If you would like to study medicine but do not necessarily want to work within a hospital or clinical environment there is still a variety of interesting and exciting career opportunities open to you.

You will need to identify areas of interests to you and how you might be able to transfer the skills you learn throughout your medical degree, for example, communication and problem solving skills and team working. Advice on the alternative medical career pathways will be provided at medical school, either as part of your course, through workshops or one-to-one meetings with the careers advisor.

However, it is also useful for you to carry out your own research prior to medical school, and at medical school, to make sure you know the types of careers you might be interested in. This will help you to gain a detailed insight into the possibilities once you graduate.

A list of other possible career options can be seen below. It is important to remember that these are just some of the possible careers that you might like to consider. The Medical Careers website provides detailed information on these alternatives including things to consider and how to prepare yourself for a career in one of these fields.

• Medical Journalism
• Civil Service
• Medical Politics and Ethics
• Medical Law
• Defence Medical Services
• The Prison Health Service
• Acute Trust Advisor
• Alternative and Complementary Medicine
• Aviation Medicine
• Benefits work (Medical Advisor)
• Clinical Forensic Medical Examiner
• Dive Medicine
• Expedition Medicine
• Forensic Psychiatry
• Management Consultancy
• Medical Advisor (DVLA)
• Medical Communications
• Medical Photographer
• Maritime Medicine
• Medical Relief work
• Medical Sales
• Occupational Medicine
• Sports and Exercise Medicine
• Space Medicine
• Voluntary work