Submit – 270607
By – University of Bristol

 

DEPARTMENTAL ADMISSIONS STATEMENT

2006/2007 Application Cycle 

 

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMMES IN MEDICINE:

A100 - Medicine MBChB (Standard Entry – 5 Years)

A101 - Medicine MBChB (Graduate Entry – 4 Years)

A104 - Medicine MBChB (Pre Medical Entry – 6 Years)

  

Department Name:

Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry

 

Admissions Team:

§  Mr. Frank Smith (Chairman of Medical Admissions Committee);

• Medical Admissions Committee: up to 50 members from clinical and medical science departments within the University, local hospitals and GP practices;
• The Central Admissions team in the Undergraduate Admissions Office;
• Medical Admissions Co-ordinator (Faculty Office).

 

1.         Admissions Process

 Admissions Testing

We do not require applicants applying to our Medical programmes in the 2006/07 cycle to take any additional admissions test (e.g. UKCAT, BMAT, GAMSAT). Any change in this policy will only apply to applications for future years of entry and will be well publicised in advance.

 

Our selection procedures are described in detail below.

 UK/EU Applicants

·         The following procedure applies to all candidates who meet the UCAS application deadline of 15^th October. (Applications arriving after this date are considered at the discretion of the Chairman of the Admissions Committee.) ·         The University sends all candidates an e-mail or letter to acknowledge receipt of their UCAS form.
·         In addition, within four weeks of their application arriving at Bristol, candidates for Medicine are sent a letter explaining that their UCAS form has been received; that no places are offered without an interview; that we conduct interviews from mid-November until the end of March; that invitations to interview and offers of places are made throughout this period; and that all interviewees are treated equally regardless of when they have their interview during the interview period.
·         Each application is considered independently by at least two members of the Medical Admissions Team.
·         All applications are considered on an equal basis.  Forms are not segregated by the type of educational institution attended.
·         Applications are scored on a range of academic and qualitative criteria (see section 2- Criteria for Assessing Candidates). Candidates with a score normally of 80% or above are invited for interview. The UCAS forms of these selected applicants will then also be read by the two interviewers.
·         All forms not selected for interview at this stage are read by a “second reader”.  The second readers provide a check of the qualitative criteria scoring and also examine applications from those with special medical or family circumstances, and may moderate these candidates’ scores where appropriate.
·          Applicants with a score of below 70% are notified as soon as possible through UCAS that their application has been unsuccessful Due to the high level of competition and the number of applications received, unsuccessful candidates are not given specific feedback at this stage (although this may change as the University’s feedback policy is currently under review).
·         Applications with a score of between 70 and 80% are put “on hold” until later in the application cycle when a review of the cut-off scores and the number of interviewees might result in some of these candidates being invited for interview.
·         UCAS application forms from candidates who live in a low Higher Education take-up area (defined by the Government and identified by post code) and attend a school or college with an average UCAS Tariff of less than 265 points will be second read by a Widening Participation Group. The group may select up to 50 additional candidates for interview.
·         The purpose of the interview is explained to candidates in the letter mailed with the invitation.  Candidates are invited to attend for a day, which includes a 20-minute selection interview, and in addition a tour of the Medical School and the University Precinct. The interview panel does not have access to the initial selection proformas and scores.
·         All selection interviews are conducted by two people, at least one of whom is a member of the Medical Admissions Committee. Interviews are undertaken in accordance with the University's policy on equal opportunities and at least one member of the panel is trained in fair and effective recruitment. ·         Candidates are not discriminated against on grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, religion, disability (other than the nationally-set requirements of “fitness to practise”) or age (other than that they must normally be 18 years or over on entry).  Processes specific to International Applicants
·         In the case of applicants liable to pay “overseas” fees, restrictions on entry numbers mean that the procedure is modified to select only up to 17% of the highest-rated candidates for interview.   “Overseas” fee-payers are not eligible to apply for A101 (the Graduate Entry programme).
·         Any applicant resident overseas who is being considered seriously for a place will be invited to attend an interview before an offer is made.  We will try to give as much notice of interview dates as possible, but if you have received an invitation to interview at another Medical School in the UK, or intend being in the UK at a particular time, please let us know and we will do our best to allocate you an interview date which falls in the period of your visit.
·         For interviews conducted overseas it is not always possible for the interview to be conducted with two members of the Admissions Committee. This is also the case for interviews conducted outside of scheduled "interview days".   

2.         Criteria for Assessing Candidates 

UK/EU Applicants

·         Notes on Course requirements: 

A104 (6-year with pre-medical year): AAB at A2 level, or an upper second class degree, in non-science subjects.

 

A100 (5-year course): AAB at A2 level in Chemistry plus two other approved subjects, one of which must be a science subject.

 

A2 level General Studies is not included in the terms of conditional offers

 

If only three A2’s are offered, the choice of subjects should avoid undue overlap of content e.g. Biology and Physical Education; Maths and Further Maths.

 Alternative acceptable qualifications include:Irish Leaving Certificate, six subjects at Higher Level required with five A1’s and one B1 to include Chemistry and another science subject (to qualify for A100). Scottish Highers, five grade A’s and AB at Advanced Level required to include Chemistry (to qualify for A100).

International Baccalaureate, overall average of 36 points, with 6, 6, 6 at Higher Level (to include at least 2 science subjects to qualify for A100).

European Baccalaureate, average 80% overall (with 8/10 in Chemistry and a second science to qualify for A100).

 

Other qualifications: Other international qualifications are listed on the University’s website at http://www.bris.ac.uk/international/recruit/countryaz.  If your qualifications are not listed, the Undergraduate Admissions Office is happy to advise on their acceptability. 

A101 (4-year Graduate Entry): The minimum requirements for this academically demanding course are:

i)                    an upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a pre-clinical medical science or professional programme including similar modules, and

ii)                  the equivalent of BBB (UCAS Tariff points: 300) at A2 level, to include Chemistry or a Chemistry/Biochemistry/Pharmacology component in the degree course,

    and

iii)                for graduates not working in the health service, at least 4 months’ experience as a health care assistant, or similar is usually expected.

 

Acceptable degree programmes include:  Anatomy, Biomedical Sciences, Cell Pathology, Dentistry, Neuroscience, Osteopathy, Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Physiology, and Physiotherapy. Biology, Biochemistry and Psychology are only acceptable if human science modules have been covered in the degree.

 

Degrees in Nursing, Radiography, or Sports Science are not acceptable unless additional courses are studied, for example an MSc which increases basic knowledge in medical sciences.

  ·         Criteria for assessing academic qualifications (achieved and predicted):

There is no minimum GCSE requirement, but scores are allocated to A* and A grades.

Pre-A2 level candidates who are not predicted at least AAB are unlikely to be invited for interview.

Post-A2 level candidates who have not achieved at least AAB are unlikely to be invited for interview unless there are extenuating circumstances. Candidates re-sitting their A2’s are unlikely to be invited for interview.

 ·         Criteria for assessing the Personal Statement:

Has the candidate:

a)      a realistic interest in Medicine?

b)      informed him/herself about a career in Medicine?

c)      demonstrated a commitment to helping others?

d)     demonstrated a wide range of interests?

e)      contributed to school/college activities?

f)       a range of personal achievements (excluding exams)?

 

Each of these is scored on a four-point scale. 

 

For detailed information on what each criterion includes and how it can be evidenced in your personal statement, see the Entry Profile on the UCAS website (via course search).

 ·         Criteria for assessing school reference:

Candidates with an adverse comment from the school reference are likely to be unsuccessful.

  

Selection for interview is normally based on the overall quantitative score.

  ·         The criteria for assessing mature students:

Applications are welcome from mature candidates who might not meet the specific A2 level requirements but other evidence of recent academic achievement at an appropriate standard will be needed.  Candidates taking a kitemarked Access to Medicine course are eligible to apply for A104, and if made an offer would be required to pass with Distinction.

 

 Mature applicants will have gained additional life skills, and the Personal Statement should indicate how experience to date will enhance a future career in medicine. In view of the length of the programme plus the requirement for postgraduate training, mature students should be aware that career prospects in some hospital specialities may be limited. All applicants should show evidence of commitment to further academic study.

 

·         Applicants with a disability:

It is the responsibility of the Medical School to ensure that students accepted on the course are able to complete the training and achieve the competencies required by the General Medical Council (GMC) for full registration after the first year of the foundation programme. The Medical School should consult the GMC if there is doubt and if it proposes a modification of experience to achieve the competencies. A clear plan to enable a disabled student to achieve competency must be agreed before the student enters the course.  Not all disabilities limit the experience of doctors in training in this way, but applicants should disclose any disability on their UCAS application forms and be prepared to release their medical details, in order for us to assess the situation.

 The sequence of events during the assessment process is as follows:

i)            Applicants with a declared disability who have been selected for interview are requested to supply further medical details, where appropriate.

ii)          Candidates selected for interview will be contacted by the University’s Access Unit for Deaf and Disabled Students to discuss any support requirements they may need at interview.  The Access Unit can also offer general academic advice and support, plus advice about funding available for disabled students.

iii)        The information supplied by the applicant is considered by the Faculty Disability and Health Panel. The Panel membership consists of Chairman of the Medical Admissions Committee, Clinical Dean, Deputy Director of Medical Education, Faculty Disability Representative, Consultant in Occupational Health, Director of Students' Health Service, Disability Services Manager, and the Head of Undergraduate Admissions.

iv)        If the Panel is satisfied that the candidate is capable of undergoing standard Foundation training he/she may be offered a place on the course.

v)          If the Panel is not satisfied that the candidate is capable of undergoing standard Foundation training, an application would be sent to the General Medical Council on the candidate's behalf where appropriate, to request approval of an alternative pattern. If the request were to be turned down the candidate's application to the medical course would also have to be turned down.

vi)        Candidates who are subsequently offered a place on the medical course may have conditions placed upon the offer.

 

For further information on the available support arrangements, please see  www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/AccessUnit/

 

   ·         Criteria for assessing the candidate's performance at interview:

a)      reasons for wanting to study medicine.

b)      awareness of current developments.

c)      ability to communicate.

d)     self-confidence.

e)      enthusiasm.

f)       determination to study.

g)      ability to cope with stress.

h)      how informed is the candidate about the course and career?

i)        overall impression created by candidate.

 

Each criterion is assessed on a four-point scale.  The interviewers complete an “interview proforma” for each candidate.  The top-rated interviewees will be made an offer of a place.

Criteria specific to International Applicants

English Language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English:

IELTS examination score of 7.0 overall.

 ·         Quality assurance measures:Throughout the admissions cycle the selection and interview proformas are scrutinised and the various scoring stages analysed to test the validity, reliability and appropriateness of the procedures.  The cut-off scores for invitation to interview are regularly reviewed throughout the admissions cycle and adjusted if required to achieve the target number of interviewees.  Compensation can be applied to remedy any observed deficiencies.  The full analysis of the selection processes, and any proposals for changes in procedure are discussed by the Medical Admissions Committee at its annual review meeting in June. 

 

3.         Offers

 UK/EU Applicants A100 (5-year course)

AAB at A2 level (to include Chemistry and at least one other science subject; a non-science subject is acceptable as the third A2).

Most offers require a grade A in Chemistry.

 A104 (6-year course with pre-medical year)

AAB at A2 level (in non-science subjects).

 

General Studies is not included in the terms of an offer.

 A101 (4-year Graduate Entry course)

Upper second class honours degree in an appropriate pre-clinical medical science or similar. 

 

If you are taking a degree or higher degree, you should wait until your degree has been awarded before applying.

 

All offers will be subject to obtaining Occupational Health Clearance.

 

 Additional  requirements for International Applicants

Applicants whose first language is not English are required to achieve an IELTS examination score of 7.0 overall.

 

We monitor the number of offers made each year and the conversion rates of offers to intake, in order to meet the intake targets set by the University.  The following figures show progress of applications for entry in October 2006.  Numbers of interviews held and offers made will vary from year to year.

 

 

HOME Fee-payers	Applications	Interviews	Offers	Places available
A100	2140	630	335	217
A101	546	42	26	19
A104	299	25	17	10

 

OVERSEAS Fee-payers	Applications	Interviews	Offers	Places available
A100	265	58	36	Approx 19 for A100+A104
A104	43	0	0
A101	This course is not available for overseas fee-payers

  

Guide to the level of competition  

Example 1:  Course A100, home fee-paying applicants, due to take A levels

 

Percentage of  Applicants with predicted AAA or above  at A2	Percentage of Applicants with 3 predicted AAB at A2	Percentage of applicants taking A2, no predictions or below AAB
81%	13%	6%

 

Example 2: Course A100, home fee-paying applicants, having taken A levels as their highest qualification (i.e. excludes those with or taking degrees)

 

Percentage of applicants with AAA or above	Percentage of applicants with AAB
66%	34%

 

  4. Other sources of information 

University of Bristol Medical School website: www.medici.bris.ac.uk/

Entry Profile on the UCAS website (via course search): www.ucas.ac.uk/

British Medical Association (BMA) website: www.bma.org.uk

 

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