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Amedical 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]
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]
| Medical degree type | Undergraduate
(Post-secondary) |
Graduate
(Post-baccalaureate) |
Graduate
(Post-baccalaureate) |
Graduate
(Post-baccalaureate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Degree name | Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery;
or Bachelor of Medicine |
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery | Doctor of Medicine | Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine |
| Degree abbreviation | MBBS, BMBS, MBChC, MBChB, MBBCh;
or MB, BM, BMed |
MBBS, BMBS, MBChC, MBBCh | MD | DO |
| Admission | Follows secondary education (standard course) | Follows an undergraduate degree (graduate-entry) | Follows an undergraduate degree (professional doctorate) | Follows an undergraduate degree (professional doctorate) |
| Duration | 5 to 6 years | 4 years (accelerated) | 4 years | 4 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, Australia | United 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.