Why choose Pre-Medical St
Why choose Pre-Medical Studies?
The term Pre- Med can mean different things in different countries. In the USA, for example, where medicine is a graduate programme, Pre- Med refers to the undergraduate programme taken first. This first degree could be in anything - dance, music, history – but typically it will be a three or four- year science degree ( BSc) majoring in one of the life sciences, which allows students to study the basic biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, maths, physics, English, psychology, sociology, etc that most US medical schools require.
In countries such as the UK where medicine is predominately an undergraduate programme, Pre- Med programmes ( sometimes called foundation programmes) are typically one-year courses that aim to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to make a good application to study medicine. Students on these courses will most often be there for one of four reasons. They might come from regions where the school system does not allow them to reach the academic standard required for direct entry to medical school, their grades may not be quite high enough to gain direct entry into medical school, their grades might meet the academic requirement but they require additional work on other entry criteria such as aptitude tests or interview, or they may simply be undecided about whether a career in medicine is right for them.
The University of Aberdeen’s Certificate of Higher Education in Pre-Medical Studies
The Certificate of Higher Education in Pre-Medical Studies is a collaborative programme between the University of Aberdeen and the International Institute of Health Sciences (IIHS). The University of Aberdeen is home to the oldest chair of medicine in the English-speaking world, established in 1497, and has one of the largest health campuses and excellent facilities for teaching medicine in Europe, whilst IIHS is one of Sri Lanka’s leading health care training institutes. Teaching on the programme is delivered by staff from IIHS and from the University of Aberdeen entirely at IIHS’s Colombo campus, thus minimising travel and accommodation costs for students. Courses cover chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, cell biology, anatomy, physiology, sports science, and health & healthcare.
Successful students receive the award of Certificate of Higher Education in Pre- Medical Studies from the University of Aberdeen and they might then follow a number of different routes. They can apply for entry to the MBChB programme at the University of Aberdeen, they may be eligible for application to medicine at other medical schools ( subject to their entry requirements), they can artic- ulate directly into the second year of one of the medical sciences BSc programmes at the University of Aberdeen, or they can articulate directly into one of the biomedical sciences programme at IIHS.
How will this help my application to Medicine?
Apart from the emphasis on knowledge of the human body delivered in the courses, there is also a strong emphasis on developing the attitudes and skills required for entry to medicine. Medical schools are not just looking at excellent academic exam grades, they are seeking to recruit students who can also demonstrate skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, prioriti- sation, and who show empathy and resilience. They also want students who know what they are letting themselves in for in terms of the career structure, what the work of a doctor is like, the rewards and the frustrations, and the extra expectations placed on a doctor. These nonacademic skills and attitudes are assessed in the additional entry tests that all medical schools require, such as the interview (often in the format of multiple mini-interviews), aptitude tests (in the UK, most often the UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test), but sometimes BMAT (Biomedical Admissions Test) or for some graduate pro grammes GAMSAT ( Graduate Medical School Admissions Test)) and the personal statement. These additional entry tests present just as big a hurdle as the academic grades and therefore elements such as reflective practice which enable students to use their experience to evidence these qualities, an introduction to healthcare systems at all levels, and the importance of professionalism as applying to doctors, are all covered in the programme. It should therefore put students in a strong position to apply to do medicine in Aberdeen, the UK, and beyond.
What if I decide Medicine is not for me?
Many students start off targeting a career in medicine but after being exposed to a wide variety of disciplines over the course of their PreMed studies find their real passion lies in other areas of medical science. Thankfully, a Pre-Med course can give students a foundation of knowledge and experience that is applicable to many different disciplines. Medicine is a tremendously competitive area so it is important to consider a number of options in order to make the most of your PreMed qualification. The University of Aberdeen’s Certificate of Higher Education in Pre- Medical Studies gives those that take an interest in a different area of science or those who do not get into medicine, a range
Final Words
In short, whether you want to spend the year improving your academic grades and CV with a view to applying to medical of alternative career destinations.
Students who successfully complete the one- year Certificate are automatically eligible to enter directly into the 2nd year of the Biomedical Sciences programme at IIHS, or into the 2nd year of a range of BSc programmes in Medical Sciences taught at the University of Aberdeen. Programmes available in Aberdeen include Biomedical Sciences, B i o c h e m i s t r y, Biotechnology, Genetics, Human Embryology & Developmental Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Sports & Exercise Science and Exercise & Health Science. These programmes entail a further three years of study in Aberdeen where the combination of easy access to the natural environment around the North East coast of Scotland, affordability of student life in the city, and the quality of its