MB ChB Admissions
2014/15
Dr Gail Nicholls
Director of Admissions
MBChB Selection
Aim of Admissions Process
To select students academically able to complete
the MBChB degree course and to practise as a
Foundation Year doctor
To select students that will make the best doctors
To use a fair and equitable process to achieve this
Facts and figures
UK picture
In 201213
41,422 medical students studying at 32 medical
schools in the UK
More than half of all medical students in the UK
were female
Medical school application
competition
National
10.6 applicants per place
Leeds
17.1 applicants per place
RAF pilot: 450 applicants per place
Leading UK employers: 85 applicants per place
MBChB Selection
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
Applicants
2000
Places
1500
1000
500
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2013 entry
3515 applicants
First year total: 237
Male: 76, Female: 161 (68% Female)
219 home and 18 international
20 transfer Bradford Foundation Year in Clinical Sciences
1 Interdisciplinary Science Foundation Year
3 repeating year 1
14 international students (part of the quota of 20 places
for international students others admitted in 3rd year)
4 international students from the International Science
Foundation Year (2 Kuwaitis + 2 Saudi students) outside
the quota of international students
MBChB Selection
What makes a good doctor?
GMC 2011
MBChB Selection
The selection system takes a look at:
Academic criteria
Better of GCSE or AS results (if cashed-in)
A levels (or equivalent)
BMAT
Non-academic criteria
Personal statement
Interview
MBChB Selection
UCAS received
3750 +
Triaged for minimum criteria
VERY few rejected
Minimum criteria well
advertised
Academic scoring
+
BMAT
Better of (GSCE or
declared AS) + A2 +
Aptitude Test
Non-academic attributes
from
the personal statement
Top 1000 forms
Scored 2 assessors
3rd assessor if
difference
Academic Criteria
GCSE
For school leavers predicted 3 As, 40% had perfect
academic scoring last year i.e. 9 A* at GSCE or 3 As at AS
At least 6 grade Bs must be offered including:
English
Maths
Dual Science/Double Science, or Chemistry and Biology
IGCSE
English curricula vary
Admissions policy has full details
Academic Criteria
AS-level
Three AS-levels.
Same subject restrictions as A-levels.
We look at your best 3 AS-levels if declared cashed in after the first
year of study. We do NOT accept undeclared AS-levels or AS-levels
cashed-in later, nor do we regard A-level results as equivalent.
If the total is higher than your GCSE total, we will use your AS score
We use either your GCSE score OR your AS score you cant add one
declared AS to 8 GCSEs.
If your school doesnt declare AS levels, we will use your GCSE score.
We do NOT accept module scores or predicted or undeclared grades.
Academic Criteria
A-level
Three A-levels no advantage to having 4
Chemistry at Grade A is mandatory
General Studies, Critical Thinking and the Extended Project
are not used in academic scoring
No Chemistry with Biology and Human Biology
No Chemistry with Maths and Further Maths
Standard offer is AAA no advantage to A*
Predicted/achieved treated equally
MBChB Selection
A levels subjects offered in 2013
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Aptitude Test
Between 2008 and 2013, we used UKCAT
For anyone applying after January 1st 2014, we
will be asking for BMAT
No alternatives will be accepted
UKCAT will not be accepted as a substitute
Aptitude testing
A score based on BMAT performance will be
combined with a score based on GCSE/AS/A2
performance or prediction
A high academic score can help compensate for a
low BMAT score and vice versa
There will not be a pre-determined cut-off
score
BMAT
Subject specific admissions test for applicants to
medicine, veterinary medicine
2 hour pen and paper test, local centers
3 sections test of skills and knowledge that you are
already expected to have
Aptitude and skills
Scientific knowledge and application
Writing task
BMAT sections
Section 1: Aptitude
35 MCQ or short answer questions
Problem solving, understanding argument, data analysis
Section 2: Scientific knowledge
27 MCQ or short answer questions
Scientific knowledge up to Key Stage 4
Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics
Section 3: Writing
One essay from choice of 4
A little learning is a dangerous thing (Alexander Pope)
BMAT preparation and registration
Papers available to download
Section 2 based around the national
curriculum studied by the majority
Cost 44
Register from Sep to Oct
Test early Nov
Results late Nov
This is how we find out about
applicants..
Communication
There are around 4000 applicants
There are 5 of us
IF YOU WANT US TO KNOW SOMETHING PLEASE
PUT IT ON THE FORM!
Please do not provide us with supplementary
information by phone, email or letter
Non-Academic Criteria
Evidence will be sought from all sections of the UCAS form
and at interview
[Link]
Statement
2. Interview
Writing a Personal Statement
Motivation
and
Insight
Social
Awareness
Responsibility
and
Leadership
Interests
and
Achievements
Mitigating circumstances, Access to Leeds
What evidence do you need?
How have you looked into a career in medicine?
Have you taken positions of responsibility?
Do you know a bit about the world outside your
friends and family?
Do you know how to relax and de-stress?
A typical applicant at interview
A typical applicant who gets to the interview stage would have all
of the following:
Excellent GCSE or AS grades
Predicted or achieved 3 As at
A level (or ABB for A2L)
A good BMAT score
A good personal statement
What does the interview do?
MMI (Multiple Mini-Interview)
Assesses further non-academic
attributes
The candidates who perform the best at
interview will be offered a place
We aim to interview 512 applicants
32 batches of 16 over two weeks
Interviews are currently scheduled for
January 2015
Our MMI
8 stations, 4 groups per day, 64 candidates per day
Each stations- 1 minute reading, 7 minute task
Each station tests 1 or more attributes
Includes:
communication skills, UCAS statement, ethical
reasoning, negotiation, current affairs, situational
judgement test, written station.
Alternative Routes
"We have always believed that anyone with the talent and
ambition to succeed should be able to come to Leeds...
Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Arthur
Access to Leeds
Bradford Partnership
Interdisciplinary Science Foundation Programme
Access courses
Alternative Access Routes
Access to Leeds
Alternative admissions scheme that allows us to
identify applicants who have the potential to
succeed but who may not be able to demonstrate
their talents through grades alone
Realising Opportunities
Operated by the charity Brightside in collaboration
with 12 universities and enabling increased access
Work alongside standard UCAS application
Typical offer 2 grades lower if university modules are
passed
Interdisciplinary Science Foundation
CFGO
Full-time, 1 year
Enables students who may have been disadvantaged in their
preparation for tertiary education to prepare for degree level
study and gain the necessary academic competence required for
entry to the degree programme
Criteria for transfer: at least 70% in Chemistry, successful
interview
Clinical Sciences BSc
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLINICAL SCIENCES AT
BRADFORD AND THE MBChB COURSE AT LEEDS
20-40
output
20-40 intake
MBChB
Leeds
BSc (Hons)
Clinical Sciences
Bradford
YEAR 5
YEAR 3
YEAR 4
YEAR 2
YEAR 3
YEAR 1
FOUNDATION
40 intake
20 transfer
20 transfer
YEAR 2
YEAR 1
223 intake
250-270
output
Access to Medicine Courses
College of West Anglia
Sussex Downs Adult College
They have to reach a certain standard in these
courses: overall mark 70% and 70% in
Chemistry
Plan B.
Feedback
We will provide limited feedback to unsuccessful
applicants
This will take the form of a ranking, showing position
in relation to the rest of the cohort in
Academic performance (all applicants)
Aptitude performance (all applicants)
Personal statement (if scored)
Interview performance (if interviewed)
Second time/re-sit applications
Assessed in competition with all the first-time
applications
Examination re-sit results are only accepted in
exceptional circumstances
Evidence of circumstances is needed
If you want to reapply:
WHY was the application rejected? Any feedback?
We do provide some feedback but we wont rewrite
an application!
Think about what can be done to make the
necessary changes
MAKE THEM!
Alternative Access Routes
UCAS Closing Date for Medicine is earlier than for other
programmes
Institution Code: L23
Course Code: A100
BMAT registration deadline is different from the UCAS
deadline.
LOOK AT THE WEBSITES!!
Other sources of information
NHS Careers Website - [Link]/
General Medical Council Website - [Link]/
Medical Schools Council Website [Link]/
BMAT-[Link]
Leeds Medicine Admissions website [Link]/medicine/admisisons/
How to make an application
successful.