Medical Degrees Around the World

Generally entry to undergraduate medical training is highly competitive. Courses around the world vary slightly in length and content.

Some are postgraduate courses that last an average of 4 years, whilst others are up to 6 years long but can be entered directly from school.

Below are some of the abbreviations given for the basic undergraduate medical degree awarded by universities around the world.

• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (BM, BM BS, BMed, MB BS)
• Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae (BM BCh, MB BCh, MB BChir, MB ChB)
  {Latin for the above!}
• Candidatus Medicinae (Cand med)
• Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• Osteopathic Medical Degree (DO)

Typically training is divided into preclinical years when students undertake basic science subjects such as biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, pathology, pharmacology and embryology. Following this foundation, the clinical years follow.

These involve working in clinical practice as part of a team of doctors who guide and train the students in many different areas of medicine.

Typically students will have lectures, and then rotate through terms where they cover different aspects of medicine. These would include adult medicine, surgery, paediatrics, psychiatry and the many specialist branches of medicine and surgery that exist.

Having completed this basic medical training successfully candidates then spend one year in provisional practice being closely supervised by more senior doctors.

After this ‘intern‘ year they can apply for further postgraduate training to become a General Practitioner or specialist surgeon or physician.

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

Abbreviations:  BM, BM BCh, BM BS, BMed, MB BCh, MB BChir, MB BS, MB ChB

In Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, as well as Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nigeria, People’s Republic of China, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Sudan the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, are the degrees awarded after a course of undergraduate study in medicine and surgery.
People with these degrees and practicing medicine are usually referred to as “Doctor” and use the prefix “Dr”.

Doctor of Medicine and Osteopathic Medical Degree

Abbreviations: MD and DO

In North America the equivalent undergraduate medical degree is called the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD). In addition the osteopathic medical degree (DO) has the same requirements and practice rights as the MD degree.

Candidatus medicinae

Abbreviation: Cand med

The Scandinavian Candidatus medicinae or Candidata medicinae degrees are equivalent to the North American MD degree.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. If in doubt, HealthEngine recommends consulting with a registered health practitioner.