Graduate Entry Medicine - a guide

GEP/BM4/Graduate-Entry/accelerated MBBS are all the same course - that of a shortened degree that still leads to the MBBS (or equivalent) qualification in Medicine. They were brought in back in 2001 as a way of reducing the deficit of qualified doctors in the UK. Nine years on they are proving to be popular for those who fancy a subject/career change and the admissions stats show this quite clearly! Two of the biggest myths are that you need both Science A-levels and a Science related degree in order to study Medicine. Both are untrue!

This guide will prove how wrong the myths and thus give an outline of who offers the 4 year course, the relevant entry requirements, what work experience, other entrance exams and any other useful info that is usually buried on a university department's sub-pages. In order to keep some form of organisation, the info will be given by university name and split into either 'Science related degrees' or 'any degree subject' as that's the most common question asked in the Medicine sub-forum on TSR - 'can I do Medicine with x degree?'. Funding will also be covered as there is a lot of mis-information out and about with regards to what graduates are and are not entitled to.

Applying for Graduate Entry Medicine

As it is still an undergraduate degree, NOT a postgraduate degree, you apply through UCAS. With that, it is still the usual 4 choices only, a personal statement and a reference. Oxford and Cambridge require an additional application form to be sent on.

GEP Medicine is highly highly competitive so think carefully about choices.

Entrance Exams

There are 2 main entrance exams used for graduate entry courses - UKCAT or GAMSAT.

UKCAT

• A computer based aptitude test
• 4 main scoring sections - Verbal reasoning, Quantitative reasoning, Abstract reasoning, Decision analysis.
• Multiple choice
• Your score is based on your average for all 4 sections. Nothing is weighted more than another.
• Over 1 1/2 hours long
• Can be sat in many places around the UK between June and end of September
• Results on the day
• Costs either £65 or £80 depending on when you sit it.
• Can recommend this book 600 practice questions book
• Info is here: UKCAT website

GAMSAT

• Paper based
• 3 sections - Reasoning in the Humanities and Social Sciences, Essay writing/Communication and Reasoning in the Physical Sciences
• Multiple choice for the two reasoning sections
• 6 hours in total
• You must score a minimum of 50, 55, 55 or 55, 55, 50 as a base line. Universities than produce a cut off average score to get people to interview which varies year on year.
• Can only be sat at 5 places in the UK on a set day
• Results tend to be 7 to 8 weeks later (so UCAS form is submitted before results are out)
• Costs £192
• Practice questions and a paper can be bought here GAMSAT books only available on UCAS website
• Info is here: GAMSAT website

• Barts and The London/QMUL
• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Cambridge
• Imperial
• King's College London
• Leicester
• Liverpool
• Newcastle
• Nottingham
• Oxford
• Southampton
• St. George's, (London)
• Swansea
• Warwick

Individual University Requirements:

Courses open to any degree subject

Cambridge:

• Degree classification - a 2:1 or above in any subject
• A-level requirements - A Level Chemistry (normally passed within seven years of entry) plus AS or A level passes in two of the following: Physics, Biology, Mathematics. Must also have GCSE Maths and Double Award Science at C grade or above. OU modules may be offered instead of AS/A-levels.
• Entrance exam - none. Although you can sit the BMAT as part of the pre-medical entry requirements.
• Work experience - experience of a health care setting. Cam's a little vague on what exactly they want though
• NB - only available at Hughes Hall, Wolfson College or Lucy Cavendish College
• Info here: Cam pages Also see the 3 colleges' websites too.

King's (London):

• Degree classification - a 2:1 or above in any subject. Or a 2:2 with Merit or above at Master's level in any subject
• A-level requirements - none
• Entrance exam - UKCAT. Usually applicants with scores in the top 25% of the applicant pool get called to interview
• Work experience - their prospectus says 'have normally undertaken work experience in a caring environment and/or observation in a medical clinical setting'
• NB - the GEP course is one of the most competitive. If you get to interview but are not selected for the 4 year course you may be offered a place on the 5 year
• Info here: King's website

Leicester:

• Degree classification - an awarded (so post graduation) 2:1 or above in any subject
• A-level requirements - none
• Entrance exam - UKCAT
• Work experience - at least a year's worth of full time paid work experience in a caring role
• NB - note the work experience requirement!
• Info here: Leicester's Med school website

Newcastle:

• Degree classification - a 2:1 or above in any subject
• A-level requirements - none
• Entrance exam - UKCAT
• Work experience - their website states 'some evidence of work experience in a healthcare or social care setting would be expected from applicants who do not have prior healthcare experience.'
• NB - nothing major AFAIK
• Info here: Newcastle's website

Nottingham:

• Degree classification - a 2:2 or above in any subject
• A-level requirements - none
• Entrance exam - GAMSAT
• Work experience - Nottingham state that 'Demonstrate relevant Work Experience - candidates will be asked to complete a "Record of Work Experience" once they have applied to the course. Relevant experience could include volunteering in a care home, working as a Healthcare Assistance within a hospital. A great deal of emphasis is placed on work experience, as we want to ensure that you are making a well-informed choice about your future career, something which a few days shadowing would not provide.'
• NB - it's based in Derby, not Nottingham.
• Info here: Nottingham's GEM website

Southampton:

• Degree classification - a 2:1 or above in any subject
• A-level requirements - Passes in A-level Chemistry or AS Chemistry and AS Biology/Human Biology
• Entrance exam - UKCAT (and the lowest 25% of scores will be automatically rejected)
• Work experience - Nothing actually stipulated but you'll need something to base your PS on
• NB - they don't interview and it's based heavily on personal statement
• Info here: Southampton's School of Medicine website

St. George's (London):

• Degree classification - a 2:2 or above in any subject
• A-level requirements - none
• Entrance exam - GAMSAT
• Work experience - as much as possible, especially long term as you're scored on your WE as part of the interview. Much prefer voluntary work to shadowing.
• NB - nothing I can think of. The first UK GEP course though :)
• Info here: SGUL website

Swansea:

• Degree classification - a 2:1 or above in any subject
• A-level requirements - whilst nothing stipulated, they do ask for post GCSE Biology and Chemistry knowledge
• Entrance exam - GAMSAT
• Work experience - their website states 'We advise all applicants to seek relevant work experience in a health related environment. This could be as an auxiliary nurse, a volunteer in a care home or shadowing a clinician. There are no prescriptive guidelines on the sort of work experience you should seek, however anything you undertake should contribute to your overall understanding of all aspects of medicine as a career.'
• NB - nothing I can think of
• Info here: Swansea's GEP website

Warwick:

• Degree classification - A 2:1 or above in any subject
• 178 places: largest GEP in the UK
• A-level requirements - None
• Entrance exam - UKCAT
• Work experience - 'In addition to strong academic ability, the Selectors for WMS are looking for a clear awareness of the demands of medicine as a profession, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and significant work experience in a caring environment.' This can be done through being 'a ward volunteer, as an auxiliary nurse or as an active first aider.'
• NB - The medical school is not actually in Warwick. Most students live either in nearby Coventry or Leamington Spa. Invites to the selection centre is done by both UKCAT score and your UCAS form. Info here
• Info here: Warwick's website

Courses only open to Science (or related) graduates

All the above and the following as well:

Barts and The London (QMUL):

• Degree classification - a 2:1 or above in a science or health-related subject (full list is on their website)
• A-level requirements - depends entirely on the subject of your degree
• Entrance exam - UKCAT
• Work experience - loads of info here Work experience
• NB - meant to be a really nice Med school (according to Digitalis!)
• Info here: Barts and The London website

Birmingham:

• Degree classification - a first class degree in a life science
• A-level requirements - 'A sound knowledge base in Chemistry is also required (equivalent to a grade C or better at A level), either from A levels or other pre-university examinations, or from the content of the degree programme.' In addition, A-level grades are used to discriminate between applicants. Our threshold requirement at A-level has been around BBB recently.
• Entrance exam - none for now, but they are considering it so do check on their webiste.
• Work experience - one assumes they want some but I can't find any
• NB - double check your degree subject as they are open to a bit of flexibility
• Info here: Birmingham's website

Bristol:

• Degree classification - a 2:1 or above in one of the following - Anatomy, Biomedical Sciences, Cell Pathology, Dentistry, Neuroscience, Osteopathy, Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Physiology, and Physiotherapy. Biology, Biochemistry and Psychology are only acceptable if human science modules have been covered in the degree.
• A-level requirements - BBB or equivalent to include two laboratory based sciences.
• Entrance exam - none
• Work experience - 'Graduates applying for A101 (4 year course) not working full time in the health service should have at least 4 months’ experience as a health care assistant, or similar.'
• NB - nothing that I can see
• Info here: Bristol's website

Imperial:

• Degree classification - a 2:1 or above or a PhD. 'The degree or PhD must be in a biological subject such that you will have significant knowledge of the basic physiology and biochemistry of mammalian cells and organs. Examples of such degrees are Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Physiology, Bioengineering, Biomedical Science, or Pharmacology and Translational Medical Science.' To check whether you meet the requirements, have a look at this Grad-Entry check list
• A-level requirements - none AFAIK
• Entrance exam - UKCAT
• Work experience - nothing exact but you must a demonstrate a 'potential to become a clinical scientist' and have the 'motivation and understanding of medicine as a career'
• NB - I hear Imperial's course is very competitive
• Info here: Imperial's website

Liverpool:

• Degree classification - a good 2:1 (65% or above) already attained in a Biological, Biomedical, or Health Science subject
• A-level requirements - BBBb - B grade or above in Chemistry and Biology and one other at B or above and a B at AS Level
• Entrance exam - none (that I can see) worth double checking.
• Work experience - 'Evidence of appropriate experience, aptitude, and communication: Candidates must demonstrate suitable evidence of: health care career awareness/insight and a caring contribution to the local community and a critical, coherent, and informative approach to written communication'
• NB - nothing I don't think
• Info here: Liverpool's website

Oxford:

• Degree classification - A 2:1 or above in any of the subjects listed here
• A-level requirements - at least 2 Science A-levels at a high level. One must be Chemistry.
• Entrance exam - BMAT
• Work experience - their prospectus says 'Different people have different ways to show commitment, but medicine is emotionally and academically demanding, and you will need to be sure that it is what you want to do. We will want to be convinced that you are. We shall look for: a clear commitment to medicine, and a realistic attitude to the subject; interest in, and curiosity about, the scientific basis of medicine.'
• NB - Only available at 10 of the colleges, list here
• Info here: Oxford's online prospectus

• Get it sorted as early as possible
• Shadowing can take ages to sort, especially as you'll be fighting with all the school leavers to do the same thing
• Voluntary or HCA work is great for a Medicine application. The NHS jobs website will list any HCA jobs going and most hospitals have a website section for volunteers.
• Get involved with the local community too.
• You may find it very hard to get GP work experience/shadowing due to the confidentiality issues
• There is no such thing as too much
• Don't stop doing it as soon as you've applied
• I've found keeping a mini diary really helps in terms of remembering things/what you've learnt

Tuition fees:

Following the recent changes to the student fees, this is how things will operate:
First year: You will have to pay the first £3,375 towards the tuition fees. The difference between the £3,375 and the tuition fee charges of your university will be able to paid for by a student tuition fee loan.
2nd to 4th years: The NHS bursary will pay for the first £3,375 towards your tuition fees. Again, the difference between the bursary and your tuition fees can be paid for by a student loan, should you choose to apply for one. Otherwise the difference will be paid for by yourself, privately.
Source

Maintenance Loans:

The following information could be out of date and as such could you please make sure that you check yourself before applying and let a member of the moderation team know if it needs updating

First year - you can apply to the Student Loans Company for a maintenance loan, but not the grant. The maximum amount available is £4950, more if you're studying in London. Some of it is means tested so figures will vary depending on who you're living with as it does take into account parents' income. Student Loans info

The usual A-level requirements then apply as you're applying alongside the school leavers. UKCAT is usually the entrance exam of choice too. Oxford and Cambridge use BMAT though for their 6 year courses. BMAT info can be found here.