GMC-England speaks on offshore med schools

[azskeptic]

http://www.gmc-uk.org/med_ed/default.htm

Medical schools in the UK or a British Overseas Territory whose students receive degrees from a university based outside the British mainland.

These medical schools award degrees from an overseas University where some or all of the teaching takes place in the UK or a British Overseas Territory. Their parent universities are not subject to any quality assurance arrangements by the QAA nor are the medical schools subject to any quality assurance arrangements by the GMC. In addition, students are not necessarily entitled to apply to the student loans company for government funding towards the cost of their tuition fees.

A degree from one of these institutions does not give any automatic entitlement to registration with the GMC; graduates will additionally be required, amongst other things, to provide the GMC with additional objective evidence of their capability for practice, most commonly by passing the PLAB test, in order to gain registration.

Whilst these arrangements are legal under UK law, in the absence of UK based quality assurance cover, the GMC advises potential applicants to assure themselves about the following issues before making any financial commitments:

Is the school financially stable and will it exist for the duration of my studies?
There have been instances of schools failing in recent years.

Am I sure that I will be awarded a degree from an institution that is listed in the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Directory of Medical Schools?
Some schools have long standing relationships with WHO listed Universities. Others appear to change allegiances regularly.

Are graduates allowed to practise medicine in the country where the degree is awarded?
This may give some indication as to whether local quality assurance arrangements are operating and the outcomes of any such arrangements.

What are the views of the existing students studying at the medical school?
There are various web discussion forums available where students have posted their views and comments about medical schools which may provide an indication as to whether they are satisfied with their choice of school.

The institutions operating in this category are listed below. Please note that this list only contains institutions we have been made aware of and so may not be exhaustive. The GMC reserves the right to alter its view of these institutions at any time in the future.

If you wish to check the status of any school not listed here please contact registrationhelp@gmc-uk.org

Institution & Location
Degree awarding institution and their status with the WHO and GMC*

(* Correct as at 15 June 2005)

European College of Medicine, London
This institution currently awards degrees from St Luke's College Liberia. Whilst it is WHO listed and as such we would normally accept the degrees for the purpose of registration, there is some speculation as to whether the medical school is accredited by the Liberian government. In light of the information received we are currently reviewing whether we will accept its qualifications for the purpose of registration. We expect to reach a decision in September 2005.

Grace University School of Medicine, London
This institution was previously affiliated to Grace University School of Medicine in Belize and the College of Medicine and Health Sciences in Saint Lucia. It is awaiting accreditation from a new host country. We currently do not accept degrees awarded by this institution as it is unclear who is awarding them.

London College of Medicine, London

London School of Medicine, London

London Medical School, London
The parent institution appears to have changed its name several times. It was previously affiliated to the International University of Health Sciences in St. Kitts and Nevis. It is currently affiliated to the College of Medicine and Health Sciences in Saint Lucia. Whilst this institution is WHO listed, it is only provisionally accredited by the Government of St. Lucia until September 2005. Its degrees may not be acceptable for the purpose of registration after this date.

School of Health and Neural Sciences, Nottingham
This institution currently awards degrees from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences in Saint Lucia. Whilst this institution is WHO listed, it is only provisionally accredited by the Government of St. Lucia until September 2005. Its degrees may not be acceptable for the purpose of registration after this date.

Medical College London, Montserrat
This institution currently awards degrees from the University of Science, Arts and Technology, Montserrat, British West Indies which is not WHO listed. We do not accept its degrees for the purpose of registration.

American International School of Medicine, UK satellite campus
This institution currently awards degrees from the American International School of Medicine, Guyana which is WHO listed. We accept its degrees for the purpose of registration.

St. Matthew's University School of Medicine, Cayman Islands
This institution currently awards degrees from the St. Matthew's University School of Medicine, Cayman Islands which is WHO listed. We accept its degrees for the purpose of registration.

St. Christopher's College of Medicine, Luton
This institution currently awards degrees from the St. Christopher's College of Medicine, Senegal which is WHO listed and therefore we accept its degrees for the purpose of registration.


Kigezi International School of Medicine, Cambridge
This institution currently awards degrees from the Kigezi International School of Medicine, Uganda which is WHO listed and therefore we accept its degrees for the purpose of registration. However, we believe that this school is no longer functioning due to financial difficulties but have no confirmation of this.

Breyer State University, Alabama, USA
This institution currently awards degrees from the University of Science, Arts and Technology, Montserrat, British West Indies which is not WHO listed. We do not accept its degrees for the purpose of registration.

Lady Memorial Medical College, Florida, USA
This institution currently awards degrees from the University of Science, Arts and Technology, Montserrat, British West Indies which is not WHO listed. We do not accept its degrees for the purpose of registration.


UK and overseas universities awarding medical degrees on the basis of prior experience

There are no circumstances under which these degrees will be accepted for the purposes of registration with the GMC. We are currently aware of certificates from five institutions but this list may not be exhaustive. The institutions falling into this category are:

The National Ecclesiastical University

University of Belford

University of Shepperton

University of Ravenhurst

Rochville University online medical degrees

What if the UK university I'm interested in is not mentioned here?

Please email registrationhelp@gmc-uk.org

[bts4202]

Appears these are the only 3 schools that do not have problems with registration:

American International School of Medicine, UK satellite campus
This institution currently awards degrees from the American International School of Medicine, Guyana which is WHO listed. We accept its degrees for the purpose of registration.

St. Matthew's University School of Medicine, Cayman Islands
This institution currently awards degrees from the St. Matthew's University School of Medicine, Cayman Islands which is WHO listed. We accept its degrees for the purpose of registration.

St. Christopher's College of Medicine, Luton
This institution currently awards degrees from the St. Christopher's College of Medicine, Senegal which is WHO listed and therefore we accept its degrees for the purpose of registration.