Official: University of Plymouth A100 2024 Entry Applicants

hey guys, I'm a first year plym med student, if you have any questions regarding studying here or the application process just let me know!

hey guys, I'm a first year plym med student, if you have any questions regarding studying here or the application process just let me know!

hey guys, I'm a first year plym med student, if you have any questions regarding studying here or the application process just let me know!

What is the interview process online like?
Are you timed with your answers and is it a mmi. If it is mmi is it all in the same zoom/teams or different people per station

Do you have any idea if there’s still a trampoling/gymnastics society ?? They seemed to have had one years ago but it doesn’t seem to still be going

Welcome to the University of Plymouth A100 2024 Entry Discussion.

For general information click:
https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/u...lor-of-surgery

For entry requirements click the link above
UCAT cutoff last year: 2680

General TSR rules:
(1) Please don't ask for, mention or advertise group chats.
(2) Please don't ask for or post interview questions.
(3) Please don't offer to buy and sell items.

Good luck!

Hello,
I'm a current final year here. Happy to answer any questions about the course you may have.

Hi,
Could you describe the course structure and what you like/ not like about it?

First 2 years are preclinical, learn the basic sciences (anatomy, pharmacology, physiology etc). You have clinical skills once a week were you learn how to do a cardiovascular exam, venepuncture and other skills etc. Some communication skills teaching too. You also have some placements every few weeks or so. When I was in first year these were pretty hit or miss but mostly miss. second year they were better as it was GP placements every few weeks were I began to learn history taking.

Clinical years are standard you'll rotate round hospital placements at Plymouth, Torbay, Taunton and I think maybe now Truro but I'm not too sure on Truro as I think its a fairly new one. You tend to spend a year at a time at these hospitals but I was able to swap rotations with other students depending on what you wanted. During years 3 and 4 you rotate through departments pretty quickly which I personally hate but hey ho. You have something called clinical reasoning during these years where you basically present a case you've seen to the consultant and get a few hours teaching about it. This is personally the best thing about the course not many other med schools do this so frequently and its protected teaching time from the experts. 5th year you have 5/6 week blocks in medicine, surgery, GP and 2 specialties.

What I dislike about the course is something that is unfortunately not unique to plymouth and thats a really heavy emphasis on teaching the 'soft skills and social sciences' (which I dont think can be taught) and this can take teaching away from learning the basic sciences in good depth. This is something seen nationwide though (bar a few med schools).

Intercalation often isnt too competitive to do and is done between 4th and 5th year.

All this being said though... I've personally had a great time here. The thing about med school is you can make what you want of it. Some people can cruise by and basically have a 5 year holiday (as long as they keep up with the exams) others get super involved and try and get into research etc. People generally have a good experience here even though people like to moan.

Theres often a freshers booklet you can find online that has useful information for the freshers. provides some good info on what to expect.

Happy to keep answering qs you guys may have.

That's really interesting, thank you.

What's the end of year pass rate / resit rate do you know? I have read of some med schools which seem to "lose" a lot of students each year.

Also any thoughts on anatomy teaching. I believe it's non prosection/dissection, so do the tables really work and help you learn anatomy?

Good question. It varies...
We got told in like our first lecture of first yr that 95% of us would be doctors in five years the rest of us wouldn't as some would drop out etc.
If someone does fail at something there's a heavy focus on remediation to make sure it doesnt happen again. Id say there'd be a few students each year normally 3/4/5 that would fail the year for whatever reasons but that number drops as people gor through med school. if you make sure of it and put the right amount of work in when needed you'll be fine. Vast majority of students get through OK.


As for the anatomy... I found the anatomy teaching here pretty bad and most people do. But my pre-clinical experience was disrupted by covid but I've heard that the anatomage tables are being put to good use so that might be changing. But ultimately learning anatomy has to come from you first and foremost. All well and good having access to dissections but I've heard of stories from other med schools where students end up just butchering the cadaver and learning nothing. Learning anatomy takes a solid individual effort and most people only really try to nail it if they're keen on surgery. The med school will try and sell you the idea of the anatomga tables but they're pretty insignificant IMO.

First 2 years are preclinical, learn the basic sciences (anatomy, pharmacology, physiology etc). You have clinical skills once a week were you learn how to do a cardiovascular exam, venepuncture and other skills etc. Some communication skills teaching too. You also have some placements every few weeks or so. When I was in first year these were pretty hit or miss but mostly miss. second year they were better as it was GP placements every few weeks were I began to learn history taking.

Clinical years are standard you'll rotate round hospital placements at Plymouth, Torbay, Taunton and I think maybe now Truro but I'm not too sure on Truro as I think its a fairly new one. You tend to spend a year at a time at these hospitals but I was able to swap rotations with other students depending on what you wanted. During years 3 and 4 you rotate through departments pretty quickly which I personally hate but hey ho. You have something called clinical reasoning during these years where you basically present a case you've seen to the consultant and get a few hours teaching about it. This is personally the best thing about the course not many other med schools do this so frequently and its protected teaching time from the experts. 5th year you have 5/6 week blocks in medicine, surgery, GP and 2 specialties.

What I dislike about the course is something that is unfortunately not unique to plymouth and thats a really heavy emphasis on teaching the 'soft skills and social sciences' (which I dont think can be taught) and this can take teaching away from learning the basic sciences in good depth. This is something seen nationwide though (bar a few med schools).

Intercalation often isnt too competitive to do and is done between 4th and 5th year.

All this being said though... I've personally had a great time here. The thing about med school is you can make what you want of it. Some people can cruise by and basically have a 5 year holiday (as long as they keep up with the exams) others get super involved and try and get into research etc. People generally have a good experience here even though people like to moan.

Theres often a freshers booklet you can find online that has useful information for the freshers. provides some good info on what to expect.

Happy to keep answering qs you guys may have.

Thank you !

What do you think of Plymouth as a uni? Is the location of the med school outside Plymouth a problem ?

Thanks for answering these !

Another good question and again...it varies

I personally haven't had a problem with the location. I was always comfortable enough moving far away from home. If you're into your outdoors its great. dartmoors fun , the beaches are fun and cornwall is super close. Most people end up doing a lot more outdoorsy things when they come here even if they never thought it was their thing my best advice would be to try out a lot of things e.g camping, sea swimming exploring one of the towns near by for a day there's probably something you'll end up enjoying you just gotta give stuff a chance.
Plymouth as a uni is a big question...lol but i think its alright, nice SU most of the buildings you'll use on campus are nice and people have a fun time here but it depends on what you want out of a uni so idrk if I can answer that question too well, sorry!

keep the questions coming though

Another good question and again...it varies

I personally haven't had a problem with the location. I was always comfortable enough moving far away from home. If you're into your outdoors its great. dartmoors fun , the beaches are fun and cornwall is super close. Most people end up doing a lot more outdoorsy things when they come here even if they never thought it was their thing my best advice would be to try out a lot of things e.g camping, sea swimming exploring one of the towns near by for a day there's probably something you'll end up enjoying you just gotta give stuff a chance.
Plymouth as a uni is a big question...lol but i think its alright, nice SU most of the buildings you'll use on campus are nice and people have a fun time here but it depends on what you want out of a uni so idrk if I can answer that question too well, sorry!

keep the questions coming though

What would you say the facilities are like in terms of library and distance from campus relative to halls / local town. Also o you think their is an adequate support system for students since the course is vigorous