MBBS or MD (1 Viewer)

[whitneyzhao77]

MBBS or MD
Hi everyone, this is my first time posting threads, sorry if I pose it in the wrong place.

I am struggling in choosing between MBBS and MD. Not that I am accepted by both, in fact, I haven't even done my HSC yet. I think a lot of people will tell me to go for the one that accepts me, and apparently most people think MBBS is better than MD, since basically they are the same, while MBBS takes a shorter time to complete.

My concern is that, I am interested in a lot of fields and am not 100% if I do want to be a doctor for the rest of my life. I want to explore as many fields as possible in uni and I am afraid that doing MBBS won't give me enough time or freedom to do that since it is very much packed and intense. That is the main reason why I want to do a MD program.

However, I read some of the posts in the forum and found out that it takes a long time for a medical school student to finish his/her training, so I am wondering if I should do MBBS to shorten this long and exhausting process.

Any advice would be good, thanks in advance!

 

[yjhere]

The difference between MD and MBBS is not grad vs undergrad. UNSW is undergrad med but has implemented the MD. Med schools are shifting to MD more and more because it is more internationally recognised.

Don't do undergrad med if you are not SURE of becoming a doc. However this (MD vs MBBS) is not something you should be thinking about now, more like making sure med is even possible.

 

[Medman]

^Agreed

 

[bangladesh]

do some research before you just open up your thread.. sighh it's called google.

 

[Squar3root]

if you're worried about time consumption and putting in the work to become a medical practictioner then IMO I don't medicine is for you.

 

[Futuremedstudent]

Choose both and increase ur chances, as getting into med is hard enough.

 

[Kiraken]

get into med first before u start worrying about whether you want an MD or MBBS

 

[Xt]

I am struggling in choosing between MBBS and MD.

Don't struggle, they're ENTIRELY the same and NO MBBS is not shorter. UNSW's MD is 6 years and UNCLE is implementing a 5 year MD from next year (subject to approval). Both are Undergraduate Universities.

If your worried Medicine isn't for you, then don't do Undergraduate Medicine. Just do a random Bachelor and then once you've completed it, apply for Graduate Medicine.

The difference between MBBS and MD just does not exist in Australia. Its a marketing ploy from Universities to attract International students and to confuse poor high school kids like yourself. Furthermore, if you apply to the US your MBBS gets converted into a MD anyways.

 

[Medman]

The difference between MBBS and MD just does not exist in Australia. Its a marketing ploy from Universities to attract International students and to confuse poor high school kids like yourself. Furthermore, if you apply to the US your MBBS gets converted into a MD anyways.

I disagree. As a final year medical student I believe MD is actually more beneficial for your career. It may be possible to publish papers if you have done some research which is a necessary component of the MD course. Published papers will give you points depending on your application to certain specialties. As specialties spaces are extremely limited you might be better off getting a MD. That being said you can still undertake research whilst doing a MBBS and publish papers which will give the same weighting, just that it won't be part of your course work.

 

[bangladesh]

I disagree. As a final year medical student I believe MD is actually more beneficial for your career. It may be possible to publish papers if you have done some research which is a necessary component of the MD course. Published papers will give you points depending on your application to certain specialties. As specialties spaces are extremely limited you might be better off getting a MD. That being said you can still undertake research whilst doing a MBBS and publish papers which will give the same weighting, just that it won't be part of your course work.

Sorry to sound mean but that is not true at all. Having an MD over an MBBS is not beneficial for your career in ANYWAY in australia/nz.

 

[Kiraken]

I disagree. As a final year medical student I believe MD is actually more beneficial for your career. It may be possible to publish papers if you have done some research which is a necessary component of the MD course. Published papers will give you points depending on your application to certain specialties. As specialties spaces are extremely limited you might be better off getting a MD. That being said you can still undertake research whilst doing a MBBS and publish papers which will give the same weighting, just that it won't be part of your course work.

You do this in a UNSW MBBS anyway, there is literally no change to the curriculum at all.

There are only really two reasons for the change to MD

1) It's more recognisable internationally like in the US, even though it still doesn't make too much of a difference
2) So they can increase fees because the name change to MD excludes it from the lesser fees a "bachelor" degree might get, it's a scheme to get students to pay more fees

 

[bangladesh]

You do this in a UNSW MBBS anyway, there is literally no change to the curriculum at all.

There are only really two reasons for the change to MD

1) It's more recognisable internationally like in the US, even though it still doesn't make too much of a difference
2) So they can increase fees because the name change to MD excludes it from the lesser fees a "bachelor" degree might get, it's a scheme to get students to pay more fees

EXACTLY RIGHT. After the internship tsunami they have changed it so that the international students who cant get internship can at least get internship in their own country since MD is more internationally recognised.

 

[Medman]

Sorry to sound mean but that is not true at all. Having an MD over an MBBS is not beneficial for your career in ANYWAY in australia/nz.

How much do you know about specialty training? Do you know how many people apply and get in? Do you know specialty training point systems? Who have you talked to to get this info? I've talked to doctors junior and senior, professors of departments. For someone in medical science, you seem pretty ignorant. How do you think they differentiate candidates in the future when there is a backlog of junior doctors? Yes that's right research, publications and extra coursework. Guess which degree has research, MD.

UNSW MBBS and MD does not constitute much difference as they have a research component for a year. Comparatively, other universities do not have this.

MD is better than MBBS in the fact that research is conducted as part of your coursework which means a less workload for the potential to publish papers. This is especially important for undergraduate students as they don't understand how hard it is to get a physician or surgery training position nowadays. Ultimately, medicine is medicine but I do believe MD is probably more beneficial to students who are not keen.

 

[bangladesh]

How much do you know about specialty training? Do you know how many people apply and get in? Do you know specialty training point systems? Who have you talked to to get this info? I've talked to doctors junior and senior, professors of departments. For someone in medical science, you seem pretty ignorant. How do you think they differentiate candidates in the future when there is a backlog of junior doctors? Yes that's right research, publications and extra coursework. Guess which degree has research, MD.

UNSW MBBS and MD does not constitute much difference as they have a research component for a year. Comparatively, other universities do not have this.

MD is better than MBBS in the fact that research is conducted as part of your coursework which means a less workload for the potential to publish papers. This is especially important for undergraduate students as they don't understand how hard it is to get a physician or surgery training position nowadays. Ultimately, medicine is medicine but I do believe MD is probably more beneficial to students who are not keen.

lol umad brah. I actually know a lot about speciality training and how competitive it is and have spoken to 2-3 senior doctors and the head of medschool in usyd and I still stand firm on my opinion that an MD is the same as MBBS and the ONLY reason they have changed it is because it's more internationally recognised allowing the international students who didn't get internship, to have a chance of getting internship overseas.

 

[Medman]

Why would I be mad? I'm in med school, you are not'? It has already started with a backlog of doctors trying to get into specialty training. You will realise this if you ever actually enter medicine, graduate and start applying for specialty training.

MBBS is not the same as MD. Bachelor of Medicine/Surgery does not equate to a Doctor of Medicine in terms of qualifications. There have been complaints by older doctors who actually did get a Doctor of Medicine by doing additional research. Yes it does help international students who are from America to be recognised when they practice overseas (regardless they still need to do USMLE Steps 1 & 2) but how many people actually graduate here in Australia and practice overseas. MBBS is already recognised in Europe and some asian countries.

 

[Xt]

I disagree. As a final year medical student I believe MD is actually more beneficial for your career. It may be possible to publish papers if you have done some research which is a necessary component of the MD course. Published papers will give you points depending on your application to certain specialties. As specialties spaces are extremely limited you might be better off getting a MD. That being said you can still undertake research whilst doing a MBBS and publish papers which will give the same weighting, just that it won't be part of your course work.

I enjoy a good discussion Most of the MD programs I've seen just does not compare to an Undergraduate Medical course in terms of full-time research study. Essentially, UG students can dedicate an entire year for research (UNSW is compulsory, Monash/UWS/UNCLE/UNE etc has an optional add-on honours degree), where as Grad students have their research incorporated into their already crammed 4-year degree. So I just don't see how a Graduate MD is better than a UG MD/MBBS in regards to research.

Furthermore, some fields award extra points for having an honours degree (awarded for the year spent researching during UG, where as research is part of the Grad MD curriculum), giving UG a further advantage.

Also, again, MBBS and MD in Australia is completely the same (except one is a bachelors and other is a master). If you intend to work in the US - you'll have to take Step 1 and 2, whether you are a MBBS or MD graduate (there is no advantage). Also when you are registered in the US, you can use the MD title if you so desire.

BTW I totally agree with your points in regards to specialties, I myself am trying to get published during my honours year (fingers crossed!).