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Graduate Entry to Medicine in UK: Improve your chances of success Phil Clarke

Graduate Entry to Medicine in UK: Improve your chances of success Phil Clarke Senior Careers Adviser Careers, Employability and Skills. Overview. You can apply for a degree in Medicine as a graduate

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Graduate Entry to Medicine in UK: Improve your chances of success Phil Clarke

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  1. Graduate Entry to Medicine in UK: Improve your chances of success Phil Clarke Senior Careers Adviser Careers, Employability and Skills

  2. Overview • You can apply for a degree in Medicine as a graduate • A relevant first degree in a Life Science is often required but other degrees may also be accepted • Entry to Medicine is highly competitive and you need more than just a good degree to succeed in getting a place

  3. How to Apply Course options in Medicine for graduates • 4 year accelerated degree – available at 16 institutions in England and Wales (but not Northern Ireland or Scotland; there are also 4 graduate entry courses in Republic of Ireland – go to CAO www.cao.ie for more details) • Standard 5 (or 6) year degrees eg Queen’s –competing with A Level applicants • Applications for UK courses are via UCAS www.ucas.ac.uk • Further info - Medical Schools Online www.medschoolsonline.co.uk

  4. How to apply for Medicine as a graduate • Check which aptitude test (eg UKCAT www.ukcat.ac.uk) you are required to take (not all Medical Schools use them) – the aptitude test forms part of selection process • Register for appropriate Test from May in year before entry and take by October (testing cycle normally July-Oct) • Apply to UCAS from 1 September - 15 October

  5. What do Schools of Medicine look for? A well-rounded, motivated individual who can demonstrate... • Strong and consistent academic performance • Interpersonal/ communication skills/empathy • Ability to work in a team • Relevant work experience in a ‘hands-on’ caring role • Leadership skills/ position(s) of responsibility • Evidence of hobbies/interests/extra-curricular • Understanding of what’s required for Medical career • Some idea of how the NHS works

  6. Work Experience “Work experience is also an essential part of your application to medical school. Getting a place at medical school is no longer just about getting the right grades.” (From MedSchoolsOnline website) What could you do? Possibilities include: • Voluntary or paid work in a hospice, hospital, nursing home, day centre etc and/or working with a relevant client group – eg the elderly, children, people with disabilities • Work shadowing in GP surgeries (preferably not local) or a hospital – this should be in addition to hands-on care experience, not instead of • Overseas summer placement eg children’s camp, voluntary work in developing nation etc in prior to final year

  7. The Personal Statement Key points: • The personal statement is a crucial part of the application form – it can make all the difference • Make it Medicine-related, not just a list/sequence of information about yourself – its not your autobiography!

  8. Areas to cover in your personal statement • Introduction and why you want to study medicine – why Medicine and factors influencing your choice • How your first degree relates to Medicine ie relevance/logical transition to Medicine from first degree • Describe your work/voluntary experience and what you learned – focus on ‘hands-on’ experience in a health/social care setting • Describe other relevant life/work experiences – eg other work and extra-curricular experiences • Other interests and conclusion – latter should summarise statement and be punchy/memorable

  9. Funding options options • Do check latest information - Money4MedStudents www.money4medstudents.org is a good resource • NI Students should be entitled to a maintenance loan from Student Finance NI but pay own fees (4 or 5 yr courses) www.studentfinanceni.co.uk • Other options: • NHS Bursaries - students from Eng/Wales only (Scotland has own arrangements) www.nhscareers.nhs.uk • Charitable trusts eg BMA Charities Trust Fund • Access/discretionary/ other funding - check with individual Schools • Professional Studies/Training Loan for Medical Students from selected banks not currently available - worth keeping an eye on for any changes

  10. Get started • Research Medicine as a career – use graduate career websites such as www.prospects.ac.uk and www.gradireland.com • Don’t limit yourself - apply to more than one Medical School for maximum options • Develop relevant work experience - register for Degree Plus www.qub.ac.uk/degreeplus • Get a second opinion on your UCAS personal statement – see a Careers Adviser www.qub.ac.uk/careers • Investigate funding options • Always have a Plan B!

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