You want to study medicine and becomes a doctor?

Studying medicine has becomes the dream of many bright students and the dreams of parents who hoped that they have doctor within their family. It seems that having a doctor within their family is something very good! But is it?

For those aspiring students who have such a dream, which has nothing wrong, you must remember that it is almost impossible to enter government university in Malaysia even if you score straight A or CGPA of 4. But you have the option to study in India, Taiwan and Russia which are cheaper. In fact, studying in Germany is almost free!

Before you seriously consider medicine, go to a hospital or clinic and do a short attachment to find out the work of doctors.

Also don't forger that Malaysia has an oversupply of doctor. So, if you still decide to study medicine, go to a reputable university and get yourself trained to be a good doctor.

A survey by FMT reveals that private colleges in the country are charging between RM250,000 to RM1 million to study medicine.

Following are some colleges offering degree in medicine and the tuition fee they charge currently:

• Quest International University Perak (QUIP): RM249,000
• University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR): RM255,000
• AIMST University: RM250,000
• University Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) has two different options: UniKL Degree: RM280,000, Twinning with Vinayaka Missions University, India: RM300,000

• UCSI University: RM320,000
• Taylor’s University: RM353,000
• International Medical University (IMU): RM410,000
• Management and Science University (MSU): RM295,000
• Perdana University offers the following: Royal College of Surgeons Ireland: RM800,000, John Hopkins University Schools of Medicine: RM1,000,000
• SEGi University: RM300,000
• Asia Metropolitan University (AMU): RM300,000
• Monash University Sunway: RM455,000
• Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NuMED): RM450,000
• MAHSA University College: RM300,000
• Allianze University College of Medical Science (AUCMS) has multiple options: In-house: RM279,000, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Programme: RM338,000, Universitas Sumatera Utara: RM267,000, National University of Ireland, Galway: RM578,000, University College Cork: RM578,000
• Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences (CUCMS): RM275,000
• Lincoln University College (LUC): RM324,000
• University College Shahputra (UCSA): RM240,000
• Malacca Manipal Medical College (MMMC): RM348,000
• Penang Medical College: RM650,000

All the above mentioned fees exclude accommodation, books, traveling cost, food and other expenses which could easily add another RM100,000 to the total cost of studying medicine.

The above info on fees is taken from FMT website.

Tips for Medical STudies

This is just a bit of collection and compilation from some students/ friends/ research on those aspiring young one who would like to study medical fields:

Best to get ready for next year 2010, be prepared now for USM medical or JPA scholarships:

(1) Why do you choose e.g Monash medical school/ USM Medical school/ or other medical schools?

(2) If you are not chosen by this university, what is your plan?

(3) Tell me, the procedure of a doctor when treating a patient.

(4) If UNIMAS, Kuching is near your home town, why you do not apply?

(5) If you are on a flight, that you must not miss, but seeing a man who is bleeding profusely, what would you do?

(6) Why do you want to become a doctor?

(7) What will you be if you are acceptable to a medical school?

(8) What make you so special?

(9) What are your 2 best points/ character traits?

(10) What do you think will be your greatest challenge in completing medical school or learning how to be a doctor?

(11) What are your 2 weak points? or your greatest challenge in your life so far? How do you overcome them?

(12) In your view, what is the most pressing problem in the medical arena today?

(13) How will you pay for your medical fee?

(14) If you could do anything in your education, what would you do?

(15) Tell me about yourself/ family

(16) What do you do in your spare time? Hobbies?

(17) What do you think the most important qualities in being a good doctor?

(18) Are you a leader or a follower? Why?

(19) What exposure have you had so far in the medical field?

(20) Discuss your clinical experience

(21) Discuss your volunteer work, what sort of contribution have you made?

(22) What do you think you like the most in the medical field?

(23) Express your opinion on the topics like abortion, cloning, euthanasia, drug abuse

(24) What/ how do you think the general hospital in your home town to be improved?

(25) Would you perform an abortion as doctor? Under what condition?

(26) What are the 3 things that you want to change yourself?

(27) How would you like to describe the relationship between science and medicine?

(28) Which family member has influenced your life so far? Why and how?

(29) What is the hardest decision you have ever made in your life? Describe

(30) Tell me about the health care system in your country.

Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia

Newcastle University UK, is establishing an international branch campus in Johor, Malaysia for the provision of its undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degrees in Medicine.

The five-year MBBS programme is identical to that of Newcastle’s UK-based provision, and leads to the award of the same degrees. By choosing to study medicine at NUMed Malaysia, students will obtain a reputable UK medical qualification, from an internationally recognized university, at approximately half the cost of studying in the UK.

The annual fee is fixed at RM90,000 for the period of their course but may be increased in line with inflation on an annual basis.

The above is an extract from their website. Please refer to their website for the latest information.

For September 2009 intake, the application is now closed.

According to newspaper report:

Forty students will be enrolled in the first two batches but the number will be increased to 100 in 2011.

That number will gradually rise to 120 students in 2012, then an annual enrolment of 180 from 2013 onwards.

NUMed will eventually employ 130 academic staff, 90 per cent of whom will be Malaysian.

Commentary from me:

In UK, the annual medical course fee for the first two years is about 13K pounds and 24K pounds for the last three clinical years. The fee increases every year by about 3% or depending on inflation rate.

The course fee varies from uni to uni. London and Scotland being the most expensive.

Twining with IMU and Dundee Uni requires only two years of clinical in UK.