Admissions and Student Support

Dr Karen FosterLead for Admissions and Student Support

Admissions

Admission to Aberdeen

1. Academic Qualifications

2. UCAS form

3. UKCAT

4. Interview

Admission Policies

• Admission to the University of Aberdeen is entirely on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve.

• An applicant's race, ethnicity, gender, marital or parental status, educational or social background will have no influence on how their application is assessed.

• Disability/ Health conditions

• Age

• Widening Access

• http://www.abdn.ac.uk/smd/medicine/admissions-policy.php

1. Academic Score – 30%Higher results achieve a higher score:

achieving the minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview

• SQA: Achieved results in S5 plus predicted for S6

• GCE / IB / ILC: Achieved/Predicted results

• Graduates: Achieved/Predicted degree results. Must be in final year when applying.

Academic minimum requirements

• 5 Highers in S5 at AAAAB; Chemistry required plus 2 from Biology/Human Biology, Maths and Physics plus 2 others.

• 3 A levels at AAA; Chemistry required plus 1 from Biology/Human Biology, Maths and Physics plus 1 other.

• IB 3HL at Grade 6 or better plus 3 other subjects at an average of Grade 6. Must offer Chemistry plus a total of two sciences out of Maths, Biology or Physics.

• ILC: AAAAAA Chemistry & 2 of Maths, Biology or Physics.

• Graduates: 2:1 honours degree (most subjects) plus Chemistry.

Conditional offers for SQA S6 studies

• S6 conditions were introduced for 2014 entry for applicants with SQA qualifications.

• Achievable conditions: mostly BBB.

• Advise taking 3 programmes of study in S6.

2. UCAS Form • Do not score the Personal Statement.

• All UCAS forms are reviewed when the academic score is being calculated by the admissions team.

• Discretionary points

• Red flags

• Assessment of the content of Personal Statement is undertaken as part of the interview.

UCAS form important points• Closing date 15th October at 6pm

• Number of choices for medicine = 4

• 5th choice is entirely up to you

• Personal statement: leave yourself plenty time

• Reference: academic – give them plenty warning

UCAS Form

• Commitment to medicine, knowledge of undergraduate training, medical career, its implications & postgraduate training.

https://www.medicalcareers.nhs.uk/

http://www.medschools.ac.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Work-experience-guidelines-for-applicants-to-medicine.pdf

• Core qualities of a good doctor, demonstrate how you have these qualities.

Good Medical Practice, GMC, 2013

• http://www.medschools.ac.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Statement-on-core-values-and-attributes.pdf

• Team work, outside interests, multitasking, interpersonal skills, professional issues.

• No cut-offs.

• Score allocated based on student overall performance in UKCAT and compared with performance of all other applicants to Aberdeen.

• SJT score is not included in overall UKCAT score. Used when making offers.

3. UKCAT score – 20%

UKCAT important points• Undertake UKCAT this year (and each year you

apply).

• Check website at www.ukcat.ac.uk

• Register for test – 1st May to 22nd Sept 2015.

• Undertake UKCAT 1st July to 6th October 2015.

• Practice for the test – resources on the website.

4. Interview Score – 50%• Interview format: Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI).

• Rotate round 7 stations.

• Seven minutes per station with one selector scoring performance against standardised criteria.

• Two minutes between stations.

• Stations will cover one domain plus communication skills.

• Details are on our website with example videos.

How offers are madeAcademic score = 30% plus UKCAT Score = 20%

↓

Invitation to interview (approx 800) Nov 2015 – Feb 2016

Informed by mid-January 2016

Interview Score = 50%

↓

Offers (approx 360) Informed by end March 2016

Deferred Entry• Should be planned and include work of a caring

nature.

• Should be declared on UCAS form.

• Not granted automatically if later GAP year opportunity arises.

• Encouraged for those who will be young when they leave school.

Entry Apps OffersEntrants

2010 2067 391 179

2011 2357 397 186

2012 2343 328 168

2013 2441 325 168

2014 2703 360 168

2015 2501 XXX 168

Numbers

Student queries• General Course/Admissions queries

• http://www.abdn.ac.uk/smd/medicine/

• Specific advice about circumstances

• Email or letter to medadm@abdn.ac.uk

• Retain a hard copy of advice given.

• Ask for feedback if unsuccessful

Student Support• With its 'Culture of Care' the

course has been highly rated by outside bodies including the General Medical Council, who were impressed by the "enthusiasm & commitment of the staff", "enthusiasm & loyalty to the school of the students" and by the excellent student support offered.

Aberdeen MB ChB Student Support

• Student Welfare Officer

• Regent scheme

• Student Pairing Scheme

• Lead for Student Support

• Specialist support for students with mental health issues

• Academic support

• Careers advice

• NHS Grampian Occupational Health Service

• Disability Adviser

University of Aberdeen Student Support

• Advice and Support Office

• Student Support Advisers

• International Student Advisers

• Disability advisers

• Childcare

• Counselling Service

• Students 4 Students

• Study support

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