UCL vs NUS Medical School

[Valkeri]

Hi All,

I was hoping there are some experts around here on this topic. Of course I have done some prior googling, however many threads are old, or do not apply directly to my situation.

I have been offered a place at UCL medicine, and am currently applying to NUS medicine. I'm considering, in advance, what I should do if I get an offer from NUS as well, but I've hit a dead end.



Some context:

QS UCL = 10th in the world, NUS = 31st in the world

Times Higher Education UCL = 8th in the world, NUS = 26th in the world

Take these rankings with a pinch of salt, as always.



I'm trying to weigh up the benefits of staying back in Singapore, the one that's most convincing to me being that I've heard it's easier to get into residency in Singapore with an NUS degree than an 'overseas' degree. (1) My question is this; the statement is very unspecific, and it could range from "you have a disadvantage in Singapore coming back from Bob's Medical university in Dimwitshire, UK", to "you studied at Oxford? I'm taking this NUS student for specialisation instead". Of course I understand that there's many other factors that affect whether you can get into a residency or not - such as performance at school, with the department and your peer-reviews et cetera, but I'm wondering if, for example, you had a model student from UCL and a model student from NUS, would the student from UCL - it being a very renowned and famous school - be at an inherent disadvantage? I'm a male who will be finishing his NS, so no disadvantage there. (2) I'm keen, at the moment, on neurosurg; the UCL MBBS integrates a BSc, so I'll graduate with an MBBS BSc (Neuroscience), for example. Does this add anything to my CV in terms of getting into residency here in Singapore?

We can, with some difficulty, afford UCL, but of course NUS is better on the cost front. I will be looking at the PEG from the government to cover 150k. (3) Does anyone have input in terms of student life in NUS? How would this compare to UCL? Is an NUS med student, on average, going to outperform a UCL med student in terms of knowledge? (4) I'm also wondering how difficult it is to build a rapport here in Singapore. I'm submitting a paper which I worked on with a neurosurgeon to the SMJ at some point this year, but how difficult is it to build upon this and continue this in the future? If I'm at UCL, how challenging is it to get a reference from a doctor/professor there to come back to Singapore on the holidays to work on publications and my CV locally? After all, I intend to come back to work for MOH, as I like Singapore and its people - it's the place I want to dedicate my life's work to, I suppose. I very much hope to become a clinician-educator, or scientist, so I can contribute to the academic field here.



Sorry for the lengthy post. I was just hoping that there's some doctors out there with experience with NUS and UCL students, and what my prospects are coming back here after overseas studies, compared to NUS studies, especially with my, admittedly, rather-too-lofty aspirations. I'm just a bit afraid that I'll be stigmatised coming back, with people saying that "he couldn't study at NUS, so he went overseas to UCL"... As I said, not even sure if I can get into NUS, but if I do I'd be tearing myself apart over the choice!



Many thanks for any reponses!

 

[meatballmarinara]

you might want to head over to reddit sgexams. theres a thread linking to a discord channel where there are med students answering questions for med applicants.

 

[Valkeri]

Awesome, thanks! I didn't know that!

 

[MrSinkie95]

UCL is better..

 

[nyvrem]

UCL lah

Nus not recognised outside sg ~

 

[meatballmarinara]

Awesome, thanks! I didn't know that!

Here's some info:

MOH has sent representatives to talk the the aussie students, and the students were told to find jobs in australia if they can, because slots for returning medical students are decreasing. i think this applies to all returning medical students and not just aussie trained ones.

make of that what you will.

 

[nethdale]

Based on my observation, MOH seems to scaling down the PEG grants over last 5 years. It used to have interviews conducted in Scotland, Irealand and London. Now they only conduct in London in Sep. The outcome of the interview used to be within the day which is interview in the morning and they announced the outcome in the evening. Applicant signed and the parent signed and get the grants but not now. Also, heard the length of the degree course, is 5 or 6 years, is another factor considered by the MOH.

I doubt you will be stigmatised. Why bother how people perceive you? For overseas students, you need the network in Singapore to get attachment if you wish to attach to clinic or hospital during your holidays. Good luck.

 

[cosycatus]

Ignore what trolls are saying.
UCL world ranking is moot when u are working in sg.
Different country train doc differently.
Sg work it's student quite hard and prep u well for working life.
There is no dilemma, if u can get in locally, do local. If you can't , go overseas. Don't bank on peg though, it's almost not given out anymore as there's just no shortage of medical students.

Loft aspirations as a neurosurgeon EY? There's no stigmatisation, though u might need to work an extra year or 2 to let people know you if you are from overseas, but overall, if u are good, u get in . I personally know of one Melbourne uni grad and a Malaysian grad who got in this few year.
Actually most working doc shy away from these hard core specialities. Watching Grey's anatomy make surgery sound really fun and exciting, but reality is different. In the past, at least money is good , but now, new associate consultant still have to do overnight calls , move to newer hospitals and accept a new (lower ) pay system.
It's gets old when u are called to hospital at 2am for a brain haemorrhage case the 3rd time in a week, having to talk to distraught relatives , then eventually operate even though u know the out come is gg.
Btw, research is almost needed if u do neurosurgery. Sgh residency has 1 extra year for u to research while in nuh, u are highly encourage to do a PhD ( as a way to delay output of consultants actually, while employing u cheaply but doing heavy work)

 

[nethdale]

Since you mentioned that you have applied NUS, as a result, if you can get in NUS, just do it locally unless you already set your mind in overseas. I knew a kid already set his mind in UK and did not even consider applying local after today. Yea, don’t pinch high hope on PEG grant. If you set to go, plan your financial ahead. Good luck to your application.

 

[Shaderer]

For medicine study in the country you want to practice. Neurosurgery is very hard to get in. PEG is definitely running out, in UK only about 15% got this year. Might have oversupply of docs soon so watch out.

Maybe you can try to apply for clinician scientist mbbs PhD track?

Sg is pushing for GP and generalist and there are too many residents not enough AC spots, might be hard to specialise now with 500 grad a year but could change when you graduate.

In ucl you can definitely work with top British profs, lead a better undergrad life and open your horizons out of sg. If you like UK you can stay on, higher chance to specialise with work life balance but ok pay so that's the advantage of a UK medical education.

 

[䏣炆玧示老太]

go UCL study grad there stay to work there migrate to UK best

 

[tt32003]

go UCL study grad there stay to work there migrate to UK best

LOL
The NHS is not a nice place to work in
Neither is the UK a nice place to live in

 

[䏣炆玧示老太]

Hi All,

I was hoping there are some experts around here on this topic. Of course I have done some prior googling, however many threads are old, or do not apply directly to my situation.

I have been offered a place at UCL medicine, and am currently applying to NUS medicine. I'm considering, in advance, what I should do if I get an offer from NUS as well, but I've hit a dead end.



Some context:

QS UCL = 10th in the world, NUS = 31st in the world

Times Higher Education UCL = 8th in the world, NUS = 26th in the world

Take these rankings with a pinch of salt, as always.



I'm trying to weigh up the benefits of staying back in Singapore, the one that's most convincing to me being that I've heard it's easier to get into residency in Singapore with an NUS degree than an 'overseas' degree. (1) My question is this; the statement is very unspecific, and it could range from "you have a disadvantage in Singapore coming back from Bob's Medical university in Dimwitshire, UK", to "you studied at Oxford? I'm taking this NUS student for specialisation instead". Of course I understand that there's many other factors that affect whether you can get into a residency or not - such as performance at school, with the department and your peer-reviews et cetera, but I'm wondering if, for example, you had a model student from UCL and a model student from NUS, would the student from UCL - it being a very renowned and famous school - be at an inherent disadvantage? I'm a male who will be finishing his NS, so no disadvantage there. (2) I'm keen, at the moment, on neurosurg; the UCL MBBS integrates a BSc, so I'll graduate with an MBBS BSc (Neuroscience), for example. Does this add anything to my CV in terms of getting into residency here in Singapore?

We can, with some difficulty, afford UCL, but of course NUS is better on the cost front. I will be looking at the PEG from the government to cover 150k. (3) Does anyone have input in terms of student life in NUS? How would this compare to UCL? Is an NUS med student, on average, going to outperform a UCL med student in terms of knowledge? (4) I'm also wondering how difficult it is to build a rapport here in Singapore. I'm submitting a paper which I worked on with a neurosurgeon to the SMJ at some point this year, but how difficult is it to build upon this and continue this in the future? If I'm at UCL, how challenging is it to get a reference from a doctor/professor there to come back to Singapore on the holidays to work on publications and my CV locally? After all, I intend to come back to work for MOH, as I like Singapore and its people - it's the place I want to dedicate my life's work to, I suppose. I very much hope to become a clinician-educator, or scientist, so I can contribute to the academic field here.



Sorry for the lengthy post. I was just hoping that there's some doctors out there with experience with NUS and UCL students, and what my prospects are coming back here after overseas studies, compared to NUS studies, especially with my, admittedly, rather-too-lofty aspirations. I'm just a bit afraid that I'll be stigmatised coming back, with people saying that "he couldn't study at NUS, so he went overseas to UCL"... As I said, not even sure if I can get into NUS, but if I do I'd be tearing myself apart over the choice!



Many thanks for any reponses!

So in the end,which Uni did you go to?
Graduated now?

 

[dgeralds]

Since your end goal is to live and work in Singapore, just study in NUS...saves money too.