Pupils → Exploring medicine
STEP 1 of 9
Exploring medicine
Is medicine right for you? What the job is really like, what makes a good doctor and how long training takes.
Pros and cons of medicine
Every career has ups and downs. Here are some of the big ones for medicine.
Pros
-
Rewarding work that makes a real difference to people
-
Huge variety - more than 60 specialties to choose from
-
Lifelong learning, with chances to teach and do research
-
Pay that grows as you progress in your career
-
Good job security
Cons
-
Long training - 5/6 years at medical school + post-graduate training pathways
-
Long and irregular hours, including nights and weekends
-
High pressure and a lot of responsibility
-
Can be physically and emotionally demanding
What makes a good doctor?
Medical schools will want to see these qualities in your application - don't worry, we'll show you how to demonstrate these later in the guide.
Strong academically
particularly in science
Teamworking
and leadership skills
Good communication
and people skills
Commitment
and tenacity
Organisational skills
Desire to learn
and teach
Resilience
Jot down an example of each - it will help with your personal statement
Pathways into medicine
Going straight from school to university isn't the only way to become a doctor. If things don't work out first time, or you didn't take sciences, there are other routes in - such as foundation and gateway courses.
Studying medicine
Medical school takes 5 or 6 years, depending on the university. It's quite different from most other courses, so it's worth knowing what to expect. Watch the video to see what life is like as a medical student in Glasgow.
Challenges of being a medical student
Lots to learn
Anatomy, physiology, pathology and more
Long hours of study
Often evenings and weekends, especially before exams.
Limited responsibility
Qualified doctors make the final decisions about care.
Supervised placements
You'll see patients, but always under supervision.
Pressure and stress
Exams and coursework can be very demanding.
Cost
Tuition fees and living costs add up over 5 or 6 years of study.
After medical school
After graduating, you join the two-year Foundation Programme, working in a variety of specialties to gain experience. You then apply for specialty training in the area you want to work in. When you finish, you can then apply to be a consultant or a GP.
5 or 6 years
Medical school
2 years
Foundation Programme
3 to 8 years
Specialty training
Specialist register
Consultant or GP
Your medicine degree
First jobs, rotating through specialties
3 for GP, 5-8 for others.
Leading teams in your specialty.
Being a doctor
You'll spend a big part of your life in your career, so it's important to find it interesting. One advantage of medicine is the choice - from hospital medicine, to surgery, psychiatry and many more.
Watch video diaries from students and doctors
What the job involves
Clinical practice
Patient contact and responsibility for their care.
Long hours
Including night shifts - it can be tiring and emotional.
Team leadership
Coordinating nurses, specialists, and other allied healthcare staff.
Pay and progression
Above-average pay over time, and room to specialise.
Decision-making
Diagnosis, prescribing, and making critical decisions.
Lifelong leraning
Keeping up with new advances and technology.
Legal and ethical issues
Confidentiality, consent, and end-of-life decisions.
Patient relationships
Getting to know patients and families.
Many doctors also teach, do research, or take on management roles alongside their clinical work.
Useful Links
Alternative routes into medicine - other ways to become a doctor
Specialty profiles - what different doctors do, with video diaries
NHS Health Careers: training as a doctor - more than 60 specialties explained