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is it possible to still become a doctor if you study biomedical?

is it possible to still become a doctor if you study biomedical?
Ive had issues with my a level results and am now applying for biomedical. I was wondering if its still possible for me and how exactly can I achieve my goals

Reply 1

Original post by Riba232
is it possible to still become a doctor if you study biomedical?
Ive had issues with my a level results and am now applying for biomedical. I was wondering if its still possible for me and how exactly can I achieve my goals

Well yes. A lot of biomedical science graduates, can either do graduate entry medicine (4 years) or do undergraduate medicine (5 years). You'll get student finance support for Graduate-entry medicine for most of the tuition fees and maintenance loan. For the 5 year medicine degree, however you'll need to fund all the tuition fees yourself, but will get help from student finance and receive the maintenance loan depending on your parents' income. This route can be very competitive due to the reduced number of places for graduates for graduate entry programmes.

The other way is re-doing your A-levels. Check which universities accept re-takes and their requirements. Applying as a school-leaver with good A level grades is much less competitive and financially better, compared to if you were a graduate. This is probably the best route, and most take gap years to other things.

Both routes are possible and it depends on you and your personal circumstances. I'm science graduate, and will be starting graduate-entry medicine. I did not get stellar A level grades either. This route worked for me - so it's definitely possible despite the competition.

Another way is to do it abroad. If you are from the UK and want to practice as a doctor in the UK, then you'll need to check which universities are GMC registered (google around and you'll see what I mean). A lot of UK students study abroad for medicine in countries like Bulgaria (Pleven and Plovdiv) and Poland. Some of my friends did this. This is an option for you too but of course you'll need to fund this entirely.

I hope that helps.

Reply 2

thank you so much for your response, it was very informative and really helpful.

Reply 3

Original post by Riba232
thank you so much for your response, it was very informative and really helpful.

no worries :smile:

Reply 4

Original post by bee2018
Well yes. A lot of biomedical science graduates, can either do graduate entry medicine (4 years) or do undergraduate medicine (5 years). You'll get student finance support for Graduate-entry medicine for most of the tuition fees and maintenance loan. For the 5 year medicine degree, however you'll need to fund all the tuition fees yourself, but will get help from student finance and receive the maintenance loan depending on your parents' income. This route can be very competitive due to the reduced number of places for graduates for graduate entry programmes.
The other way is re-doing your A-levels. Check which universities accept re-takes and their requirements. Applying as a school-leaver with good A level grades is much less competitive and financially better, compared to if you were a graduate. This is probably the best route, and most take gap years to other things.
Both routes are possible and it depends on you and your personal circumstances. I'm science graduate, and will be starting graduate-entry medicine. I did not get stellar A level grades either. This route worked for me - so it's definitely possible despite the competition.
Another way is to do it abroad. If you are from the UK and want to practice as a doctor in the UK, then you'll need to check which universities are GMC registered (google around and you'll see what I mean). A lot of UK students study abroad for medicine in countries like Bulgaria (Pleven and Plovdiv) and Poland. Some of my friends did this. This is an option for you too but of course you'll need to fund this entirely.
I hope that helps.

Hey, I'm also thinking about doing this but I do worry about the tuition so when the time comes I can just lean back on my degree if GEM doesn't work for me or if I don't get accepted.

I'm not a very rich person, so the tuition for GEM seems very daunting and traditional medicine or foundation year just wouldn't work because of my A levels. I'd love to pursue becoming a doctor through this route but i'm trying to be realistic and if it doesn't work out, I won't have to worry about not having a degree in anything.

I guess my question is, is how did you find it? How did you handle the tuition and life afterwards?

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