Welsh National School of Medicine
University of Wales College of Medicine
Cardiff University
Medicine –
Selection
Process
Professor Aled Phillips
Admissions Sub-Dean
Your selection:
The course
The facilities
The location
Support for students
Entry requirements
Which Medical School ?
30 undergraduate medical schools
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5
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23
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Wales
Scotland
N. Ireland
England (including 5 in London)
2 postgraduate medical schools
Swansea and Warwick
Are all courses the same ? Yes and No!!
Yes -General Medical Council
Knowledge
Skills
Attitudes
Behaviour
Are all courses the same?
No - Course structure
Course Structures:
Traditional - preclinical & clinical
Integrated/system based – multidisciplinary
Methods of teaching:
PBL - problem-based learning
Lectures, practicals, tutorials
Hybrid
C21: what are the principles?
Principles
Evidence based
Early clinical experience
Small group learning
Case based learning – facilitated small group
learning based on clinical scenarios
Reliable and fair assessments
developing
tomorrow’s
C21 doctors
The traditional divide
Qualification
Clinical science
Year 5
Year 4
Year 3
Year 2
Year 1
Entry
Slide Courtesy Prof Paul Bradley
Basic science
7
Vertical integration
Life long learners
Clinical science
Clinical Practice
Evidence based
Year 5
Year 4
Scientifically informed
Research minded
Research capable
Year 3
Year 2
Year 1
Selection and admission
Slide Courtesy Prof Paul Bradley
Basic science
8
C21: Changing the MBBCh course
Scholarship
Science
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Years 1&2
Years 3&4
Years 5 & F1
Core science and
clinical practice
Learning to Care
Learning from
and at work
Integrated
contemporary
clinical / science
experience
Consolidated
preparation for
practice and
work-based
learning
Safety
Service
Clinical immersion
Simultaneous
science
Case based learning
• The case is the key to the learning
• Clinical scenario introduces the subject area
• Support for students
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Seminars
Practical experiences
Patient encounters
Clinical skills
C21: Phase 1 learning
Seminars
Life sciences
Assessment
Practicals
Structured
small group
session:
e-Learning
Placements
Plenaries
‘case
scenarios’
Clinical skills
Learning
outcomes
Self directed
learning
Ischaemic Heart Disease
Spiral Curriculum : Ischaemic Heart Disease
Year 5 – Clinical Assistantships/Primary Care
Direct patient management
Year 4 – Chronic Disease Management
Implications for patient and service delivery
Year 3 – Hospital Front Door
Different patient presentations
Treatment options
Year 2 – Older person 2
Pathophysiology and Co-morbidity
Year 1 – PCS and Dedicated Case
Introduction to Basic and Clinical science
Year 5
Year 4
Year 3
Year 2
Year 1
C21: Harmonisation what does it mean
for you?
 Work-place based education around Wales
 Predominantly clinical experience enhanced with
supplementary simulation
 Increasing responsibility in an assistantship model
Facilities
Heath Park Campus
Shared site
• University Hospital of Wales
• Children’s Hospital for Wales
• New Teaching Accommodation
opened 2008
• IV Lounge for Students completed
2009 (social club)
• Very Very New Cochrane Building
Heath Park Campus
Research:
• Institute of Medical Genetics
• Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics
and Genomics
• Wales Heart Research Institute
• Henry Wellcome Centre for
Biomedical Research
• Cancer Research UK Centre
• Arthritis Research Campaign
Biomechanics & Bioengineering
Centre
Other major hospitals in Cardiff:
University Hospital Llandough
Velindre
Whitchurch
Other hospitals in South East Wales:
Royal Gwent – Newport
Royal Glamorgan – Llantrisant
Princess of Wales – Bridgend
Prince Charles – Merthyr Tydfil
University
University Hospital
DGH
GPs
Location: Cardiff
• Capital of Wales
• Population 350,000
• Close to sea and mountains
• Multicultural community
• Good transport links
• Safe, friendly, affordable
Cardiff
• Major developments:
Millennium Stadium, Millennium Centre
International Arena, International Sports Village
New Shopping Centre
• Within a 1 mile radius:
City Centre – shops, entertainment, etc
Main University campus, University Hospital site
Most student accommodation
Cardiff University
• 26,000 students, 6000 staff
• Multidisciplinary
• Member of the Russell Group
• 125 years old
Main Campus - base for initial stages
Heath Park Campus – clinical training
Accommodation
• Guaranteed single occupancy
room for everyone who
accepts our offer of a place
• 5300 study bedrooms
• Catered or self catered
• 70% En suite
• Internet connection
Personal Support / Pastoral Care
• Student Support services
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Study Skills
Counselling
Disability / Dyslexia Support Unit
Financial Advice
– Hardship and Access funds
– Careers Service
– Accommodation
– Health Service
• Student Union
– Welfare and legal advice
Personal Support / Pastoral Care
• Personal Tutors
• Pastoral Care on Placement
• Buddy Schemes
• Year Co-ordinators
• Deanery
• FY1 Liaison
Cardiff’s Selection Policy
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Open
Equitable
Non-discriminatory
Reliable, valid and relevant
Defined criteria
Consistent with legislation
Approved by Board of Medical Studies
http://medicine.cf.ac.uk/en/degree-programmes/undergraduate/admissions
medicaladmissions@cf.ac.uk
What is Medicine?
“The art or science of prevention and cure of
disease”
What Sorts of Medicine are there?
• Primary Care (General Practice)
• Secondary Care
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Accident & Emergency
Anaesthetics & Intensive Care
Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology
Medicine
Mental Illness
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Paediatrics
Pathology
Radiology
Rehabilitation
Surgery
What Sorts of Medicine are there?
• Medicine
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General Medicine
Cardiology
Dermatology
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Genitourinary Medicine
Geriatric Medicine
Infectious Diseases
Medical Genetics
Nephrology
Neurology
Nuclear Medicine
Oncology
Palliative Medicine
Rheumatology
Thoracic Medicine
What Sorts of Medicine are there?
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Primary Care
Secondary Care
Community Medicine
Academic Medicine
Private Practice
Pharmaceutical Industry
Armed Forces
Aviation Medicine
Travel Industry
Aid Organisations
Legal Medicine
Overseas
No “stereotype”, No “typical” student
Routes into Medicine in Cardiff
Applying with your GCSE
Two courses A100 and A104 to accommodate all subject choices
Applying with your A levels
So its not all about your GCSEs!!
Applying with a Degree
There is hope even after A level!!
“Feeder Courses”
Selection Process for ALL Routes:
Three scored stages:
academic
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non-academic
-
interview
Documented extenuating circumstances are taken into
account if presented at the time of application
Non-Academic Criteria
Personal Statement
 Insight into the Medical career
 A caring attitude towards people and social awareness
 Team-working and a willingness to accept
responsibility
 Study skills- evidence of self directed learning
 Evidence of balanced approach to life
[Referee’s comments]
Scored by trained selectors
Work Experience: Why?
 To show that the applicant understands medicine as a career
 To enable the applicant to demonstrate that they have had people
focused experience of providing care to other people and that they
understand the realities of working in a caring profession.
 To enable the applicant to demonstrate some of the attitudes and
behaviours essential to being a doctor such as conscientiousness, good
communication skills or the ability to interact with a wide variety of
people.
Work Experience – bottom line
Remember: it is what you learnt not
what you did that counts!!
Personal statement and Interview
Interview:
 20 minute informal discussion based on UCAS
Personal Statement
 Two/Three trained interviewers on the panel
(including a clinician and a 4th yr medical student)
 English or bilingual
Non-Academic Criteria
Interview
 Communication skills
 Insight into the Medical career – reflection on what
makes a good doctor
 Understanding demands of studying medicine
 A caring attitude towards people and social/medical
awareness
 Team-working and a willingness to accept
responsibility
 Evidence of balanced approach to life
Typical Offer (5-year course)
A level grades AAA
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including 2 sciences from Chemistry, Biology, Physics,
Mathematics or Statistics;
Chemistry or Biology at grade A must be one
Only one Maths subject counted
Non-science welcomed as third ‘A’ level
General studies and Critical Thinking not counted
Plus AS level grade C
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Chemistry or Biology required at ‘AS’ level with a A grade if not
offered at ‘A’ Level
Key Skills level 3 in 3 subjects accepted instead of an ‘AS’ level
Typical Offer (6-year foundation course)
A level grades AAA
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Only one from Chemistry, Biology, Physics
Only one Maths subject counted
General studies and Critical Thinking not counted
Plus AS level grade C
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Welsh Baccalaureate
European Baccalaureate
International Baccalaureate
(36 points – no theory of knowledge/extended essay)

BTEC National & Higher National
National Diploma in Science @ Distinction (DDD) – A104
Higher National Diploma @ Distinction (DDD) – A100
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Scottish Highers
AAAAB highers – A104 +AA Advanced highers –A100
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Irish Qualifications (A104)
AAAABB at higher level
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Other International Qualifications
medicaladmissions@cf.ac.uk
The academic requirements!!!
Academic Requirements: Applying
with GCSEs (A100/A104)
GCSE(or Equivalent)- Minimum Reqs
Science/Additional Science
3 Separate Sciences
Mathematics
English/Welsh Language
AA
AAB
B
B
Breadth - best 9 (to include the above) scored
- short courses not included
- but not AS levels
Validated Results, not predictions
In practice – 5/6A* (score 24/25) - but don’t give up!!!!
Applying Post A Levels
AAA-c (or a if Chem/Biol)
Post A-level - academic score will now take account of
the A level results - so you can make up GCSE score
e.g. GCSE 20 (2A*/7A) + AAA = 25
Think about a Gap year - but use it wisely!
ABB – Graduate entry through Linked Courses/Feeder Courses
or into the five year course
Will need GAMSAT
Graduate entry- Linked Courses
(Could apply to these courses directly with CGSE)
 ABB at A2
 Cardiff University
 BSc Medical Pharmacology
 BSc Biosciences
 Universities of Glamorgan and Bangor
 BSc Medical Sciences (Priority for “widening access)
 Up to 10 students will be considered for entry into year 2 of
A100 course
 Declare an interest in Year 2
 Exactly the same standards as other Graduates (Personal
statement, UKCAT, reference, interview)
 For 2014/15 entry will need GAMSAT
Academic Requirements:
Contextualisation
•Cardiff School of Medicine is committed to widening access and welcomes
applications from students of all backgrounds
•For Entry 2012, the School piloted the University’s use of contextual data
• The academic and non-academic attainment of a candidate reviewed against
socioeconomic background (and school performance data)
• The School considers this information in deciding whether or not to call a
candidate for interview
•It will not use this information to make lower or differential offers
Plus – Fitness to Practice (GMC)
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Enhanced Criminal Record Check
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Spent and unspent convictions, cautions,
admonishments, reprimands, warnings,
bind over orders, fixed penalty notices, ASBOs etc
Health Check
UK Clinical Aptitude Test
 Tests Cognitive Skills:
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Verbal reasoning
Quantitative reasoning
Abstract reasoning
Decision analysis
Non-Cognitive analysis
 Not science paper, not curriculum based
 Two free practice papers on website
 Use them with time restrictions
 MUST take the test in the Summer BEFORE
applying
Good Luck!!