When we were in high school, we were asked where we would have wished to pursue our graduate studies. Most students said they would prefer to study abroad. In my class, only two students did actually leave high school and flew out of the country for higher studies – but neither of them went to pursue a health related profession.
Most of us who at the time dreamed of pursuing a career in medicine ended up doing our undergraduate degrees locally.
Now, it’s no secret that gaining admission to a learning institution abroad is hardly a walk in the park. There is a list of requirements, which often involves sitting for additional exams. And even then you are probably competing for limited slots available to international students. It’s literally you against the rest of the world. But perhaps the most daunting aspect is the steep tuition fees that come with studying in some of the top universities, and you have to include accommodation and upkeep in a foreign country. Furthermore, once you do the currency conversion you often find that the cost of one course abroad for one of your children is enough to meet the cost of all your children's education. The prohibitive fees means only a few parents can afford to finance their children's education from their pocket.
Therefore, most students have to apply for scholarships and unfortunately these aren’t handed over on a silver platter either. In describing their experiences while applying for undergraduate scholarships for medicine, some of my colleagues say they spent two years waiting for full scholarships only to receive partials, and still they were unable to raise the rest of the fund.
But, perhaps, the recurring comment was the scholarships ended up being their goal not the institution. They found themselves having lost sight of the schools they dreamed of joining and focused on those that offered a variety of scholarships. Needless to say, some of these institutions would be in regions that required one to first learn the official language for at least an year. Add that to the duration of the course, and many realised they couldn't remain in school for that long. This, coupled with a different curriculum which required one to undertake a pre med programme before joining medical school locked many out. For other students, it was the fact in some institutions, patient interaction and hands on experience would be limited.
In the end, some consider these factors and figure out they are better off starting off from a local university before taking the next step in a different institute. But even then, it’s not without its challenges.
In addition, like the practice is in many regions, if one does not study in a medical institute in the country but they intend to practise upon their return, they must undergo an internship period with a local institute.