Three reasons why I choose Medicine at Birmingham

Choosing where to study Medicine is a big decision to make. It is even more important if you are an international student just like me. You should not decide simply based on the ranking but the curriculum and the community as well.

Here are my top three reasons why the University of Birmingham stood out for me.

1. The City

If you are a city person just like me, Birmingham is the right place for you. The city centre is so vibrant and diverse, with all sorts of restaurants and fashion brands available for you to choose from. It is also extremely easy for us to travel. With an international airport near the city, it is so easy to travel to explore other cities in Europe. If you think about it financially, it is also a lot more affordable to live in Birmingham compared to places like London, where the cost of living is much lower. 

2. Clinical Experiences

Secondly, the early exposure to patient interaction really attracted me here. We have regular General Practice (GP) placements where you get to interact with actual patients and shadow various healthcare professionals. Looking back, I am very grateful for the early patient exposure. It allowed me to practice my communication skills and that had resulted in me being more comfortable interacting with patients on the ward the past year. It is extremely helpful for me especially as an international student from Singapore, who was not very familiar with the various accents of UK and the culture. Now I can proudly say that I can understand 80% (roughly) of the Brum accent!!

3. Community

As I was preparing for my medical school interviews, I had a look at the societies and clubs each universities offered. Unsurprisingly, the Birmingham Medical Society, MedSoc stood out to me. There were so many sports to choose from, academic groups for different medical specialties and numerous performing arts clubs as well. You can definitely find something you like in there. MedSoc is also extremely helpful when it comes to supporting students academically. The numerous self-initiated revision sessions ran by our seniors really helped me a lot during the exam seasons (I really don’t think I would have made it without them)!

After spending four years here in Birmingham Medical School, I can safely say that I do not regret my choice. The people I have met over the years have really made this journey so much more enjoyable. From lectures, clinicians to fellow course mates, everyone has been so understanding and welcoming. I think I have said enough, why don’t you come and experience it yourself?