Preparing & Applying to Medicine

Deciding on Medicine 

• Why do you want to be a doctor?

  • Does it fit your goals?

  • Do you have the necessary skills?

  • Deciding on Medicine - The Medic Portal

• Do you understand what a doctor does and the training required?

  • What Does A Doctor Do? Summary - The Medic Portal

• Consider other health professions

  • Step Into The NHS :: Take the test

Preparation in Y12

• Sign up for the University Counselling workshops during Term 2

• Do work/volunteer experience (in medical field if possible)

  • Medical Work Experience - The Medic Portal

  • https://www.medschools.ac.uk/media/2636/guidance-on-gaining-relevant-experience-for-studying-medicine-in-the-time-of-covid-19.pdf

• Pursue wider reading in medicine

  • Start now and continue staying up on current issues in medicine

  • May help to create a journal or tracker to record what you've read (books, topics in the news etc)

  • Resources

https://www.nytimes.com/column/diagnosis

https://www.bbc.com/news/health

https://www.rcgp.org.uk/training-exams/discover-general-practice/observe-gp.aspx

https://bsmsoutreach.thinkific.com/courses/VWE

https://www.medscape.com/

https://aspiringdocsdiaries.org/

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/

https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/bluelink/curricula

https://www.medschools.ac.uk/studying-medicine/outreach-and-support/resources-for-teachers-and-students

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/study-medicine

https://www.coursera.org/search?query=medicine&

Anatomy course

• Research what admissions test you need for country/university.

• If you want to practice medicine in Singapore, please review the requirements for international medical graduates and the list of SG approved overseas medical schools.

Interviews

If you pass the first stage of the admissions process, you will hopefully be called to interview. Interviews are a great opportunity for you to showcase your personal qualities and demonstrate your skills. The interviews are designed to help universities assess your suitability for a career in Medicine.

There are two types of interview: 

• Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)

• Traditional/Panel Interviews 

The university counselling team will organise mock interviews in Term 1 of Year 13.

Please note that Medical School interviews moved online for both the 2021 & 2022 cycles. It is too early to know if this will be the same for the 2023 application cycle.

Dentistry

Resources

• Why dentistry? - studying healthcare 

• Dentistry - The Medic Portal 

• Ten tips for applying to Dentistry (thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk) 

• Making an application - Dental Schools Council: Check out resources under the "Dentistry Applications" menu

• How to Become a Dentist in 2023 | Dentistry | 2023 | TheUKCATPeople 

• The Ultimate Guide to Studying Dentistry in the UK | Blog | Medify 

United Kingdom

Helpful websites

• The Medic Portal: Bookmark this webpage and refer to it for all aspects of the research and application process

• Home | Medical Schools Council (medschools.ac.uk)

• https://themediccollective.wordpress.com/

• https://www.medicmind.co.uk/medical-school-comparison-tool/

• Advice and suggested reading from Brighton and Sussex

• Interesting articles

  • challenges facing the NHS

  • hunting pandemic variants of concern

Overview

• 43 med schools in UK

• You can choose 4 medicine courses to apply to

  • Your 5th UCAS choice must be non-medical. Students typically consider biomedicine and biochemistry as the same personal statement will be sent to all 5 choices.

• Pathways

  • Undergraduate medicine: Bachelor's degree, BSc in Medicine

  • Grad entry medicine: Complete a bachelor’s degree in another field first

    • Graduate Entry Medicine - The Medic Portal

What to consider when choosing a medical school?

• • Teaching style/clinical exposure

    • Traditional: preclinical then clinical

    • Integrated courses: combine theory and practice, problem based learning

    • Intercalated courses: get Bsc or Msc in related subject.

  • Entry requirements

    • A levels/IB

    • GCSE

    • Specified subjects and grades at each level

  • Admissions information

    • Which test is required?

    • Short listing policy: How are UCAT/BMAT scores used? How much weight is given to each part of the application?

    • Number of places for domestic or international students

      • Only 7% of places are for international students

  • Location

  • Costs

  • Research opportunities

  • Resources

    • The Guide to Choosing a Medical School - The Medic Portal

    • Medical School Comparison Tool - Medic Mind

    • Youtube: day in the life videos 

Applications

• Prepare for admissions test(s)

  • Determine which test you need to take for the unis you are interested in

  • UCAT

    • Dates: July 28-Sept 29

    • You receive your scores before your start applying

    • We recommend taking it the Summer during Y12

    • Your Comprehensive Guide To The UCAT Test [2021] - The Medic Portal

    • UCAT | UCAT Consortium

  • BMAT

    • Date: November of Y13

    • Apply without knowing your score

    • Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing

• Complete personal statement and submit UCAS form

  • Early deadline: Beginning of Oct

• Complete Interview

  • Nov-Dec of Y13

International Applicants

The latest data on UCAS applications shows that the number of Medicine applicants is continuing to rise, with increased demand for limited places fueled by a 28% jump in people reapplying this year. UCAS has received 29,710 applications for 2022 entry Medicine overall, which is a 3.5% increase from last year.  With places very competitive for international students, you may want to look at:

Brunel University in London – Five-year medicine (international students only)

Swansea University – Three-year BSc. leading to four-year medicine (international students only) 

Queen Mary University - Malta - Five-year medicine 

Australia & New Zealand

Resources

Explore both undergraduate and graduate routes

Medify AU -- Before Starting Your Preparation for Medical School Admission 

Study Abroad in Australia - The Medic Portal 

How to become a doctor - The University of Sydney 

Universities | UCAT Consortium 

VetMed

How To Become A Veterinarian in Australia: A Complete Guide | Study in Australia • OzStudies 

Asia & Middle East

Bahrain

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Bahrain

Hong Kong

Chinese University of Hong Kong

University of Hong Kong

Malaysia

International Medical University Malaysia

Monash University Malaysia

Newcastle University Malaysia

Qatar

Weill Cornell Medicine

Qatar University

Singapore

Nanyang Technical University

National University of Singapore