Courses:undergraduate, graduate, foundation

FeesApplication processAptitude testsSelection criteria + processesQuestions

Phase 1(mainly pre-clinical)

Phase 2(full-time clinical)

Foundation(2 years)

Pre-med

Final

Medical sciences

Early clinical experience

Professional development

MedicineSurgeryFamily medicineObstetrics & gynaecologyPaediatricsPsychiatryOther specialties…

Assistant-ship

Elective

FY1 shadowing

Employment as Foundation Doctor

4-month posts in (e.g. medicine, surgery, general practice)

Types & structure of medicine courses

Foundation (6 years)

Undergraduate (5/6 years)

Graduate entry (4/5 years)

Types & structure of medicine courses

Early years Later years

“Traditional”

Integrated Problem-

based

Hospital-

based

Community-

based

Buckingham (private) £36,000Oxford (clinical years) £33,938Oxford (pre‐clinical years) £24,690University College London £31,720Liverpool £30,850Keele £27,800Plymouth (clinical) £33,000Plymouth (pre‐clinical) £17,800

£29,314 pa}

£26,920 pa}

Location

Considerapplying

Researchcareer;work

experience

Aptitude test

(UKCAT/ GAMSAT) UCAS

application

Additional information/

BMAT Interview

Conditionaloffer

Summer 15 Oct. November- March AprilCalendar May-Aug.

DBS & OHchecks

Startcourse

Sept./Oct.

GlossaryResearch career: Finding out about courses, doctors’ work, pros and cons, GMCWork experience: Direct work with people (care, service); clinical NOT essentialAptitude test: UKCAT, GAMSAT, BMAT (depending on course)Interview: MMI (multiple mini‐interviews), panel interview, assessment centreDBS: Disclosure & Barring Service OR Police Service checkOH Occupational Health – see    

www.heops.org.uk/HEOPS_Medical_Students_fitness_standards_2013_v10.pdf

Sub‐test 1 Verbal reasoning  (44 items: 22 min)

Sub‐test 2 Quantitative reasoning      (36 items: 23 min)

Sub‐test 3 Abstract reasoning         (65 items: 16 min)

Sub‐test 4 Decision making           (29 items: 32 min)

Each scored 300–900Top 10%  2,800+

Sub‐test 5 Situational judgement test  (69 items: 27 min)

Band 1–4

SECTION  1: Aptitude and Skills (60 min)35 multiple choice questions

(Problem Solving, Understanding Argument, Data Analysis & Inference)Scaled 1‐ 9

SECTION  2:  Scientific Knowledge & Applications * (30 min) 27 multiple choice questions

(Application of core scientific and mathematical knowledge and principles)Scaled 1‐ 9

SECTION  3: Writing Task (30 min)One question from a selection of four(Restricted to one side of A4)

0‐5 and A‐E

*On‐line study guide for Section 2 of BMAT–available  for 3 to 4 months  prior to test.

You must be honest and open and act with integrity.

UK General Medical Council, Good Medical Practice 2006

Explain what is meant by the above statement. Why might honesty, openness and integrity be important in a good doctor?Under what circumstances might a good doctor be justified in being less than perfectly honest and open in the course of their professional practice?

High BMAT scores will enhance but not guarantee chances of being interviewed

Average scores for applicants to a given medical school usually published on their website

Applicants who score significantly below average in BMAT will not be interviewed

Section 3 essay used by some medical schools to inform discussion at interview 

Occupational Health requirement: All medical schools require completion of a  health questionnaire by adeadline.

Some request blood tests pre‐entry, others test on entry : Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C*, HIV*, Varicella and MMR

(*Students can opt not to be tested and will not be able to perform exposure‐prone procedures)

Enhanced Disclosure through DBS**No ‘spent’ cautions, reprimands  warnings and / or convictions inmedicine(**Satisfactory police check required from any countries outside the UK where applicants have lived since 13th birthday)

Team work

Care & compassion

Integrity & probity

Intellectual ability

Communic-ation skills

Problem solving &

critical thinking

Empathy

Emotional Resilience

Essential attributes for a

medical student

See: Good Medical Practice (2013) & Tomorrow’s Doctors (2009) www.gmc‐uk.org

• Strong academic record• e.g. minimum A*AA GCE ‘A’ level or 36 in IB (including chemistry and/or

biology)

• Evidence of ability to problem solve & think critically • e.g. UKCAT, BMAT, or GAMSAT

• Personal qualities required for a good doctor• empathy, communication skills, resilience, probity, team-work, care &

compassion, etc. (interview; personal statement)

See: Good Medical Practice (2013) & Tomorrow’s Doctors (2009) www.gmc‐uk.org

Selection criteria

• Medical schools will want to see evidence of:• outstanding achievement at A-level equivalent• maths at GCSE equivalent• English language ability

• Medical schools might want to see evidence of:• study of science (including physics) up to GCSE

equivalent level• may be school transcripts/certificates if your country has no

formal, national examinations before school-leaving level

Academic record

• Personal statement• Not used by many medical schools• Others may use to:

• Rank for interview• Select out applicants prior to UKCAT ranking• Supplement scoring of academic record/aptitude test

• Post-application form• May be used to quantify/verify experience• May substitute for personal statement

• Interview

Personal qualities

Only approx 25%–30% of applicants will reach the interview stage

Interviews

• Understand what the medical school wants to find out

• Get used to answering questions…• from people you don’t know• under time pressure

• Know where you’re going and what will happen on the day

• Don’t…• have a script• pretend to be a doctor

Preparing for interviews