Richmond Gabriel University (RGU) is a renowned medical school in the Caribbean known for its high-quality MD programme that enables students to become successful doctors around the world. 

RGU stands out for its consistent record in the UK as every single one of its graduates who applied via the correct pathway have been approved by the General Medical Council (GMC). Yet, despite this achievement, RGU is currently on GMC's "Overseas medical qualifications we may accept" list. Which raises the question: “How come?”

The short answer is that RGU is on the maybe list due to an old GMC rule about student transfers that was removed in 2019 and is no longer applicable. Both the university and the GMC are aware of this and are following the protocol towards resolving this outdated issue.

The 4-year MD programme of RGU fulfils all of the necessary criteria for degree recognition in the UK, and every single graduate has found success with the GMC. Even before 2019, all graduates from the university received their GMC licence with no issues.

Although we gave you the short answer, feel free to stick around until the end of the blog if you’re curious about how this situation developed and what exactly the transfer rule that got removed was.

What is the GMC’s “Maybe List” Anyway?

The “Overseas medical qualifications we may accept” list consists of medical schools and qualifications outside the UK that the GMC considers to be potentially acceptable. If a university is on the list, then the GMC will evaluate each candidate on a case-by-case basis according to current criteria.

If a candidate is assessed to have the necessary qualifications, then they will get approved to register with the GMC, which has been the case for all graduates from Richmond Gabriel University. 

What Was the Transfer Rule and Why Was it Removed?

In 2015, the GMC ruled that transfer students had to complete at least 50% of their medical course at the university they graduate from.

However, this strict rule posed several difficulties, especially for students who needed to transfer between schools for justified reasons. In 2019, The GMC reevaluated it and decided to remove it altogether. 

How RGU Ended Up on the “Maybe List”

The medical school was established in 2011 and was initially called the All Saints University, College of Medicine in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Since its beginning, it offered a comprehensive 4-year MD programme, the graduates of which have gone on to become successful doctors in the UK, USA, and across Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and Africa.

The university has always prioritised the success of its students and has shaped its curriculum, teaching methods and resource allocation around this goal. As such, the medical school allowed students to transfer into their 3rd year if they had enough credits from another university.

Although none of the university’s graduates ever had an issue with the GMC, it was still placed on the “Overseas medical qualifications we may accept” list due to the rule that states that students need to go through at least 50% of the course at the university they graduate from.

In 2022, the university changed its name to Richmond Gabriel University, College of Medicine, due to a change in management. The curriculum and courses being offered stayed the same. However, this has no correlation to the GMC and does not affect the GMC’s acceptance of the university’s medicine course.

Since the transfer rule was removed in 2019 and no longer exists, RGU is preparing an official request to the GMC to revise the "maybe list." However, there is no immediate urgency since this situation has not and does not directly impact either the graduates or the medical school. 

As always, the number one priority is the success of its students and continuing the 100% GMC acceptance rate.

Conclusion

Richmond Gabriel University’s case serves to show how complicated international medical recognition is. The GMC has never rejected any of RGU’s graduates. Despite having a perfect record with the GMC, the medical school was still put on the “maybe list” due to an outdated rule. 

However, that does not change the fact that RGU provides an exceptional medical education that completely prepares students for their future careers as doctors. This has been proved throughout the years by the university’s successful graduates, who consistently get approved by the GMC even if their qualifications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

This shows that Richmond Gabriel University has the correct approach to medical education by placing its students' future as the top priority.
If you want to learn more about this exceptional medical school, Medlink Students offers free consultations with our expert academic advisors, who can guide you toward kickstarting your academic journey. Don’t forget to ask about the exclusive Medlink Students scholarship that can reduce your tuition fee by up to 50%.

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