Growing up in Syria 

When I was growing up, I actually wanted to be an engineer. But when I was around 14, the war started in Syria, which is where I lived. All of a sudden, it was an absurd idea to become anything but a doctor because people were dying every day.

From then on, I didn't have a plan B – it was always medicine. I started my medical degree at the University of Aleppo and studied for two and a half years. But after that, it wasn't safe to stay there anymore.

‘I thought to myself that when people are dying, they don't need a poet or an architect. What they really need is a doctor.’

I decided to relocate to the UK and start again from scratch. I spent my days and nights emailing UK medical schools to see if they would accept my qualifications (I didn’t have any A-levels or any kind of British qualifications). Most of them said no, some didn’t reply, and a few said maybe.

So, I decided to start working on my IELTS (International English Language Testing System) which is an English language proficiency test, and a requirement for all the medical schools I was applying to. After two attempts, I got the score I needed.

Searching for support and guidance

After completing my IELTS, I realised I also have to sit an exam called the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). I’d never even heard of this test before.

So, I started going to the library, looking at books and so on, but it just seemed impossible. I had to be adaptable to whatever came my way so I thought to myself I can’t worry about the IELTS or UCAT, interviews, and funding all at once. I need to take this one step at a time and things will work out. 

At this point, what I needed was an online platform to practise UCAT questions. That’s when I came across Medify. Medify appealed to me because, first of all, it’s affordable. And this was a very important consideration for me.

At the time, I didn’t have any source of income as I’d just arrived in the UK. Medify’s UCAT platform looked professional and was easy to navigate. I was also able to access Medify’s Personal Statement course for free, which massively helped me with what to write and how to make it flow nicely.

‘With Medify’s help, I got marks that put me in the top decile, so that made my interviews easier.’

I then started looking for affordable interview courses, but the prices were astronomical. So, I ended up using different online resources to prepare for my interviews.

I had no prior knowledge of the NHS and had no idea what any of the many acronyms meant. I wasn’t even familiar with any UK history or politics, so I researched this and made hundreds of pages of notes.

Overcoming barriers to entry into medicine

Eventually, I got four offers to study medicine at Glasgow, Manchester, QMUL, and Queen’s University Belfast. Although I was happy to receive these offers, there was still the huge issue of funding.

I applied to Student Finance England and my application was rejected because I hadn’t been a resident in the UK for at least three years. 

‘At this point, I thought, that’s it. This is the end of my medical path and I can’t do anything about it.’

Even though I got all my offers, I was disappointed. It felt like a waste of effort and I regretted going through all of that naively knowing I don’t have the funding.

I started to think maybe it was not meant to be, and that I should start looking into other career options such as tutoring, which I started doing that year alongside applying to medical school.

Refusing to give up on hope

I decided to start looking into scholarships. I remember when I received an email to interview for a scholarship, I actually archived the email as I thought it was a hoax.

As I was swiping left, I read the word ‘interview’, so I swiped right again. At this time, I was submitting applications to anything I could find online – I didn’t even remember submitting this specific application.

After attending the interview, I received an email saying that I’d been given a scholarship for the full tuition fees for five years of medical school!

I couldn't believe it was real because if you go online, you don't see that there's hope. Throughout my journey I had to search for all the answers I didn’t have. I read so much, and searched a lot in order to be prepared.

Having been awarded my MBBS degree with Distinction, I see my journey as a live example of a famous quote I believed in: ‘Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.’

My main message is this: If you’re struggling on your journey to medicine, don’t give up on hope. Equip and prepare yourself and take things one step at a time. Surround yourself with supportive people and stay away from those who put you down.

Unfortunately, many people think, ‘If this person does better, then I’m doing worse, and I have less chance of getting in.’ That mindset of competition and being up against each other is the wrong one to have. We help ourselves by helping others. 

Do you need support during your admissions journey? 

At Medify, our mission is to democratise healthcare education, and break down barriers to entry into medicine and dentistry. See below for a number of helpful resources:

• Educational Grants and Scholarships – Schwab & Westheimer – educational support for refugees

• Guidance for international students – what you need to consider as an international student aspiring to study medicine in the UK, including the process and costs

• Hope for the Young – mentoring, advocacy, and financial support for young refugees and asylum-seekers

• RefuAid – tailored support to help people who have fled their home and are rebuilding their life in the UK

• Refugee Study – information on scholarships, grants, and free courses for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK

• Medify discounts, scholarships and bursaries – find out if you’re eligible for financial support‍