Medicine

About Medicine

Everyone gets sick or injured and they all look for a doctor to help them out. Doctors play one of the most vital roles in a society, without them modern civilization would crumble. Doctors do not only perform medical treatment but also cosmetic treatments, these cosmetic treatments can range from plastic surgery purely for beauty or more necessary surgeries such as cleft lip on children (or adults).

Medicine can be a very rewarding degree, where you help people and most likely save lives. However, it is not an easy degree. You will have to study hard and will have to study for 6 years opposed to the usual 4 years for other degrees. The silver lining of this degree is that there is always a job for anyone who passes a medicine degree. This means you can be assured that you will find a job at the end of your degree and it is a job where you will progress forward every year.

When you graduate from medical school you will need to go through supervised medical training for 2 years. After the first 2 years of training there will be many more years of training to specialise. To specialise it will take 8-10 years. You should note that you will be required to complete an exam every year.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements will vary from university to university, however, all will require ABB or higher with most asking for at least AAA. some universities may also require you to pass the UCAT or BMAT test, which is a aptitude test.

GCSEs that suit this Degree

Regardless of what GCSEs you do you can always go down various career paths, but certain GCSEs will give you an advantage and some will be required. Below is a list of GCSEs which will help you with medicine:

• English Language and Literature *(required)
• Mathematics *(required)
• Science (double or triple) *(required)

A-levels that suit this Degree

Regardless of what A-levels you do you can always go down various career paths, but certain A-levels will give you an advantage and some will be required. Below is a list of A-levels which will help you with medicine:

• Biology *(required)
• Chemistry or Physics *(required)

Duration of Degree

The duration of the degree is 5-6 years at medical school depending on the university and two years of supervised foundation training. After the foundation training there will be 8-10 more years before you specialise.

Who This Degree Suits?

Every degree will be enjoyable and suit different personalities, below is a list of characteristics and personalities which will enjoy the medicine degree:

• Interested in medicine or human body
• Enjoy working in a hospital/surgery/medical environment
• Communicating with people on a daily basis

Module /Topics

Medicine has many topics that need to be covered, below is a list of the topics that will be in all university curriculums:

• Patient Assessment
• The Human Body
• Radiology
• Cardiology
• Surgery (techniques and procedures)
• Periodontology
• Digestive, renal and endocrine system
• Pediatrics
• Healthcare ethics and law
• Clinical skills

Industry Sectors

Medicine allows you too apply to different industries, below is a list of them:

• Private Medical Institutes
• NHS
• University
• Pharmaceutical
• Cosmetics

Types of Jobs

Medicine degree allows you to apply to a wide variety of roles, below is a list of them:

• Private or NHS Doctor
• Professor/Lecturer
• Medical researcher (academic or corporate)
• Cosmetic surgeon

Work hours and Salary

As a medicine graduate you will usually work up to 48 hours a week (averaged out over a 26 week period). The salary you will get will vary on your experience, below is the average expected salaries:

• Graduate can expect roughly £25,000 - £30,000 (depending on the area of UK you work) and every year your salary will go up by a minimum of £1000-£2000. After you complete various training periods you will move up the NHS bands and your salary will go up with it. You can work more hours to earn more money and working at night provides you with 37% higher wage;
• With experience (2-5 years) salaries will rise to £35,000 - £55,000, depending on your experience level and the area of the UK you work in;
• Senior level (5-10 years or after you specialize) can expect £45,000 - £70,000, this depends on your specialty and the area you work in the UK. If you become a consultant you can look to earn between £60,000 - £110,000. If you become a GP doctor you can expect £50,000 - £95,000, this will be higher if you own the GP.