What does the Application Process look like in different countries?
The most popular locations to study Medicine include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada Australia, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, and recently India. However, the two most infamous locations to study Medicine are the United Kingdom and the United States due to their prestigious Universities and advanced Medical technology.
In this section, we will be talking about the Pros and Cons of studying Medicine in different countries and the pathway that there is to becoming a Doctor in each as well.
The UK
Pros:
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Known for its prestigious healthcare education which is accepted throughout the world.
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Hosts long-standing Universities with significant reputations
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Has a diverse culture of students
Cons:
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Extreme competition when applying to Medical Schools and post-graduate training programs
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Prestigious Universities like Oxford and Cambridge may not be as affordable
The US
Overall, the US is a popular destination for studying Medicine due to its World-renowned Universities (Harvard and JH) and its continually developing Medical technology; however, tuition fees are especially expensive for international students and the undergraduate degree that must be taken before Medical School can lengthen the process of becoming a Doctor.
How to Apply
Before applying to Medical School, you must have an undergraduate degree in a related subject such as Biology or Genetics. Then, you apply for Medical School and due to having a previous undergraduate degree, Med school would typically last 4 years in contrast with the 5-6 years in the UK. After Medical School, you would hold an MD (Medical Degree) and will officially be called a Doctor. Then, you must specialize in residency in order to practice Medicine independently. Residency is equivalent to the Specialty training in the UK. Residency will typically last around 3-7 years depending on the field, and after residency you are an Attending Doctor and can practice independently. However, matching into your chosen field for residency is extremely hard and the process is conducted by a matching program.
Canada
Canada is another popular destination for studying Medicine due to its developments in STEM, its renowned Universities such as the University of Toronto and McGill University, as well as its vibrant student life. However, Canadian Universities have extremely limited options for international students. The process to becoming a Doctor in Canada is similar to that of the US in that you must first complete an undergraduate degree in a related course and then apply to Medical School which would take about 4 years. Once you have completed medical school, you then apply for residency depending on what you want to specialize in. The matching programs in the US and Canada are different, with the US following the NRMP and Canada the CaRMS. It is perceived that matching into the NRMP is harder than the CaRMS since every medical student applies with the NRMP but the CaRMS has different pools for international medical graduates and local graduates. Residency typically lasts 2-7 years and once that has been completed, the Doctor must go through a variety of tests to obtain their license to practice independent medicine (some international medical graduates perform different exams).
Germany
A destination that supplies more affordable education, significant technology and resources, and is the site for ongoing research into healthcare. Whilst many international students apply to Medicine in Germany due to the wide use of English, the language barrier is still visible and more courses can be accessible if the student knows German. Additionally, some qualifications or applications from countries outside of the European-Union are often harder to process.
The process to becoming a Doctor in Germany does not require an undergraduate degree. Instead, you apply to Medical school (but international students must achieve other qualifications). Medical school in Germany takes around 6 years and 3 months, after which you complete a state exam. After passing the state exam, you apply for approbation to obtain a medical license. Once receiving your approbation, you are allowed to practice medicine INDEPENDENTLY in Germany although you haven't specialized yet. However, your privileges are limited and you will be a physician that is able to prescribe medication, diagnose, and treat, rather than a specialist or a surgeon. After approbation you can apply for residency (5-6 yrs) with your chosen clinic. Throughout your residency, you will have a logbook where you document your hours and activities, which is signed by a department head. It's important to note that international students must have an experienced or advanced knowledge of German to study Medicine due to the state exams and the FSP exams before residency. After attending your residency in Germany, you take a State Exam in your specialty and become a specialist in your field.
Australia
Known for its top education, research facilities, and its focus on the practical abilities in Medicine. Australia is one of the ideal places to study medicine due to the global recognition of its education, making it easier for Med students from Australia to work elsewhere in the world. In addition to this, Australian medical schools take more of a contemporary approach by incorporating problem-based learning whilst exposing the students to urban as well as rural care. Furthermore, Australia is a popular destination for international students due to the relatively straightforward process to obtain a visa and study there. However, it is important to consider that Australian Medical schools are very expensive, there is competition even among the domestic students, and it is harder for international students to obtain an internship even after they graduate from a med school in Australia.
What's the Process?
In Australia, students can either apply for medical school after completing a related Bachelor's degree, in which case they will have an MD, or they can choose to apply for Medicine directly through and obtain a Bachelor's in Medicine and Surgery. Medical school would take around 4 years if a previous undergraduate degree has been done, and around 5-6 years for an MBBS. After obtaining the needed degree, the Doctor must apply for a 1- year Internship at a recognized hospital. Following that, they will complete a residency program of 1-2 years where they gain experience in different specialties. If the Doctor wishes to become a Specialist registrar then they will attend specialty training which takes between 2-6 years. Once the specialty training has been finished, then the Doctor will be given a fellowship, or recognition to practice their specialty independently. Lastly, if the Doctor wishes to practice Medicine in Australia, they must register with the Medical Board of Australia or the Australian Medical Council for Doctors trained in another country.
Switzerland
Switzerland offers quality healthcare, is one of the leading countries in Medical and pharmaceutical research/development, and is home to world-renowned Universities such as ETH Zurich and/or The University of Geneva. However, students must speak and understand French and/or German which creates a language barrier, there is a lower pay and longer working hours for resident Doctors compared to other countries, and the control of the Healthcare system can make it more difficult for new Doctors and Specialists to obtain jobs.
What does the Process look like?
The process to becoming a Doctor in Switzerland is similar to that of Germany. First, the High Schooler applies directly for medical school but they don't get a BMBS, rather, they have a Master of Medicine. The way that Medicine works in Switzerland is that the program is 6 years and split into 2 parts. During the first 3 years you're studying a Bachelors in Medicine and during the last 3 years a Masters in Medicine. After Medical school, you must pass the Swiss Federal Licensing Examination to practice medicine under supervision and earn your Swiss Federal Medical Diploma. Once that has been done, you apply for residency depending on your chosen specialty and that can last anywhere between 5-7 years depending on the specialty. After residency, you must pass the SIWF (Swiss Institute for Postgraduate and Continuing Medical Education), and you will then be considered a specialist in your field and given the privilege to practice medicine independently or begin your own practice.
*It's important to note that in most countries, medical school is split into pre-clinical and clinical years. For postgraduate degrees (MD) the first two years are pre-clinical and focused on anatomy whilst the final two years are clinical and focused on rotations and applications. In 5-6 year programs in the UK and Australia, the first 2 years are pre clinical and the next 3 are clinical. In Switzerland, the structure is similar and in Germany, the first 2 years are pre-clinical, the next 3 years clinical where there are internships at Hospitals and Seminars, and the last year a practical year where there are rotations in the Hospital.*