UCL and King’s students win 2024 University of London Gold Medals and Betuel Prizes

This year, students from UCL and King's College London claimed the top honours in both medicine and dentistry categories.

The awards, which have been running since 1903, recognise excellence in medical and dental education, with the Gold Medal, and a £500 prize, given to the winner and the Betuel Prize, and a £200 prize, to the runner-up in each field.

The competition involves a rigorous face-to-face examination by a panel of external examiners, testing candidates' knowledge across various areas of medicine. For MBBS students, these areas include General Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Clinical Pharmacology, Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry. The BDS students are tested on subjects including Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental Public Health, Orthodontics and Restorative Dentistry. The winner is determined based on their performance during this viva examination.

2024 Award Recipients:

MBBS

• Gold Medal: Dr Salsabeel Kazi (UCL Medical School)
• Betuel Prize: Lucy Seddon (King's College London)

BDS

• Gold Medal: Julian Ahluwalia (King's College London)
• Betuel Prize: Xii-Cin Lim (King's College London)

Dr Salsabeel Kazi, this year's MBBS Gold Medal winner, said: "I feel incredibly honoured and grateful to be graduating from UCL Medical School with the University of London Gold Medal. I was initially nervous to partake in the viva but the Faculty and my friends and family were very supportive and encouraging."

"The viva itself was challenging but my clinical years at UCLMS had taught me how to stay calm under pressure, follow a structured patient-centred approach and demonstrate my clinical reasoning."

"I would like to thank the incredible doctors and medical staff who work at UCL and its associated hospitals for their teaching and mentorship. I would also like to thank and congratulate the UCLMS class of 2024!"

Julian Ahluwalia, this year’s BDS Gold Medal winner, said: "I am deeply humbled to have been awarded this year’s University of London Gold Medal. It was an honour to take part and compete against such accomplished candidates. The rigorous examination process proved both challenging and exhilarating, with the examiners pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and critical thinking.

"I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the dedicated university and NHS staff at King’s College London. This award is a testament to their unwavering commitment and expertise in teaching their respective disciplines. I wish to also thank my family and colleagues for their unwavering support and encouragement throughout my studies.

"Finally, I offer my warmest congratulations to my fellow dental graduates. Let us build on the excellent foundation we’ve received to innovate, serve and make a lasting positive impact on our patients’ lives."