My name is Hector, and I am a Year 5 student on the programme. At my point in study, first year feels like a lifetime ago, but I distinctly remember why I picked this great place to study medicine. At the same time, I have the perspective to reflect on why Edinburgh has been great for me.
Where will you choose to spend six years?
First of all, the place is amazing. It is such a great city to spend six years, which is an important thing to consider when you are applying: “can I spend six years here?” Medical courses are roughly the same in terms of entry requirements and the end result – you will become a doctor at the end of it – so a big deciding factor is the location.
Edinburgh sets itself apart as a great place to both live and study, which will make applying for where to spend foundation years a tough job! Its size is great as it is not too big to feel lost in like London or Manchester, but there is enough going on to keep you busy throughout the year. From Portobello beach to Arthur’s Seat, to Stockbridge market, there is such a range here. There are all the features of a big city which you could be missing if you went to a smaller town, such as shopping and stadiums. Being the capital of Scotland there are so many major events here to go to, from the classic Fringe to the Six Nations, to the Eras tour, and Hogmanay! You do really feel like you are in a busy capital city
Lots of opportunities outside of your degree
Another perk of Edinburgh is the size of the uni – there are so many degrees outside of medicine, so your world doesn’t have to be all medics! This can help keep you sane in the first few years by having friends who make you talk about other things than just your anatomy lab.
Alongside this, are all the major sports teams and societies that you can take part in, which can really form some of the highlights of your time at university. These can help give you a break from the world of medicine as well as keeping you a well-rounded human being!
By being part of a big university like this, you can really explore your wider interests in your intercalated year, due to the wide range of courses on offer. The sports medicine BSc here is world-class and taking it helped me to discover what career route I want to go down.
Choice of hospitals and clinicians
Finally, the hospitals and clinicians here are world class and the opportunities for clinical exposure in both urban and rural areas are amazing. Having the chance to experience placements at hospitals of different sizes across Scotland gives you experience of diverse clinical environments, preparing you well for life as a junior doctor in the modern NHS.
