Medicine degree

I think it would be acceptable for some medicine with a foundation/gateway year degrees, at UEA, Keele and Plymouth, and possibly others? Have a look here: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5194910 However, you will need to meet other entry requirements (WP, GCSEs, etc), and 3 A levels will always be a better option if it's available to you for medicine, as you'll have access to all standard undergraduate courses. Realistically, you should do 3 A levels if you possibly can.

@GANFYD and might be able to advise further/in more detail and correct me if I'm wrong :smile:

Reply 2

OP

Thank you, so doing privately a separate A level will not be of any advantage ?

Reply 3

Original post by I.mate

Thank you, so doing privately a separate A level will not be of any advantage ?

I’m really not sure, but I don’t think so, as A level offers would be based on 3 A levels? So just having one doesn’t really help, AFAIK.

Reply 4

OP

Universities Forum Helper

I meant to say an extra A level with the btech and maths A level

Reply 5

artful_lounger

21

A BTech is not the same as BTEC - the former is a degree programme in India, the latter is a school leaving qualification in the UK.

That aside, some medical schools may consider a combination of BTEC and A-levels, but they will probably expect you to meet certain specific A-level criteria alongside that BTEC (e.g. to get an A or A* in A-level Chemistry or Biology and another science, depending on the specific medical school). You may find your range of options very much limited if you do a BTEC (with or without A-levels), and it may make your application less competitive (as the BTEC may not be as good an indicator of success on a medical degree).

has made a thread regarding medicine entry criteria here: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5611422 which includes a document outlining the entry criteria for all current UK medical schools. That may have some information about the acceptability of BTECs. He might also be able to advise specifically on the matter? Generally speaking though, I think it's going to be at best an unlikely long shot if you aren't taking a standard programme of A-levels over two years...

Reply 6

Original post by I.mate

I meant to say an extra A level with the btech and maths A level

If you can do 2 A levels and a BTEC (which some courses might accept?? I don't know, google is showing only foundation year med and I'm not trawling every med school website, although you could!), why not just do 3 A levels and no BTEC, which all med schools accept? I'm hoping one of the experienced posters turns up, as has now been tagged thrice :tongue:

, but I really doubt you're eligible for standard undergraduate medicine without 3 A levels/Scottish Highers/Pre Us/IB/equivalent foreign qualifications, which BTECs aren't.

If you meant the Indian degree all along, apologies :smile:

edit: Plymouth seems like it will accept BTEC but you have to sit the GAMSAT (https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/bmbs-bachelor-of-medicine-bachelor-of-surgery), UEA and KMMS don't. (they seemed like likely candidates)

Reply 7

OP

Unfortunately I do not meet entry requirement for A level sciences, so I am offered btec extended science diploma which is equivalent to 3 A levels. I really want to do medicine but it is difficult to understand which way to go. Another college has offered me A level math, english and psychology but I am sure that these subjects will not let me into medicine degree. So any advice would be appreciated.

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 8

Original post by I.mate

Unfortunately I do not meet entry requirement for A level sciences do I am offered btec extended which is equivalent to 3 A levels. I really want to do medicine but it understanding which way to go. Another college has offered me A level math, english and psychology but I am sure that these subjects will not let me into medicine degree. So any advice would be appreciated.

Would you consider taking GCSE resits so you can study science A levels? Most med schools are fine with GCSE resits.

Those A levels would only work for Newcastle (which has no A level requirements), so yeah, you're right it wouldn't really be a solution. You really need to study one of at Bio or Chem (Bio + Psych/Maths + Eng would work, if the other college would let you start bio?) Also, having very poor science GCSEs/GCSEs in general is likely to be an issue for medicine too, I'm afraid...

Reply 9

OP