Choosing a Course

Some medical schools run integrated courses, which means that instead of spending a couple of years in university doing your pre-clinical training and being a normal undergraduate in lectures and laboratories, you will be seeing patients from the very first term and applying your knowledge to real-life problems. This can be daunting, and whether you prefer this is dependent on whether you see yourself as learning a trade or a science. Learning from the experience (and mistakes) of others can, however, be invaluable, as well as harrowing.

Location should be a big factor. You'll be attached to the institution for longer than the normal undergraduate's three or four years, so try to establish whether you'll be happy there. You don't want to find out halfivay through that you absolutely hate the place. A visit, preferably to an open day, is essential.

And while you're there, make sure you investigate the social side (as if we need to tell you...). What you should be looking for is how supportive that student environment is. Things are likely to be very tough on the course at various points in the five years, and you don't want to feel isolated, so try to find out (from current students if you can) if the staff are supportive and if there are good arrangements for academic, pastoral and welfare support.

Check the options for the intercalated year, where you can study a subject in depth or to pursue research, and for elective periods, which offer the opportunity to extend experience and study elsewhere, either at home or abroad. You may never get chances like this again.

Look too at the availability of learning resources - what is the availability and state of the library, IT, laboratory and clinical facilities? Are these easily and freely accessible? In many places, these have taken a great leap forward in recent years, but make sure that it's the case where you're thinking of heading.

And it may seem like a long way ahead now, but what are the arrangements for general clinical training after graduation? This is usually organised by the local postgraduate institute and further vocational training is obligatory in medicine, so make sure the set-up is good - those five years will race by.