Doctor
Doctors diagnose and treat illness and injury, help prevent disease and guide patients through their care.
What can you do with a medicine degree?
Also called: Human medicine · MBBS · MBChB · Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Updated How we use data
Quick answer
A medicine degree trains you to diagnose, treat and prevent illness, combining medical science with supervised clinical work in hospitals and communities. Most graduates become doctors after further training and a licence to practise. The degree also leads to careers in public health, epidemiology, medical research and university teaching.
Careers with a medicine degree
Most medicine graduates go on to work as doctors, first in supervised training posts and then in a specialty such as general practice, surgery, paediatrics or psychiatry. The degree also opens doors outside direct patient care. Some graduates become epidemiologists or public health specialists, others do research or teach as university lecturers, and a few retrain in related fields such as clinical psychology. Medical knowledge is also valued in the pharmaceutical industry, health policy, medical writing and global health organisations.
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Epidemiologist
Epidemiologists study how diseases and other health problems spread, who they affect and why, and use this evidence to prevent and control them.
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Clinical psychologist
Clinical psychologists assess and treat mental health problems and emotional difficulties, such as depression, anxiety, trauma and eating disorders, mainly through psychological assessment and talking therapies.
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University lecturer
University lecturers teach students in higher education, carry out research in their subject and publish their findings.
Other roles graduates go into: Public health specialist · Clinical research scientist · Medical science liaison · Medical writer · Health policy adviser · Clinical informatics specialist
What you study and the skills you gain
Typical topics
- Anatomy and physiology
- Biochemistry and cell biology
- Pathology and pharmacology
- Clinical skills: taking a history and examining patients
- Clinical placements in areas such as surgery, paediatrics and psychiatry
- Public health and epidemiology
- Medical ethics, law and professionalism
- Communicating with patients and families
Skills you gain
- Diagnosing problems from symptoms, tests and evidence
- Making decisions under pressure and with incomplete information
- Communicating clearly and kindly with patients and families
- Practical clinical and procedural skills
- Working in teams with nurses, pharmacists and other professionals
- Reading and applying scientific research
How the degree differs around the world
In much of the world, including the UK, most of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, medicine is a first degree that you start straight after school. It usually takes five to six years, and sometimes longer. Some countries, such as the UK, Ireland and Australia, also offer graduate-entry programmes for people who already have a degree. In the United States and Canada, you normally complete a bachelor's degree first and then a four-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) programme. Almost everywhere, graduation is followed by supervised practice, such as an internship, foundation years or residency, and a licence from the medical regulator. Places are limited and entry is highly competitive.
How do medicine graduates do?
Earnings and employment by country
The OECD compares graduates by field of study. This subject falls under “Medicine and dentistry”. The first column compares the median earnings of tertiary-educated adults in this field with all tertiary-educated adults (100 = average).
| Country | Earnings index (all graduates = 100) | Employment rate, this field | Employment rate, all graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia | 178 (2023) | 91.3% (2024) | 89.2% |
| Slovenia | 169 (2020) | 93.3% (2024) | 90.8% |
| Finland | 166 (2022) | 96.3% (2024) | 88.8% |
| Norway | 141 (2023) | 91.0% (2024) | 89.3% |
| Switzerland | 140 (2023) | 89.7% (2024) | 89.5% |
| Germany | 139 (2020) | 89.5% (2024) | 88.7% |
| Sweden | 131 (2023) | 89.8% (2024) | 89.6% |
| Austria | 122 (2023) | 88.2% (2024) | 86.4% |
| Canada | 120 (2020) | 81.9% (2021) | 80.4% |
| Mexico | 119 (2023) | 82.7% (2024) | 81.5% |
| Costa Rica | 113 (2023) | 76.3% (2024) | 79.2% |
| Latvia | 110 (2023) | 94.4% (2024) | 87.7% |
| Romania | 107 (2023) | 94.1% (2024) | 91.5% |
| Australia | 94 (2020) | 87.7% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Chile | 93 (2023) | 89.3% (2022) | 85.7% |
| Luxembourg | 93 (2023) | 82.3% (2024) | 85.7% |
| Portugal | 90 (2020) | 93.3% (2024) | 90.7% |
| South Korea | 89 (2023) | — | — |
| United Kingdom | 86 (2020) | 81.9% (2021) | 84.6% |
| United States | 85 (2023) | 85.4% (2017) | 84.3% |
| Denmark | 84 (2023) | 88.9% (2021) | 87.8% |
| Croatia | — | 96.0% (2024) | 89.7% |
| Iceland | — | 95.4% (2016) | 93.6% |
| Lithuania | — | 94.8% (2024) | 90.4% |
| Poland | — | 94.0% (2024) | 91.6% |
| Slovakia | — | 93.3% (2024) | 90.5% |
| Czechia | — | 91.1% (2024) | 88.4% |
| Netherlands | — | 90.9% (2024) | 90.6% |
| Belgium | — | 89.9% (2024) | 88.5% |
| Italy | — | 89.0% (2024) | 84.7% |
| Ireland | — | 88.8% (2021) | 86.9% |
| France | — | 88.1% (2024) | 87.3% |
| Spain | — | 85.5% (2024) | 83.9% |
| Hungary | — | 83.6% (2024) | 76.2% |
| Greece | — | 79.4% (2024) | 82.3% |
| Türkiye | — | 78.3% (2016) | 72.9% |
| Peru | — | 76.9% (2024) | 81.7% |
Source: OECD, Education at a Glance. Adults aged 25–64 with tertiary education; latest year available, full-time earners where published. Values are for the whole field of study, not this subject alone. Where a country publishes only broad fields, we use “Health and welfare”.
Graduate earnings in the UK
The UK government links tax records to university records to measure what graduates earn. These figures are for “Medicine (non-specific)” first-degree graduates who were employed in the 2023–24 tax year.
| Time since graduating | Median | Lower quartile | Upper quartile | In work or study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| After 1 year | £43,600 | £39,900 | £52,300 | 97.3% |
| After 3 years | £51,600 | £42,800 | £61,500 | 92.2% |
| After 5 years | £56,400 | £48,500 | £67,000 | 92.2% |
| After 10 years | £66,200 | £46,500 | £85,600 | 88.4% |
Source: UK Department for Education, Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO), tax year 2023–24. Earnings are annual and include only graduates in sustained employment. More UK detail on CourseToJob.co.uk
Is a medicine degree right for you?
It may suit you if
- You are fascinated by how the human body works and what happens when it goes wrong.
- You want work that involves people directly and can cope with seeing illness and distress.
- You are ready for many years of study and training, and for learning throughout your career.
Think twice if
- You want a short route into work, because full training as a specialist doctor often takes ten years or more.
- You find long shifts, night work or high-pressure situations very difficult.
- You are mainly attracted by status or pay rather than by the daily work of caring for patients.
Further study
After graduating, almost all doctors continue with postgraduate training in a specialty, which is usually organised and assessed by professional colleges or boards. Some take a master's degree or PhD in areas such as public health, epidemiology or medical research, either as an extra year during the degree or later in their career. Doctors keep learning throughout their working lives, and many countries require them to show continuing professional development to keep their licence.
Questions about studying medicine
What jobs can you get with a medicine degree?
Most graduates train as doctors and later specialise, for example in general practice, surgery, psychiatry or emergency medicine. Others become epidemiologists, public health specialists, medical researchers or university lecturers. Medical graduates also work in the pharmaceutical industry, health policy, medical writing and global health organisations, and a few retrain in related fields such as clinical psychology.
How long does it take to become a doctor?
It depends on the country and the specialty. The medical degree itself usually takes five to six years, or four years after a first degree in the United States and Canada. A period of supervised practice and then specialty training follow, which usually take several more years. In total, training to work independently as a specialist often takes around ten years or more.
Can I study medicine if I already have a degree?
Yes. In the United States and Canada, medicine is normally studied only after a first degree. In the UK, Ireland and Australia, universities also offer graduate-entry programmes, which usually last four years. In many other countries, graduates can apply to the standard programme. Places for graduates are limited and competitive, and many programmes require an admissions test or science subjects in your first degree.
Is medicine a hard degree?
Yes, it is one of the most demanding degrees. You need to learn a large amount of science, pass frequent exams and develop practical skills on clinical placements, often with long days. It is also emotionally demanding, because you will meet patients who are very ill or dying. Good study habits, support from other students and a real interest in patient care help most students succeed.
Related subjects
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Biomedical science
A biomedical science degree teaches the biology of human health and disease, and how laboratory tests help doctors diagnose and treat patients.
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Dentistry
A dentistry degree trains you to prevent, diagnose and treat problems of the teeth, gums and mouth, and leads to registration or a licence as a dentist.
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Nursing
A nursing degree prepares you to care for patients and families in hospitals, clinics, homes and communities, combining health science with supervised practice on clinical placements.
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Pharmacy
A pharmacy degree teaches how medicines are discovered, made and used, and how to make sure patients use them safely and effectively.
Sources
- OECD — Education at a Glance, labour-market outcomes — Earnings and employment by field of study, adults 25–64
- UK Department for Education — Graduate labour market outcomes (LEO) — CAH CAH01-01-02 — Medicine (non-specific)
- UNESCO — ISCED-F 2013 — ISCED-F 0912
How to cite this page: CourseToJob (2026). What can you do with a medicine degree? Jobs and salaries. https://coursetojob.com/subjects/medicine/ (accessed September 26, 2026)