeringKnowledge of current affairs, healthcare topicsCommunication and interpersonal skillsExtracurricular activitiesTeamwork

English Language Proficiency

• Early clinical contact

• Good command of written and spoken English

• IELTS Academic exam score: 7-7.5 (overall)

• TOEFL: 100, each band min. 25

• Comm. Skills assessment during interview

• Very quick improvement due to continuous contact

Funding for EU Students

• High tuition fees in England

• Scotland no tuition fees

• Tuition fees lower than England in Wales and NI

• EU Grants and loans available for students in the UK

• Overseen by Student Finance England (SFE)

• Tuition fee loans

• Living expenses loans

Other Possible Pathways for EU Students

• Dentistry / medicine outside EU

• Pass accreditation exams in home country OR

• Temporarily work in a different EU country initially and 3 years after full registration move back home

• Courses taught in English

• Examples: Caribbean's , US / Canada

• Downside: High school fees

Top Tips

• Do your RESEARCH beforehand

• Plan early and work towards deadlines

• Follow online forums actively

• Attend open days

• Work shadowing and experience

• Ultimate target is medical / dental school

• Age < 30 - ok

Websites

• Medicalcareers.nhs.uk

• Medschools.ac.uk

• Studentdoctor.net

• Thestudentroom.co.uk

• Getintomedicine.co.uk

• Ukcisa.org.uk