Medical degree

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A medical degree is a professional degree admitted to those who have passed coursework in the fields of medicine and/or surgery from an accredited medical school. Obtaining a degree in medicine allows for the recipient to continue on into specialty training with the end goal of securing a license to practice within their respective jurisdiction. Medical graduates may also pursue non-clinical careers including those in basic research and positions within the healthcare industry.

Contents

Undergraduate medical degrees

The MBBS is also awarded at the graduate level, meaning the applicant already has an undergraduate degree prior to commencing their medical studies (graduate entry). [1] [2]

Graduate medical degrees

Comparison of allopathic and osteopathic medical degrees

Medical degree typeUndergraduate
(Post-secondary)
Graduate (Post-baccalaureate)
Osteopathy
Degree nameBachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery;
or
Bachelor of Medicine
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of SurgeryDoctor of MedicineDoctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Post-nominal lettersMBBS, BMBS, MBChC, MBChB, MBBCh;
or
MB, BM, BMed
MBBS, BMBS, MBChC, MBBChMDDO
AdmissionFollows secondary education (standard course)Follows an undergraduate degree (graduate-entry)Follows an undergraduate degree (professional doctorate)Follows an undergraduate degree (professional doctorate)
Duration5 to 6 years4 years (accelerated)4 years4 years
Countries offering the degree
(not exhaustive list)
United Kingdom, Ireland, India, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Australia, and China, Saudi Arabia [3] United Kingdom [4] and Ireland [5] United States, Canada, Israel, UAE, AustraliaUnited States

Some countries, especially Eastern European and former Soviet republics (Russia, Ukraine, Armenia) offer post-secondary, undergraduate, 6-year medical programs, which confer the title Doctor of Medicine as their medical qualification.

Post-graduate medical degrees

See also

References

  1. "Medicine (Graduate-entry/ Accelerated)". University of Oxford .
  2. "Medicine (Graduate entry)". St George's University of London . 28 November 2024.
  3. "Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) | College of Medicine | Alfaisal University". 2023-06-16. Archived from the original on 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  4. Paul (2021-10-14). "Graduate Entry Medicine". The Medic Portal. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  5. "BMBS Programme | University of Limerick School of Medicine". www.ul.ie. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2022-05-23.