Birmingham Medicine 2024 Cutoff

Hi,
Does anyone think that the Bham cutoff will decrease for the 2024 cycle? Or will it increase/stay the same? I am contextual btw
Thanks

Reply 1

TSR Hippocrates

10

Hey there, thanks for posting a question in the Medicine forum. :biggrin:

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Reply 2

japiso

3

I want to know this as well as for 2024 they are only considering free school meals and local authority care for contextuals now, but based on that i’d assume so

Original post by VilasL06

Hi,
Does anyone think that the Bham cutoff will decrease for the 2024 cycle? Or will it increase/stay the same? I am contextual btw
Thanks

Reply 3

GANFYD

18

Original post by japiso

I want to know this as well as for 2024 they are only considering free school meals and local authority care for contextuals now, but based on that i’d assume so

No, they are still using school data
"Contextual
Applicants must have attended a contextual school or have been in receipt of free school meals (FSM) during their secondary education to receive a score for this element."
"How we identify a contextual school
We use published school performance data to identify contextual schools. It is important to note that about 90% of non-selective state schools are included.
Contextual thresholds
GCSEs
Contextual measure: Attainment 8 (average score per pupil)
Score for inclusion: <54.8
A Levels
Contextual measure: QCA points per A level subject
Score for inclusion: <34.65 points
If you studied at a school that meets our contextual criteria for GCSEs and/or A Levels, you will receive a score for the contextual element. Applicants from state (non-independent) schools in Wales will receive a contextual score. Please contact your school provider or search for your school on gov.uk for more information."

So they may have tightened up on it (again), but attending an underperforming school is still part of their contextualisation

Reply 4

japiso

3

It says thats for 2023 entry, on their website it states “For 2024 entry onwards, eligibility for the contextual offer will be based on two criteria: having been in receipt of Free School Meals in the last 6 years, or having spent time in local authority care (and you have documented this on your UCAS form).“

(edited 7 months ago)

Reply 5

GANFYD

18

Original post by japiso

It says thats for 2023 entry, on their website it states “For 2024 entry onwards, eligibility for the contextual offer will be based on two criteria: having been in receipt of Free School Meals in the last 6 years, or having spent time in local authority care (and you have documented this on your UCAS form).“

Hmmm.
Use of contextual data here seems to say something different
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/medical-school/applying-to-medicine/entry-requirements-five-year-programme.aspx

"The approach described below is correct for the 2023/24 application cycle only. The way in which we use contextual information for 2024/25 onwards is currently under review.

Applicants who attend a state (not independent) school that meets our threshold for either GCSE or A Level (see below), or those who have been in receipt of free school meals (FSM) during their secondary education will receive a contextual score. The score we allocate is based on the POLAR4 quintile determined by your home postcode."

2023/24 application cycle would normally be 2023 applying and 2024 entry, if it is 2023 entry, they normally call it the 2023 academic year.
I would suggest anybody for whom this is critical (ie almost all potentially contextual applicants) contacts them to ask. Med schools have minimum quotas of contextual applicants they are expected to hit and I am not sure they would get there with FSM and care-experienced only.

Ahhhh. Just read further down the page I assume you were on and it says

"Contextual offers in Medicine
Up to 20% of interview places for Medicine (five-year MBChB) are available to applicants who are allocated to a contextual category. Visit the entry requirements page for Medicine for further details and eligibility criteria."

So looks like medicine is considered separately, but that does read like they are back to cohorting contextual applicants with a cap on it, which is not what it says on the medicine page. Not sure why they just can't be clear about it.

Reply 6

reubenn05

Universities Forum Helper

13

Original post by japiso

It says thats for 2023 entry, on their website it states “For 2024 entry onwards, eligibility for the contextual offer will be based on two criteria: having been in receipt of Free School Meals in the last 6 years, or having spent time in local authority care (and you have documented this on your UCAS form).“

that's for the contextual offer, i.e. the lower grade offer, not the eligibility for extra points in the scoring system scaled to polar quintile

Reply 7

shushshush856

3

@GANFYD I wanted to ask if it’s too risky applying to Birmingham. I got 2690 B1 in my UCAT and my GCSEs are 6x9s 3x8s and 2x7s all the 9’s are in the core subjects, I.e. maths triple science English lang and lit. And I’m also in polar4 quintile 3. I am not however considered contextual. Would it be likely for me to receive an interview from them?

Reply 8

GANFYD

18

Original post by shushshush856

@GANFYD I wanted to ask if it’s too risky applying to Birmingham. I got 2690 B1 in my UCAT and my GCSEs are 6x9s 3x8s and 2x7s all the 9’s are in the core subjects, I.e. maths triple science English lang and lit. And I’m also in polar4 quintile 3. I am not however considered contextual. Would it be likely for me to receive an interview from them?