RCSI vs UCLan (MEDICINE)

Hi I've received offers from both schools for medicine and heard good things about both. I'm more curious about the job opportunities available upon graduation, especially if I want to go back to my home country, Canada/US.

Some insight would be much appreciated, thanks!

Reply 1

TSR Hippocrates

Hey there, thanks for posting a question in the Medicine forum. :biggrin:

The Medicine forum gets a high volume of questions being posted, and some of these are already answered by the resources and Megathreads that members of the community and volunteers have created. This is an automatic post which is designed to highlight these resources. Below is a list of threads and articles that could answer your question (you should be looking in the original post of the megathreads). If one of the below threads is a more relevant place to ask your question, please post a reply in that thread to ask your question. If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked below, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.

Megathreads
(Please read the first post, before then posting any further questions you have within that thread.)
The "Which Medical School Should I Apply To?" Uberthread
The Ultimate 'Am I Good Enough For Medicine?' Angst Thread
Medicine A-Level subjects queries
Work Experience and Voluntary Work

2023 Applicants:
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2023 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2023 Entry
Medicine 2023 entry for resit / retake / gap year applicants
A100 Medicine for International Students 2023 Entry
Medicine Interview discussion 2023 Entry
2023 entry A100 / A101 Medicine fastest and slowest offer senders
Index of Individual Medical School Applicants' threads 2023 Entry

2024 Applicants :
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2024 Entry
Graduate Entry Medicine 2024 Entry
GAMSAT 2024 / 2025 entry discussions megathread
UCAT 2024 Entry Discussions Megathread

Other application years:
Graduate Entry Medicine 2025 Entry
Official Undergraduate Medicine 2025 Entry

Useful Articles:
GCSE Requirements for Medicine
Everything you need to know about the BMAT
Work Experience as a Graduate or Mature student
Medicine Personal Statement Advice
Medicine Personal Statement Advice (Graduate Entry)
Interview Frequently Asked Questions
MMI Medicine Interview Tips
What to do after an unsuccessful first application

If your query is answered by one of the Megathreads or articles linked above, and you would like us to close this thread for you, please reply to this thread with just the words "thank you". A member of our team will then get it locked.

Reply 2

UCLan Student

Official Rep

Original post by josepfes

Hi there!

In the UK, most people apply to the UKFYP which is the national training program for doctors in the UK. You normally start applying at the start of 5th year for this program which will allocate you to a job (that’s the simple way to explain it!). Some of my Canadian friends are also getting ready to sit their Canadian exams right after the MLA (our medical school finals) so they have the choice to potentially work there!

I hope this helps!
-Rebecca, UCLan

Reply 3

UCLan Student

Official Rep

Hello,

I hope you are doing well.

I have just finished my MBBS course at UCLan, 5 years ago I also got accepted into RCSI for medicine however I ultimately picked UCLan.

In the UK, when you graduate from medical school, you are guaranteed a job in the UK as a foundation doctor (F1 & F2) aslong as you pass your exams, in Ireland there is no guarantee that you will have a job when you finish as jobs are usuallyreserved for nationals from what I know. A lot of the graduates from RCSI intend to work in the US/ Canada but you must undergo the USMLE exams (I think the curriculum sort of equips you for that) but you would have to do the UKMLA (previously known as the PLAB) to be able to work in the UK. You also can work in Canada/US after a UK degree but you would have to dothe exams. Matching into a program is not guaranteed because the priority is given to US/ Canadian Nationals (which would be beneficial for you in this case 😀 )

RCSI is set in Dublin, the capital, while UCLan is in Preston (a smaller city with access to major cities like Manchester and Liverpool). The course in UCLAN is recognised by the GMC and RCSI is recognised by the Irish Medical Council.

Let me know if you have any other specific questions.

Haya

Reply 4

alawinho123

UCLAN is the better choice.

Reply 5

Nadiaziz

Is taking a gap year worth it rather than applying to UCLAN with three A*s predicted and an achieved A* EPQ? It's still open, as I can see. I am asking for a home student.