Admissions and Student Support
Dr Karen Foster
Lead 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-forapplicants-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-andattributes.pdf
• Team work, outside interests, multitasking, interpersonal skills,
professional issues.
3. UKCAT score – 20%
• 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.
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 made
Academic 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.
Numbers
Entry
Apps
Offers
Entrants
2010
2067
391
179
2011
2357
397
186
2012
2343
328
168
2013
2441
325
168
2014
2703
360
168
2015
2501
XXX
168
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
Come Here.
Go Anywhere.
That’s the difference