shortlisting criteria for medicine
Dear Sir or Madam,
I shall be pleased if you could provide me with the shortlisting criteria for admission to medical school for the following universities:
Manchester
Liverpool
Leeds
Birmingham
Yours faithfully,
H Poffitt
Dear Sir,
The criteria for applicants to MBChB at Liverpool are listed on our website at http://www.liv.ac.uk/sme/prospective/ind...
I also attach them to this email.
Yours sincerely,
John Smith
Dr J.A.Smith
Director of Medical Studies,
School of Medical Education.
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Dear Sir / Madam
I acknowledge receipt of your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the short listing criteria for admission to the School of Medicine at The University of Manchester.
Please see the entry requirements below. I have written to the School of Medicine for further information and will contact you again as soon as I receive a response.
Degree awarded: MBChB
Duration: 5 years
Typical A Level Offer (entry requirement): AAB (all subjects taken at the same sitting)
Students may enter this programme with the appropriate qualifications (entry requirements), or if they have successfully completed the Foundation Year.
Foundation year
If you do not have the appropriate subject background for direct entry to first year, or you have not studied the appropriate subjects to the required depth, you might be eligible to undertake a foundation year course to bring you up to the right level for first year entry.
Entry Requirements:
Degree awarded: MBChB
Duration: 6 years
Typical A Level Offer (entry requirement): ABB (all subjects taken at the same sitting)
2009
Foundation courses running in 2009:
Life Sciences (Foundation Year) Engineering (Foundation Year) Science (Foundation Year) 2008
Foundation courses running in 2008:
Life Sciences (Foundation Year) 2008 Engineering (Foundation Year) 2008 Science (Foundation Year) 2008 Partnership foundation year courses
City College Manchester runs two foundation year courses in partnership with Northern Consortium UK, of which The University of Manchester is a member:
Business Economics and Social Studies (Foundation studies) (City College Manchester website) University Foundation Studies in Science and Engineering (City College Manchester website)
English language entry requirements for International students
An English language qualification equivalent to IELTS 6.0 is required for entry to:
Life Sciences with a foundation year
An English language qualification equivalent to IELTS 5.5 is required for entry to:
Engineering with a foundation year Science with a foundation year
If you do not have an English qualification equivalent to GCSE English grade C or IELTS 5.5, then you may be able to apply for the City College's University Foundation Studies in Science and Engineering (City College Manchester website).
Regards
Mary Clare
Mary Clare
Records Officer
Records Management Office
The University of Manchester
Room G.011
John Owens Building
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
Tel: +44 161 275 5782
Fax: +44 161 275 8402
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Dear Sir / Madam
Further to my previous email the further information you require is set out below.
Medicine (5 years) [MBChB]
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Full entry requirements
A level: AAB required at full A2-level, exams taken at the same sitting after no more than 2 years of study. Subjects required: Chemistry plus one from Biology, Human Biology, Physics, Mathematics plus one further subject (not Fine Art, Critical Thinking or General Studies). A combination of three sciences will be regarded as equally acceptable at A2-level. Two AS-levels in place of one A2-level will not be accepted.
If applicants' predicted grades at A2 are below the School's requirments of AAB, they must contact the Medical Admissions office before applying.
Irish: Applicants offering the Irish Leaving Certificate may only apply to A104. Applicants must have achieved the required grades before application. Please contact us for further information.
International baccalaureate:
Higher Level subjects in Chemistry, Biology, Physics or Maths plus one further academic subject. Any sciences not offered at Higher Level must be taken at Subsidiary Level or at GCSE.
Alternatively, the School accepts a referee's statement supporting an applicant's proficiency at intermediate level in one unexamined science subject. 34 points required overall, to include three Grade 6 passes at Higher Level including Chemistry, plus Grades of 6,5,5 at Subsidiary Level.
GCSE: At least seven subjects are required at C or above; at least five must be at A or A*. Physics and Biology are required either at AS or at GCSE at minimum grade C. (Chemistry is essential at A2). If Dual Award Science is offered, the minimum is BB. If applicants do not meet any of these requirements, please contact the School before applying. English Language and Mathematics are required at GCSE minimum Grade B. See English language requirements below for further details.
Other international entry requirements:
Applicants from within the European Union are considered 'home' students. Students from outside the EU should offer international GCSE examinations and A2-levels or International Baccalaureate.
Those with broad based EU qualifications for example, Polish Matura, French Baccalaureate, Italian Esame Di Stato, Irish Leaving Certificate, etc are normally considered for A104. Please contact the Admissions Office for further details prior to application.
English language requirements: All students must have one of the following qualifications in English Language:
GCSE at Grade B or above Cambridge Syndicate: Grade B or above in the Certificate of Proficiency, Advanced Certificate in English or IGCSE First Language International English Language Testing Service [IELTS] with a minimum average score of seven and with not less than seven in any one component taken at the same sitting.
TOFEL qualifications are not accepted.
UCAS form
All applications are co-ordinated by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
The UCAS code for the:
five-year Medicine (MBChB) course is A106 six-year Medicine (MBChB) course with a foundation year is A104
For further details on the application procedure, please see the: UCAS website.
Applications from students who fulfill the minimum academic requirements of Manchester Medical School are examined in detail. Particular attention is given to adherence to our entry requirements, examination grades already achieved (GCSE, A2, degree, UKCAT), the personal statement and the academic reference from the school/college/university. The purpose of this assessment is to identify candidates for interview at Manchester. It is not possible to gain entry without interview.
From the UCAS form, the School of Medicine looks at information on the following areas:
Reasons for choosing/changing to medicine Regular work experience Knowledge/experience of healthcare system in the UK Interests/hobbies Evidence of teamwork Communication skills Determination/conscientiousness Intellectual potential Personal statement Reasons for choosing medicine
This may appear obvious to you. It is not obvious to the admissions tutors. The admissions co-ordinator and the admissions tutors have not met you and know nothing about you. It is vital that you tell them why you wish to be a doctor. There is no correct answer to this question but not to address it at all would seriously weaken your application.
Amount of work experience in a caring role
This does not necessarily mean medically related work experience, such as shadowing a GP or consultant. Such experience can be difficult to obtain for students under the age of 18. However, the admissions tutors are interested in caring experience which may or may not be medically related. Include how you got involved in such work, how long you have been doing it, how much time you spend each week and, most importantly, what you have gained from it.
Interests/hobbies
Doctors must be able to communicate and empathise with their patients. This is enhanced by some shared life experiences. The student who is totally absorbed in his/her studies to the exclusion of almost all else is less likely to make a good doctor. Write about your interests and hobbies. Tell the tutors why you pursue them. How long have you been involved? Have you achieved any outside recognition (eg awards, certificates, etc)? The School is aware that some students may have more opportunities than others to pursue a wide range of interests. The concern is not so much exactly what you do in your spare time but that you have some spare time and that you do something with it.
Reference
This part of your UCAS form is likely to be written by your head teacher, college principal or the head of your year/form tutor. Mature students should approach an academic supervisor whenever possible. A character reference is not sufficient. It is important, however, to know what the writer of the reference thinks about you as a whole person, not merely about your academic achievements and potential.
The School of Medicine strongly recommends that any mitigating circumstances which may affect not only academic performance but any aspect of the information contained in the UCAS form should be included in the referee's report. These may be personal or family illness, other family circumstances, change of teachers during a course, problems with school facilities, etc. These will be taken into account in the admissions process at all stages.
Please ensure that whoever is writing the reference sees a copy of these guidelines.
The areas in which the School requires information comprise:
Commitment to medicine
Although the length of time that a student has been committed to a medical career may be relevant here, it is not the only factor. Equally important are the steps that the student has taken to confirm this commitment (work experience in a caring role - see above, talking to medical and paramedical professionals and even work experience in other areas which have convinced the student that those areas are not for them). Where the applicant has changed his/her career focus in order to study medicine it would be helpful if the referee could address the reasons that prompted this change, the practical steps taken and the commitment shown. Some insight into the student's awareness of the realities, advantages and disadvantages of a medical career, would be useful here.
Staying power/perseverance
This section could equally be titled 'commitment to academic study'. The admissions tutors are obviously interested in whether the student works at an appropriate level of intensity, hands in work on time and is reliable, but some insight into the student's interest and enthusiasm for the subject would also be useful. Late developers should not be disadvantaged by this process. The admissions tutors are keen to hear about students who have blossomed in their interest and commitment relatively late in their school career or as a graduate or other mature applicant.
Communication skills
The ability to communicate is essential to the practice of medicine. However, communication is not merely about articulation and vocabulary, but it is also about listening. Thus although the tutors are interested in students' contributions to class discussion and extracurricular activity, they would be pleased to hear about how the student relates to others, in particular the less gifted students or younger students, and how well they accept criticism.
Humanity/humility
There is clearly some overlap here with 'communication' but information in this section should primarily deal with how the referee feels about the student's ability to care and empathise, including any practical evidence of this, and how the student sees him or herself in the school and wider community, or in the case of mature applicants in the workplace or in higher education.
Intellectual potential
This is not only evidenced by GCSE grades and achieved or predicted AS/A2-level grades or degrees. It is important for the referee to tell the admissions tutors about 'late academic developers' such as the students who achieved the bare minimum GCSE grade 'A' passes but are likely to blossom at AS/A2-level and beyond. Other evidence of intellectual potential beyond the mere ability to pass exams is important here.
Leadership qualities
These may be displayed within the school or in the wider community. The referee should indicate where positions of responsibility have been made and how the applicant has risen to the challenge. Where a school or college has had little opportunity to assess this area, referees are encouraged to obtain independent information from other sources.
Team work
These skills may be demonstrated either within or outside school. It is recognised that not all students have sporting aptitudes, but participating in sport is not the only way in which students can excel in this area. Social and charity involvement would be relevant here as would membership of choirs, orchestras, etc. The ability to work as a member of a team in class practices, field trips, hikes, expeditions etc will also be important. The School of Medicine recognises that not all schools and colleges will have equal opportunity to assess teamwork skills and therefore where such opportunities do not exist within school, they highly encourage the referee to obtain independent information from other sources.
UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT)
All applicants for both the five-year (A106) and six-year (A104 with Foundation Year) programmes are required to sit the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT).
The test will help the School to make more informed choices from among the many highly qualified applicants who apply for its medical degree programmes.
The test will not contain any curriculum or science content. It cannot be revised for. It will focus on exploring the cognitive powers of candidates and other attributes considered to be valuable for healthcare professionals. It will ensure that the candidates selected have the most appropriate mental abilities, attitudes and professional behaviours required for new doctors to be successful in their clinical careers.
It will be delivered on computer on a worldwide basis through high-street test centres.
Further information UKCAT website The interview
This section explains the interview process for the standard five-year course. There is a different process for applicants for the foundation year course.
For further information, see: Foundation year entry requirements
Short-listed candidates will be called for interview in the Medical school. No candidate will be offered a place at Manchester without an interview. Occasionally, applicants arrive for interview even when they are feeling unwell. If you are not feeling 100%, please tell the admissions staff before the interview; we will be happy to re-schedule it. Please understand that we cannot accept pleas of infirmity after the interview. The interview itself is formal though we do try to make it friendly. It is our opportunity to question you. If you have any questions about us please raise them with admissions staff either before or after the interview. The interview is not a test of a candidate's academic knowledge. The pre-interview screening process operated by the Medical School (based on academic grading, UKCAT, personal statement and reference) will already have ensured that all candidates called to interview appear to have sufficient academic potential. The purpose of the interview is to take a wider view of the applicant as described below. The interviewers appreciate that some candidates will be nervous and will of course make allowances for this. In most cases, outward signs of nervousness evaporate within two or three minutes of starting the interview.
At interview, the School will look to assess the following:
Ability to communicate
Communication skills are essential to the practice of all aspects of medicine. We expect candidates to be able to express their ideas clearly and coherently and to be able to follow a reasoned argument. Candidates who give spontaneous yet well-thought-out answers to questions are more likely to impress the interviewers than those who give obviously rehearsed and "coached" responses. There are clearly some questions which schools and students will anticipate (see below) but during the course of the interview there will be other questions which occur spontaneously to the interviewers and cannot be anticipated by the students.
Why do you want to be a doctor?
This is an obvious though vital question. It is also the question to which candidates most frequently reply with a coached and practised answer. The School will seek specific evidence of the experiences which have influenced your decision to study medicine.
Previous caring experience
Experience of a caring role will clearly be a topic raised by the interviewers. This role need not be in a traditional mainstream medical environment. The interview is an opportunity for candidates to relate not only the facts and details of their role but also their emotional response to it, what it has taught them, and what they have gained from it.
Matters of medical interest
Candidates will not be expected to have knowledge of details of medical processes. However, the panel will feel it reasonable to expect the candidate to have an intelligent lay person's view on many aspects of medicine particularly those of current media interest.
Ethical and other issues
Ethical issues may be raised by the interview panel but only in so far as to assess the candidate's ability to coherently summarise the issues at stake. Candidates should be reassured that neither the panel nor the Medical School will take a position on any ethical issue. It is not the candidate's ethical views that the panel may be interested in but how coherently the candidate expresses the ethical dilemmas facing medical practitioners. Candidates will not be asked questions in any of the following areas: gender, sexuality, marital or parental status, race, religion, social background.
Decisions
At the end of the interview, after each candidate has left the room, the panel will discuss his/her merits for approximately five minutes. Candidates will not be informed of the decision of the panel on the day of the interview. Candidates will receive the University's decision by post. All offers are conditional upon the achievement of the appropriate standard in forthcoming examinations (if the candidate has not already satisfied our academic requirements for entry) and upon completion of health screening and clearance by the Criminal Record within specified time frames.
Request feedback
If you wish to request feedback on your application please contact the School of Medicine undergraduate admissions office in writing.
Getting a decision
The Medical School will invite all successful candidates for interview between November and February. Successful international applicants will be offered interviews in either Manchester, Singapore, Hong Kong or Malaysia. Interviews in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia will be held in the middle of January. The School aims to notify all applicants of its final decisions by the end of March each year.
Regards
Mary Clare
Mary Clare
Records Officer
Records Management Office
The University of Manchester
Room G.011
John Owens Building
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
Tel: +44 161 275 5782
Fax: +44 161 275 8402
Dear Sir
I write in response to your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the short listing criteria for admssions to the Medical School at the University of Birmingham.
The Univeristy's on-line prospectus can be found at:http://www.undergraduate.bham.ac.uk/. Details of entry requirements and additional information can be found here and on the School's website at http://www.medicine.bham.ac.uk/.
Yours faithfully
FOIA
University of Birmingham
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