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. A worldwide study conducted in 2011 indicated on average: 64 university exams, 130 series exams, and 174 assignments are completed over the course of 5.5 years. As a baseline, students need greater than an 85% in prerequisite courses to enrol for the aptitude test in these degree programs. [1] [ failed verification ]

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). [2] [3]

Graduate medical degrees

Comparison of allopathic and osteopathic medical degrees

Medical degree typeUndergraduate

(Post-secondary)

Graduate

(Post-baccalaureate)

Graduate

(Post-baccalaureate)

Graduate

(Post-baccalaureate)

Degree nameBachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery;

or

Bachelor of Medicine

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of SurgeryDoctor of MedicineDoctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Degree abbreviationMBBS, 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 [4] United Kingdom [5] and Ireland [6] 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

Alternative medical degrees

See also

Related Research Articles

Degree abbreviations are used as an alternative way to specify an academic degree instead of spelling out the title in full, such as in reference books such as Who's Who and on business cards. Many degree titles have more than one possible abbreviation, with the abbreviation used varying between different universities. In the UK it is normal not to punctuate abbreviations for degrees with full stops, although this is done at some universities.

Doctor of Medicine is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a professional degree. This generally arose because many in 18th-century medical professions trained in Scotland, which used the M.D. degree nomenclature. In England, however, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) was used and eventually in the 19th century became the standard in Scotland too. Thus, in the United Kingdom, Ireland and other countries, the M.D. is a research doctorate, honorary doctorate or applied clinical degree restricted to those who already hold a professional degree (Bachelor's/Master's/Doctoral) in medicine. In those countries, the equivalent professional degree to the North American, and some others' usage of M.D. is still typically titled Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.

A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, professional school, or forms a part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Master of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine (MD), or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). Many medical schools offer additional degrees, such as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), master's degree (MSc) or other post-secondary education.

A Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery is an undergraduate medical degree awarded by medical schools in countries that follow the tradition of the United Kingdom. The historical degree nomenclature states that they are two separate undergraduate degrees. In practice, however, they are usually combined as one and conferred together, and may also be awarded at graduate-level medical schools. It usually takes five to six years to complete this degree.

A number of professional degrees in dentistry are offered by dental schools in various countries around the world.

A terminal degree is the highest-level college degree that can be achieved and awarded in an academic discipline or professional field. In other cases, it is a degree that is awarded because a doctoral-level degree is not available nor appropriate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siddha medicine</span> System of traditional medicine originating in southern India

Siddha medicine is a form of traditional medicine originating in southern India. It is one of the oldest systems of medicine in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research</span> Medical research institution in Chandigarh, India

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is a public medical university in Chandigarh, India. It is an 'Institute of National Importance'. It has educational, medical research, and training facilities for its students including all specialties, super specialties and sub specialties. It is the leading tertiary care hospital of the northern India region and caters to patients from all over Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Apart from the clinical services, PGI also provides training in almost all disciplines of medicine including post graduateand post doctoral degrees, diplomas, Doctor of Philosophy and fellowships. There are more than 50 such training courses in the institute. The 100-seat MBBS college is expected to start by 2025 at PGI's satellite centre in Sarangpur.

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is a medical degree conferred by the 38 osteopathic medical schools in the United States. DO and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees are equivalent: a DO graduate may become licensed as a physician or surgeon and thus have full medical and surgical practicing rights in all 50 US states. As of 2021, there were 168,701 osteopathic physicians and medical students in DO programs across the United States. Osteopathic medicine emerged historically from osteopathy, but has become a distinct profession.

Alternative medicine degrees include academic degrees, first professional degrees, qualifications or diplomas issued by accredited and legally recognised academic institutions in alternative medicine or related areas, either human or animal.

Master of Medicine (MMed) is a postgraduate professional clinical degree awarded by medical schools to physicians following a period of instruction, supervised clinical rotations, and examination. The degree usually takes three years to complete, but may take up to four years in some countries. It is awarded by only medical subspecialties and usually includes a dissertation component.before enrollment in this program,medical graduate has to pass the entrance test. The degree may complement an existing fellowship in the chosen specialty or be the sole qualification necessary for registration as a specialist.

Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) is a constituent college of Makerere University, Uganda's oldest university. The schools of the college offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the biomedical sciences, health sciences, human medicine and public health, covering a broad range of disciplines and specialties.

Kampala International University School of Health Sciences is the school of health sciences of Kampala International University, a private Ugandan university. The school provides health sciences education at the diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine and community health/ Bachelor of science in clinical medicine/ Bachelor of science in clinical medicine, surgery and community health/ Bachelor of clinical medicine and community health is an academic dual/triple degree awarded to Clinical officers by universities in East Africa. In Kenya, it is currently offered by Great Lakes University of Kisumu, Kabarak university, Mount Kenya University, Kenya Methodist University, University of Kabianga and Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST), Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology (JKUAT) Kaimosi Friends University (KAFU) Egerton University, Kisii University, Kirinyaga University and Uzima University. In Uganda and Tanzania, it is offered at Kampala International University. In Rwanda, it is offered at the University of Rwanda.,

Healthcare professional credentials are credentials awarded to many healthcare practitioners as a way to standardize the level of education and ability to provide care.

Gulu University School of Medicine (GUSM), also known as Gulu University Medical School (GUMS) is the school of medicine of Gulu University, one of Uganda's public universities. The medical school was founded in 2004, two years after Gulu University was established. The school provides medical education at diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The University of Malawi College of Medicine (UMCM), also Malawi College of Medicine in Blantyre, is a constituent college of the University of Malawi, the oldest and largest public university in the country. The college houses the Faculty of Medicine of the University, and is the only medical school in Malawi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical education in India</span> Medical education

The standard entry-to-practice degree in modern evidence-based medicine in India is the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). Alternative systems of Medicine in India are Ayurveda (BAMS), Unani (BUMS), Siddha(BSMS), Homeopathy (BHMS). M.B.B.S. a credential earned upon completion of a five-and-a-half-year undergraduate program. The curriculum is divided into one year of preclinical studies in general science subjects and three and a half years of paraclinical and clinical studies, followed by a one-year clinical internship. Before beginning the internship, students are required to pass several examinations, the final one of which is conducted in two parts. Postgraduate education in medical specialties typically takes 3 additional years of study after the MBBS and concludes with the award of a Master of Surgery or Doctor of Medicine(MD). Postgraduate diplomas in medical specialities may also be awarded upon the completion of two-year training programs. After that a person can further get a degree in superspeciality in his or her respective branch after successful completion of 3 years of superspeciality in a medical college.

Kenneth Leonard Jacobs is a South African politician and doctor currently serving as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health in the National Assembly of South Africa since 2021. He has been a Member of Parliament since 2019. Jacobs is a member of the African National Congress.

References

  1. The BMJ — 13 August 2011, Volume 343, Number 7819
  2. "Medicine (Graduate-entry/ Accelerated)". University of Oxford .
  3. "Medicine (Graduate entry)". St George's University of London .
  4. "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.
  5. Paul (2021-10-14). "Graduate Entry Medicine". The Medic Portal. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  6. "BMBS Programme | University of Limerick School of Medicine". www.ul.ie. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  7. "A Career in Siddha Medicine – आयुष मंत्रालय, भारत सरकार" . Retrieved 2021-11-23.