Students who wish to pursue a career in medicine must have

You’ve decided you want to do a univeristy course. Whether you would like a career change, a better job or simply to learn something new, it’s a good idea to think carefully first. Here’s a guide to help you.

Firstly, you need qualifications because they prove you’ve acquired knowledge or developed skills. For some careers like medicine and law, it’s essential you have specific qualifications. For others, such as journalism, it helps to have a particular qualification.

Most universities set entry requirements for degree courses. Mature entrants don’t always need formal qualifications, but need evidence of recent study, relevant work experience or professional qualifications. However, it’s not always essential to have a qualification. Working knowledge, such as being able to use computer software, can be just as important.

Secondly, your motives will help you choose the best course for your aims and goals. There are vocational and academic courses. For example, for a career in plumbing, a vocational course is essential. For teaching, you need a degree. However, for many jobs, you have a choice between academic and vocational courses. A vocational course is better if you like doing things with your hands and working manually. You might prefer an academic course if you like researching, analyzing and presenting arguments.