8 Things Medical Students Should Do Before Working in the UK (2026)

The following things may help you improve your CV:

1. Audits.
2. Research projects.
3. Quality improvement projects.
4. BSc or BA degree obtained during medical school.
5. Journal publications.
6. Poster presentations.
7. Oral presentations.
8. Teaching experience (formal or informal).
9. Clinical attachments (in the UK).
10. Courses.
11. Workshops.
12. Seminars.
13. Voluntary work.
14. Leadership and/or managerial roles (academic or non-academic).
15. Any other extracurricular activities.
16. Electives (abroad).
17. Electives (in the home country).

Important tip: Instead of randomly adding these to your CV, focus on your objectives; check recruitment websites to review the eligibility criteria for jobs. Only add things that are required for your goals or things that you are genuinely interested in.

Remember that documentary evidence of the above-mentioned points is important. Otherwise, they may not count.

You can read more about CV writing here: How to Write a One-Page Doctor CV.

Before you design your personal roadmap for PLAB, it is important to know the general Roadmap for PLAB.

Personal Roadmap for PLAB

The following would be the ideal roadmap. But you can tailor it according to your circumstances.

1. Begin your homework for PLAB 2 visa 6 months before you graduate.

2. Start your ECFMG verification process as soon as you graduate.

3. Take IELTS soon after graduating.

4. Take PLAB 1 exam as soon as you pass IELTS; you can take PLAB 1 only after graduation.

5. Apply for PLAB 2 visa during your House Job or immediately after your House Job, depending on your homework for PLAB 2 visa.

6. Take PLAB 2 exam in the UK.

7. Get registered with the GMC.

8. Apply for jobs in the UK.

As discussed in my post Homework for PLAB 2 Visa the following will increase your chances of getting a UK visa:

A) Employment
Make sure you are employed as soon as you graduate.

• This counts as a strong tie to your home country when applying for a UK visa.

B) Salary
It is best to be paid on time during your employment.

• To show evidence of your employment.

It would also be ideal if you could save your salary once you start working.

• To show that you have enough funds for the trip. 

C) Bank Balance & Transactions
Make no big transactions in or out of your account. You will have to explain these transactions later on. If you do make them, make sure you have explanations along with documentary evidence.

• Unexplained transactions can indicate that you are hiding something.

IELTS

It’s best to study for IELTS just before or soon after graduating. This can depend on the roadmap you design for yourself.

PLAB 1

You cannot take PLAB 1 before graduating. You should start studying for PLAB 1 just before or after graduating, depending on your personal roadmap.

PLAB 1 only tests clinical subjects, not basic sciences. There is no need to study any particular book for PLAB 1 preparation during medical school.

It is very important to stay in touch with the news to remain aware of the following:

1. GMC news.
2. UK training recruitment policies (Medical Training Prioritisation Act 2026)
3. Latest study trends.
4. Latest study material.
5. Any other updates relating to your UK journey.

It is difficult to enter the UK’s training system through FY1 as explained here. Therefore, it is best to make plans for your House Job in your home country, as explained here.

Connect with other doctors who have already gone through the PLAB journey. Online communities, forums and social media groups can provide useful insights about exams, visa applications and job opportunities.

However, always verify information from official sources.

In the current job market, it can be challenging to secure a job in the UK. While many IMGs do still succeed, it is important to have a plan B of what to do if you struggle to find a UK job. Plan B can be one of the following:

(a) working in your home country, passing your local exams, strengthening your CV.

(b) pursuing another country.

Evaluate your options and make the decision that works for you.

Yes, you can.

It is best to take IELTS before graduating, to save time after graduation.

Ideally, you will complete your GMC registration within two years of your IELTS. Even if you do not complete your GMC registration within two years, remember that you do not need IELTS to appear in PLAB 2; you only need IELTS for GMC registration. Most candidates whose IELTS expire, go to the UK for PLAB 2 without a valid IELTS. On their PLAB 2 trip, their exposure to English increases and their English improves significantly. They take IELTS right after PLAB 2, with little to no preparation, and comfortably score above the required marks.

You need to graduate from medical school and achieve the required score in IELTS before you can register for PLAB 1.

You need IELTS Academic or IELTS UKVI Academic, from British Council or Australian Education Office, with 7.0 in each of the four areas and an overall score of 7.5.

This includes any teaching experience that you might have without having a formal teaching contract. For example, if you ever taught anything to your colleagues, your juniors or even your patients, it can count as your informal teaching experience.

You can provide evidence for this by asking people who attended your teaching session to fill JRCPTB’s evaluation form. You can download the form by clicking here. You can also design your own feedback forms.

It makes absolutely no difference as to which books you use during medical school. PLAB 1’s preparation is based on clinical knowledge and reflexes, not on any theoretical knowledge. You should not start preparing for PLAB 1 before graduating.