Graduate Entry to Medicine:

Options, funding & applying

April 2012

Alex Langhorn

Careers Consultant

What we will cover

• Courses and routes into medicine for graduates

• Entry requirements

• Admissions tests

• Work experience –

what counts?

• Making an application

• Funding your studies

Why study medicine?

• Practical application of science

• Opportunity to make a positive difference to

other people

• Rewards (financial or personal satisfaction)

• Professional job structure

• Challenging work environment

• Academic challenge

• Kudos

How realistic are my

chances?

• Approximately 19,000 applications

received for 8,000 places to study

medicine in the UK

• Some medical schools reporting 1000

applications for 50 places.

UCAS statistics

Common reasons for leaving a

medical course

• Pressure of constant scrutiny

• Pressure of high level of responsibility

• Inability to make difficult decisions

• Ethical dilemmas

• Long hours

• Demanding workload

• High level of commitment required

• Finance

Options for studying medicine as

a second degree

Non-Medical Degree

4 Year Graduate Entry

Course

5 Year Standard Entry

Course

6 Year Standard Entry

Course inc.

Foundation/Pre-Medical

Year

Access Course If

Necessary

A full list of all courses can be found on www.ucas.com

Talk to admissions tutors about your personal circumstances to find the

best route for you.

Four Year Graduate Entry

Course Offered by 15 UK medical schools

Barts and the London, Queen Mary University of London

University of Birmingham *

University of Bristol

University of Cambridge

Imperial College London

Kings’ College London

University of Leicester *

University of Liverpool *

University of Newcastle

University of Nottingham

University of Oxford

University of Southampton

St George’s Medical School

University of Swansea

University of Warwick

Listed on www.ucas.com

Some need science based first degree, others open to non-scientists (in red)

The courses marked with an

asterisk (*) require you to be

a graduate at the time of

application

Five/Six Year Standard Entry

Courses

• Places allocated for graduates (NB. Manchester does

not have a set quota)

• Some need science based first degree, many open to all

disciplines

• Usually require Chemistry/Biology A levels

• 6 year course includes a foundation/pre-medical year –

for students with limited science background

Listed on www.ucas.com

Access to Medicine Courses

• Designed for those without required qualifications for entry to medicine

• One academic year in length

• Does not guarantee a place at medical school

• Not recognised by all medical schools – check!

• Manchester Medical School will consider Manchester College and the University of West Anglia (Norfolk College)

• Access courses available at:

• Birkbeck, University of London

• University of Bradford

• City & Islington College

• City College Norwich

• Lambeth College

• University of Lancaster

• Manchester College (previously MANCAT)

• Perth College

• Sussex Downs College

• Thames Valley University

• University of West Anglia (Norfolk College)

Listed on www.ucas.com

Academic Entry Criteria

• See www.ucas.com

• Degree background – most 1st/2.1, some looking for science background others will take any discipline

• A levels – often looking for good Chemistry at A2, & Biology, particularly on 5 year course

• GCSEs – usually B/C or above in Maths and English

• Admissions Tests (UKCAT, GAMSAT, BMAT) – check with admissions department

Health Warning! Academic entry criteria vary - always check details with admissions tutors

Admissions Tests

UKCAT – www.ukcat.ac.uk

• Registration May of the year that you make your application to UCAS. Closing dates for registration usually end of September

• Testing usually takes place between June and October. REGISTER EARLY!

• 2 hours - questions relating to attributes, mental abilities and professional behaviour

• Fee currently between £65 and £80

• Practice papers online

• Practice resources also available at Careers Service

• Bursary available

• UKCAT wiki detailing how used by each school www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/UKCAT

GAMSAT – www.gamsatuk.org

• CHECK WITH ADMISSIONS

• St George's University of London: required for the 4-year graduate-entry course (A101)

• University of Nottingham at Derby Medical School: required for the 4-year graduate-entry course (A101)

• University of Wales Swansea Medical School: required for the 4-year graduate-entry course (A101)

• Peninsula Medical School: required for graduates applying to their standard 5-year course (A100).

• Registration between June and August. Sit test September of the year that you submit your application to UCAS.

• Full day, exam conditions with a break for lunch. Includes; reasoning in Chemistry, Biology and Physics, as well as more general skills in problem solving, critical thinking and writing. (A level and undergraduate text books/revisions guides good practice).

• Fee currently £195.00

• Practice papers online and in the Careers Service

BMAT – www.bmat.org.uk

• CHECK WITH ADMISSIONS

• Cambridge: required for the standard 5-year course (A100) and optional for graduates applying to the graduate-entry programme (A101)

• Imperial College London: required for the standard 5-year course (A100)

• University of Oxford: required for the standard 5-year course (A100) and graduate entry programme (A101)

• University College London: required for the standard 5-year course (A100)

• Registration takes places before September. Sit the test in the Oct/Nov of the year that your submit your application to UCAS.

• 2 hours - questions to test your aptitude, skills and scientific knowledge to A-level standard.

• Fee £42.50

• Practice papers online.

• UCL has practice questions for sections 1 & 2 of test at www.ucl.ac.uk/lapt/bmat

University of Manchester Entry

Criteria for Graduates

• At least a 2.1 degree in any discipline

• Minimum of BBB grades at A2 or equivalent

• Four GCSEs at A grade

• UKCAT

• Admissions 0161 275 5025/5774 ug.medicine@manchester.ac.uk

Manchester Selection

Process

UCAS form

Academic screen

Personal statement and reference

Special circumstances

UKCAT

Ranking by total UKCAT score

Interview

Process for Applications

• www.ucas.com

• Apply as an individual – no centre number

• Applications open 1 September - 15 October in

year prior to entry

• Choose to apply to up to four medical schools

• Personal Statement

• Academic Reference

• Interview

Choosing a Medical School

Learning and teaching styles

Geographical location

Reputation

Visit open days

Useful websites:

www.admissionsforum.net

www.medicalcareers.nhs.uk

www.thestudentroom.co.uk

A good application?

• Strong motivation for medicine – both the course and the career

• Clear personal reasons for choosing medicine

• Regular & recent work experience in a caring capacity

• Range of hobbies and interests

• Knowledge of the healthcare system in the UK

• Team working skills

• Communication skills

• Intellectual potential

• Commitment

Relevant Experience

Part time work Roles that involve dealing with people in stressful situations, communicating with a range of people, working as part of a close team.

Volunteering Working with vulnerable people, practical hands-on caring experience, motivating/teaching others, mentoring, volunteering with other healthcare professionals to gain an appreciation of the wider healthcare team.

Experience of healthcare Support roles including hospital receptionist/porter, care homes, auxiliary nursing/healthcare assistant roles through recruitment agencies. Some hospitals have work experience/volunteering schemes. Talk to clinicians and healthcare staff.

Work shadowing Talk to a wide range of people to develop your understanding of the profession. Junior Doctors & more senior staff. Reflect on good practice when you see it.

Positions of responsibility Committee membership, leadership positions, project management, making a difference.

Join your local NHS Trust

Give your views on how services are run

Take part in focus groups

Find out about latest developments

Influence future strategy

E.g. The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

• www.christie.nhs.uk

• members@christie.nhs.uk

• Twitter @TheChristie

Sources of Work Experience

• Contact Volunteering Coordinator in local hospitals as soon as possible

• NHS Jobs – www.jobs.nhs.uk

• Job search engines – www.indeed.com

• Healthcare recruitment agencies

www.apex-nursing.co.uk/

www.firstpointhealthcare.com/

www.advantagehealthcare.com/

More Sources of Work

Experience

• Red Cross www.redcross.org.uk

• Hospices www.hospicevolunteering.info/

• St John’s Ambulance www.sja.org.uk/sja/volunteer.aspx

• Volunteering Database by postcode • www.do-it.org.uk/

• www.timebank.org

• Careers Service jobs database (paid and voluntary roles) www.manchester.ac.uk/volunteers

www.manchester.ac.uk/careerslink

Personal Statement

Commitment to medicine How did this interest develop? Personal experiences, work experience etc. Realistic understanding of the profession. How have you followed up this interest?

Experience Insight – say what this was! Hands-on experience is better than simply observing. What did you learn about the caring profession and about yourself? REFLECTION. How have you built on this experience? What skills can you bring from other work/extracurricular experience? Interests – show that you are a rounded individual and have a good work-life balance.

Education Practical scientific skills? Relevant/transferable projects or studies? What do you know about your learning style and that of the courses you are applying to? How have you managed your own learning?

The course How do you feel you are suited to the particular course? What can you bring to the course? How will you approach the demands? What are you hoping to gain?

Funding the five year

standard entry course

NOTE:

Funding arrangements for entry 2013 have not yet been announced. The information in this presentation shows the arrangements for funding in 2012. See the NHS Careers website www.nhscareers.nhs.uk for updates.

• Graduate students are not eligible to receive a tuition fee loan or maintenance

grant regardless of whether or not they have previously received funding

• Fees payable to medical schools by graduate students vary widely and details

are available from the schools themselves.

• Students may be able to apply to Student Finance England for a full, income

based, maintenance loan.

• From year five onwards, tuition fees will be paid by the NHS Bursary Scheme

and students will be eligible to apply for a means-tested NHS bursary to cover

maintenance costs from the NHS Student Bursaries Unit, and a reduced

maintenance loan from Student Finance England (equivalent to approximately

half the full rate).

Funding the four year graduate entry course

• At present, in year one, graduate entry students have to self-fund the first

£3,375 towards their tuition costs.

• In years two - four, the NHS Bursary pays £3,375 towards tuition costs.

• In all years of the graduate programme, a Student Finance England loan will be

available to cover the difference between £3,375 and the tuition charges of the

university, to a maximum charge of £9,000.

• Graduates are eligible to apply to Student Finance England for a full

maintenance loan in their first year.

• In the next four years of your course, you can apply to the NHS Student

Bursaries Unit for a means-tested NHS bursary to cover maintenance costs and

students can apply for a reduced maintenance loan from Student Finance

England.

See www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students for up to date information on NHS bursaries.

Other sources of funding

• NHS Hardship Grant for Medical Students - www.nhsstudentgrants.co.uk

• Access to Learning Fund

• Benefits for Students such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit - www.dwp.gov.uk

• The Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS) – a database of charitable trusts - www.egas-online.org

• Money4MedStudents – information on trusts particularly relevant to medical students - www.money4medstudents.org

• National Association of Student Money Advisers – contact for advice and information - www.nasma.org.uk

• University Scholarships –ask in your awards office or search on

• http://www.scholarship-search.org.uk

• BMA Charities – bma.org.uk

Support available from the

Careers Service

Talk to someone

30 minute guidance consultation

15 minute Application Advice

Mock Interview

Resources at the Careers Service

Books

Take away leaflets

Online resources

PC cluster

Where is the Careers Service?

Crawford House

Entrance

on Booth Street East (opposite the Aquatics Centre)

Appointments

Phone : 0161 275 2829

Open all year round

9-5pm, Mon-Fri

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers