GEM medicine

Wanesa1996

Hello

I am studying Biomedical science degree
I was thinking of applying to GEM when I graduate
I do not have A levels or GCSE
Would I still be able to apply?
Would I only need UCAT?

Reply 1

TSR Hippocrates

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Reply 2

McGinger

Original post

by Wanesa1996

Hello
I am studying Biomedical science degree
I was thinking of applying to GEM when I graduate
I do not have A levels or GCSE
Would I still be able to apply?
Would I only need UCAT?

Why dont you have GCSEs or A levels - is it because you took different overseas qualifications?

Reply 3

Wanesa1996

Original post

by McGinger

Why dont you have GCSEs or A levels - is it because you took different overseas qualifications?

I came to the UK in 2012 and did not speak the language at all and that was the year of GCSE and progression to A-levels so I got mostly D,E in GCSES. I am now a 29yrs old studying biomed and wondering if it would get me into GEM. I can't go back at this age to do GCSE and A levels

Reply 4

McGinger

Original post

by Wanesa1996

What A level-equivalent qualifications did you use to get a place on your Biochem degree - or was it a course with a Foundation year?

Reply 5

Wanesa1996

Original post

by McGinger

What A level-equivalent qualifications did you use to get a place on your Biochem degree - or was it a course with a Foundation year?

I am studying at Open University and they have no requirements for entry

Reply 6

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by Wanesa1996

Hello

I am studying Biomedical science degree
I was thinking of applying to GEM when I graduate
I do not have A levels or GCSE
Would I still be able to apply?
Would I only need UCAT?

Have you looked at the entry criteria for GEM courses you are considering applying to? They usually should make quite clear what the requirements are. The first step in applying is to check the GEM courses available and carefully go through a) their requirements and b) their shortlisting methodology. Don't apply "blind" and just hope what you have is enough - you can and should be applying with full knowledge of the requirements and how they shortlist for interview. Every medical school will shortlist differently and all will have slightly different requirements.

Most GEM courses only look at your degree in terms of shortlisting for interview as memory serves. Some GEM courses may require a certain grade in one or two science A-levels (often chemistry) if your degree is in e.g. a non-science or non-bioscience/chemistry subject, but this is not hugely common. I'm not aware of any scoring GCSEs to shortlist applicants for interview, however some may require a minimum grade in GCSE English language and maths (these are often standard literacy/numeracy markers) as a requirement of admission. Some GEM courses require the UCAT, some require the GAMSAT. Don't worry though because all of this information will be provided by the medical school on their webpages! Medical school admissions in the UK are extremely transparent - they want applicants to understand if they meet the requirements before they apply, as it's not in their best interest to have lots of people apply who don't meet them :smile:

Basically just make a list of all unis offering a GEM course, then start filtering through based on your profile and removing those you don't/won't meet the requirements for, starting from things that are harder or impossible for you to change (e.g. degree classification, taking A-levels, etc) to things that are more reasonable for you to remedy or undertake (e.g. if necessary retaking GCSE English/maths, what kinds of work experience you can do, etc), and once you have a list where you nominally meet all the requirements, you can see if they require the UCAT or GAMSAT and decide if you want to take both or just one, then filter on that basis, then look at the shortlisting methodologies and pick the 4 which you will score the most on ahead of interview, to maximise your chances of being invited to interview.