Seven reasons to study Medicine

1. Excellent graduate prospects

Check out our Medicine subject league table and you’ll see that students at the majority of universities find themselves in professional-level employment within 15 months of leaving.

If you pass the degree, you’re almost guaranteed a place as a foundation doctor, the first step in becoming a fully qualified doctor.

2. High salary

Medical professionals are well paid; the average starting salary is over £33,000. Stay in the profession and you may well be earning six figures by the time it comes to retirement – a pretty compelling reason to study Medicine.

3. Practical and theoretical

Although this subject requires a lot of complicated theory, you’ll also be taking a very hands-on approach to learning. Universities equip medical students with the skills required to become practitioners, so it makes sense the course involves a large proportion of practical work.

You’ll spend most of your time on placements in teaching campus hospitals. Placements are designed to expose you to a variety of medical specialities and give you the opportunity to interact with patients.

4. Transferable skills

Medical graduates are highly regarded in most walks of life, so if you decide to pursue a different profession there will be plenty of options. A Medicine degree will develop your professionalism, communication, time management, ability to work as part of a team, research skills and much more – skills that can all be applied to various other professions and sectors.

5. Give back to society

As a student and in your career, you’ll have a direct impact on people’s lives. If you’re a conscientious person, a career in medicine will certainly satisfy your sense of duty. Most doctors cite this as being a major reason for choosing a career in medicine.

6. International elective

All UK Medicine courses include a 4-12 week elective period, which is a chance for you to study away from your home medical school. Many students use this opportunity for travel, where they experience a different culture, partake in relief work and see how medicine is practised in another country.

7. Career and course variety

There are many different branches of medicine – this will be reflected in your course, and later in your career. One day you may be studying neurosurgery and the next learning about chiropody – you’ll quite literally be looking at the human body from head to toe.