Medicine Applications

Exeter's BMBS Programme

Many of our graduates who want to pursue a medicine degree after they graduate (with a 2:1 or 1st) opt to continue their studies at Exeter. Exeter does not offer a graduate entry medicine (GEM) programme, so you will need to complete the standard five-year undergraduate programme.

The application process as a final year BSc. Medical Sciences, SEMS or Neuroscience student is as follows:

1. Submit UCAS application form by 15 October (no requirement for UCAT or GAMSAT tests)

2. All applicants in their final year of study on either the BSc/MSci (Hons) Medical Sciences, SEMS or BSc Neuroscience courses at the University of Exeter, who are predicted to achieve a 2:1 or First Class honours degree and wish to be considered, will be shortlisted for interview.

3. All applicants must declare any professionalism issues throughout their degree.

4. Interviewers assess each interviewee and provide a ‘global judgement’ answering the question: “Has this candidate demonstrated the qualities (i.e. attitude, behaviours, and values) to be offered a place to train as a doctor at Exeter Medical School?”

5. A defined number of offers made to those who are judged suitable to be made an offer, using the same process as for the Direct School Leaver Group.

Exeter's BMBS Medicine Interview:

The Interview is a 'multi-mini' interview format. That means there are six stations and in every station candidates will have three minutes to answer questions (and three minutes to prepare for every station). The questions are aimed at understanding candidates` motivation to do medicine, awareness of what is required to pursue 5 years BMBS programme, awareness of NHS organisation, values, ethics and skills (e.g. problem solving, team-working, communication, etc.).

In advance of any interview, practice mock interviews with a partner acting as interviewer. Standard questions, such as 'why are you applying to this medical school, what are your ambitions in medicine, provide an example of where you had to deal with a distressed person, what do think are the qualities of a good doctor?, etc. Speaking out answers will let you now which areas need more preparatory work.

At interview:

• Do arrive early so you can feel relaxed

• Do dress smartly, even for on-line interviews

• Do bring a bottle of water

• Do make good eye contact with the interviewer

• Don't sit with your arms folded

• Don't be afraid to ask clarification if you don't understand a question

• Do ask a question or two of your own at the end

The interview is where you have the chance to expand on some of the examples you referred to briefly within your personal statement (have a quick read of this before the interview to refresh your memory!). The interview is also where you can show off your knowledge and also to show that you are not afraid to make an educated guess in response to a posed scenario or clinical case study.

Additional Resources:

• BMBS admissions 2022 guide

• BMBS Undergraduate Entry webpage

• MMI Interviews: A Guide to the Multiple Mini Interview - The Medic Portal

• Graduate-entry medicine (GEM) interviews - The Medic Portal

• As far a prep for any medicine interview is concerned, I would recommend that you have a read through the 'Outcomes for Graduates' document from the following GMC website: Outcomes for graduates - GMC (gmc-uk.org)

Writing a Personal Statement for Medicine

Writing a good personal statement can make all the difference in securing that coveted place on a medicine programme, so make sure you take the time to give it your best shot and proof-read carefully. Remember, your personal statement is the only part of the application process where you get to tell medical schools why they should accept you onto their course. Avoid generic, cliched, overly self-aggrandising statements. Keep it real, evidenced and authentic. Write in your natural style.

Your Medicine personal statement should include the following three components:

1. Motivation — Why do you want to study Medicine?

2. Exploration — What have you done to learn about it?

3. Suitability — Why are you a great fit for it?

How Should I Structure my Personal Statement?

The structure of your Medicine personal statement is a matter of personal preference. But you need to make sure you have a clear and logical framework. We would suggest that following the below will give you a strong foundation from which to showcase your attributes:

• Why I want to be a doctor (motivation)

• Work experience (exploration)

• Volunteering (exploration)

• Wider Reading and study (exploration)

• Extracurricular (suitability)

• Conclusion (motivation)

Some Dos and Don'ts when it comes to writing a personal statement:

Do:

• Before writing your statement, take some time to map out on paper all the relevant things you have done that you can refer to in your statement. Just snippets will do; you can expand on any of these examples if you are invited to interview.

• Make sure that your genuine interest and passion for medicine comes through, especially when describing any clinical experience you have gained.

• Evidence your skills and attributes through examples, rather than just providing a list of these.

• Keep your statement clear, concise and make it sound like you.

Don't:

• Allow spelling or grammatical errors to spoil you chances. Proof read carefully and get someone else to proof read.

• Try and use clever or elaborate language. You want your own authentic voice to come through in your written words. Write in your natural style.

• Use the use the term 'passionate' - convince admission tutors that you have this through writing about what you have done and what you hope to achieve in the future.

Additional Resources:

• Medicine personal statement advice from the medic portal

• Bank jobs at the RD&E NHS Trust - gain some authentic, hands-on experience of clinical care working as a healthcare assistant (HCA) at the RD&E hospital. Apply with an email outlining what you are looking for and what hours you can work at: rde-tr.centralbank@nhs.net and rde-tr.centralbankapplicationforms@nhs.net

Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) Programmes

For medicine programmes that are specifically for graduate-entry students, a number of medical schools offer these throughout the UK. Through UCAS, you can apply to up to five of these (as with undergraduate programmes, the application closing date is normally in October for entry in September the following year).

Before then, you will most likely need to book a place over the summer to sit one of the entry exams which, depending on which medical school you apply to, may be either the GAMSAT, BMAT or UCAT. To avoid expense and stress, consider only sitting one of these and then apply only to schools that require this particular exam. Also, don't feel pressured into paying out for expensive exam tutorial courses as they are generally not worth the expense.

What Are the Entry Requirements for Graduate Entry Medicine?

The entry requirements for Graduate Entry Medicine vary depending on which course you’re applying to, so you need to check with each Medical School first. In general, you need:

• At least a 2.1 science degree

• GAMSAT, UCAT, or BMAT results

• Relevant work experience

• Strong references

• A compelling Personal Statement

• Some medical schools also specify A levels in Chemistry and sometimes Biology as well, usually at C or B grade awarded within the previous 7 years. However, most GEM programmes do not look at A level results but just require a 2:1 degree and a relevant clinical aptitude test score. (For 5-year UG medicine programmes, because you are applying alongside school leavers, A level results are looked at.)

Additional Resources:

• Graduate-entry medicine from the medic portal

• Graduate-entry medicine from The Student Room

• Graduate-entry medicine (GEM) interviews - The Medic Portal

• How Does Graduate Entry Medicine Funding Work? - Medic Mind

• An insight into what types of medicine you can specialise in after you complete your medicine degree

Funding Your Post-Graduate Medicine Studies

This won't be cheap and the financial implications can, unfortunately, pose a significant barrier to many graduates (who already have an extensive student loan book) with a desire to study medicine. But don't panic; there are ways and means of meeting the costs and always keep in mind that this is an investment in a fulfilling and (eventually) financially rewarding life-long vocation.

The accelerated four-year graduate-entry medicine (GEM) is more affordable than completing the standard five-year undergraduate programme as a second degree. Although you will need to self-fund the first year of the programme (approx. £3.5K from you and the remainder as a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England), you can receive a bursary from the NHS that will contribute towards tuition fees (will cover about 50%) for the remaining 3 years (https://www.gov.uk/nhs-bursaries). If you are eligible for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England, the remaining fees can be covered. Thus, it is possible that you only need to fork out about 3.5K for the four year accelerated programme - not too bad! This is why GEM is so competitive!

For the five-year undergraduate medicine programmes, the NHS bursary will only cover Year 5. You will therefore need to fund years 2-4 (as Year 1 will be covered as a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England, unless you have already received four years of tuition fee loans during your first degree),

So, to summarise:

For accelerated four-year graduate-entry medicine (GEM) programmes:

• Year 1: self fund the first £3.5K with the remainder covered by a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England

• Years 2-4: NHS bursary will cover 50% tuition fees. You will need to fund the rest unless you meet the eligibility criteria for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England

For the standard five-year undergraduate programmes:

• Year 1: Tuition fees will be covered (as a loan) by Student Finance England (as part of the four-year tuition fees student loan offered to all UK students in Higher Education)

• Years 2-4: You will need to self-fund

• Year 5: Tuition fees covered by the NHS bursary

Additional Resources:

• How Does Graduate Entry Medicine Funding Work? - Medic Mind

• Medicine as a second degree – Royal Medical Benevolent Fund (rmbf.org)

• NHS bursaries

• Funding for postgraduate study - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Search for charitable and educational grants - Turn2us