When it comes to studying medicine abroad, the UK is the most popular choice for students from Singapore. This in-depth article brings you through the key considerations for applying to UK medicine as an international student, as well as a complete guide through the application process.
Studying Medicine in the UK: An Overview
In total, there are 19 UK universities on the list of approved overseas medical schools issued by the Singapore Medical Council (SMC). This basically means that if you wish to practise Medicine in Singapore, you have to obtain your degree from one of these schools.
Links to Websites and Course Pages of UK Medical Schools Approved in Singapore
Note that schools with a 6-year course usually include an intercalated year. Those with 5-6 years indicates that the intercalated year is optional.
Important Factors to Consider Before You Apply for UK Medicine
Consideration #1: High Cost
As I mentioned in a previous article, there is no financial assistance for pursuing a medical degree overseas. I also gave a neat summary in table form for quick comparison between the costs of UK and local Medicine.
In brief, adding up tuition fees over the entire course, local Medicine will cost you under S$175K, whereas the figure balloons to over S$400K for UK Medicine.
That is a hefty sum, and ultimately, you have to ask yourself whether it is a worthy investment. If your family has the wherewithal to pay, it could be a sound decision. Otherwise, it would be prudent to consider from whom to loan the money, and how long it will take for you to repay them. Years spent working to pay off debt may not be worth it.
Of course, you can also just apply first and deliberate over the financial aspects later—when you actually receive an offer.
Consideration #2: Competing for Limited Places
Medicine itself is a competitive course. Applying as an international student puts you at a distinct disadvantage. It’s not that universities discriminate against foreign students; it’s the simple fact that there are so few spots that each medical school will leave for candidates not from their own country.
To give you a clearer idea: For 2020 entry, there were 1766 applications to Oxford Medicine (undergraduate). 425 were shortlisted for the interviews. 155 places are offered—out of which only 14 will go to international students.
Just think about how many countries there are in the world. The number of countries that potential candidates hail from will be far more than 14. (P.S. If you’re thinking of applying for Oxbridge Medicine, they accept 0 to 1 Singapore student each year. In many years that number is zero.) You get the idea.
Consideration #3: Practising Medicine in Singapore
If you wish to practise Medicine in Singapore, it is obviously much easier if you study Medicine locally. It offers a much smoother transition into the local healthcare system, and your clinical years will be spent in Singapore hospitals as well. Once you graduate, you naturally step into public health institutions to serve your 5-year bond.
The path is laid-out for you, as opposed to if you were to return from the UK. It is not impossible, of course, and there are many doctors who have studied overseas are now practising in Singapore. It is just less of a straightforward path.
Consideration #4: First Choice or Backup Plan?
This is an important consideration. Setting this clearly for yourself will allow you to determine how much weight to put on this application, which schools you apply to, whether or not you would invest extra time and effort to take another test (the UCAT), and so on.
Step-by-Step Guide for Applying to UK Medical Schools
1. Do your research
Start by reading up on the medical schools that interest you. (Links to the university website and the undergraduate Medicine page for each school are listed in the first section above.)
Find out about how Medicine is taught in the UK (note that it can vary for different schools!). See if the environment and learning style appeal to you, and whether you can see yourself as a student there.
2. Speak to an ECG counsellor
Compared to local Medicine, it can be more difficult to obtain a clear picture of applying to and studying Medicine in the UK. The ECG can guide you in making decisions, including whether or not to apply, which schools to target, etc. It is especially helpful because you can ask questions specific to your personal circumstances, and solicit more information that you may not have been able to find through your own research.
3. Arrange for some form of work experience
UK medical schools tend to place significant weight on medical work experience. It would be ideal if you can arrange for an attachment before the second half of your JC2 year (perhaps during the June holidays).
If you are unable to secure such an opportunity, make sure that you at least have done some form of hospital volunteering or service at a hospice or nursing home.
4. Take the UCAT admissions test
With the BMAT being discontinued from 2024/25, all schools will be using the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test). You can refer to this comprehensive Medical School Application Timeline to check the key dates for the test, as well as other deadlines to take note of.
5. Apply through the UCAS portal
UCAS is the portal through which you apply to all UK universities. All sections can be completed online. They have a helpful guide on how to fill in your UCAS undergraduate application. This PDF document gives a preview of all the sections in the online form.
For most schools, the course you’ll want to apply for is A100 Medicine (undergraduate Medicine). A personal statement is required, with a word limit of 4,000 characters. Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting your UCAS personal statement (coming soon!).
The UCAS deadline for Medicine applications is typically 15 October. Note that your school’s ECG may set an internal deadline, which can be about two weeks earlier (e.g. 1 October).
6. Prepare for and attend the interview
Some UK universities use the Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) format, while others (such as Oxbridge) have stuck to the traditional panel interview. These are the two general types you can encounter, and you can check which one to expect on the respective universities’ websites.
Another important detail you should check on their websites is whether or not you are required to fly to the UK for the interviews. Tip: If you want to save money, book your plane tickets in advance (and for your family as well). You can do so once you’ve decided to apply, even before you receive an interview offer. And don’t just schedule your trip for those few days of the interview, plan for at least a week or longer.
If you do get an offer, yay! You can continue to explore England after your interview. Otherwise, just go on a trip to the UK with your family. That way, you save on the cost of the plane ticket and also make the money spent so much more worth it.
Have a question? Leave a comment below or contact me anytime.