1. Graduate Entry to Medicine:
Options, funding & applying
April 2012
Alex Langhorn
Careers Consultant

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Options for studying medicine as
a second degree
Access Course If
Necessary Non-Medical Degree
4 Year Graduate Entry 5 Year Standard Entry 6 Year Standard Entry
Course Course Course inc.
Foundation/Pre-Medical
Year
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.

7. 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 Some need science based
University of Cambridge
first degree, others open to
non-scientists (in red)
Imperial College London
Kings’ College London
University of Leicester *
University of Liverpool *
University of Newcastle
University of Nottingham
University of Oxford
University of Southampton
The courses marked with an
St George’s Medical School
asterisk (*) require you to be
University of Swansea a graduate at the time of
University of Warwick application
Listed on www.ucas.com

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Admissions Tests

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Manchester Selection
Process
UCAS form
Academic screen
Personal statement and reference
Special circumstances
UKCAT
Ranking by total UKCAT score
Interview

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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/

23. 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

25. 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?

26. 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).

27. 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.

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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