Access to HE - Medicine

Hi all,

I just was hoping to get in contact with anyone who has taken an Access to HE medicine course and actually got into a medical school. I’m starting an Access to HE course at the City of Bristol in September after working in the RUH in Bath for 2 years.

Could you guys let me know about your UCAT scores and how you found the access course? How easy/hard did you find getting distinctions in the modules?

I know none of it really matters, as it’s not going to affect my chances of getting in but it’s always nice to hear what others have to say.

Thanks all

You want to talk to people who have done the access course at Bristol. Access courses leave a lot up to the teacher(s) to decide.
A higher UCAT score will give you more options. Practicing will give you a higher score.

You should do the access to medicine course at the College of West Anglia. It has the highest rate of success and is the most widely accepted. 8/9 of my class got offers from places: Exeter, Kent and Medway, Cambridge, Liverpool, Lancaster, Edinburgh. I am the only one without an offer, due to my UCAT and BMAT. I am reapplying for 2024 entry, all of my class got distinctions all round, owing to the standard of teaching, guidance and push of the teachers.

If you earn under £30,000, the college can pay £450 towards the cost of your rent during term time. I came into my own on this course, being surrounded by driven people.

I sing the praises to the quality of the course and teachers.

You should do the access to medicine course at the College of West Anglia. It has the highest rate of success and is the most widely accepted. 8/9 of my class got offers from places: Exeter, Kent and Medway, Cambridge, Liverpool, Lancaster, Edinburgh. I am the only one without an offer, due to my UCAT and BMAT. I am reapplying for 2024 entry, all of my class got distinctions all round, owing to the standard of teaching, guidance and push of the teachers.

If you earn under £30,000, the college can pay £450 towards the cost of your rent during term time. I came into my own on this course, being surrounded by driven people.

I sing the praises to the quality of the course and teachers.

out of interest is that £450 per term? my college ESCG has a travel bursary with a similar criteria, covered my travel from Brighton to Lewes.

good luck

Not sure I could stomach the 4.5 hours journey each day Ahaha

Hi all,

I just was hoping to get in contact with anyone who has taken an Access to HE medicine course and actually got into a medical school. I’m starting an Access to HE course at the City of Bristol in September after working in the RUH in Bath for 2 years.

Could you guys let me know about your UCAT scores and how you found the access course? How easy/hard did you find getting distinctions in the modules?

I know none of it really matters, as it’s not going to affect my chances of getting in but it’s always nice to hear what others have to say.

Thanks all

Hi,

I am thinking of applying to Bristol. If you had already started are you able to share how your experince has been?

Many thanks

I did Access to HE but it was in science rather than medicine. It is certainly possible to get full distinctions for all units but it requires dedication and commitment. This is helped considerably if the group as a whole or several people in it are similarly motivated- group up with them and their enthusiasm will shine on you. If the teaching staff know this they will also be inclined to push you harder than they otherwise might. One of our teachers formerly worked in an NHS pathology laboratory and the so the course was orientated in such a way that we could create assignments based on subjects that fitted with our intended area of study. For example, a for a physics unit I created a very detailed presentation on brachytherapy.

I treated the Access course as if it was University itself: every piece of work was prepared, written and referenced to a standard that would have been acceptable in any undergraduate degree program. It is an excellent way to prepare for the demands of any degree and completing it will give you a great confidence boost in the years ahead. I recall that Bristol had very stiff entry requirements in terms of grades from the Access course so you need to be pretty dedicated from day 1 of the course.

If you live in or near Bristol and intend to study medicine I strongly suggest you apply for the Pathways to health sciences (formerly access to Bristol) which is aimed at people living in the region who wish to study med/dent/vet. If you have been working in the RUH (which is an ace hospital btw) the pathways team will definitely look carefully at your application.

Keep up the focus, keep doing some healthcare shifts and if you need any other help by all means PM me as I have done exactly what you are intending to do.

did you end up studying medicine?

who me? I'm still doing the access course atm. Have 2 interviews coming up. One is Bris on the 22nd

Hi there,

I'm still doing the access course. Around half way through or so now. I've one interview at St George, and have Bristol and Manchester in Jan. Getting the interviews is just about your UCAT score. I got 2840 B1 this summer. Still waiting to hear from Liverpool though.

The access course is definitely manageable. First few months was tiring though especially if you are working. Getting all distinctions definitely adds to the pressure. Let me know if you have any other Qs.