Samuel Tang ’24 is wrapping up his first year of studies in medicine at King’s College London (KCL), one of the UK’s top medical schools. The school was ranked 12th globally in the 'Clinical, Pre-Clinical and Health' disciplinary table by the Times Higher Education World University rankings in 2022.
Samuel is loving life in London. He lives in residence just five minutes from KCL’s Health Science campus and enjoys “the rich cultural aspect of living in a metropolis”—including evenings out with classmates to West End plays and indulging in Indian takeout.
“It rains a lot more than Victoria,” he joked, but added that the fresh produce has exceeded expectations.
He’s upfront about the cost: tuition, residence, travel and discretionary spending total just over $100,000 CAD per year. “There’s no getting around the fact that studying medicine in the UK is pricey,” he said. “But when you factor in the time saved and the accelerated pace into a job, KCL is well worth the cost.”
One of the school’s biggest appeals is its five-year structure, compared to the six-year programs at Oxbridge and University College London. “Saving a year of tuition and living expenses, and starting work earlier, is a big deal,” said Samuel. The academics are world-class, too. His personal tutor is a leading respiratory physician, and research opportunities abound.
“There’s a lot of research going on at KCL,” he added. “Quite literally, those who seek will find.”
His first year has included pre-clinical biomedical science—biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, physiology and anatomy dissections. He’s already spent time working with cadavers and has been taught to treat organ donors “with the utmost respect.” In Years 2 and 3, students explore pathology and begin clinical placements, rotating through specialties every few weeks. The final two years are almost entirely clinical, with more intensive training in disease pathology and management.
An Open Mind and a Clear Path
Samuel is keeping an open mind about his future specialty.
“It’s too early to narrow down,” he said. “Clinical rotations will give me a better sense.” While UK medical specialisation happens in postgraduate training, medical students can choose components and projects during their studies to build a portfolio that reflects their interests.
After completing his degree, Samuel could pursue post-graduate training in the UK, Canada, or the United States.
“Right now, I’m thinking I’d like to return to North America,” he said, noting that Canada recognizes completed UK specialty training, but the U.S. currently does not.
For SMUS students interested in applying to UK medical schools, Samuel has practical advice: “Take the most challenging science courses offered—APs—study hard and try to do well.”
While some schools require the SAT, KCL does not, but all applicants must write the UCAT. He recommends taking the UCAT ANZ, as it opens more options, but stresses the importance of researching the technical details thoroughly.
“The nice thing about the UCAT is that you get your score immediately,” he added, “and you can gauge what range of unis you should apply to.”
Beyond grades and test scores, applicants should build course-related experiences outside the classroom.
“Volunteering, sports, school clubs—there’s flexibility in how you build your case,” Samuel said. “The experience itself isn’t the key. It’s about reflecting on the skills you’ve developed and showing how they’re relevant to medicine.”
Samuel remains a loyal SMUS alum and has already mentored another student interested in medicine in the UK. He’s happy to help others and invites students to connect with him through their university counsellor. For those beginning the journey, he also shares insights on his YouTube channel, where he’s posted advice on applying to UK medical schools. While he doesn’t plan to become an influencer, he hopes to upload more videos this summer—“if I have time!” he laughs.
