Medicine is highly competitive, and this is why students are allowed to make 4 choices of medical school on their UCAS applications with a 5th choice allowed for another course just in case. The latest figures suggest that 80% miss out on a place at medical school altogether and you can expect that it’s often unlikely that you’ll get your first choice, depending on where it is.
The institutions that can award medical degrees are governed by the General Medical Council (GMC), and accredited honours are listed as UK Primary Medical Qualifications (PMQs).
The roll call of schools that are GMC certified is extensive, with 33 institutions making the list either solely or as part of a combination of universities, and hail from all corners of the United Kingdom. So the chances are you'll have plenty of choice both locally and further afield, should you wish to spread your wings.
The first thing to consider when weighing up your ideal medical school is the specifications of each institution offering a relevant qualification. Not only should you think deeply about the grades you anticipate getting or already hold (the criteria for entry to medical school is often considerably higher than a shorter term BSc or BA), but also your learning style.
Think about what kind of learning environment is best for you, and the amount of tutor interaction you crave. Most university ranking tables include a column that displays a 'student to staff ratio', and if you're a learner that needs to be in close contact with tutors then it might be worth finding an institution that's as low as possible for this ratio (currently UCL has the lowest student to staff ratio, with approximately 5.6 students per staff member).
Choosing a Med School: What are the Different Course Types?
Most med-school course types are listed as one of three:
· Traditional
· Integrated
· Problem Based Learning - PBL
Traditional
In a traditional course, your first two years will focus on learning in a more traditional lecture setting. You’ll be taught about various and diverse science-based theory across all medicine. Some of the broad areas that will be covered in detail are physiology, biochemistry and anatomy. There will be lots of lectures and lots of coursework to complete - your lectures will likely cover 5 days every week and you’ll have plenty to do at weekends!
After the first couple of years learning scientific medical theory are up, you’ll be taught in clinical settings under the direction of a consultant. You might have to complete ward rounds, shadowing or GP placements. There will be some tutorials, seminars and lectures at this stage too but your course will mostly focus on working in practical hands-on situations.
A traditional course suits someone who prefers to have a greater knowledge base before beginning their practical studies. By the end of the first couple of years, you’ll have increased your medical knowledge hugely and this can increase your confidence considerably before you begin your clinical placements. Traditional courses are still amongst the most popular course type in the UK and they’re taught at almost all of the most academically-oriented universities like Oxbridge.
Integrated
Integrated courses are similar to traditional courses with one key difference: you’ll start some clinical work experience from day one. Integrated courses are now joint-most popular alongside traditional courses and they’re viewed as more adaptable to the shifting landscape of modern medicine. Not only do integrated courses teach various aspects of scientific theory but also quickly acclimatise students to working life in clinical settings.
Another difference in how you’ll learn your scientific theory in traditional courses is that you’ll be taught by topic, rather than by discipline. For example, a disciplinary approach teaches medicine in age-old categories like biochemistry and anatomy whilst a topical approach teaches medicine per body structure. E.g. a module on the digestive system will teach all disciplines relevant to that structure - biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, etc. This is now the recommended approach according to The General Medical Council.
An integrated course yields long-term benefits as you gradually grow comfortable with clinical settings rather than being expected to be able to apply 2 years of knowledge readily in high-pressure settings. For some, this immediate immersiveness will seem pretty intimidating, though, and you may feel like you won’t be prepared to face patients in your first year. The truth is, most integrated courses don’t throw down the gauntlet immediately in your first week or month but gradually introduce you via group work.
Problem Based Learning – PBL
These focus on small group work, peer-to-peer learning methods and a high emphasis on education through problem-solving - and are available from a small number of universities. Problem Based Learning is a comparatively modern method of learning which focuses on solving problems using initiative and proactivity. Most courses have an element of PBL built into them but some are taught almost entirely using PBL. PBL aims to teach similar informational content as a traditional lecture-based approach but in a context which enables students to delve into more detail over the realistic application of such knowledge in hypothetical situations. Students will work in groups of around 8 alongside an experienced tutor and will be asked to investigate hypothetical situations and present information to the group whilst discussing the elements of the case and their interlinking nature.
This form of learning helps promote teamwork and acclimatises students to the multidisciplinary, overlapping nature of the NHS. Compared to a traditional approach, PBL often helps students engage with the healthcare service rather than with the underlying scientific theory which underpins medicine. PBL-type courses all have slightly different flavours so it’s always worth checking your prospective universities curriculum very carefully.
Location, location location
Location may not seem like an issue to hurdle for some students, and it's advisable to focus on which universities will best suit your needs. However, with many courses operating for up to six years, it's important to factor in whether or not you will feel comfortable living away from home for such a long time.
We've met thousands of budding medical students and are constantly surprised at the amount of students who seem to concentrate their applications in and around London or the south of England. For example Barts Medical school in London had over 2,600 applicants for 276 places in 2015, whereas Leeds medical school had 1,800 applicants for 237 places, so, 800 less applicants for only 39 fewer spaces. It's no bad thing to look at the different med school application rates, interview offer rates and number of med school places available when it comes to making your applications.
One final thing to keep in mind is tuition costs. Scottish students for example pay just £1,820 in tuition fees if they attend a Scottish university. Students from the rest of the UK pay £9,000 - so it's easy to infer that most Scottish applicants will choose a Scottish medical school to apply to, thus increasing the competition in Scotland for places in Med school.
Once you've settled on a course type that suits your learning style the best and drawn up a shortlist of the 4 medical schools you wish to apply to, make sure your'e happy with the geographical spread of those and competition ratios to maximise your chances of success.
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