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The world of technology is continuously evolving. And with it, the world of medicine.
The changing global circumstances sometimes require students to seek alternative ways to study medicine. Naturally, teaching online was quickly utilised when appropriate.
Should you consider enrolling in an online medical course at this time? If personal circumstances restrict your ability to travel for in-person studies, then some elements of the course may be possible to study through online medical school, replicating the classroom experience. Hence, potentially an appropriate compromise for you, subject to being in compliance with the local laws.
Studying medicine online is sometimes a viable option. There are courses specifically designed to be taught online. Digital learning is not an obstacle - it’s a privilege when an onsite option is unsuitable for you.
Online medical courses let you complete the pre-clinical years of your medical degree online, through live virtual classes, before moving on to hands-on clinical training. Essentially, you will take your theoretical classes online and then move on to practical training in-person.
Keep in mind that it is impossible to completely study medicine through distance learning, because you are required to have clinical experience to become a doctor.
Many students believe that by studying online, they can get an easy pass into medicine; however, that is far from the truth. Studying medicine online is just as difficult as studying in person and requires the same amount of time, effort and dedication. Naturally, your efforts will be rewarded when you graduate, and you will receive an internationally recognised degree in medicine.
🎓 Important Accreditation Notice: Please be aware that "100% Online" Medical Degrees are not recognised by major medical councils (like the GMC in the UK). You must complete physical clinical rotations to obtain a license to practise.
Click here to get a list of officially recognised Hybrid & Pre-Med pathways. (Ensure your degree allows you to work as a doctor).
Another misconception is that you can become a doctor by completely studying online, but that is impossible. You still need to get practical training in hospitals and gain experience through clinical rotations so that you can be prepared for your respective career in healthcare.
Entry requirements for studying medicine online are the same as studying at the university. The only difference is the entrance exams - they will also be online, either via communication apps like Skype or Zoom or using a web platform like Google Classroom.
Education plays a vital role in our lives, and medical schools will always look for ways to make studying possible, more efficient, and more effective for you as a student.
Medlink Students partners with universities that have quickly adopted an online form of education. We work with some of the most technologically advanced and accommodating institutions for those who wish to study medicine online in English.
Virtual classes allow students to study medicine online. Their programme is attended online only, and you can do clinical rotations in the UK (or your home country) in years 4-6.
The structure of the programme replicates the traditional way of studying. You'll be provided with a timetable for the semester; then, you'll have to attend the classes presented live by a professor of each discipline. Despite the course being online, the university still prioritises the education of students. Hence, attendance is compulsory for all classes to ensure you fulfil the required number of study hours for the program. Lectures and seminars are presented by each professor using a virtual teaching software called "Google Classroom." Using this software, students will attend the live class, engage with the teaching professor using the camera and microphone, be assessed using multiple-choice questions, and receive homework and assignments after each class.
Note: Due to the increasing popularity and high demand, spaces are limited. Enquire now to consult an expert advisor on how suitable this course could be for you.
Here’s how hybrid learning compares to the traditional route:
| Study Format | Fully On-Campus | Hybrid Medical Degree (online + on-campus) |
| Pre-Clinical Years | In person at the university | Live online classes |
| Clinical Years | In person, arranged by the university | In-person clinical rotations are arranged either in your home country or abroad |
| Recognition | Depends on university | Depends on university |
| Best For | Students are able to relocate for the full degree | Students who can't relocate for the pre-clinical years but still want a fully recognised degree |
What’s actually important for the recognition of your medical degree is if your university is accredited, listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS) and if it fulfils the criteria of the medical council where you plan on becoming a doctor.
Medlink Students partners with the University of Health Sciences Antigua in the Caribbean to provide pre-clinical online medicine. Their online pre-med programme is offered entirely remotely. However, the first 2 years of the Basic Science course require personal attendance at the university. The following 2-year period in Clinical Science involves clinical rotations in local and international hospitals and clinical centres.
While this opportunity is relatively new, some students are sceptical about studying medicine online or whether it’s even possible. The short answer to “Can you do medical school online?” is, “Yes, it is possible, and it works perfectly fine.” But you are not here for the short answer, so let us explain.
Doctors will teach this full-time programme (there is no option for studying part-time). It is designed specifically for online students, with schedules and curricula to replicate in-person studies as much as possible in a virtual setting. The classes are taught live, and attendance is essential.
Students will have video seminars using Zoom or Google Classroom, where they will have the opportunity to interact with professors and other students.
Can I watch the recordings of classes without attending? All classes are held live. Attending classes as scheduled in your timetable is compulsory. Absences must be compensated for with a lesson outside the regular timetable. These are called "retake classes." This is arranged by the student and their professor in the case of absences from any of the regularly scheduled classes in the timetable.
This is exactly where the online portal mentioned above comes in handy. The portal is loaded with various study materials to help you prepare and ace the exams.
The examination sessions will also be online, and you must have a web camera. Exams will be multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and oral discussions. This will help teachers assess your understanding of the subjects learned throughout the semester.
Do I need to turn on my camera when in class? It depends on your professor. Some professors require the camera to be on, while other professors do not require students to turn on their cameras. However, it is essential to be fully engaged in these live lessons so you can answer questions that the professor might ask you to ensure you're engaged. This is done by the professors because to make the most out of lessons, it's vital that you are actively taking part and not just passively listening.
You can either organise international clinical rotations or do them in your home country.
The university will recognise your rotations if you provide the proper documentation from your hospital of choice.
What if I cannot organise rotations? Most teaching hospitals welcome international medical students for rotations because it is a source of income for them. It's down to you, as the student, to contact as many hospitals as possible in your region. More information on how to organise electives and rotations in your home country is usually provided by your professor or dean's office, with whom you will regularly communicate. Numerous companies help students to find international elective opportunities. Generally, these rotations will cost you approx. £100-500/week in UK hospitals. However, other countries' hospitals may be cheaper.
More in-depth information on the clinical rotations
The university will typically provide you with the number of weeks per discipline that you'd have to do. For example:
| Year 4 Discipline | Weeks | Total Hours (40 hours per week) |
| Paediatrics | 5 | 200 |
| Obstetrics and Gynaecology | 3 | 120 |
| Psychiatry, Neurology | 2 | 80 |
| Dermatology | 3 | 120 |
You'd then approach hospitals in your area and ask them for permission to do rotations in the disciplines from the list. You do not have to do the rotations on a specific date. They just have to be done at some point during the academic year.
You must record in your electronic or physical diary at least 5 patients per day. The structure should be similar to this:
| Date & Time of Consultation | |||
| Sex, Age | |||
| Clinical Problem | |||
| Student’s Participation | |||
| Doctor’s Name |
After you finish your specified weeks of rotations in each department, you must ask the supervising doctor to fill in, sign and/or stamp this form. Scans of these forms should then be emailed to the university at the end of the academic year. A typical working day in a hospital is a minimum of 8 clock hours. A week is considered from Monday to Friday.
As you can see, the programme is serious about the studies to ensure a high-quality doctor is qualified. This is essential to reassure medical councils worldwide that you are qualified from a reputable faculty with thorough theoretical knowledge and plenty of clinical experience.
- Online medical education is a sustainable option due to global circumstances
- Online medicine isn't easier, and it requires equal dedication
- Mandatory virtual classes are required to ensure engagement from the students.
- The entry requirements and examinations are specific and include online exams. In order to be successful in the exams, each student must actively participate in classes
- Universities offer online courses covering general medicine to pre-med, but you cannot graduate by taking only online classes
- Hands-on clinical training is always necessary
- Clinical rotations are extremely important. They are essential and are arranged locally or internationally in later years.
Yes. You can study medicine online for the pre-clinical part of the programme.
Absolutely, yes. Some of the universities we work with offer excellent video seminars using Zoom or Google Classroom to teach the pre-clinical subjects
There isn't a full online medical course because the last few years of medical education are practical.
The annual tuition fees are about exclusively for applicants applying trough Medlink Students
There isn't a fully online MBBS degree or MD. The theory-based, pre-clinical subjects can be studied online, but clinical years must be completed in person at a teaching hospital, in line with international requirements for medical licensure.
Yes. Many students use the flexibility of the online pre-clinical years to also begin Online USMLE / PLAB preparation alongside their coursework.
What matters is whether the awarding university is accredited and the degree fulfils the criteria of the GMC (or your home country's medical council). Online foundation courses for medicine are completely fine as long as you complete your degree at the same university and get sufficient in-person teaching and clinical experience.
