Higher Medical Education in Great Britain

British students generally begin their medical studies without any preliminary higher education, typically at the age of eighteen or nineteen. This contrasts with the U.S. system, where a four-year preliminary bachelor's degree is required for entry to medical school. Entry to British medical schools is very competitive. In Britain the course lasts five years, including 2 years of preclinical training, followed by clinical experience at a hospital for additional 3 years. After successful completion of clinical training they graduate as Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery.

In the final year of medical school medical students become Pre-registration house officers. Before obtaining full registration with the General Medical Council (which occurs one year after graduation), trainees are legally able to work in certain highly supervised jobs and cannot legally practice independently.

After completion of medical school, junior doctors go through a vocational training phase, during which they practice in a variety of different specialties. These must include training in General Medicine and General Surgery but can also include other fields such as Paediatrics or General Practice. After that a doctor can choose to specialize in one field. The majority of doctors the UK work in the community as General practitioners (GPs). To train as a GP, one completes two years of posts as a Senior House Officer (SHO) in a variety of hospital specialties - often including paediatrics, psychiatry, care of the elderly and obstetrics & gynaecology. After completing this training and the relevant exams, the doctor can work independently as a GP.

Exercise 6. Answer the questions:

1. Do British students have to get any preliminary higher education before entering a medical school?

2. How long does a course of studies at a British Medical School last?

3. What parts does the course of studies at a British Medical school consist of?

4. What degree do British medical students get after successful completion of clinical training?

5. What do British medical students become in the final year of medical school?

6. In which jobs are trainees legally able to work before obtaining full registration with the General Medical Council?

7. What does the vocational training phase include?

8. When can a doctor work independently as a GP?

Exercise 7. Match the words and word combinations with their definitions:

Exercise 8. Find corresponding equivalents in the text:

Відповідні іспити; більшість лікарів; працювати лікарями широкого профілю; без попередньої вищої освіти; ступінь бакалавра; доклінічне навчання; базова лікарня (медичного навчального закладу); здобути повну реєстрацію; курс триває п’ять років; вступ до медичного ВУЗу; додаткові три роки; на останньому році медичного ВУЗу; проходити через професійну підготовку.

Exercise 9. Fill in the gaps with the active vocabulary:

1. In the final year of medical school medical students become …

2. In the USA a four year … bachelor’s degree is required for entry to medical school.

3. The majority of doctors in the UK work in the community as …

4. … are legally only able to work in certain highly supervised jobs.

5. After completing this training and the … exams, the doctor can work independently as a GP.

6. After completion of medical school, junior doctors go through a … phase.

7. British students generally … their medical studies without any preliminary higher education.

8. Full registration occurs one year after …