Thread: Admission to UK & Irish Med School

I'm a Malaysian and about to go to russia to do a 1 year pre-med course in the english medium. I was wondering whether i am eligible to apply to UK or Irish med schools?

Getting into a U.K. medical school will depend on the strength of your academic qualifications (degree/A-levels or equiv.); being able to study in English; and your ability to pay a great deal more than you will be paying in Russia!
The competition for places is pretty tough. I believe that similar will apply in Ireland.

i know...my english is great..wouldnt say perfect but i'm definately fluent..I'm just wondering whether they will accept a russian pre-med qualification. I study core subjects such as bio,chem,physics,maths also in english..just like in a levels..but i'm not sure we study abt the same thing though. For the fees i know is much much more expensive..But i would like to keep my options open and see what type of university i may apply to..Ireland i might can afford..UK might not..

Originally Posted by Masamune

i know...my english is great..wouldnt say perfect but i'm definately fluent..I'm just wondering whether they will accept a russian pre-med qualification. I study core subjects such as bio,chem,physics,maths also in english..just like in a levels..but i'm not sure we study abt the same thing though. For the fees i know is much much more expensive..But i would like to keep my options open and see what type of university i may apply to..Ireland i might can afford..UK might not..

My suspicion is that U.K. schools will have the same problem: they won't be familiar with the Russian course content or its standard. They may well decide that it's too much trouble to assess.
Really though, the only way to find out is to look at the schools' web sites and if you have further questions email them to the admissions people.

Originally Posted by Masamune

i know...my english is great..wouldnt say perfect but i'm definately fluent..I'm just wondering whether they will accept a russian pre-med qualification. I study core subjects such as bio,chem,physics,maths also in english..just like in a levels..but i'm not sure we study abt the same thing though. For the fees i know is much much more expensive..But i would like to keep my options open and see what type of university i may apply to..Ireland i might can afford..UK might not..

I am sure that you will have to take GCE A level to be eligible to apply to UK medical school. I was in medical school outside EU till final year and I transferred to UK medical school but I had to re-do A level to get in.
I am pretty sure that your pre-med does not helpful for UK medical school entry. You need 4 As in four A level subjects to enter interview as competition is very tight. For non EU students competition is approximately 400 applicants for 25 places. Even if you get 4 A in 4 subjects you are not sure to be selected.

Many UK students are now targeting Carribbean medical schools.

Uk medical schools do recognize international bacc as qualification and generally speaking they are more lenient to take over sees student. Thats because over sees student pay 15 to 16 times more fees directly to university than a home student. I dont think your premeds are going to be beneficial as many med schools aren't familiar with this system. If you can just do a/level or international bacc.

Also in terms of payment, I know for a fact that Malaysian students are funded to do their education in UK by their government, provided that they return to malaysia after qualifying. It might be something you would want to look into.

Haha beepo...in malaysia i didnt get that scholarship...and mostly they give to malays...sorry o say they are quite racist here..Well..my fren passed from russian pre med got accepted to UK if im not wrg..i have to ask her though,,

Originally Posted by Masamune

Haha beepo...in malaysia i didnt get that scholarship...and mostly they give to malays...sorry o say they are quite racist here..Well..my fren passed from russian pre med got accepted to UK if im not wrg..i have to ask her though,,

Yes . International baccl: may be accepted for UK medical school entry. But this is only theoretical possibility. It would be like waiting for a jack-pot lottery winner these days. The chances of accepting is possible but very remote these days. About 4 or 5 years ago, medical school entry was not that tough. AAB grading were selected . One of my friend had been selected with A level pass from one of Asian country. Those were the days guys.
Now these days three subjects grade A is not enough and so every students take 4 subjects and must get grade A in all 4 subjects to be competitive.
Russian pre-med may be accepted as well but the chance of getting is very remote. Thats what I am saying.

Originally Posted by tinkywinky

Yes . International baccl: may be accepted for UK medical school entry. But this is only theoretical possibility. It would be like waiting for a jack-pot lottery winner these days. The chances of accepting is possible but very remote these days. About 4 or 5 years ago, medical school entry was not that tough. AAB grading were selected . One of my friend had been selected with A level pass from one of Asian country. Those were the days guys.
Now these days three subjects grade A is not enough and so every students take 4 subjects and must get grade A in all 4 subjects to be competitive.
Russian pre-med may be accepted as well but the chance of getting is very remote. Thats what I am saying.

Strange. The fact is that applications to U.K. med. schools have fallen slightly over the last few years. Additionally, places have incresed significantly. If it is true that the average grade requirement has risen in the time span you suggest then I can only assume there has been some inflation of A-level grades.

Originally Posted by diogenes

Strange. The fact is that applications to U.K. med. schools have fallen slightly over the last few years. Additionally, places have incresed significantly. If it is true that the average grade requirement has risen in the time span you suggest then I can only assume there has been some inflation of A-level grades.

Yes you are right. The places had been increased both to home students and international students starting from 2001.
But applicants also increased. Now a days there is very few chanches for IMGs to get into UK specialty training system and to become a consultant in the UK. Starting from 2011, IMGs without UK medical degree , even if they have finished training program and possess CCST, they will not be granted Consultant post. Only those with British medical degree plus CCST will become consultant after 2011. International medical degree with passing of PLAB exam is not sufficient to become a consultant. Many IMGs currently in the training program are now taking USMLE to leave UK because they will not be the consultants when they get CCST. So Many people and many of their siblings are competing to get into medical school starting from A level schools in the UK. Mostly private schools.
Probably the number may go down last year or two but this is mainly due to almost hopeless situation and many did not want to spend too much on this hopeless situation. Now many EU students are doing A levels in private schooles in the UK with the hope that if they can get in they have the same right as UK home students.
As far as I know for international students , there are 30 places in Kings college, 30 in UCL, 25 in Leeds. 20 in Leister university.
less than 30 in St Georges University. 25 in St Mary school, 10 to 20 in Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham, manchester, Wales, Peninsula. Thats all.
Approximately 300 . Applicants are many thousands . So the admission tuitors have the problems to pick up a few out of these people of almost same calibre. Luck is also major component.