Medicine in Sheffield

Getting into Medical School

Contents

• The Sheffield MBChB explained

• Careers in Medicine

• Applying for Medicine at Sheffield

• The Sheffield Admissions Process

• Further information

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1,250 student doctors; 14 Acute Trusts, 120 General Practices

6 Community and Priority NHS Trusts

Overall, about 1,000 teachers

Teaching Sites

What do you need to know to become a doctor?

• Medical knowledge

• The doctor as a scholar and a scientist

• Clinical skills

• The doctor as a practitioner

• Professional behaviours

• The doctor as a professional

The Sheffield MBChB programme

• It is a hybrid course of traditional and PBL

• Elements of PBL is incorporated into the course

as Integrated Learning Activities (ILA’s)

• Integrated and systems based

• DISSECTION

• ICE (Intensive Clinical Experience) in 2nd

semester of year one – early clinical exposure

Clinical Medical Integrated Student Personal

competencies sciences learning selected development

activities componentsThe Sheffield MBChB

Clinical Competencies

Medical Sciences

Integrated Learning Activities

Student Selected Components

Personal and Professional Development

Phase 1

2

3

4

The Role of a Doctor – Part II

“Ultimate responsibility for difficult decisions

in situations of medical complexity and

uncertainty, drawing on scientific

knowledge and clinical judgement”.

Medical Schools Council (2008)

Undergraduate qualifying

degree (MBChB, MBBS)

Intercalated degree

(optional)

Foundation Training

Specialist Training

(GP, Surgeon, Physician) Consultant

Possible Careers • Hospital Doctor – Surgeon, Physician, Radiologist,

Psychiatrist, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist

• General Practitioner

• Public Health

• Academic Teacher

• Occupational Health

• Pharmaceutical Industry

• NHS Management

• Medical Journalism

• Civil Service

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Applications to Medicine at Sheffield for 2013 entry – A100 & A104

• Places – 237 (18 overseas, 20 SOAMS,

continuing A104 students)

• Applications Received – 3,010

• Number of Interviews Conducted - 550

• Number of offers made - 450

• This number allows for applicants declining or not

meeting the offer

17/06/2013 © The University of Sheffield

Standard Entry Requirements – A100 (5 Year MBChB programme)

• GCSE’s – Minimum of 6 A grades, with a Grade C or

above in English, Maths and Sciences (Dual Award)

• A1 (AS) – ABBB including Chemistry. Module scores

required for all candidates

• A2 Level – AAA, to include Chemistry, another

science and any other third subject (apart from

General Studies)

• Graduates – Minimum of a 1st with BBB at A level, in

relevant science subjects

17/06/2013 © The University of Sheffield

Standard Entry Requirements – A104 (6 year programme) Open to candidates with Arts A levels or non-science degrees

• Minimum of 6 A grades at GCSE

• GCSE Chemistry and Mathematics compulsory

• GCSE Physics and Biology desirable

• Minimum of AAA at A level

• Minimum of 1st with BBB at A level for graduates

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Non- standard qualifications

• We do accept a number of non-standard

UK and International qualifications

• Must contact us prior to application to

ensure that we accept it and it meets our

minimum requirements

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The UKCAT

• The UKCAT is used as part of our selection criteria due

to the large number of candidates suitable in all other

areas of the application

• Must be taken the year of application eg. If applying in

2013 for 2014 entry, it must be taken in 2013

• Applicants scoring above 2600 (650 average) and who

meet other academic criteria, will be considered

• To register for the UKCAT go to www.ukcat.ac.uk

fd

UKCAT Key Dates - 2013

• Registration opened

• 30 APRIL 2013

• Testing begins

• 30 JUNE 2013

• Registration deadline

• 19 SEPTEMBER 2013

• Last testing deadline

• 03 OCTOBER 2013

• UCAS application deadline

• 15 OCTOBER 2013 h

Your UCAS Application

• All Applications to Sheffield A100 and

A104 courses made via UCAS

• Probably one of the most important forms

you will ever complete

• Be honest

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The UCAS Form – Personal Statement and Reference

Personal Statement

• Explain your motivation for a career in Medicine

• Describe your work experience and most importantly, what

you have learned from it

• Provide evidence that you have a commitment to caring for

other people

• Describe any activities that have involved teamwork and

leadership

• Describe your achievements and outside interests

• Overall, try and be concise and clear

Reference

• Should be provided by a School/College/University

Tutor who has knowledge of you in an academic

sense

• Should contain confirmation of achievements to-

date, suitability for the course and a career in

Medicine and the predictions for any forthcoming

examinations

Why Work Experience?

• Realistic insight into the healthcare

professions

• Answers the question “Is medicine for you?”

• Acquisition of skills e.g. How to deal with

people

• Understanding disadvantaged people better

The Interview • Informal Setting

• Interview Panel – 3 interviewers

• 20 minutes in duration

• Be PREPARED

• Dress smartly – remember first impressions do count

• Be honest

• Maintain eye contact

• Think before you speak

What Work Experience is Acceptable?

• Shadowing a hospital doctor/family doctor

• Working on a hospital ward/home for the

elderly/hospice

• Shadowing a community district nurse

• Remember it is what you got out of it,

not specifically what you did

The Interview Panel

A panel of three interviewers from:

• Clinicians

• Academics

• Senior Medical Students

• Junior Doctors

• Laypeople

Tips on preparing for your interview

• Research history of medicine, medical

breakthroughs, topical controversies,

ethical issues, NHS politics

• Research into Sheffield, our course and

possible future career options

Interview Criteria • Understanding of the overall structure of the Sheffield MBChB

programme

• Appropriate reasons for studying in Sheffield

• Evidence that the candidate has motivation for medicine

• Understanding of the overall nature of medicine as a career

• Work experience and able to discuss what was learned from it

• Evidence of commitment to caring

• Width/depth of interests

• Communication skills

• Personal style/attitude/demeanour/body language

What we are looking for…

• A caring nature

• Communication skills

• Competency

• Self-insight

• Resilience

• Integrity

17/06/2013 © The University of Sheffield

Further Information

British Medical Association

“Becoming a Doctor”

www.bma.org.uk

Further Information

Postal Address: Medical Admissions Office, The

Medical School, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield, S10

2RX.

Email: medadmissions@sheffield.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0)114 2225533

Fax: +44 (0) 114 2225521

Web: www.sheffield.ac.uk/medicine

To Discover And Understand.