Medical Science or.... (1 Viewer)

[Nothing1]

Hello..I have read most of the medical science threads here and whirlpool, etc, and have seen that it is difficult to get a job with a medical science degree but I still have a few questions...

1)How are the job prospects for a Medical science graduate in Medical research with the correct majors? And what majors would be the best to choose from for a career in medical research? e.g. Cell pathology, immunobiology...etc
2) Is it necessary to complete Honours then phD to get a good job?

I'm asking as I've heard you can't really do much with a Medical science degree unless you do post grad Medicine which is extremely competitive and only a small percentage make it...

3) If job prospects are low, should I just do another degree that has higher prospects such as Economics or a Commerce degree? I'm okay with doing it, though I have much more interest in medical science. I know most people will tell me to do what I'm most interested in...but reality is if Medical science degree won't give me any jobs then there really is no point/is a waste I really do not know what I want to do...any help/advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Sinyeta]

u want to do medical science to get into medical research as a job. u are probably the first lol

 

[seventhroot]

do what you like

 

[bangladesh]

You can definitely get a job with a bachelor of medical science you just need to be on top of your game. Options for masters are also wide open once you finish a bmedsci. It's competitive to get a job because the research $$ is limited. But you can defs get a job if you work hard enough/meet with the right researchers.

 

[Nothing1]

do what you like

I know that's what most people would say like I said earlier (3)...however if there's no/low jobs then I probably won't be too happy :/ But thank you for your response

You can definitely get a job with a bachelor of medical science you just need to be on top of your game. Options for masters are also wide open once you finish a bmedsci. It's competitive to get a job because the research $$ is limited. But you can defs get a job if you work hard enough/meet with the right researchers.

Thank you for your response, it is greatly appreciated...I'll keep thinking about it

Can anyone else please help me answer my questions directly?

 

[seventhroot]

I know that's what most people would say like I said earlier (3)...however if there's no/low jobs then I probably won't be too happy :/ But thank you for your response

Thank you for your response, it is greatly appreciated...I'll keep thinking about it

Can anyone else please help me answer my questions directly?

If you want someone to tell you what to do then do a PhD

 

[Queenroot]

u want to do medical science to get into medical research as a job. u are probably the first lol

Untrue, there are many in my med sci degree who want to do med science.

1) Choose a major that you like
2) Tbh to go into research you would definitely need to go higher than a bachelor's degree. And hey, if you do this, you will be doing something you like in a focused fashion.
3) No, do what you like, you are more likely to succeed

Every job market is competitive, there are a lot of careers advisors at uni who would be able to help you and plenty of research internships. IMO you should start the degree, get a feel of it and if you don't like it, then transfer.
Personally I want to major in Anatomy because I find that field of interest, and I wouldn't not do it just because it is "too hard" to get a job.

 

[seventhroot]

Anatomical Researcher

 

[Queenroot]

Anatomical Researcher

so sexy

 

[NeonGreen]

I chose the med biotech degree, so I understand your pain completely lol. I've also heard that job prospects are difficult with a medical science degree. My sister did med chem, but she got into medicine, so I guess that's a different story.

I hope we will be ooookay

 

[OzKo]

If you consider going down the Eco/Comm route, consider specialising in health economics.

From what I've seen, it's a growing field and would suit a combination with Med. sci.

 

[bangladesh]

If you consider going down the Eco/Comm route, consider specialising in health economics.

From what I've seen, it's a growing field and would suit a combination with Med. sci.

I feel like that'd be easier with a health science degree than a medical science degree. Medical science degree is quite anal as it is after all a science degree.

 

[OzKo]

I feel like that'd be easier with a health science degree than a medical science degree. Medical science degree is quite anal as it is after all a science degree.

The important thing to remember is that jobs these days usually do not come with a specific degree requirement. They tend to be broad (industry-based) and there would be a lot of cross-over in terms of actual work responsibilities.

From my understanding, medical science is a much more focused degree compared to health science, which looks at the broader industry. Having a technical understanding definitely helps number crunching and gives you the background that normal economists don't have.

Ultimately, this gives greater flexibility and makes a candidate more competitive in the job market and the workplace.

 

[Nothing1]

I chose the med biotech degree, so I understand your pain completely lol. I've also heard that job prospects are difficult with a medical science degree. My sister did med chem, but she got into medicine, so I guess that's a different story.

I hope we will be ooookay

Good luck with your degree!!!

The important thing to remember is that jobs these days usually do not come with a specific degree requirement. They tend to be broad (industry-based) and there would be a lot of cross-over in terms of actual work responsibilities.

From my understanding, medical science is a much more focused degree compared to health science, which looks at the broader industry. Having a technical understanding definitely helps number crunching and gives you the background that normal economists don't have.

Ultimately, this gives greater flexibility and makes a candidate more competitive in the job market and the workplace.

This also seems interesting, I'll consider it, thank you!

But I also have a few more questions about Medical science.
If I were wanting to do something like specific research such as cardiovascular research and within this something like research in stem cells and other molecular components, would this be possible to do with this degree? What majors would I have to take in Medical science or even B science/advanced?
I know something as specific as this may need a phD, but would it be possible with just a Medical science degree? If I did really well and were able to do honours, would my chances be any higher without a phD?

 

[BlugyBlug]

Good luck with your degree!!!


This also seems interesting, I'll consider it, thank you!

But I also have a few more questions about Medical science.
If I were wanting to do something like specific research such as cardiovascular research and within this something like research in stem cells and other molecular components, would this be possible to do with this degree? What majors would I have to take in Medical science or even B science/advanced?
I know something as specific as this may need a phD, but would it be possible with just a Medical science degree? If I did really well and were able to do honours, would my chances be any higher without a phD?

Honestly, you could accomplish the same thing with a BSc (Adv). Take a look at this, the majority of the guys are BSc students majoring in fields like molecular biology/biochemistry even though the project is solidly within the confines of medical science/medicine..

The only disadvantage I see of choosing a MedSci degree is the fact that your cohort will be far more competitive than it would be as a science grad, since most of them will be aiming for postgrad medicine. Also, depending on university, a medsci course is a bit more limited in terms of faculty electives and freedom. Take a look at the respective program outlines for medsci vs adv sci degrees for each university.

If it helps, I have a similar passion as you and I'm majoring in molecular biology.

 

[Xt]

1) Job prospects for a 3-year BMedical Science is poor, you'll absolutely need to do Honours to even begin a career in research. Firstly, you'll acquire Honours and then you can apply for 'Research Assistant' positions. Your job description will include "doing experiments your supervisor tells you to do", "showing supervisor the results of your experiences every week or whenever you have meetings", "writing up your results as a publication", and "helping honours students/PhD students with their experiments".

The majors don't matter at all. Basically you do genetics if you're interested in genetic research, pharmacology if you're interested in drug design and so forth. Perhaps do a Pathology major and research into cancers or autoimmune diseases or do Neuroscience and research into Alzheimer's etc since they attract lots of funding - but you SHOULD not do it if you hate these areas.

2) The standard route is
- Do Honours
- Become Research Assistant/ or do PhD. As an Research Assistant, your job is heavily dependent on funding. You can have a job one year and boom, next year your supervisor doesn't get funding and you're out.
- Finish PhD and become a Post-doc, again heavily dependent on funding. Post-docs basically do what the assistants do but they have a lot more admin work. Or you can become a Biotech Company Technician, these guys basically help their customers with troubleshooting. I.E. why isn't this machine we bought from you working.

Other routes include moving into a Graduate position at financial businesses and being trained as accountant/business analyst.

3) Always good to have a back up. Com/Med Sci, as others have stated, sounds like a good option. The most important thing is is that research sounds fun and exciting but its a difficult field. Its a field full of politics, lack of funding, no job stability, and more writing/office-style work than actual experiments. But of course, you'll have to experience it for yourself! That's why honours is only 1 year.

 

[Nothing1]

Thanks XT for your response!
Besides research or lab assistant, etc, would there be anything else a 3 yr medical science student could do? Or would that be it? (I'm guessing that's it and I'm screwed)

 

[Xt]

Besides research or lab assistant, etc, would there be anything else a 3 yr medical science student could do? Or would that be it? (I'm guessing that's it and I'm screwed)

Just to be sure, you can only be a lab assistant after 3 years of Medical Science AND 1 year of honours. You can also become a lab technician in a Diagnostic Unit. You get samples and you process them to see if a patient has a particular virus/bacteria, or toxins etc.

 

[Nothing1]

Just to be sure, you can only be a lab assistant after 3 years of Medical Science AND 1 year of honours. You can also become a lab technician in a Diagnostic Unit. You get samples and you process them to see if a patient has a particular virus/bacteria, or toxins etc.

Yeah thanks. I meant to ask if I could do anything with just 3 yrs without honours?

 

[BlugyBlug]

Yeah thanks. I meant to ask if I could do anything with just 3 yrs without honours?

Not sure about that. You seem to be interested in research, why wouldnt you shoot for an honours?