Nurse for 15 years—can I become a UK doctor?

3

Hi! I’ve been a nurse for over 15 years and have a Nursing bachelor’s degree from the Philippines (GPA equivalent to a UK 2:2). I want to become a doctor in the UK. Has anyone else made this transition? Which med courses or routes should I consider? Any advice for mature, international applicants? 😊

Reply 1

Scotland Yard

Universities Forum Helper

20

Original post

by LadyKismet

Hi! I’ve been a nurse for over 15 years and have a Nursing bachelor’s degree from the Philippines (GPA equivalent to a UK 2:2). I want to become a doctor in the UK. Has anyone else made this transition? Which med courses or routes should I consider? Any advice for mature, international applicants? 😊

Hi there,

I'm sorry to say it's not looking good for you :frown:

You'll need a medical degree, which regrettably will be ludicrously and unrealistically expensive if you are classed as an international student. But essentially, there are special medical degrees for people with pre-existing degrees/healthcare professionals, which you apply to to graduate and become a doctor. Sadly, the vast majority of universities will ask you have a 2:1 in your previous degree... some will accept a masters on top of a 2:2, but not many, so this is a big barrier for any potential application to medical school for you, I'm afraid :frown:

However, your 15 years' nursing experience might count for something at some medical schools. I'd reccommend you find some graduate medical schools and approach them and see if they would consider you as an exceptional case. Not all of them do, and those that do won't do it often, but it sometimes happens, although it's a very long shot...

Reply 2

ErasistratusV

21

I think a good few Universities would have a good look at you as a medical student. You'd have to show evidence of recent study though, it's pretty demanding in terms of entry requirements. You might have to settle for an undergraduate course or graduate depending on what the admissions teams suggest.

All the nurses I have met who trained in the Philippines were out of this world epic and trained to a very high standard- I could scarcely believe it. Furthermore they had the work ethic to go with it, too. I would think after that medical school would be a relative breeze to be honest.

Nursing as a vocation in the Philippines is what I think a lot of us would hope the UK vocation of healthcare would be but the political will insists on something very different.

In the present climate I am not sure why any international prospective student would want to be a doctor in the UK though. Train here by all means but head for better prospects elsewhere after that I would say.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 3

Kingston Sarah

Official Rep

13

Original post

by LadyKismet

Hi! I’ve been a nurse for over 15 years and have a Nursing bachelor’s degree from the Philippines (GPA equivalent to a UK 2:2). I want to become a doctor in the UK. Has anyone else made this transition? Which med courses or routes should I consider? Any advice for mature, international applicants? 😊

Hello,

You might want to take a look at Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM), It’s a 4 year accelerated degree for applicants obtaining bachelor’s degrees.

All the best
-Sarah (Kingston Rep)

Reply 4

LadyKismet

OP

3

Thanks

Nurse for 15 years—can I become a UK doctor?

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Articles for you

How The Student Room is moderated