UK Medical Schools 2018 Entry Use of Aptitude Tests, Work Experience Expected and Interview Process
This document contains a summary of the use of aptitude tests, work experience expected and the likely interview process at Medical Schools in the UK. It was researched over the summer of 2017. Medical Schools, unlike Vet Schools do not publish specific work experience requirements; however most mention a range of experiences that they expect potential medical students to have had. Here are some general tips:
Students should be encouraged to keep a diary of all their work experience, so that they can refer to it when writing their personal statement and preparing for interview.
Voluntary work with a local charity is a good way of demonstrating commitment as well as finding out more about medicine.
Undertaking work experience that involves the unglamorous side of patient care such as helping elderly confused patients provides more learning opportunities than working in a lab.
Rather than just list all the work experience that has been undertaken, it is more revealing if you can write about what you have now learned about a medical career and its implications.
For useful advice regarding work experience, read the Selecting for Excellence guidelines for medicine applicants produced by the Medical Schools Council. From University of Edinburgh site: How much experience do I need? We do not specify a length of time and we do not assess this on your application. We need you to have experience with diseased, disadvantaged, and disabled individuals. This can be in one or many experiences. We also look at what you have obtained from your experience. It is important you are as sure as you can be that medicine is the right choice for you. You don’t want to find out once you start the course that you faint at the sight of blood!
For some useful advice on writing a personal statement, look at this link to the Aberdeen University website
Most universities ask applicants to sit either the UKCAT or BMAT test as part of the application process. For some the scores is a significant factor in their
consideration of an application and for others it may be a less significant factor or only used in marginal situations. It is not possible to predict what the
thresholds for interview will be in any individual year, or to use data from previous years to predict subsequent years’ thresholds, since it is essentially
competitive and depends on who applies. Students will have their UKCAT test result and/or their BMAT result (if they sit it in September) before the UCAS
deadline so should use it to help inform their UCAS choices, otherwise they might be wasting an application. There are practice tests to download on both the
UKCAT and the BMAT websites.
The Trotman book, “Getting into Medical School 2018 entry” contains an enormous amount of detailed advice on the entire application process ISBN 978-1
91 1067 59 0 and the British Medical Association website has a lot of information on becoming a doctor.
NOT used. . A minimum UKCAT cut-off score is NOT used. A score
(between 1200 - 3600) is allocated based on the applicant's overall performance in UKCAT compared with
all other applicants to Aberdeen.
Undertake as much work experience/shadowing as possible See examples:
MMI Scoring academic attainment/predictions (30%), UKCAT (20%), and then subsequent interview performance (50%).
Applications are ranked against all
the others received for that year's
entry and those who score
sufficiently well achieve an
interview.
Follow this link for detailed information on interview preparation and video examples:
Aston University Medical School NEW FOR SEPT 18 Aimed at fee paying International students ie non Home or EU status plus local pathway applicants* [email protected] tel : +44(0)121 2043284
UKCAT
All applicants must take the United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) or if appropriate, the UKCATSEN.
See Advice zone for more information http://www.aston.ac.uk/aston-
See Advice Zone with podcast of what they are looking for http://www.aston.ac.uk/aston-medical-school/aston-medical-school-advice-zone/work-experience/
MMI
Applicants meeting our academic and other school requirements will be invited to our on campus Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). No Skype/ remote interviews will be possible as we believe that face to face assessment of an applicant’s abilities is an important part of the
Very useful application info on Application Advice Zone 60 places for first cohort, small number for local students on the *Sir Doug Ellis Pathway to Healthcare
The MMIs will consist of a number of five minute stations which will be mapped to the General Medical Council’s Promoting Excellence and the NHS Constitution Framework. The stations will assess attributes including:
Verbal communication, Written communication,Listening, Compassion, respect and dignity ,Emotional intelligence, Problem solving, Motivation
Barts and The London, Queen Mary Admissions: Em: [email protected]: +44 (0)20 7882 8478 Over 2,500 applications, interview about 800. Approximately 440 offers are made, and 253 students will be admitted to A100
UKCAT We are not able to give you advice on the minimum score we require to be shortlisted for interview, since it varies from year to year. You will not be offered an interview if you obtained a total UKCAT score below the third decile. Applicants who achieve an overall UKCAT score within the third decile range or above and meet the minimum academic entry criteria will be given a score for their UCAS tariff based on achieved/predicted grades for all ‘tariffable’ criteria or a weighted score for graduates based on degree classification. 50% of the weighting
Selectors strongly recommend that candidates have explored what a career in medicine entails and that this is reinforced by work experience. The interview will explore your understanding of the realities of a career in medicine. We recognise the challenge of obtaining work experience and a period of volunteering in a caring role can be equally as valuable.
INTERVIEW PANEL If selected, you will be required to attend a short interview. This will take place at the Whitechapel campus between January and March. Normally interview panels consist of two members of senior academic or clinical staff, a medical student and sometimes a lay selector. Read here.
Birmingham University Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)121 414 6888 From those that apply 1000 candidates are invited to attend for interview.
UKCAT We do not have a UKCAT cut‐off score. An application will receive an overall score, which is the sum of weighted scores for each of the academic and UKCAT components. The weightings will be: academic – 70%; UKCAT – 30%. Applicants will be ranked according to this score. Please note that in 2017, the UKCAT will include the new Decision Making subtest. We will use the score from this component and so we will calculate the score we attribute to your UKCAT result based on the combined score from all four subtests. To find out more, click here.
The types of experience that we value include voluntary work in a nursing home, care home, hospice or hospital volunteer. We do not rank applications on the amount of experience that has been obtained, though we do expect that the time spent is stated. We are more likely to be reassured of your commitment if you offer a combination of around two full weeks of experiences. We will consider the difficulties in obtaining healthcare experience if these are stated. Shadowing of doctors is not required and, though it has its benefits, we prefer active involvement in a healthcare setting If invited for interview, candidates may be asked to provide details of their work experience placements.
MMI Interviews are organised in a multiple mini-interview format. You will participate in six separate, short interviews, lasting 6 minutes each. To find out more about each stage of the interview process, download our MBChB interview information document.
Brighton and Sussex
Email:medadmissions@bsms.
ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1273 643528 /
643529 / 641966
BMAT BSMS scores the BMAT out of 28 (9 marks for Section 1, 9 for Section 2 and 5 marks for each element of Section 3) we then rank all applicants according to their total score out of 28 and work down the rankings to fill our interview places. For 2016 entry, applicants without contextual data who scored 16 or above were invited for interview (the cut off score will vary
BSMS does not place requirements on the amount and type of work experience a prospective medical student should have. The Medical Schools Council sets out some useful work experience guidelines for prospective applicants to medicine which can be downloaded .
MMI Multiple mini interviews (MMIs) are held during BSMS admissions days, which we aim to hold on Wednesdays and Saturdays between January and March. More information about MMIs at BSMS can be found here.
UKCAT Applications are scored and ranked based on their academic record, according to their achieved or predicted results with the following weightings: . The weighting is as follows: GCSE 15% | A-level 15% | Personal statement 50% | UKCAT 20% http://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/media/undergraduate/admissions-statements/2018/medicine.pdf There will not be a cut-off score for the UKCAT this year.
You are expected to have a minimum of two weeks work experience in a care setting. We feel that suitable work experience and subsequent reflection is important to inform a candidate about their potential vocation and what a career in healthcare entails. Applicants are required to complete a form prior to attending the interview which documents the type and duration of their work experience.
MMI Interviews: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/media/undergraduate/admissions-statements/2018/medicine.pdf At the interview, applicants will move around a series of ten MMI stations, each taking five minutes, and will be assessed on a particular criterion at each. Each station will be directed by one or two interviewers as appropriate Interviews will take place between December and April.
DO NOT REQUIRE UKCAT or BMAT Click here for the selection process.
No formal work experience is specified.
MMI The second stage of selection is intended to judge personal attributes relating to suitability for practice as a doctor. It consists of an Objective, Structured Selection Examination (OSSE), made up of a series of tasks intended to test abilities related to 'Good Medical Practice', published by the UK General Medical Council.
Cambridge University
BMAT
To develop understanding of what a career in Medicine involves and your
APPLY by OCT 15th Admissions: admissions:admin.cam.ac.uk [email protected] http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/medicine/
The BMAT can be taken on 9 September 2017 or on 2 November 2017 (the September session is only available at a small number of UK assessment centres). You can only take the BMAT once - either in September or in November. Please also see Key Criteria for Medical Admissions. Admissions statistics by college for medicine http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/statistics
suitability for your intended profession, you’re strongly advised (though not required) to undertake some relevant work experience (either paid or voluntary) in a health or related area. We aren’t prescriptive about how this is obtained, recognising the widely differing opportunities available.
Interviews are discussion-based and predominantly academic and subject-related, so you'll be asked questions:
relevant to the course you've applied for
about the information you provided in your written application
UKCAT We do not have a minimum threshold score for the UKCAT, however the UKCAT score may be used as part of the assessment procedure.
The University recognises that opportunities for certain types of work experience and participation in some non-academic activities will vary according to individual circumstances, including an applicant's cultural or socio-economic background, or the activities available in their local area. Selectors are, therefore, not prescriptive about the ways in which the non-academic selection criteria may be demonstrated.
MMI
10 station multiple mini interview. Each station will last 6 minutes.
University of Dundee Email: [email protected] Telephone: +44(0)1382 384697
UKCAT Your UKCAT score will be factored into the pre-interview rank. There is no specific cut off applied but obviously a high score is advantageous. Our analysis of the 2013 applicants
The university encourage up to two weeks of medically-related work or shadowing experience.
MMI Interviews are held on specific dates in December and January, in Dundee and Asia. You can expect to be asked about
revealed the average calculated from applications received was 2520 and the average for those gaining offers was 2720. We have been made aware of issues with the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) component of the UKCAT test and therefore, for the 2018 entry cycle, we will not be using the SJT as part of our selection process.
your understanding of a medical career, of the curriculum here in Dundee and current medical issues in the press, including ethical topics. We will also use information provided in your UCAS personal statement. In addition we will be looking to assess your communication skills and approach towards teamwork.
The University of Edinburgh 6 Years including an academic year of full-time, research-based study in Year 3 Email: [email protected] Phone: + 44 (0)131 242 6407 See this brochure on applying for Medicine for selection weighting.
UKCAT We assess your total UKCAT score (not the average) and your performance in the Situational Judgement Test section. We consider all scores and no applicant will be excluded from selection based on the score achieved in their UKCAT test (although applicants will be excluded if they have failed to take the test and not obtained an exemption). Once all the scores are received we rank them, divide the cohort into octiles and allocate a score. We also allocate a score to your situational judgement banding. The points are then added to your total score to contribute towards your final ranking. The score an applicant achieved may be looked at again when final decisions are being made and there
We expect you to demonstrate a clear understanding of what a career in medicine entails. A deeper understanding can be achieved by: • Appropriate work experience or work shadowing, as evidence of an informed decision to apply for a medical programme. Talking with medical doctors and medical students. • Attending a University Open Day and medical conferences/lectures. Reading medical literature. The Admissions Committee recognises that not all applicants have equal opportunities to gain such experience. If it is not possible to get any work experience in a hospital then other alternatives include working in a nursing home, riding for the disabled or volunteer work.
DO NOT NORMALLY INTERVIEW SCHOOL LEAVERS We are currently considering changes to selection, which may include the introduction of interviews. Further information will be made available online if changes are made. Applying for Medicine
are a number of applicants with the same ranked score and limited places left to offer.
University of Exeter Email:[email protected]: + 44 (0) 1392 725500. frequently asked questions
UKCAT We use predicted or achieved A level (or equivalent) results in conjunction with the total UKCAT score to determine the number of students called for interview. Applicants will be tiered according to their predicted or achieved A level or equivalent qualifications. The UKCAT score will be used to determine who, within a particular tier, will be invited to attend an interview. Those applicants who have already achieved their grades will receive a one rank advantage within the tiering.
Work experience is not part of our standard entry requirements and therefore whether you have work experience or not, you are very welcome to apply to our programme. Exeter recognise difficulty in obtaining medical work experience so any part-time job where students can work in teams and improve their communication skills is valuable.
MMI Our Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) are designed to determine whether applicants possess the non-academic qualities such as the communication skills, reflectiveness and empathy required to become successful doctor. Whether or not an offer is made will depend on your performance at the interview. Seven stations will be offered. Each station will last 3 minutes and students will then have 3 minutes in which to move to their next station. You will not be required to undergo any group work or written test. Candidates may be required to go through one role play station; all other stations are question and answer.
University of Glasgow STILL 2017 14/8/17 Tel: +44 (0)141 330 6216 email: [email protected] http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/
UKCAT We consider UKCAT with all other aspects of the application. The range of scores we consider changes each year as the performance of each admissions cohort varies. 'The Situational Judgement' section of the UKCAT test will not be taken into
Obtaining work experience in a medical setting is not necessary to study medicine but it is expected that candidates will have a realistic understanding of what a career in medicine entails and be aware of current issues facing the medical profession. A commitment to caring for others is also expected, which can be
SELECTION PANEL INTERVIEW The majority of interviews normally take place in December. Our interviews for the 2016/17 admissions cycle to be held in week commencing 12th December. Additional interviews may also be held in week commencing 6th
consideration for entry in 2017 http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/medicine/mus/admissions/ukclinicalaptitudetestukcat/#/generaloverview,howweuseukcatattheuniversityofglasgow-2017entry
demonstrated through voluntary or paid work in a community setting. Any commitment to work experience or similar is expected to last beyond the offer-making stage of the admissions process.
February (please note that this date is provisional and may be subject to change). Due to the administrative processes of arranging candidates for interview, we are not able to re-schedule or directly swap interviews
Hull York Medical School [email protected]. Tel: +44 (0) 1904 32 1690
UKCAT All applicants must take the UKCAT in the year they apply. Applicants with a Situational Judgement Test Band of 4 (the lowest band) will not be considered. Prior to interview we use your total UKCAT score alongside your GCSE results in order to decide who to invite to interview. For 2018 entry, we will award you a number of points based upon your total UKCAT score, we can only do this once we have received all UKCAT results. As UKCAT results are not released to universities until November, the number of points that each UKCAT score will receive as part of our Selection Procedure will not be determined until after the UCAS deadline Following interview, we make offers based primarily on interview performance, and we use the UKCAT Situational Judgement Test as an
There is no prescribed pre-application experience for applicants to HYMS, but you should try to obtain a realistic understanding of the demands of medical training and practice. You will find it useful to get some experience in a range of caring situations, observing or working alongside healthcare staff, in either a voluntary or paid capacity. We also advise that you explore both the positive and negative aspects of a medical career through talking to doctors and other healthcare professionals. We will expect you to demonstrate that you understand, and are committed to, teamwork and the social context of healthcare. http://www.hyms.ac.uk/undergraduate/before-you-apply/pre-application-experience
GROUP AND PERSONAL INTERVIEWS The interview process has four components, which can happen in any order:
A semi-structured interview, with two interviewers, lasting 10 minutes
A second, semi-structured personal interview, also with two interviewers and lasting 10 minutes.
A ‘Scenario Station’ lasting 5 minutes. In the room there will be an actor and an assessor.
BMAT BMAT cut-off scores are calculated each year, as a result of ranked candidate BMAT scores versus number of expected interview sessions. As a result, the absolute BMAT cut-off changes each year. However, the BMAT cut-off scores from previous admissions cycles may be used as a guide. For 2017 entry, the minimum scores required were: •a score of 4.5 in section 1 •a score of 4.6 in section 2 •a score of 2.5 and grade B in section 3
When assessing applications panel members consider •Evidence of commitment to the values of the NHS constitution •Motivation and understanding of medicine as a career •Community activities •Leadership and teamwork •Extracurricular interests
ELECTION PANEL If selected, you will be required to attend a 15-minute interview The selection panel comprises teachers in undergraduate education with experience in the admissions process, who will decide whether to offer the candidate an interview. These decisions are ratified by one of the admissions tutors.
Keele University Tel: +44 (0)1782 733937 Admissions [email protected]
UKCAT For 2018 entry applicants with a total UKCAT score in the bottom 20% nationally or with an SJT score in Band 4 will not be considered. For 2017 entry this threshold was 1,730 but did not include the trial Decision-Making subtest, which will be included for 2018 entry. http://www.keele.ac.uk/medicine/mbchb5years/entryrouteshowtoapply/
All applicants will be required to submit a Roles & Responsibilities form. The form will be sent to all relevant applicants on Monday 16 October and must be returned by 11.59pm (GMT) on 1 November 2017. You will be sent an e-mail acknowledging receipt of your form. Roles and responsibilities can be paid or voluntary and do not have to be in the health sector. Credit can be given for caring for family members or friends if there is both a time commitment and
MMI Interviews take the form of multiple mini interviews (MMIs).The stations will examine a range of skills and aptitudes. The format of stations may vary from a 1:1 traditional interview through to a role-play. The MMI assesses a range of attributes of applicants, including motivation, empathy, insight, professionalism, responsibility, ethical awareness, resilience and effective communication. One station will assess the ability of applicants to
depth of caring that goes above and beyond that which would be expected in normal family life. Credit is given for up to 4 roles and responsibilities. If you have more than 4 to choose from then please use recent experiences
perform clinically relevant calculations. Interviews are scheduled to take place in late December, January, February and March.
King’s College London (Guys, Kings and St Thomas) T: +44 (0) 20 7848 7966 E: [email protected]
UKCAT The overall UKCAT score averaged across the four subtests is given more consideration than the individual subtest scores. The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) is also taken into account when shortlisting.
We would normally expect that you will have undertaken some work experience in a caring environment and/or observation in a Medical clinical setting. If this is not possible, we look for evidence that you have worked in a setting where you can interact with the general public, eg in a pharmacy, check-out or restaurant.
MMI During MMIs candidates are asked to respond to questions relating to a scenario at a ‘station’ and then move onto the next station in a timed circuit. One of these station scenarios is designed to assess values and personality based attributes for example: kindness, compassion and empathy, respect for the individual, privacy and dignity, advocacy, decision-making, team working and integrity. Some scenarios are scientifically based and designed to assess information handling and evaluation skills, whilst others will assess knowledge on topical medical issues. Another station will assess the candidates’ ability to deal with an ethical dilemma. Communication skills will be assessed at EACH station.
University of Lancaster
BMAT There are two possible dates on which
Relevant work experience in a healthcare setting and Insight into a medical career and their
Tel +44 (0) 1524 594547 [email protected] Will consider applications from applicants who have taken longer than 2 years to achieve the required grades at A-level.
to take the BMAT: Saturday 9th September and Thursday 2nd November. The registration and test-taking procedure differs between the two dates Applicants will be ranked according to their BMAT score and the top-ranking applicants will progress to Stage 3.
own suitability, drawn from their work (and voluntary) experience and A commitment to society; working for the benefit of others, including voluntary work or significant caring roles
'stations', most of which will be 5 minutes long. An additional 20 minute station will involve group work and will assess your suitability for our problem-based learning curriculum. Applicants who are selected for interview will be sent detailed information prior to their interview. The applicant’s performance at each station is assessed by trained interviewers, against clearly defined criteria. Interviewers include members of University staff, NHS clinicians, local GPs, patients and public representatives, and medical students.
University of Leeds Telephone: +44 (0) 113 343 4379 Email: [email protected]
1. We assesses your application form against academic criteria, considering your past and predicted grades, and your BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) score. We take into account any issues regarding mitigating circumstances raised in your personal statements and headteacher's reference. Read more about BMAT on the Admissions Service website. Once these forms have been ranked 1000 forms are assessed for non-academic criteria independently by
You should demonstrate that you have considered your reasons for choosing medicine and have taken steps to investigate what a medical degree and career holds for you. Normally you should be able to report some direct experience of both hospital and community medical practice and describe what you have learnt from your experience. Although direct observation of medical consultations may not be possible due to issues of confidentiality, most applicants should be able to observe reception or other aspects of health care.
MMI The MMI process Interviews are through multiple mini interviews, where we further assess applicants’ non-academic qualities. There are currently eight interview stations, which applicants progress around. Each station currently lasts 7 minutes, with 1 minute to move between stations and read the next task. The format of stations varies. At the end of each station the examiners award marks, according to a pre-determined standardised scale. After the completion of all stations we calculate a ranked score
two senior medical staff using explicit criteria that are reviewed annually by the Admissions Committee. We anticipate that around 550 candidates will be invited to interview.
Tip: Provide details of the type of work experience and its duration.(2017 info)
University of Leicester http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/msce/undergraduate/medicine +44 (0) 116 252 2969/2966/2985/3015 [email protected]
UKCAT How A100 applications are scored. We do not have a cut off score, but the total UKCAT score is used in selection for interview (please see below). Applicants with band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test will be automatically rejected pre-interview. Your academic score will be combined with a score based on your UKCAT results, again up to 32 points, giving a maximum possible score of 64 points overall. Your combined score for your academic achievement and UKCAT will determine whether you are invited for interview. In order to distinguish between 'borderline' applicants, we may also take into account your 'personal qualities' based on your personal statement and reference.
Medical work experience is not essential but you should be able to demonstrate that you have undertaken some kind of work where you are able to communicate with the public.
MMI Our interviews use the Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) style, and consist of eight/nine individual mini-interviews or 'stations' which will assess your:
Verbal communication
Written communication
Listening
Compassion, respect and dignity
Emotional intelligence
Problem solving
Motivation
Ethical Judgement We may use the UKCAT SJT score as a virtual interview station. Each station will be scored and you will be ranked on the basis of those scores. Where two or more applicants are equally ranked, your UCAS form score may be used as a tie-breaker.
University of Liverpool Enquiries Service +44 (0)151 795 4370 [email protected] https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/medicine/undergraduate/admissions/ showing guidelines for entry Read the School of Medicine Liverpool Departmental Supplement (awaiting approval for 2018 Entry)
UKCAT The UKCAT threshold is determined each year on a competitive basis and thus the range of UKCAT scores suggested can only be considered as indicative
The purpose of Values Based Recruitment (VBR) in relation to the selection of medical students is to ensure that we recruit students with the right skills and values to support the delivery of excellent patient care. Supporting VBR, the Medical Schools council has published a statement identifying the core values, skills and attributes needed to be a doctor. The statement should help applicants prepare for their application to medical school by giving them an outline of what skills, values and attributes might be tested. The Medical Schools Council has also developed guidelines for applicants on work experience. Please see the Medical School Council website for full details
MMI No applicant will be offered a place without being interviewed in person. It is expected that in line with VBR and the Selecting for Excellence report that applicants will be invited to take part in a fully structured interview in the format of a Multiple Mini Interview.
UKCAT To help identify talented students from all backgrounds, UKCAT scores from UK/EU candidates who come from similar educational and socio-demographic backgrounds are considered against each other. Read more here. Those applications that do not meet the UKCAT threshold will not progress to the next phase of the screening. Please note that we are unable to
Each applicant must complete an online information form with respect to non-academic activities. You can find out more about the exact non-academic information requested on the online form here: Non-Academic Information Form - Medicine details (PDF, 60 KB). Applicants should be aware that information provided in the non-academic information form and/or the personal statement may be used as the basis for further discussion during any subsequent interview.
MMI The interview process for 2018 entry will adopt a seven-station multiple mini interview (MMI) format, with each station having an interviewer. Each station will be seven minutes long and there will be a two-minute gap between stations. In the two-minute gap, you will be provided with some information about the next station so that you can begin to prepare your thoughts. There are no rest stations. The
provide any advice about the UKCAT threshold in advance of the application deadline. It is not possible to calculate the threshold until all applications have been received and processed.
station where you start will be allocated at random and you will then pass round the circle from station to station until you have completed them all.
University of Newcastle Newcastle E-mail: [email protected] +44 (0) 191 222 7005
UKCAT The UKCAT threshold (based on the total UKCAT score) may differ in each admissions cycle as it is dependent on the scores achieved by those applicants who apply to our Medical School in the current cycle. Therefore information on what the threshold is, is not available to prospective students. The threshold is based on the total UKCAT score. Situational Judgement Test (SJT) scores are not used in the admission process. Please see the School of Medical Education web page for more information.
At Newcastle our emphasis is on our applicants being able to show a commitment to caring. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. For example:
volunteering in an elderly care home
volunteering in a hospice
volunteering in a nursery
helping someone less fortunate
Do not be put off from applying to Newcastle as there are many ways you can demonstrate to us that you are a committed and caring individual.
MMI Applicants will have the opportunity to demonstrate in a series of short interviews or practical tasks, each with a different selector, that they have the personal qualities to succeed as a medical student and future doctor. Each candidate will be scored on their performance at each MMI station by a selector. Grades will be awarded based on the following areas:
-awareness
a doctor MBBS
programme
Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia Admissions contacts:
UKCAT While we include consideration of your Cognitive UKCAT score within our selection process WE DO NOT HAVE
Any experience that gives you an insight into your suitability to the profession is valuable. Such experience may include work experience in a health care
MMI Each interview lasts approximately 50 minutes. During the interview, each applicant rotates through a
A CUT OFF VALUE. However, from our experience, it is unusual for an applicant with a UKCAT score lower than the 3rd decile to be invited to interview. In 2015 this was a score in the region of 2400. In 2016 the Decision Analysis sub section is being replaced by a Decision Making sub section. The score for this element is not being released in 2016. Therefore we expect that it will be unlikely for an applicant to be invited to interview with a UKCAT score of less than 1800. Please note that we do not currently use the SJT banding within the selection process.
organisation (e.g. a hospital, hospice, or primary care setting), a regular commitment as a volunteer in a care-related setting, or paid employment as a health care assistant or similar. THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE, but at interview, you will be expected to draw on your personal experiences to demonstrate your suitability to be a doctor. If invited to interview, you are required to bring with you our work experience form. We will email invitations to applicants who are selected for interview. If you are invited to interview you are required to bring with you this completed Work Experience Form.
series of rooms, known as 'stations', They will spend 5 minutes at each of the 7 stations, with a 1 and a half minute changeover/preparation time between each. Please note that we do not disclose interview questions. Typically we look for applicants to demonstrate at interview; An acceptable approach to decision making when given incomplete or conflicting information The ability to learn and work effectively in partnership A caring and supportive attitude An empathetic and caring approach Insight in to Medicine as a career and personal suitability for the profession Honesty, integrity, and personal effectiveness.
University of Nottingham telephone: +44 (0) 115 823 0000 email: [email protected]
UKCAT For the 2018/19 UCAS Admissions cycle there will be five components to the UKCAT test which will be scored. There are four cognitive components (verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, abstract reasoning and decision making) and the SJT component. Please note that applicants who achieve a Band 4 are not considered further.
Work experience should include:
At least speaking to your GP to understand the positives and negatives of a career in medicine, if you are unable to obtain work experience
Experience in a more caring setting such as a hospice, care home, club, society or similar. This will allow you to observe more long-term interactions between people and the skills required in the roles. If you are working in a care home or hospice, consider the patient's position and their
MMI Interviews are in the format of Multiple Mini Interviews consisting of 8 stations and will last approximately one hour The interview is designed to assess the personal qualities we consider essential for the practice of medicine. You will be expected to have good communication and listening skills, an understanding of professional issues such as teamwork and respect for the
The scoring system is to be updated for 2018/19. Check website.
requirements and needs and how these may be met by carers.
We'd also like to hear about any paid or unpaid jobs you have had.
contribution of those working in professions allied to medicine.
Oxford University http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/ Phone: 01865 285783 [email protected] Application process
BMAT All candidates must take the Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) in their own school or college or other approved test centre on Thursday 2 November 2017. Please note, the University of Oxford will not accept BMAT results from the September sitting for A100 Medicine. See website as to how the different sections of the BMAT are weighted. You should bear in mind that as we short-list the same number of people every year, and we use two variables (which carry the same weight), there is no actual cut-off for either BMAT or GCSEs.
Our tutors select students using the selection criteria. All applicants are free to make reference to skills or experience acquired in any context to date when trying to address our selection criteria: sometimes applicants refer to voluntary work and other extra-curricular activity, but many forms of evidence can help demonstrate to tutors that an applicant has tried to make an informed decision regarding his/her own suitability to study Medicine. While some work experience in hospitals is theoretically desirable, we do appreciate that it can be very difficult to arrange and we therefore have no requirement for it. Any form of voluntary work would be beneficial in the context of applying for Medicine (such as helping out in a hospital, at an old people's home, St John's Ambulance, or work with a charity or overseas agency).
FORMAL INTERVIEW The number and format of interviews at each college may vary but the selection criteria are common to all colleges. You will be interviewed by at least two academics at each college and by at least one practising clinician. You cannot predict whether your application has been successful by counting the number of interviews you receive, so don’t become anxious if you receive either more or fewer than you expect! You can also find further information at the University interview website.
Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine
UKCAT UKCAT test results will be used, alongside the academic information
See The Medical Schools Council’s advice to applicants to medical school regarding work experience
FORMAL INTERVIEW The interview is structured and formal to make sure every student is
contained on your UCAS form to select direct school leavers for interview. You will be required to meet a minimum standard in each of the subtests, plus meet an overall target score which is set and reviewed annually by the Admissions Advisory Panel
asked the same questions and receives the same prompts. It's not a test of your scientific knowledge but aims to explore your attitudes, outlook and way of thinking. Click here to find out more about the interview.
Queens University Belfast Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 3838 it is essential that you read our guidance notes on 'How we choose our students' prior to submitting your UCAS application. The information relates to 2017 entry and will be updated for 2018 entry as soon as possible. How we choose our students
UKCAT : (2017 entry) UKCAT will be scored using the overall results from three of the papers. Candidates can obtain up to a maximum of 6 additional points. UKCAT Scores Points Awarded 2200+ 6 2040 – 2190 5 1880 -2030 4 1720 – 1870 3 1560 – 1710 2 1400 – 1550 1 1390 and below 0
Your personal statement should indicate explicitly that Medicine is your career choice and. there should be evidence of commitment and motivation. This should include evidence of what you have done to find out about Medicine as a career. This can be demonstrated in a number of ways including: opportunities for observational experience in a clinical setting, attending medical careers conferences, or undertaking voluntary work in a care setting. Participation in activities within or outside School demonstrating transferable skills such as leadership, empathy, teamwork and communication skills is also considered.
MMI Interviews take place in Belfast between January and March for UK and EU. Multi Mini Interviews are designed to test key non-cognitive competencies for Medicine: - Empathy - Problem-solving - Ethical Reasoning - Communication Skills There are 9 stations
Sheffield University What happens: 2018 applications Medical School Office Reception Desk for General Enquiries: +44 (0)114 222
UKCAT
It is not possible to know with any certainty where the UKCAT cut point will land prior to the application deadline..
We are not able to determine how the
There is an overview on work experience on the website We do not specify the exact sort of work experience you should do or how much work experience you should have because it depends on what is available where you live. It should however be something within a caring environment.
MMI The Medical School uses Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) as evidence has shown that these are a more reliable and fair means of assessing applicants. Our MMIs are normally held between December and January. For applicants from South
scores above will equate to the 2017 UKCAT as this includes the 'Decision Making' component which did not exist in the 2016 UKCAT. However, we note that the UKCAT cut point for Home/EU applicants in 2016-17 fell just above the 70th centile and the UKCAT cut point for International Applicants in 2016-17 fell on the 70th centile. The UKCAT cut point may fall on different centiles in this selection cycle.
There is no compensation between academic attainment and UKCAT attainment - exceeding the academic threshold will not compensate for a lower UKCAT score.
Some applicants may have experience of shadowing hospital staff or GPs but if this is not available to you try doing some voluntary work in a local hospice or working with children with disabilities. We want to see what you have gained from your work experience - that you are able to communicate with people, have a caring nature and are able to work as part of a team. Applicants invited to attend a Multiple Mini Interview should be able to communicate not only what meaningful activities they have undertaken, but also what they have learned from these experiences, particularly in regards to their future as medical practitioners.
East Asia, Medical School staff will be conducting interviews in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, but dates for these have not yet been confirmed.
The Multiple Mini Interviews comprise a series of eight 8-minute stations.
For more information about the stations and scoring click here.
UKCAT Selection Process is being reviewed – check website for 2018 process. Please note that the UKCAT score of those applicants attending a Selection Day varies year on year and as such it is not possible to give applicants an indication of the score that is required to attend a Selection Day.
You need to show you have learnt from experiences of interacting with people in health or social care settings - this could be helping to look after an ill family member or friend or could be voluntary/paid work or work shadowing. It can be difficult to obtain experience in a hospital setting so you could work/volunteer in a nursing home, homeless shelter, local hospice, work with people with special needs or a youth group.
FORMAL INTERVIEW Students who meet the entry criteria and get the top UKCAT scores will be invited for a selection day (December through to March), which will include a 20 minutes informal panel interview with 2 interviewers interview and a group task lasting approximately 30 minutes. All applicants will be seen face to face – we do not offer Skype interviews.
UKCAT The UKCAT test can vary each year. Please be aware that for the 2017 sitting of the test (used for 2018 entry), the Decision Analysis subtest will be included and scores will range from 1200 to 3600.
We will expect you to have an insight into medicine and healthcare gained from general reading or from attending medical careers conferences, talking to doctors or medical students. Applicants should have gained work or shadowing experience in a caring or health environment. This does not have to be in a hospital or GP's surgery but could be in a nursing home or local hospice or through working with people who have ill-health or a disability.
MMI Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) likely to be 6 ‘mini’ interviews or stations. We also intend to use the SJT as an element of our interview process; with the score being incorporated into the interview score At interview you will be expected to demonstrate that you have an understanding of medicine as a career and that you appreciate the realities of working in a caring profession. Your communication and interpersonal skills will be assessed at each station and at least one station will involve role-play and interaction with an actor. You will also be assessed on your ability to discuss ethical issues.
St George’s
Tel: +44(0)20 8725 2333The
UKCAT Please note, for September 2018 we will not consider any extenuating circumstances in relation to UKCAT test scores. Check website for 2018 entry information as it was not available when this document was researched.
You will be required to demonstrate insight into Medicine through relevant work/voluntary experience at interview. You must also provide references for each piece of work/relevant experience you intend to present at interview. We expect applicants to have a combination of experience in both healthcare and non-healthcare settings. You should be able to demonstrate why these experiences are relevant to an application for Medicine. Such experience could
MMI Multi Mini Interview The interview consists of up to eight activities each lasting five minutes (40 minutes in total). Read here for further information Visit Taste of Medicine (Scrubbing Up section) for more advice on preparing for interviews.
include, but is not limited to, participation in the following: •Paid/unpaid voluntary placements •School, college or university societies •Full or part-time employment •The Guides, Scouts, Red Cross or similar organisations. •Shadowing a healthcare professional •Gap year experience •Caring for a sick relative or first-hand experience of illness For more information about work experience, read the Medical Schools Council's guidance for medicine applicants.
Swansea University GRADUATE ENTRY ONLY Minimum 2:1 or predicted 2:1 In any subject
GAMSAT You must achieve a minimum overall GAMSAT score of 50, together with a minimum of 50 in Paper 3 (Reasoning in Biological and Physical Sciences) in order to be considered. Interviews will be offered to candidates that meet an overall cut-off score in the GAMSAT, which is determined annually once all scores have been received. As an example, for entry in 2015, the overall cut-off score was 58.
Information not supplied.
FORMAL INTERVIEW You will be asked to sit a written assessment of 30 minutes duration. This is designed to identify those applicants whose personal and academic qualities are suitable to a career in medicine. Two separate interviews, each of 20 minutes duration, conducted by a pair of trained interviewers taken from a panel of doctors, academics, students and members of the public (lay) interviewers. Your personal statement will be considered and discussed during your interview. The interview process is designed to take account of the personal and
academic qualities needed as a doctor, as set out in ‘Good Medical Practice’, and the capacity to meet the outcomes of ‘Tomorrows Doctors’.
University College London Tel:+44 (0)20 3108 8228/8235 [email protected] https://www.ucl.ac.uk/medicalschool/undergraduate/mbbs-admissions/entry-requirements/entry_reqs_2018.pdf FAQs: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/medicalschool/undergraduate/mbbs-admissions/faqs
BMAT The test scores are used, along with other information in the UCAS application, to help us select candidates for interview. Selection procedure: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/medicalschool/undergraduate/mbbs-admissions/faqs/selection_2017.pdf
Previous experience (both personal and through work experience or volunteering), particularly if it has involved contact with the healthcare profession or laboratory work, or if the candidate has been involved with the sick, disabled, very young or elderly, and importantly, is able to reflect on their experiences. We seek to verify the work experience placements of a sample of applicants. It would therefore be advisable for applicants to obtain references or letters confirming completion of a work placement and to keep these ready to submit if requested, as well as for their own records. A table/list summarising any work experience or volunteering undertaken is often requested
FORMAL INTERVIEW The interview season begins in December and runs through March. Interviews last approximately 15-20 minutes and are conducted by a panel of 2-3 interviewers, including clinical and basic medical science staff, a senior medical student or ‘lay’ interviewer (e.g. Head of Sixth Form or GP). Interviewees will be given a copy of their BMAT essay prior to the interview, as discussion of their essay will form part of the assessment at interview.
Warwick University GRADUATE ENTRY ONLY This is a graduate entry course. You will need to have or expect to obtain a first class or upper second class honours degree. We accept
UKCAT We will not be considering the Situational Judgement section of the test for 2018 entry. The lowest UKCAT score for an applicant with an undergraduate degree who was invited to selection
It is essential to show evidence that you will be able to acquire the values of the NHS (including working together for patients, respect and dignity, commitment to quality of care), through people-focused work experience or volunteering. The minimum commitment we would
MMI At Selection Centre, you will take part in six Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs). See website for detailed information:
honours degrees in any subject and we welcome candidates with Master’s and/or PhD qualifications. Tel: +44 (0)24 7657 4880 [email protected]
centre was 2,770 for 2016 entry; 2,800 for 2015 entry; 2,940 for 2014 entry and 2,810 for 2013. For the 2016 test cycle (2017 entry), UKCAT introduced a test pilot for the Decision Analysis subtest and candidates only received a score for the remaining three subtests, ranging from 900 to 2700, instead of 1200 to 3600. For 2017 cycle (2018 entry) candidates and universities will receive a total score for the sum of all four subtests (Verbal Reasoning / Decision Making / Quantitative Reasoning / Abstract Reasoning).
expect to see is the equivalent of two weeks full-time (70 hours) across the last three years (from 15/10/14 to 15/10/17). See: Work Experience
