Everyone has their own preconceptions and stereotypes about what a career as a doctor entails, but how much do we actually know about the realities of studying and working within medicine?
Doctors train for four to six years at university, followed by an additional two years of training on the job. Senior doctors must train for an extra six years to specialise in one of the many areas of medicine. The number of different specialisations you can pursue as a doctor is vast. From general practice to anaesthetics, from paediatrics to brain surgery, you can be sure to find something that interests you in the medical field.
No two days are the same as a doctor, which makes it one of the most challenging, yet also one of the most exciting, career paths.
Experience first-hand what it’s really like to study and work in medicine with our Medicine summer school in Oxford.
Which Subjects Do You Need to Become a Doctor?
There are specific subjects which you’re strongly advised to take when applying to medical school.
Chemistry is a must. All medical schools in the UK will require you to have studied chemistry at A-level or equivalent. Biology is also virtually a must-have. Almost all medical schools require you to have studied biology. If you’re following the UK A-level system, then you’re encouraged to take physics or maths as your third subject.
If you’re keen to enhance your pre-university learning even further, browse our selection of online Biology & Life Sciences courses and our online Mathematics course.
How Do I Become a Doctor?
Although there are many different paths you can take as your career as a doctor progresses, all initial training is the same. The first step on the path to becoming a doctor is to take a medical degree.
How to become a doctor in the UK
In the UK, you can study a medicine degree directly after your A-levels. Entry to medical school varies slightly from entry to most other courses, with an earlier UCAS deadline (usually the beginning of October) and an extra admissions test, the UCAT.
Depending on the course, it involves either five or six years of study, both in the lecture theatre learning the theory and on the ward gaining hands-on experience with patients and doctors. You can also take medicine as a graduate degree having studied another (almost always science-based) subject for your undergraduate. This is usually a four or five-year course.
There are two main types of medicine degrees in the UK. If you study at the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge, you will spend the first three years in the classroom and then the following three years on the ward. This is known as a traditional pre-clinical then clinical course. At most other universities the courses are integrated or systems-based courses, where you get hands-on experience of practical medicine right from your first year of study and the classroom teaching is interspersed throughout the whole course.
Many UK medical schools will also allow you to ‘intercalate’ for a year. This is when you take a year out of your medical degree to study another subject. This is usually a subject that’s tangentially related, for example psychology, sports science or public health.
Download our free Ultimate Guide to Studying Medicine for more information on how to apply to a UK medical school.
How to become a doctor in the US
In the US, you study medicine after completing your four-year Bachelor’s degree. Although you can enter medical school with any major, most people tend to focus on the core clinical sciences like chemistry and biology. There are also certain ‘pre-med’ courses that most med schools require you to have taken in your freshman year. In the final year of your Bachelor’s, you’ll be expected to sit the MCAT (Medical School Admission Test).
Once accepted into medical school, you’ll spend four years studying. The first two years are classroom and laboratory-based, with clinical experience gained in the latter two years. Upon completion of your degree, you then spend a further three to seven years in ‘residency’, training at a medical centre and taking your final medical licensing exam.
Places at medical school are highly sought after and extremely competitive, so it’s a good idea to secure some medical work experience to give yourself the best chance at success. Hospitals are an obvious choice and often allow you to come in for a few weeks to shadow staff members. Another option is to volunteer at a local care centre to gain experience in patient care and wellbeing, or consider types of relevant extracurricular activities for a medicine application.
What Books Can I Read About Life as a Doctor?
There are a number of excellent reading recommendations for aspiring medical students. Here are our top four to help you gain a clearer understanding of life as a doctor.
1. ‘The Other Side‘ by Kate Granger. A doctor and terminal cancer patient, Kate Granger shares her personal journey through the healthcare system from both sides of the stethoscope. Her memoir provides an intimate look at the realities of being a patient and a doctor.
2. ‘The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat‘ by Oliver Sacks. In this collection of fascinating case studies, neurologist Oliver Sacks explores the complexities of the human brain through the stories of his patients, offering profound insights into the field of neurology.
3. ‘Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on an Imperfect Science‘ by Atul Gawande. A surgeon and writer, Atul Gawande delves into the intricacies and challenges of modern surgery. His essays highlight the uncertainties and ethical dilemmas faced by medical professionals.
4. ‘Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End‘ by Atul Gawande. Examining the limitations of medicine when it comes to end-of-life care, Gawande advocates for a more compassionate approach to treating terminally ill patients, focusing on their quality of life and dignity.
By Oxford Scholastica Academy
The Oxford Scholastica Academy was founded in 2013 by Jamie and Sophie, two former University of Oxford students, who have built a dynamic education company dedicated to empowering young people to chart their path in the world and make it better.
