University of Leicester - Medicine

• Need to apply with last 3 years’ transcript
• UCAT SJT Band 4 will be automatically rejected
• 18 years old by September 1st
• Defer entry should apply by April 1st

Subjects required: Chemistry or Biology, and one of Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Maths or Psychology, plus a third subject

• A Levels:
  • A*AA and A* must be in one of the science subjects.
  • University of Leicester will also consider candidates with AAA plus an EPQ, or a 4th subject AS, or candidates with four A levels at AAAB (to include the two science subjects at AA). A level sat in year 12 will not be counted.
  • 3rd A-level in a language subject, other than English Language, that they are a home or native speaker of, they will be made an adjusted offer of A*A*A, with A* also required in the language subject should they reach the offer stage.
• International Baccalaureate (IB): 34 points overall, and a minimum score of 7,6,6 with 7 at the science or 36 with 666 at the two sciences
• NCUK: Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics as your selected modules, along with English. You must achieve a minimum of 70% in each module, and at least 80% in either Chemistry or Biology.
• Bachelor degree: 2:1 in any discipline + A level Chemistry or Biology B (BBB or ABC A level results) + GCSE, Masters or PhD can’t compensate for degree lower than 2:1 standard
• HKDSE: 5, 5, 5, 4 and 5*55 in three elective subjects, 5* must be in one of these sciences. You must have 5* in Core Maths if you took Extended Maths as an elective.
• USA: ACT 28 or SAT 1,300 + four AP 5,5,5,4 with 5 in one of the sciences
• Canada: 90%

English Language Proficiency

• IELTS: 7.5 overall, with no component below 7.0

Retake and Predicted Grade Policies

• Retake at GCSE must be agreed by admissions tutor in writing and will only permitted in special occasions, first GCSE score will also be reported
• For A levels that took more than 2 years will also need to be approved by admissions tutors

UCAT Scoring

Domestic applicants will need 50^th percentile UCAT score

International applicants will need 70^th percentile UCAT score to secure offers.

• >2400 48 points
• 2350-2399 47 points
• 2300-2349 46 points
• 2250 – 2299 45 points
• 2200 – 2249 44 points
• 2150 – 2199 43 points
• 2100 – 2149 42 points
• 2050-2099 41 points
• 2000 – 2049 40 points
• 1950 – 1999 39 points
• 1900 – 1949 38 points
• 1850 – 1899 37 points
• 1800 – 1849 36 points

GCSE

• B/6 (or equivalent) in English Language, Maths, Biology and Chemistry + 4 other subjects
• First sittings only will be scored, and it is expected that all subjects will have been sat in the same academic year.
• Subjects from other years will not be scored unless it is a first-sit of one of the mandatory subjects.
• Only one Maths subject will be scored (we consider Statistics a Maths subject); if the further Maths grade is higher than Maths, then this will be used for scoring,
• If your school did not permit you to take 8 GCSE subjects, we require formal evidence from the school to support this before the 1 st October 2025
• if you have A level biology, but not GCSE biology, the school can consider Physics GCSE
• If you don’t have GCSE biology but only A level biology, can use GCSE Physics
• Below table is how GCSE scores will be converted
  • 9 = 6 points for pre selection
  • 8 = 5 points for pre selection
  • 7 = 4 points for pre selection
  • 6 = 3 points for pre selection

Provided you meet our minimum GCSE and A-level requirements per above. UCAT results will be tally as above mentioned.

Degree

• 1 st Class obtained = 12 points
• 2:1 Obtained = 8 points
• 1 st Class Predicted = 6 points
• 2:1 Predicted = 4 points

3 A level taken in 2 years

• A* or IB 7 = 12 points (for results within 3 years) or 10 points (for results over 3 years)
• A or IB 6 = 10 points (for results within 3 years) or 8 points (for results over 3 years)
• B or IB 5 = 8 points (for results within 3 years) or 6 points (for results over 3 years)
• C or IB 4 = 4 point (for results within 3 years) or 2 points (for results over 3 years)

a. Where is it going to take place?

The clinical placement will take place in a wide range of hospital and community placements in the region, including Leicester’s big city hospitals, and district centres across the Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. Some are listed as below:

• Leicester Royal Infirmary
• Glenfield Hospital
• Leicester General Hospital
• Kettering General Hospital
• Northampton General Hospital
• Northampton Berrywood Hospital

b. What is University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) like?

• UHL serves a diverse population of 1.1 million across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
• It delivers world-class heart and kidney care to over 2 million people across the UK.
• UHL is one of the most research-active Trusts in the country, with 27,000 patients taking part in clinical trials last year.
• Leading innovative research in heart, lung, cancer, kidney, and diabetes care, UHL is home to an NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, the Hope Cancer Trials Centre, and Leicester Diabetes Centre.

c. How is clinical placement going to be for undergraduate students?

In Year 1, the students will have the chance to train and qualify as Health Care Assistants (HCAs) which allows the student to have the clinical/ hospital exposure from the start of the course.

The clinical placement will take place from Year 3 to Year 5 with its own focus as below:

• Year 3: medicine, surgery and general practice
• Year 4: specialty blocks such as Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Child Health, Cancer Care and Psychiatry
• Year 5: extended foundation assistantships designed to fully prepare students for work as a foundation doctor

d. What is the course structure?

The five-year curriculum comprises the following:

• Phase 1 (Year 1-2)
  • early clinical apprenticeship with clinical attachments and development of clinical skills
  • integrated teaching of molecular and cellular science and systems of the body
  • integrated teaching on infection, pharmacology and therapeutics
  • social, behavioural and population sciences

• Phase 2 (Year 3-5)
  • working full-time in clinical environments

e. What is the teaching style in University of Leicester medical school?

The course is truly patient-focused rather than a problem-based learning and an integrated curriculum is adopted.

By adopting the technology focused teaching and learning, the students will be provided with an iPad at the beginning of the course and all the material is provided in an electronic format. The latest technology-enhanced learning approaches such as 3D printing and 3D reconstructions are used in the course.

The following teaching methods are adopted in the course:

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Small Group Work
• Cadaveric Dissection
• Clinical Teaching

f. Can the students study for an intercalated degree at University of Leicester?

The students can take an intercalated degree by undertaking full-time research after the second or third year of medical degree. The intercalating opportunities at University of Leicester cover iMSc in Clinical Education, iLLM in Health Law, iMSc in Healthcare Management, iMSc in Medical Research, iMSc in Psychology and iMSc in Quality and Safety in Healthcare.

The interview will take the format of multiple mini interviews (MMIs) and a numeracy test largely consisting of mental arithmetic. For the home applicants, there will be seven MMIs with each taking about 10 minutes. For the international applicants, the interview will be taken online with six MMIs and each taking about 8 minutes.

Each station will be given equal weighting and the candidates will be assigned a global rating (excellent, good, satisfactory or poor). Candidates with a good overall score but poor rating(s) may be asked for a second interview which is usually a face-to-face panel interview holding on an Offer Holder’s Day.

The MMIs will assess different attributes, including:

• Communication kills
• Problem solving
• Personal qualities and values
• Motivation and suitability
• Ability to show empathy and compassion
• Ethical Judgment
• Organisational ability

The first impressions and body language are also important for the interview.

• Communication Skills

1. A patient’s parent becomes frustrated after waiting over an hour in the clinic. How would you respond to ensure the situation is handled calmly and respectfully?
2. A colleague interrupts you during a conversation with a patient. What would you do to manage this situation professionally?
3. A patient begins to cry during your consultation. How would you provide emotional support while maintaining professionalism?
4. A patient doesn’t seem to understand your explanation of a treatment plan. What steps would you take to check and improve their understanding?
5. Role play: explain to someone how to draw this picture.
6. Guide someone on how to tie shoelaces.
7. Guide someone on how to create a paper origami sculpture.
8. Role play: breaking bad news.
9. How would you handle a senior colleague who made a medical error?
10. How would you address a cultural misunderstanding within a diverse healthcare team?
11. What is the importance of building trust within a team?

• Problem Solving

1. You arrive late to a community clinic session and find there are more patients than expected. How would you prioritise and organise your approach?
2. Your team is planning a charity health event but runs short on volunteers. What actions could you take to adapt and ensure the event still runs smoothly?
3. You’re faced with conflicting information from two team members. How would you decide what to do next?
4. A hospital faces long waiting times due to resource pressures. How do you think doctors can help address this issue?
5. You are leading a small group project, but one member is not contributing. How would you handle this situation?
6. You receive negative feedback on your communication style during teamwork. How would you respond, and what would you learn from it?
7. How would you manage a case involving a patient unable to afford treatment?
8. How can the healthcare profession better address the impact of climate change on public health?
9. With rising obesity rates in the UK, what public health strategies would you propose?

• Personal Qualities and Values

1. What’s your greatest non-academic achievement?
2. Why should patients trust you?
3. What are your best qualities?
4. How do you manage stress?
5. What have people criticised you for? How do you respond to criticism?
6. Can you provide us with an example of a time when you demonstrated resilience?
7. Give us an example of a time when you demonstrated teamwork.
8. Example of a time when your personal influence has changed the outcome of a situation.
9. How would your friends describe you?
10. You’re asked about the NHS’s core values. Which value resonates most with you, and how have you demonstrated it?
11. Technology such as AI is increasingly used in diagnosis. What are the benefits and potential drawbacks of patient care?
12. Should a doctor’s personal beliefs influence their decisions in patient care?
13. What are your thoughts on the ongoing NHS workforce crisis in 2024?
14. What are the pros and cons of the NHS increasingly partnering with private healthcare providers?
15. How should medical schools adapt to train doctors to tackle emerging global health threats?
16. What do you think about doctors who are criticised in the press?
17. Would you stay in one place or move around?

• Motivation and Suitability

1. Why medicine?
2. Why Leicester?
3. What made you choose medicine, rather than other options?
4. What did you want to do before medicine?
5. What subjects did you study?
6. What was your favourite subject?
7. What was the last practical experiment you did in Chemistry?
8. What are your strengths/weaknesses?
9. What happens once you’ve graduated?
10. What did you observe in the oncology/haematology ward etc?
11. What are your hobbies?
12. What can you bring to the University?
13. Do you have a particular field in medicine in which you are interested?
14. If you could change one thing about yourself what would that be?
15. What did you learn about the realities of being a doctor?
16. Why do you believe Leicester Medical School's integrated curriculum is the right fit for you?
17. How have your experiences prepared you for early clinical exposure at Leicester?
18. What are the advantages and challenges of studying medicine in a diverse city like Leicester?
19. How does Leicester’s focus on research in cancer and cardiovascular sciences align with your aspirations?
20. If offered places at multiple medical schools, why would you choose Leicester?
21. What does Leicester’s emphasis on a supportive learning environment mean to you?
22. What makes a good doctor?

• Ability to Show Empathy and Compassion

1. A patient tells you they feel hopeless about their diagnosis. How would you show empathy and encourage them to express their concerns?
   
2. You’re under significant academic pressure before exams. What strategies would you use to manage stress effectively?
3. A close friend loses a relative suddenly. How could you offer support while maintaining your own well-being?

• Ethical Judgment

1. You notice your friend has copied part of an assignment from the internet. How would you handle this ethically?
2. A patient refuses a life-saving blood transfusion for religious reasons. What ethical principles would guide your response?
3. You overhear a doctor speaking rudely to a patient. What should you do next, and why?
4. What is the debate surrounding euthanasia, should it be legalised?
5. Who would you give this organ to?

• Organisational Ability & Numeracy/ Data Interpretation

1. Video observation: why is the role of a GP important? What did the GP do well in this consultation?
2. Talk us through this article.
3. Data interpretation: simple calculations usually on drugs.
4. A medication comes as 50 mg per 5 mL. The prescribed dose is 100 mg. How many mL should be given?
5. The clinic's no-show rate drops from 15 % to 10 %. What is the percentage reduction in non-attendance?
6. A patient’s BMI is 30 kg/m² at 90 kg body weight. What is their height in metres (to one decimal place)?
7. A patient’s temperature chart shows a sudden rise from 37.5 °C to 39.2 °C. What might this indicate, and what actions could follow?