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IELTS for university applicants

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IELTS for fulfilling university entry requirements is something many are not aware of as they dream about their future career as a doctor, international hotel manager or university professor.

Yet, the moment you decide you want to pursue a chigher education, you know you are expected to go through a lot of hard work, long hours of training and of course study.

In the end, you know all your effort will be rewarded because being a doctor is one of the most respected and rewarding professions in the world.

You do have to choose your medical school wisely and to know why IELTS is important as a tool to help you on your journey. Here is some information to help you to decide and to learn about the common entry requirements to medical universities in Europe.

Based on the Times Higher Education annual listing, the top universities for medical programs include many in the top 25 in the United Kingdom:

The University of Oxford
University of Cambridge
University College London (UCL)
Imperial College London
The University of Edinburgh

Some top universities outside of the United Kingdom include:

The Karolinska Institutet, located in Sweden.
The Erasmus University Rotterdam, located in the Netherlands
The University of Copenhagen in Denmark
LMU Munich, Germany
ETH Zurich, Switzerland

The minimum entry requirements to start your medical degree studies in Europe would include:

Bachelor’s degree in Europe

High school diploma (certificate) with high marks in Biology, Chemistry and Math
Letters of recommendation
Letter of motivation
Voluntary or work experience related to Health Care
Those candidates taking the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) must offer three subjects including Chemistry and Biology at the Higher Level, plus three subjects at Standard Level
Good English language test scores, a minimum IELTS score varies from school to school but normally ranges between 5.5 – 6.5, equivalent to the CEFR Level of a B2.

To look at the entry requirements and possible choices of where to study:

Master’s degree course requirements on student selection are a little tougher for medical students, the requirements will often include:

Bachelor degree diploma (Medicine or any degree related to Health Care)
Good English skills where your IELTS score would be 6.5 to 7.0 on average, for some choices you will need 7.5 or above
Pass an admission test, a review of your transcripts, recommendations, and other factors as the University makes their admissions decision.

A good overview is provided on the Imperial College London website of their courses and the qualification requirements you would need to study. To view a study portal list of 1200+ Master`s medical courses click here

To learn if IELTS is important to become a doctor or a specialist in the UK

Or discover the learning opportunities The Boston School can offer to help you reach your goals.

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What do physicians wishing to work in the UK need to know about IELTS?

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The General Medical Council, the body who registers all doctors licensed to practise in the UK, state:

For us to accept the International English Language Testing System(IELTS), your IELTS certificate must show:

that you took the academic version of the test
that you got a score of at least 7.0 in each testing area and an overall score of 7.5
that you got these scores in the same test
that you got these scores in your most recent sitting of the test
the original stamp and test report form number

weblink: General Medical Council

You do need a strong score in each IELTS component

Those who seek to study medicine often already have a high-level of English proficiency. However, do not take it for granted that this means you can get the required score without preparation. Even native English speakers struggle to score top marks: 9.0, as would be expected, yet to do so, responses need to be error-free.

Most students are comfortable with their reading, listening and speaking skills, only to find the writing tasks are much trickier and require more work and classes to reach the correct level.

Timing can be important

For students wishing to study medicine, many take their IELTS test between January and March. This is because you will often receive an offer from a university at that time. Especially with a Master`s or other form of study, many will ask you to attend an interview in the summer. Therefore, taking the IELTS in the early part of the year helps students focus on the interview, making accomodation plans and other personal matters.

It also provides a time buffer in case you wish to take the test a second time in order to reach a higher score.

Academic IELTS preparation supports you when you study

Don’t underestimate the importance of a solid Academic IELTS preparation course. Much of what you learn for the test can also be applied when writing academic papers or write medical reports. It trains you to think critically, interpret topics logically and develop coherent verbal reasoning skills.