Dear Mr. Choudhary

 

Thank you for your email received by the University on 17 October 2012,
which I confirm is being dealt with in terms of the Freedom of Information
(Scotland) Act 2002, hereinafter referred to as “the Act”.

 

We will endeavour to reply with the information you have requested within
20 working days of receipt of your email, as required by the Act.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Lorna Maguire

University Records Manager

Policy, Planning and Governance,

University of Aberdeen,

University Office,

King`s College,

Aberdeen,

AB24 3FX

 

T: 01224- 273175

Email: [1][email address]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland, No
SC013683.

References

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1. mailto:[email address]

To: Mr Choudhary [[1]mailto:[FOI #133813 email]]

 

 

Dear Mr Choudhary,

 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST:  FoI-162 (2012)

 

I refer to your email of 17 October 2012 requesting information on A100
Medicine Admission Statistics.

 

I apologise on behalf of the University for the lateness of this reply. 
Your request has now been considered under the Freedom of Information
(Scotland) Act 2002, hereinafter referred to as “the Act”.

 

I have provide the information requested where we have been able to do so.

 

I confirm, however, that we cannot readily provide all of the specific
information sought in questions 1,3,4,7,9.

 

This information is not recorded in our or any other database in a form
that can be extracted electronically, nor is it collated in the way
requested, by any section within the University.

 

This information is stored on individual UCAS paper forms. The information
requested would need to be manually extracted from each individual form
and an excel spreadsheet created to collate the data. We had 2269
applicants in the 2011/12 cycle.  

 

The cost of complying fully with your request would therefore exceed the
appropriate cost limit for requests i.e. in excess of £600 , as set out in
section 12 of the Act. For that reason your request for the specific
information which would require manual extraction and collation, has been
refused.

 

It would be difficult to narrow the scope of the search in any meaningful
way without further dialogue, in order to reduce projected costs within
accepted limits.

 

Questions

Q1:         How many of the students admitted were studying A Levels?

Q2:         How many of the students admitted were international?

 

A1/A2:    We have provided numbers of Scottish, EU, RUK and Overseas
applicants taking up an offer.

 

RUK 46
Scotland 103
European Economic Area (EEA) 5
International (Non-EEA) 16
   
Total 170

 

The majority of RUK applicants will have sat ‘A’ level examinations as
will a proportion of the EU and Overseas applicants. Very few Scottish
applicants sit ‘A’ level examinations.

 

The specific information on number of students admitted who had A levels
is not recorded in a form which can be extracted electronically.

 

Q3:         For each applicant who was unsuccessful in obtaining an
interview, can I get a list of their UKCAT score, their GCSE's, and
predicted A Level results and subjects studied.

Q4:         For each applicant who was successful in obtaining an
interview, can I get a list of their UKCAT score, their GCSE's, and
predicted A Level results and subjects studied.

   

A3/A4:    This information is not recorded in our or any other database in
a form that can be extracted electronically. It would involve manual data
extraction from each UCAS form.

 

We have provide the range of UKCAT scores for all applicants; those made
an offer and those who took up a place. We are unable to provide the
scores of those who were invited to interview, as this information would
require manual extraction of the data from UKCAT information.

 

Q5          Can I get a list of criteria that the interviewers looked at
during the interview to determine a candidates suitability?

 

A5:         We have provided the interview scoring sheet for 2011/12 which
outlines the scoring system used

 

Q6:         How was the interview scored? Was it a score out of 10 by each
interviewer or anything along those lines?

 

A6:         Only the top 600 applicants based on the above scoring system
were asked to attend for an interview when the following attributes are
further explored;   Commitment to medicine; Knowledge of core qualities
required of a doctor and candidates' personal qualities relating to this;
Understanding of professional issues (e.g. teamwork); evidence of outside
interests.

 

An objective scoring system covered these categories in greater depth. 
Other qualities were also assessed, which otherwise would not be apparent
from a written statement, e.g. understanding of issues; problem-solving
and analytical skills; enthusiasm, interest and motivation to study
Medicine; and communication and interpersonal skills.

 

For 2013 entry the interview process will change to the Multiple Mini
Interview (MMI) format.  Five candidates will rotate around five question
stations in turn.  A Selector will explore one question area or domain at
each station for 7 minutes and score the candidate's performance against
pre-determined criteria.  Communication and interpersonal skills will also
be scored at each station.  The whole of the MMI experience will last
about 45 minutes for each candidate. The interview contributes up to 45%
of total score.

 

Q7:         For each applicant who was successful in obtaining an offer,
can I get a list of their UKCAT score, their GCSE's, and predicted A Level
results and subjects studied as well as their score in the interview
stage?

 

A7:         This information is not recorded in our or any other database
in a form that can be extracted electronically. It would involve manual
data extraction from each UCAS form. 

 

Q8:         I would also like any scoring or grading system used to assess
interview performance and if a form or such is provided to interviewers to
record performance is available I would also kindly request this. This
specific request is for this year’s admission cycle, ie 2012/2013.

 

A8:         The process used is described above. The scoring sheet is
attached.

 

Q9:         Can I also get details of successful and unsuccessful
candidates that studied the IB and their various predicted results and
UKCAT scores?

 

A9:         This information is not recorded in our or any other database
in a form that can be extracted electronically. It would involve manual
data extraction from each UCAS form.

 

Should you be dissatisfied with the University's response under the Act,
you have the right to ask the University formally to review its decision. 
If you ask us to do this such a review will normally be undertaken by a
senior member of staff with no prior involvement in the original
decision.  The University may, however, refer the matter to a lay member
of the University Court to undertake the review where this is deemed
appropriate.  Any request for review must be in writing or another form
capable of preservation, be received not later than 60 working days
following the date of your original request, as adjusted by the date of
this reply, and state the matter which gives rise to your
dissatisfaction.  It should be addressed to Mr B Purdon, Clerk to the
University Court, University Office, King's College, ABERDEEN AB24 3FX.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Lorna Maguire

University Records Manager

Policy, Planning and Governance,

University of Aberdeen,

University Office,

King`s College,

Aberdeen,

AB24 3FX

 

T: 01224- 273175

Email: [2][email address]

 

 

Mrs Marina Glennie

PA to Director

Policy, Planning & Governance

University of Aberdeen

University Office

King's College

ABERDEEN   AB24 3FX

 

Tel:  01224 272016

Fax:  01224 273984

Email:  [3][email address]

 

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