7 Sensible Reasons to Study Medicine in the UK

Sponsored by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) School of Medicine

If you’re looking to gain international experience, receive top medical education of the highest standards, or gain hands-on exposure to some of the world’s most exciting medical technology, give studying medicine in the UK some thought.

A popular study abroad destination across most subjects, the UK has much to offer medical students looking for that first initial professional experience, as well as improving their English language skills and boosting their CV with an internationally recognized qualification. Here are seven eminently sensible reasons to study medicine in the UK…

1. Access world-leading medical education.

More than 70 UK universities, are ranked among the world’s best in the QS World University Rankings®, and the nation is recognized worldwide for the high quality of both its research and teaching. If you study medicine in the UK, you’ll be able to choose from a selection of world-leading medical schools, safe in the knowledge that your qualification will be well-respected where you go on to seek work.

2. Increase your employability.

If you’re looking to export your medical knowledge back home after your studies, having experience studying abroad could improve your chances of finding work and help you progress more quickly.

The best medical schools in the UK give students opportunities to learn using the latest facilities and equipment. At the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), for instance, students enjoy access to five clinical skills labs and several high fidelity clinical human simulators.

3.  Gain professional experience.

Studying medicine in the UK is a chance to gain some professional experience while you study. UCLan’s Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), for instance, incorporates patient contact from Year 1 through to graduation.

From Year 3 onwards at UCLan, you’ll be assigned your own patients during clinical placements. The course, led by expert staff and National Health Service (NHS) education providers, is designed specifically for international students who want to study medicine in the UK.

4. Satisfy your wanderlust.

Obviously studying abroad also means that you get to discover an entirely new country and culture. While studying medicine in the UK, you’ll be able to explore the country on your weekends and holidays. 

Whether you’re keen on historic sites and national parks, or bright lights and city life, the UK has more than enough to fill your semester breaks to the brim. And if you’ve got the travel bug, you could also take advantage of the country’s many well-connected international airports, as well as train, coach and ferry services to nearby European destinations.

5. Learn medical English.

English is the international language of medical communities. Knowledge of both medical English and colloquial English can be a real differentiator between job applicants, even for those who wish to practice outside of Anglophone countries. One of the reasons frequently listed by doctors for wishing to learn colloquial and medical English is for career advancement.

If you dream of, say, practicing abroad for an NGO or attending international seminars on global health issues, it’s absolutely vital that you are able to understand medical English jargon while also talking confidently to patients. And there’s no better way to learn medical English than studying medicine in the UK.

6. Benefit from the UK’s leadership in medical research.

According to the public portal Scimago Journal & Country Rank, the UK comes second (behind only the US) in the world for medical research. The list considers both the quantity of papers being published and the total number of citations per country. 

The UK also claims the second-highest number of Nobel Prizes for medicine since 1901, just ahead of Germany. Studying medicine in the UK is a chance to benefit from world-leading expertise in research-intensive establishments.

7.  Challenge yourself.

Studying abroad doesn’t come without its fair share of challenges, and these may or may not include culture shock, figuring out how to navigate UK supermarkets and bus timetables, and the odd bout of homesickness.

But if you study medicine in the UK, you’ll have the opportunity to make friends from all corners of the world, while learning to live independently in a foreign country, and challenging yourself both academically and personally. Whatever the future brings, you’ll be ready!