A medical school or faculty of medicine is a tertiary educational institution or part of such an institution that teaches medicine. In addition to fulfilling a major requirement to become a medical doctor, some medical schools offer Master's Degree programs, PhD Programs, and other educational programs. Medical schools can also employ medical researchers, and operate hospitals or other programs.
Medical schools teach subjects such as human anatomy, biochemistry, immunology, neurobiology, genetics, and human biology.
The entry criteria, structure, teaching methodology and nature of medical programs offered at medical schools vary considerably around the world. Medical schools are often highly competitive, using standardized entrance examinations to narrow the selection criteria for candidates (e.g. MCAT and BMAT). Students wanting to enter medical school often benefit from an undergraduate pre-medical curriculum including physics, inorganic chemistry, human biology and organic chemistry.
Although a medical school may confer upon a graduate the title of Doctor of Medicine, a doctor typically may not legally practice medicine until licensed by a government authority. Licensing may also require passing a test, undergoing a criminal background check, checking references, and paying a fee.
