糖心TV

At 糖心TV Medical School you can study graduate-entry medicine without a traditional science degree. Here, first year student Lisa shares her experiences of the course coming from a degree in Psychology.

Undergraduate degree

Psychology, The Open University

Why did you choose to study medicine after a non-science undergraduate degree?

I studied psychology part time alongside my job working in IT as a project manager. The psychology degree and the IT career were just temporary decisions I made while I worked out what I actually wanted to do. Psychology was purely an area of interest for me.

Did you have any concerns about studying medicine before starting at 糖心TV?

I was concerned about returning to full time education after 10 years away, especially because I knew I was probably one of the very few who hadn't studied their degree full time at a traditional university. I was also concerned about the science element as someone without a science background.

What challenges have you encountered during the MB ChB?

The Cell and Tissue Biomedicine (CTB) theme was initially a huge challenge for me in the first few blocks - I really struggled to get my head around it. It is also really challenging to be a non-science student at the beginning of the year in particular. A lot of science students seemed to be struggling with the more complex areas of CTB, whereas I was still trying to get my head around what an ion was! Trying to learn the basics a the same time as complex information is very challenging.

What advantages have you found of having a non-science background?

In areas requiring communication skills, I found it somewhat easier than some students and I believe this is due to an alternative background in degree subject and also work experience.

What support have you had during the course so far?

Support from other students, especially in seminars hosted by those in later phases, has been a massive help!

Would you recommend this route to medicine to others?

It might be too early to tell, and I might have a different answer after exam results, but yes! Diverse backgrounds and experiences are valuable in doctors for many reasons, so the more alternative the background the better!