Commonwealth University College of Medicine St Lucia
Dear General Medical Council,
Commonwealth University College of Medicine in Saint Lucia is listed in WDOMS as having a 4.5 MD course https://search.wdoms.org/home/SchoolDeta...
Qualification Title: Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
Year Instruction Began: 2019
Curriculum Duration: 4.5 years
Language of Instruction: English
However, they're advertising a 3-year accelerated shortcut. My question is regarding the duration of the study.
1. Would you accept such pathways in Saint Lucia where the WDOMS-approved program is 4.5 years, but the university offers UK students to graduate on a shorter route of 3 years?
2. How many graduates from this university in Saint Lucia have the GMC accepted for registration who attended the 4.5-year MD course but studied only for 3 years?
Yours faithfully,
Christian Smith
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Information Access team
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The General Medical Council helps to protect patients and improve medical
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Dear Christian Smith,
Your information request – IR1-4009797282
Thank you for your email dated 14^th July 2023.
How we will consider your request
We are going to consider your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000 (FOIA). The FOIA gives us 20 working days to respond, but we’ll come
back to you as soon as we can.
Yours Sincerely,
Alex Mason
Information Access Assistant
General Medical Council
3 Hardman Street
Dear Christian Smith
Your information access request IR1-4009797282
Thank you for your email dated 17 July 2023 asking for information
relating to the Commonwealth University College of Medicine in Saint
Lucia. I’ve considered your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000 (FOIA).
1. Would you accept such pathways in Saint Lucia where the WDOMS-approved
program is 4.5 years, but the university offers UK students to
graduate on a shorter route of 3 years?
Whether a 3-year course is acceptable is not something we can answer
definitively. Commonwealth University College of Medicine is an
institution we have highlighted as a potential issue due to course
duration. Therefore, any qualification from the university will need a
full new awarding body assessment at such time as a graduate contacts us
regarding taking the PLAB or applying for registration.
2. How many graduates from this university in Saint Lucia have the GMC
accepted for registration who attended the 4.5-year MD course but
studied only for 3 years?
There are no registered doctors with a primary medical qualification from
the Commonwealth University College of Medicine in Saint Lucia, nor have
any applied since 2019.
Further information regarding the requirements for acceptable overseas
qualifications can be found on our website: [1]Acceptable overseas
qualifications - GMC (gmc-uk.org)
I hope you find this information useful. If you have any queries about
this, or need anything further, please contact me on the details below.
Yours sincerely
Edd Mustill
Information Access Officer
Information Access Team
General Medical Council
[2]www.gmc-uk.org
E: [3][email address]
T: 0161 923 7128
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