University of Nottingham - Medicine

• Duration of the degree is 5 years
• Domestic students’ competition in getting admitted: 23%
• International students’ competition in getting admitted: 17%
• UCAT verbal score will be double weighted in interview shortlisting process
• UCAT needs to be in the same year as the application
• Reference and personal statements will only be reviewed after interview and before offer is made
• Students already started post-secondary studies will not be accepted to study undergraduate medicine at University of Nottingham
• Can accept students at 17 for Year 1

a. Subjects required: Chemistry and Biology

• GCSEs: A minimum of six GCSEs at Level 7 (A), and must have a minimum of a grade 6 (B) in maths and English language. Please note a maximum of eight GCSE subjects will be taken into account for interview shortlisting, see below.
• A Levels: AAA (citizenship studies, critical thinking, general studies, or global perspectives are not accepted as third A level subject.)
• International Baccalaureate (IB): 34 points overall including 6,6,6 in 3 HL
• HKDSE: 555

b. English Language Proficiency

• IELTS: 7.5, with no less than 7.0 in any element.  
• Pearson Test of English (Academic): 79, minimum 76.  
• Cambridge Proficiency/Advanced Test: 191, with no element below 185.  
• IB: English A1 or A2 at grade 5; IB English B SL at grade 6, or HL at grade 5.

Retake and Predicted Grade Policies

• GCSEs: Consideration will be given to resitting in one GCSE subject in either Maths, English Language, Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry or Double Science qualifications.
• A Levels: A maximum two-year study period with three A levels to have been passed at the required grades in one sitting is required.
  • Resits will be considered in the following circumstances:
    • A Levels completed in the last 12 months
    • At least ABB with at least one A in biology/human biology or chemistry 
    • The achieved resit grades meet AAA and include biology (or human biology) and chemistry 
• Predicted grades are not used as part of the selection process.

Interview Shortlisting Requirements: UCAT & GCSE

a. University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT): maximum 50 points out of 82

• Each part of UCAT is translated as follows and score for verbal reasoning weighed double.
  • 801 to 900 = 10 points
  • 701 to 800 = 8 points
  • 601 to 700 = 6 points
  • 501 to 600 = 4 points
  • 401 to 500 = 2 points
  • <400 = 0 points

• Situational Judgement (not considering band 4 candidates)
  • Band 1 = 10 points
  • Band 2 = 6 points
  • Band 3 = 2 points
  • Band 4 = 0 points

b. GCSE: maximum 32 points out of 82

• Eight GCSEs will be scored, including Biology or Human Biology and Chemistry or Double Science, Maths, English Language, and the four highest GCSEs in other subjects. Scoring as below:
  • 9 or A* = 4 points
  • 8 = 3 points
  • 7 or A = 2 points
  • 6 or B = 1 points

c. Remarks

• There is no fixed threshold score when selecting for interview.
• Predicted scores or AS is irrelevant
• For candidates who have not taken GCSE, iGCSE or equivalents, only UCAT results will be scored and be compared to students in same situation, hence, not taking GCSE will not disadvantage the application.

a. Undergraduate degree

• Minimum of a 2:2 degree in any discipline
• For a third-class degree at undergraduate level, applications will still be considered upon the completion of a postgraduate masters or PhD degree
• Accelerated degree not accepted

b. English Language Proficiency

• IELTS: 7.5, with no less than 7.0 in any element.  
• Pearson Test of English (Academic): 79, minimum 76.  
• Cambridge Proficiency/Advanced Test: 191, with no element below 185.  
• IB: English A1 or A2 at grade 5; IB English B SL at grade 6, or HL at grade 5.
• GCSE: English first language 6 or iGCSE English Language 7

c. Work Experiences

• Completion of regular work experience which could be volunteer services in a care related setting or with disadvantaged groups, or a paid employment working with the general public is expected

Interview Shortlisting Requirements: GAMSAT

• GAMSAT can be taken in March or September prior to the UCAS submission date and results are valid for two consecutive years
• Nottingham adopts a different calculation for GAMSAT, given by the formula [(Section 1 + Section 2 + Section 3) ÷ 3], whereas the Official GAMSAT is calculated by the formula [(Section 1 + Section 2 + (2 x Section 3)) ÷ 4]
• Selection for interview is based on the highest of the two overall scores (Official and Nottingham’s own calculation) obtained up to two years before applying
• There is no fixed GAMSAT threshold score when selecting for interview
• GAMSAT minimum requirement:
  • 55 in Section 2
  • 55 in either Section 1 or 3
  • 50 in the remaining section

a. Where is it going to take place?

• Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham City Hospital and Highbury Hospital
• Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust (Nottingham and Mansfield)
• Derbyshire Healthcare Trust
• King’s Mill Hospital

b. What is Nottingham University Hospitals NHS like?

• Serves over 2.5 million residents of Nottingham and surrounding areas, and acts as a regional specialty centre for up to 4 million people
• The local population includes a high proportion of minority ethnic groups: about 34.6% of Nottingham’s population is non-White, with the largest group being Asian Pakistani (5.5%)
• Nottingham University Hospitals NHS major spending is on: Emergency care, cancer, cardiac/stroke, intensive care, paediatrics with top notched specialist and regional centers on trauma, regional heart and stroke, paediatrics and cancer.

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

• In the final months of your 2^nd year, you'll begin the Clinical Phase through rotations at major teaching hospitals and within primary care.
• Your 3^rd year clinical placement is 47 weeks covering specialities such as junior medicine, junior surgery, mental health and primary care.
• Your 4^th has 2 phases of clinical placements: the first will be 26 weeks comprising obstetrics and gynaecology, child health, integrated medicine, palliative care and healthcare of later life. The second will be 24 weeks covering senior medicine, senior surgery, critical illness and senior primary care.
• The final component of the course is a five-week elective placement of your choice and five-week medical assistantship (MAST) to prepare you for the UK Foundation Programme.

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

• Year 2: 1 day per week working with GPs
• Year 3: 10-week blocks focusing on research skills and rotation between medicine, surgical and hospital specialties
• Year 4: need to complete 4 rotations: mental health, women’s health, child health and primary care in four clinical attachments.
• Year 5: clinical placement focuses on handling acute presentations in medicine, surgery and perioperative medicine and primary care.
• Final year (optional): have two assistantships to shadow the work of a junior doctor.

Good communication and listening skills

• Give an example of a time when you dealt with conflict in a team. How did you deal with this?
• Tell me about a time when you failed to complete a task or project on time, despite intending to do so 
• Give an example of when you have had to solve a problem
• Describe your role and responsibilities for the most recent project you worked on

An understanding of professional issues such as teamwork

• How would you work closely with someone you didn’t get along with? What would you do?
• What sorts of challenges do you think NHS / medicine comes across?
• Tell me about a recent story in the news that has captured your interest?
• Give an example that demonstrates your professional integrity
• How would you handle being asked to perform a task you have never done before?

Respect for patients and the contribution of other team members

• Tell me about a time when you faced an ethical dilemma
• How would you deal with receiving criticism from your manager?
• how do you ensure that you stay updated on your technical knowledge?
• what actions would you take if you were asked to perform a task you are not familiar with?

Non traditional about yourself questions

• If you were an animal, what would you be?
• Every CV has one lie in it. What’s yours?
• Would you rather be liked or feared?
• What things are always left on your to-do list and not finished?