Studyding medicine abroad with a BTEC background?

Hey Guys,

I am in my second year of college and I have already got my offers to study Genetics at the University of Manchester and an unconditional offer to study Biochemistry at Salford. I am currently studying a BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science. So basically I was wondering if it is possible to study medicine with a BTEC abroad. I know there is no chance whatsoever of me studying medicine with a BTEC here in the UK but I am not sure if this applies for the medical courses abroad. If anyone has been in a similar situation, or knows someone who has please let me know. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

PS: Good luck with all your exams!

Sorry no one has replied...

Have you searched for medicine abroad and come across any universities you're interested in? If so, I'd suggest sending an email to the university or one of their UK representatives.

Popular choices are in Hungary, Romania, Poland etc.

Keep us updated and good luck!

Thanks you for your reply, and I kinda understand why no one replied lol its not everyday a btec science student wants to get into medicine . Anyway, so far i have been looking at possible ways to be able to study medicine at uni after graduation here in the UK. One of the universities is Warwick since they only care about Work Experience and Getting 2;1 or first and dont really look at your ALEVELS or GCSE's

Yeah - there are various ways of getting in! It's good because it allows people from different backgrounds to pursue medicine.

I don't have any experience with GEM, but I've heard it is much more competitive than undergraduate medicine. Send a quick email to the medical schools you're looking at to try and keep your options open.

Go for it though if its what you really want to do.

Yea thanks a lot for the moral support and all. I intend to start work experience in the medical field this summer and continuing it until i apply so i have a solid application

Thanks you for your reply, and I kinda understand why no one replied lol its not everyday a btec science student wants to get into medicine . Anyway, so far i have been looking at possible ways to be able to study medicine at uni after graduation here in the UK. One of the universities is Warwick since they only care about Work Experience and Getting 2;1 or first and dont really look at your ALEVELS or GCSE's

Try and get a job at a care home, it gives you really good exposure to all sorts of things. I've worked with residents who have dementia and it is a good thing to talk about at an interview.

GEM is a completely separate issue. If GEM is still knocking around (and financially accessible) when you graduate from another degree, then your having done BTECs instead of A-levels shouldn't be a problem for many courses (as long as you don't restrict your options too much by taking a non-Life Sciences degree).

As for whether you can get straight into Medicine abroad with BTECs, you need to email some universities/agents about that.

Thanks for replying, and I have a conditional place at the University of Manchester to study genetics with german. But I can change this to something else like Biochemistry in my second year if this would be a better option for applying to medicine. But i guess I will have to find out which degrees are most preferred in term of GEM.

Yea i intend to to that as soon as i finish with college! Anyway, if you don't mind me asking, are you a medical student or are you planning to study medicine in September?

I'm not a medical student yet, but I will be in September! (I can't wait!)

You can get into Medicine with the BTEC in Applied Science in the UK but you have to do a foundation year.

- East Anglia accept BTEC (DDM) for 'Medicine with Foundation'
- Bradford accept 'Science-Based' BTECs for 'Clinical Sciences/Medicine with Foundation'
- Keele accept with DDD for 'Medicine with Health Foundation'

this makes the course 6 years rather than 5

Sounds good! I wish you all the best. Oh and I have one more question. Whats the difference between UKCAT and the GMSAT and how come some universities want the UKCAT and the others want GMSAT?

Both are aptitude tests. The GMSAT (Graduate Medical School Aptitude Test) is a test that you are generally required to take for entry onto grad-med courses. However, different medical schools have different requirements.

The UKCAT (United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test) is required by quite a few medical schools and I suppose is similar to GMSAT although I only have experience with UKCAT. Some medical schools ask for the BMAT which again is another entry test.

These tests are meant to test your aptitude for medicine. In the UKCAT you are asked relatively easy questions, but the time given to answer each question is what ramps up the difficulty. Have a quick search for example questions and you'll see what I mean.

Be sure to check out each medical school's prospectus though, as some require tests and others don't. It varies.

Any more questions, just ask and I'll try to help!

Both are aptitude tests. The GMSAT (Graduate Medical School Aptitude Test) is a test that you are generally required to take for entry onto grad-med courses. However, different medical schools have different requirements.

The UKCAT (United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test) is required by quite a few medical schools and I suppose is similar to GMSAT although I only have experience with UKCAT. Some medical schools ask for the BMAT which again is another entry test.

These tests are meant to test your aptitude for medicine. In the UKCAT you are asked relatively easy questions, but the time given to answer each question is what ramps up the difficulty. Have a quick search for example questions and you'll see what I mean.

Be sure to check out each medical school's prospectus though, as some require tests and others don't. It varies.

Any more questions, just ask and I'll try to help!

So if one univeristy wants the UKCAT and the other wants the GMSAT am I supposed to sit both exams? I know I have a long while to go before I apply but just want the information now. Also how much does it cost to set each test and where do you set it?