How to apply to a UK medical school
If you are applying to medical school there is a range of things to consider. This incudes attending a university open day, submitting your application and attending an interview. We hope this article will help guide you through the application process.
Subjects you need to study medicine
For students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, all UK medical schools accept applications that demonstrate:
- Good GCSE grades in Maths, Science and English
- A combination of GCSEs, AS levels and A-levels
- Chemistry at A-level and often A-level Biology
- One other science subject is often required, for example, Physics (or physical science), or Mathematics.
- A good A-level grade in an arts subject such as History or a Modern Language will usually be accepted as a third A-level.
Students with mainly non-science A-levels are normally required to study a foundation course. This will add a year to the standard five year undergraduate course.
Applicants to UK medical schools with other qualifications, such as an international baccalaureate, should contact the individual medical schools – or UCAS for details on equivalent entry requirements.
Postgraduate medical school requirements
These are quite different from the above, and vary widely between them. Most require an undergraduate degree (usually a 2:1 or above), preferably in a scientific area allied to medicine (biomedicine, microbiology, immunology).
Others are more liberal and will take people who are already health professionals (nurses, physios etc) or other careers (e.g. social work, academia). Some will take any degree or equivalent training.
Finding the right medical school
Before applying to medical school, it’s important you leave enough time to do research.
The research will help you to find out what type of course will suit you. They are different (not much). It will also outline what you need to do for the application process.
Remember you can only choose up to four medical schools. So many students use the fifth as a back up option, applying to related courses like bio-medical science which require lower grades. For this reason, have a think about what other course you would be interested in taking instead of medicine.
Its a good idea to attend university open days (and visit the campus). These will give you an idea of what life at that university is like. Ask yourself: ‘would be happy to spend the next five years of my life here?’
How to write your personal statement
Don’t rush it. The personal statement is very important. Find out the deadlines. Apply as early as possible, and give yourself plenty of time to get your application in.
Medical schools want to know not just about your grades, but ”what are about you as a person?‘ Talk about all the things you have achieved in your life: personal interests, hobbies, sporting achievements, academic prizes, projects you have work on, social groups you’ve been a part of.
Teamwork. Medicine is about teamwork. So playing a team sport (football/rugby/netball) or being in a band or orchestra is ‘better’ than solo sport (squash/golf) and being a solo violinist.
Getting relevant caring work experience
Having experience in a caring role is extremely important – whether it be as a volunteer or in paid employment.
We advise you to look up your local hospitals or nursing homes, to see if you can do a placement. It’s also a good idea to get in touch with doctors who have inspired you or your local GP, and ask them if you can do work experience with them.
Getting hands on experience will give you a great insight into the day-to-day life of being a doctor. Then ask yourself ‘do I (really) like it’? and ‘could I do this for 40 years and not get bored?. If the answer is not a clear ‘yes’ and ‘yes’, maybe you should rethink your application.
Submitting your application
Get help – from your teachers, parents, siblings, school colleagues – i.e. anyone that can help.
Have a checklist, double check your application against it; and make sure you are including everything asked for. Have a parent, teacher or careers advisor look through and check all your application items.
It is up to you to be organised, and make sure your application is on time and includes everything required.
Medical school admission tests
Some medical schools use the UCAS tariff points system (to determine entry requirements). This points system establishes agreed comparability between different types of qualifications, and between applicants with different types of education and achievement.
In addition to application through UCAS, some medical schools require applicants to take admission tests.
Summary
It is not easy to get into medical school. It is not meant to be. We need clever, determined and caring people to be the doctors of the future. You may be one of them, and the journey starts here. You may get in. Putting time and work into the application is worth it. Yes you can.
