The Savvy IMG

Recommendations

We created this page to list all the products, services, and companies that we personally use or have carefully assessed and recommend to doctors coming to work in the UK. Here you can quickly find great products and services in one place, and save up to hundreds of pounds of your hard-earned money!

There are some affiliate links below and we may receive commissions for purchases made through links on this page. These are all products we highly recommend! We are happy with our experience of these products and services but please do research others and only spend money on what is right for you.

Job hunting

Creating an attractive medical CV and finding the perfect job as an IMG can be tough. BMJ Careers supports IMGs by helping you secure a job that is right your unique circumstances. They'll put you in touch with supportive UK-based employers and give you the tools to succeed such as a free CV review and a free careers consultation.

When you have a GMC reference number, sign up here to get a free CV check!

Courses

Swoosh English is a UK-based organisation with native English-speaking teachers. Their courses are officially recognised and recommended by OET and they have already helped thousands of doctors pass. If you want to save money by passing the exam on your first attempt, Swoosh English could be a good fit.

Definitely check out their free Pass First Time video mini-series before you enrol.

We met Dr Aman Arora at an IMG conference and we were really impressed with his dedication to medical education! He is a qualified GP and former PLAB 2 examiner, and he has tons of highly-rated study materials for PLAB, MSRA, and MRCGP

We definitely recommend checking what's available at Arora Medical Education if you're preparing for upcoming exams!

Use the code ARORASAVVY10 for a 10% discount on your order

doctor adam jakes online courses clinical governance

The live online courses by Dr Adam Jakes on Clinical Audit, Quality Improvement, and Leadership and Management are both detailed and practical. All the courses are CPD-accredited and are a great way for IMGs to become familiar with how things work in the NHS.

If you want your CV to stand out and want to be able to discuss these topics well at your job interview, you should look into these courses. They're only held three times a year so check the next available dates here.

Books & Apps

Whether you buy it or borrow it, this book is a must-read! Every doctor recommends this book for interviews, and so do we. I wouldn't have landed my Standalone FY2 post without it. Get your copy here on Amazon.

The Oxford handbooks are a staple in any UK doctors quick reference library. Almost every doctor has a copy of one of these for their specialty in their bag, we definitely do!

If you're preparing for PLAB, the handbooks of Clinical Medicine and Clinical Specialties are very good references. If you're just starting work in the UK, the Handbook of the Foundation Programme is really useful. If you're working in a specific specialty, definitely consider purchasing the relevant handbook so you can excel from your first day. Get your copy here on Amazon.

Don't let the name fool you, this handy little app is not just for foundation doctors! With clear and succinct information covering assessment, management, references and clinical calculators - it's a great companion for all junior doctors.

Check out the app here and download your copy on Google Play or Apple Store.

Kimberly has used the Emedica courses to prepare for the SJT for the UK Foundation Programme, and the MSRA for her application to Ophthalmology training. She got into London programmes both times and highly recommends Emedica.

The course director Dr Rahman has kindly offered a £20 discount on the MSRA Crammer course if you use the code Savvyimg. This code can also be used on any of the GP ST entry courses for the same discount.

Services We Love

From medical books to everyday items at low prices, Amazon Prime delivers straight to your doorstep usually the next day - and sometimes even the same day. Great for our busy schedules!

Sign up here for a one month trial of free deliveries, movies, e-books and many more.

Save on expensive fees when transferring money back home with Transferwise. I save roughly £240 a year just by using Transferwise instead of the bank, you can read about how I did this in more detail here.

Sign up here to save money on your transfers too.

Public transportation is usually the quickest and most affordable way to get around London and the UK, but sometimes it works out cheaper to use a cab if you're travelling in a group. Cabs are also a good option if you're travelling late at night and there aren't any trains available.

We've found Uber to be the cheapest and most convenient cab service to use. Sign up with the code 7798ae to get a discount off your first ride!

UK Accommodation

These are the tried-and-tested companies that we regularly use to find affordable accommodation globally. For further details on the pros and cons of each company, be sure to read My top 3 websites to find cheap short-term accommodation in the UK.

Airbnb is our number 1 go-to website to find affordable accommodation anywhere in the world. We use this when going on holiday, or attending conferences and courses. The accommodation is usually a lot cheaper than hotels while being in convenient locations, and having lots of money-saving amenities like laundry and kitchen access which most hotels don't offer.

Use this link to get up to £25 credit towards your first booking!

Your first bank account in the UK

Open your first UK bank account in a matter of minutes from the comfort of your home with Monese and earn £15 along the way. Use the code SAVVYIMG to avail of your £15 sign-up bonus which you get as soon as you've made your first card transaction. Sign up here to open your first UK bank account.

Read all about opening your first UK bank account as an IMG here.

Perfect as the your first UK phone number be it for PLAB, vacation, clinical attachment or working!. ID mobile is not only affordable, it also allows you to rollover any data you may have left over on the previous month to the next which is a key feature in saving money!

We've both been on the Three network for almost 5 years. The coverage is good and we've always managed to secure good deals each year, especially during Black Friday sales. What we like most is Go Roam service where you can use your phone in 71 countries overseas without additional fees. Perfect for going on holiday!

We went through so many mortgage brokers when we were buying our first house, and in our experience London & Country is the only broker that knows how to deal with doctor salaries. They'll ensure your total salary is counted in the mortgage calculation, while many others will only include the basic pay and disregard banding and other supplements! Best part? They don't charge any broker fees.

If you're buying a house, definitely have a chat with them and see what they can do for you. Mention The Savvy IMG and you'll get...

When we came to remortgaging the house we had started doing locum work. By that time we needed a mortgage broker who specialised with additional income of this nature. CMME were excellent for this and helped us get a really good deal. If you have any other income other than your salary as an NHS employee, I would recommend speaking to them to see how they can help you. If you mention The Savvy IMG as your source of referral,

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