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

1.Personal
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 - www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/
General Medical Council Website - www.gmc-uk.org/
Medical Schools Council Website www.medschools.ac.uk/
BMAT-http://www.admissionstestingservice.org/ourservices/medicine-and-healthcare/bmat/about-bmat/

Leeds Medicine Admissions website www.leeds.ac.uk/medicine/admisisons/

How to make an application

successful.