I’m stuck on what degree to do

My name is Ruby and I was wondering if you could help me figure out the way in which I’d go about becoming a forensic pathologist?

I don’t have a science A-level but was wondering, if I was to do a degree in Biomedical Science (with a foundation year) would that be the starting point?

I’m so confused since everywhere I‘ve researched are saying you have to attend medical school, register as a doctor and then do training, but I was wondering how would I go about that as someone who doesn’t have a science a-level, would I do a bachelor’s degree with a foundation year? Is the course I mentioned above classed as medical school and would that lead me to be able to do the other necessary elements in entering a career I desperately want to?

Any advice and/or help would be really appreciated, I’m struggling because I’m the first one in my family to go to university and I’m thinking of applying though clearing in order to start my journey in becoming a forensic pathologist (as I originally applied for English due to not knowing if I could pursue a career I want even without the necessary A-levels) but I’m just so lost and don’t know what to do or who to ask

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you so much

Have a lovely rest of your day,

Ruby Carter

Reply 1

Kh.1zr

As you don’t have an a-level you’ll probably have to start with a foundation year in Biomedical Science and complete a Biomedical Science degree. Afterwards I think its medical school (Graduate Entry Medicine or standard MBBS) specialising in histopathology.

But since you’re applying through clearing, please just call the university up and ask them as they’ll best be able to tell you the pathway to take.

Also since you haven’t done a-levels you’ll probably have to do a foundation year (think of it as a equivalent essentially)

Reply 2

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Forensic pathology is a medical specialty. The only way you can become a forensic pathologist is by doing a medical degree then the relevant training afterwards.

Note that pathology (and indeed all of medicine) is fundamentally a scientific field (I gather it's actually quite "basic science" heavy relative to more "clinical" specialties...?). You need to be taking sciences at some point and, be good at sciences realistically, to pursue that area.

Spoiler

I would recommend reading through some of the information the RCPath publishes: https://www.rcpath.org/discover-pathology/careers-in-pathology.html

Note that in the UK medical degrees are undergraduate degrees. You apply to them directly from high school with A-levels, but you need to meet the requirements. Medical degrees with foundation years are specific courses designed for students who meet specified widening participation criteria.

But in general the route is:

•

A-levels or equivalent (2 years, need 2 sciences including at least one of biology or chemistry, ideally both)

•

Medical Degree (5-6 years)

•

Foundation Training (2 years)

•

Histopathology core training (3 years)

•

Histopathology higher specialty training in forensic pathology or otherwise (I think this is 2 years?)

•

CCT and work as a consultant (rest of your career)

Note in everything after the medical degree you are a doctor and will be paid during training (although you will also need to pay to take certain specialty exams at different points). Also worth noting it's probably uncommon to go through that entire route above without any gaps in a perfectly linear fashion as I understand!

But fundamentally you do need to do the science material at A-level standard for standard entry medicine. Fortunately it doesn't matter when you do this so that's still an option for later even if you're doing different A-levels now. An Access to Medicine course may be an option later on for example.

A biomedical science degree will not permit you to work as a forensic pathologist by itself and is not the recommended route into medicine.

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 3

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Original post by Kh.1zr

That's not how medical degrees or specialty training work, and doing another degree with the intention of going into medicine is generally not recommended as graduate entry medicine is considerably more competitive than standard entry medicine, and standard entry medicine as a graduate has next to no funding available (maintenance loan only for the first 4 years, and self pay tuition fees those 4 years - most can't afford that).

Don't call clearing lines to ask how to become a doctor - that's not what they are there for. Clearing lines are there to call up and ask to apply to a course. The OP needs to do their research and understand what the route is before applying through clearing or otherwise.

A foundation year is not an equivalent to A-levels, it's not even a standalone qualification, and degrees with a foundation year will normally require students to have completed A-levels or an equivalent level 3 qualification.

Reply 4

McGinger

Forensic scientist job profile | Prospects.ac.uk

You are going to need science A levels or hefty grades in a BTEC in Applied Sciences - even for a degree with a Foundation course. So you need to start thinking about how you are going to do this.