1. UK Medical School Admissions
Mark Blakemore, Director, International Development
St George’s, University of London

2. Overview St George’s and medical education in the UK
Medical programmes and admissions
Overall application process and components:
Academic requirements
Personal statement and previous experiences
Entry tests
Interviews
Further resources

3. St George’s, University of London
One of the UK’s oldest medical schools – founded 1733
UK’s only dedicated medical and health sciences university
College of the University of London
Shared site with St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London
Top 250 university worldwide & number one in the world for research influence (Times Higher Education World Rankings)

4. UK Medical Education 31 publicly funded school-leavers’ programmes
14 graduate entry programmes
Each public medical school recruits to a quota. Average of around 10 initial applications per place
Currently 7.5% of the quota can be non-EU students (school-leavers’ programmes) – under review
New private medical schools/programmes being created
Linked to overall expansion of medical school training places

5. Medical programmes (Example) What will I do? Foundation training
A level / IB diploma or equivalent
Medicine MBBS (5 years)
Biomedical Science BSc (3 years)
Clinical Science years, plus short general practice and community visits; Case Based Learning
Year 1
Year 2
MBBS4 Year 1
Problem Based Learning and clinical rotations
Clinical Transition Year
Advanced Biomedical study and independent research
Intercalated BSc (optional in 5-year programme)
Clinical rotations in a variety of hospital departments; revision, exams and teaching sessions
Penultimate Year
Final Year
Foundation training

6. Overall Application Process - Summary
Applications through UCAS (4 medical programmes and 1 non-medical programme)
15th October deadline, to allow time for assessment of:
Academic requirements
Entry tests
Personal statement, reference and previous experience
Candidates at interview
Some universities weight different components (differently)
Others have a series of ‘minimum’ requirements (and more emphasis on the interview)

7. Academic Entry Requirements
Majority of medical schools’ A level requirements are AAA, IB requirements normally 36+
Biology and Chemistry generally most important, physics and maths have different importance at different schools
Adjusted criteria schemes, and pre-university programme progression, vary
Consideration of GCSEs (or equivalent) is usually included in assessment of candidates

8. St George’s Academic Entry Requirements
Course
A level
IB diploma
AP tests
Swiss Matura
French Bacc
Esame di Estato
Abitur
Medicine MBBS
AAA including Biology & Chemistry
36 overall including 18 at HL and 6 in HL Biology & Chemistry*
5,5,5,4 to include 5’s in Chemistry, Biology & another Group A subject
Minimum 5/6 over all subjects including Biology & Chemistry
Science stream with 15/20 to include Life Science, Chemistry & Maths
To be confirmed for 2018 entry
Biomedical Science BSc/MSci
ABB including Biology & Chemistry
34 overall including 16 at HL and 6,5 in HL Bio & Chemistry*
5,4,4 to include Chemistry, Biology & another Group A subject
Science stream with 14/20 to include Life Science, Chemistry & Maths
Liceo Scientifico with 84 overall including Natural Science & Maths
2.1
overall with min.
10/15 in Biology, Chemistry and Maths
Physiotherapy BSc
ABB
34 overall including 16 at HL*
5,4,4 to include 2 Group A subjects
Minimum 5/6 over all subjects
Science stream with 14/20
Liceo Scientifico with 84 overall
overall
* IB diploma to include grade 5 in SL Maths and English if grade B not achieved at GCSE/iGCSE

9. St George’s English language requirements
Qualification
GCSE / IGCSE / O level English as a First Language
GCSE / IGCSE / O level English as a Second Language
IB diploma
IELTS
OIB (French Bacc)
Matura Bilingual Award
Medicine MBBS and other clinical courses B A
SL English grade 5 / HL English Language grade 4
7.0 overall including 7.0 in Writing and 6.5 in each other section
14/20 in English in bilingual award
5/6 in English in bilingual award
Biomedical Science BSc/MSci C
6.5 overall including minimum 6.0 in each section

10. Personal statement, reference and previous experiences
Some universities ‘score’ personal statement, others don’t (and refer back at interview)
Overall lack of prescription around previous experiences – many talk around ‘caring situations’ or ‘health-related’ experiences. Only 2 schools refer directly to clinically related experience
Whole range of co-curricular experiences can be relevant
Key for students to demonstrate learning and reflect on their experiences
MBBS: For this purpose hands-on experience in a nursing home or similar environment can be more rewarding and informative than shadowing and talking to doctors.
Biomedical Science: no work experience necessary. We’re just looking for an interest in subject as reflected in the personal statement (UCAS form).
Physiotherapy: would prefer Physio work experience, but would except experience of working with the public e.g. nursing homes, care homes ( interactions and communication) for a period of 1-2hrs per week for about 3mths. Looking to assess from application and interview app’s understanding of NHS Physio (have they done their research and reading), Physio as a career & understanding of working with the public. Again those students studying on the Foundation in Medical and Biomedical Sciences will receive assistance in obtaining this type of work experience.
Radiography: Desirable prior to interview – 1 or 2 days shadowing within the profession, again students on the Foundation in Medical and Biomedical Sciences who progressed to this route will receive assistance on how to obtain relevant work experience.

11. Entry Tests (1) - UKCAT
Used by 24 university for school leavers programmes (many graduate programmes use GAMSAT)
Taken July – early October prior to application at Pearson testing centres – immediate results
Each university sets a cut off – is used as a primary tool to select for interview
Explores cognitive powers and other attributes considered to be valuable for healthcare professionals
No specific curriculum or science content
No revision required but practice question taking advised
Significant number of preparation programmes now available

12. UKCAT Structure
Subtest
Items
UKCAT (includes 1 minute per subtest for instruction)
UKCATSEN (includes 2 minutes per subtest for instruction)
Scoring
Verbal Reasoning 44
22 minutes
28 minutes
Decision Making 29
32 minutes
39 minutes
Quantitative Reasoning 36
25 minutes
31.5 minutes
Abstract Reasoning 55
14 minutes
17.5 minutes
Situational Judgement 69
27 minutes
34 minutes
1-5
Total time
120 minutes
150 minutes
For UKCAT 2016, no score was assigned to the decision making sub-test
Situational judgement test still under development, and being used by schools in different ways

13. The UKCAT cut-off Entry year
 St George’s Overall Minimum UKCAT Score Requirement
 2013
 2530
 2014
 2590
 2015
 2550
 2016
 2600
2017
1870*
* The 2017 entry UKCAT consisted of only three assessed sections plus the situational judgement test. For 2018 entry the test will return to a 4+1 section format.

14. The BMAT Test Questions Minutes Scoring Aptitude and skills 35 60 1-9
Pen and paper test
In sections 1 & 2, average score is 5; 7 is exceptional
Section 3 is an essay marked by 2 examiners
Taken in school in November after UCAS deadline
Results published in late November
Test
Questions
Minutes
Scoring
Aptitude and skills 35 60
1-9
Scientific Knowledge and Applications 27 30
Writing task
1 from choice of 4
A-E for English

15. Interview types - summary
Multiple Mini Interview
Panel Interview
Semi-structured interview
Assessment Centre
No interview
Undergraduate Entry 21 6 2 1
Graduate Entry 8 4

16. Multi Mini Interview (MMI)
Pre-eminent interview style in the UK
Details differ across schools – consistent philosophy
“Speed dating” as candidates move around a number of “stations” completing different activities - same experience for every candidate
Blind scored by individual assessors – reduce individual bias
Assessors are a mix of faculty, other staff, and community – representative of future patient mix
Questions are both medically and personally focussed
Training provided and questions annually reviewed and updated, particularly around cultural neutrality (shared question banks and question design)

17. Example MMI formats St George’s, University of London
Brighton & Sussex Medical School
Number of stations 8 5
Duration of stations
5 minutes
10 minutes
Time between stations
15 seconds
60 seconds
Question format
Mainly a task or question with five minutes to respond. One station has an actor role play
Ten-minute discussion with one interviewer. One station has two interviewers.
Total duration
42 minutes
54 minutes

18. Core competencies tested at interview
Academic ability and intellect
Empathy
Initiative and resilience
Communication skills
Organisation and problem solving
Team work
Insight and integrity
Effective learning style

19. Thank you – global@sgul.ac.uk
Resources
St George’s, University of London
Medical Schools Council
Biomedical Admissions Test
NHS Careers
General Medical Council
UK Clinical Aptitude Test
Thank you –