Thread: Peculiar Situation- would very much appreciate your insight

Hello, I'm a US citizen finishing up my 4 year undergraduate degree in the US. Recently I've discovered the horror of the loan situation I could be facing by going to a US medical school (300k + interest during residency, etc). This is problematic for me because I currently interested in the less lucrative fields of medicine. I'm also open to working in either the US or Europe.

I was wondering, if I got my MD at a reputable university in Poland, for instance, would I be able to work in the UK afterward? What would I need to do in terms of the licensing process; I understand the USMLE process for the US, but I can't find much concerning the UK.

I am currently applying for a Polish passport, so I'll have the EU citizenship ironed out before all this hopefully. I was wondering what I could expect in terms of employment if I didn't go back to America. Could I work in the UK or are their residency (or equivalent) spots mostly reserved for UK-trained students? Will I be hard-pressed to "get in" the system being an outsider and all? If not, is the job market in the UK for doctors very good if you're licensed?

Sorry for the barrage of questions, but I could use some of your wisdom on this matter. I would appreciate any help you could give me.

This is a nice question. I can only answer theoretically. Yes! Since Poland is a EU member state, then you should be able to, as long as you are certified to practice in Poland.

This means that you should graduate from a program in Polish, or at least pass the Polish state exams. Then it is a question of whether you will be able to secure a residency position in the UK or Ireland, and then if a hospital will be willing to hire you. In a certain sense, this is similar to the situation in the US. Graduating from a medical school does not meant that you will get a residency, and that you will get hired later. I hope that someone will be able to provide a better response than mine.

I think though, that simply because of sheer size, you will have a bigger chance of getting a residency in the US, provided you have good board scores.

This would probably be better off in the Polish schools forum where those that go there would be better able to answer how prepared grads are working in the UK. I'm pretty sure the more well-known English programs in Poland are geared to those who want to eventually practice in the US, Canada, and the UK.

Don't do it, rubbish idea. Provided your question is genuine.

If you are good enough to go to med school in the US then you will probably also get into a UK program, provided you are an EU citizen then you will only pay £3225 ($6000) dollars per year tuition and in your last 3 years the NHS will give you a bursary.

It will soon be the case that there will me more UK medical graduates then there are training positions. As such the government will only guarantee these positions to UK not EU graduates. Now, while you can argue 'but that is against eu legislation' they will just get around it by transfering the initial training to part of your basic medical training.

If you want to practice in the UK, go to a UK medical school.

If however your question is "I am not good enough to go to a USA med school, if I go to poland can I then practice in the UK" then the answer is maybe, depending on how the government chooses to deal with the soon to be surplus of home grown doctors.

PS UK doctors salaries are very generous and do not tend to vary very much with specialty but rather your level e.g. consultant. You can find a list of salaries if you google NHS doctors salary.

Originally Posted by robh1540

Don't do it, rubbish idea. Provided your question is genuine.

If you are good enough to go to med school in the US then you will probably also get into a UK program, provided you are an EU citizen then you will only pay £3225 ($6000) dollars per year tuition and in your last 3 years the NHS will give you a bursary.

It will soon be the case that there will me more UK medical graduates then there are training positions. As such the government will only guarantee these positions to UK not EU graduates. Now, while you can argue 'but that is against eu legislation' they will just get around it by transfering the initial training to part of your basic medical training.

If you want to practice in the UK, go to a UK medical school.

If however your question is "I am not good enough to go to a USA med school, if I go to poland can I then practice in the UK" then the answer is maybe, depending on how the government chooses to deal with the soon to be surplus of home grown doctors.

PS UK doctors salaries are very generous and do not tend to vary very much with specialty but rather your level e.g. consultant. You can find a list of salaries if you google NHS doctors salary.

If you have not been resident and earning or if your parents (who are EU citizens ) have not worked in the EU for a period of 3 years or more then you will not be eligible for UK/ EU fees even though you have a Polish passport.