1. Medicine –Selection Process
Welsh National School of Medicine
Cardiff University
University of Wales College of Medicine
Medicine –Selection Process
Professor Aled Phillips
Admissions Sub-Dean

2. Your selection: The course The facilities The location
Support for students
Entry requirements

3. Which Medical School ? 30 undergraduate medical schools
1 - Wales
5 - Scotland
1 - N. Ireland
23 - England (including 5 in London)
2 postgraduate medical schools
Swansea and Warwick

4. Are all courses the same ? Yes and No!!
Yes -General Medical Council
Knowledge
Skills
Attitudes
Behaviour

5. 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

6. C21: what are the principles?
Evidence based
Early clinical experience
Small group learning
Case based learning – facilitated small group learning based on clinical scenarios
Reliable and fair assessments

7. The traditional divide
Qualification
Clinical science
Year 5
Year 4
Year 3
Year 2
Basic science
Year 1
Entry
Slide Courtesy Prof Paul Bradley

8. Scientifically informed
Vertical integration
Life long learners
Clinical science
Year 5
Scientifically informed
Clinical Practice
Research minded
Evidence based
Year 4
Research capable
Year 3
Year 2
Basic science
Year 1
Selection and admission
Slide Courtesy Prof Paul Bradley

9. C21: Changing the MBBCh course
Phase 1
Years 1&2
Core science and clinical practice
Simultaneous science
Clinical immersion
Phase 2
Years 3&4
Learning to Care
Integrated contemporary clinical / science experience
Phase 3
Years 5 & F1
Learning from and at work
Consolidated preparation for practice and work-based learning
Scholarship
Science
Safety
Service

10. Case based learning The case is the key to the learning
Clinical scenario introduces the subject area
Support for students
Seminars
Practical experiences
Patient encounters
Clinical skills

11. C21: Phase 1 learning Structured small group session: ‘case scenarios’
Assessment
Seminars
Clinical skills
Plenaries
Practicals
Life sciences
Placements
e-Learning
Structured small group session:
‘case scenarios’
Self directed learning
Learning outcomes

12. 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 1
Year 3
Year 5
Year 2
Year 4

13. 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

14. Facilities

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 1. Collaboration across the whole of Wales
GPs
DGH
University
University Hospital
1. Collaboration across the whole of Wales

19. Location: Cardiff Capital of Wales Population 350,000
Close to sea and mountains
Multicultural community
Good transport links
Safe, friendly, affordable

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. Personal Support / Pastoral Care
Student Support services
Study Skills
Counselling
Disability / Dyslexia Support Unit
Financial Advice
Hardship and Access funds
Careers Service
Accommodation
Health Service
Student Union
Welfare and legal advice

24. Personal Support / Pastoral Care
Personal Tutors
Pastoral Care on Placement
Buddy Schemes
Year Co-ordinators
Deanery
FY1 Liaison

25. Cardiff’s Selection Policy
Open
Equitable
Non-discriminatory
Reliable, valid and relevant
Defined criteria
Consistent with legislation
Approved by Board of Medical Studies

26. “The art or science of prevention and cure of disease”
What is Medicine?
“The art or science of prevention and cure of disease”

27. What Sorts of Medicine are there?
Primary Care (General Practice)
Secondary Care
Accident & Emergency
Anaesthetics & Intensive Care
Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology
Medicine
Mental Illness
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Paediatrics
Pathology
Radiology
Rehabilitation
Surgery

28. What Sorts of Medicine are there?
General Medicine
Cardiology
Dermatology
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Genitourinary Medicine
Geriatric Medicine
Infectious Diseases
Medical Genetics
Nephrology
Neurology
Nuclear Medicine
Oncology
Palliative Medicine
Rheumatology
Thoracic Medicine

29. What Sorts of Medicine are there?
Primary Care
Secondary Care
Community Medicine
Academic Medicine
Private Practice
Pharmaceutical Industry
Armed Forces
Aviation Medicine
Travel Industry
Aid Organisations
Legal Medicine
Overseas

30. No “stereotype”, No “typical” student

31. 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”

32. Selection Process for ALL Routes:
Three scored stages:
- academic
- non-academic
- interview
Documented extenuating circumstances are taken into account if presented at the time of application

33. 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

34. 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.

35. Work Experience – bottom line
Remember: it is what you learnt not what you did that counts!!
Personal statement and Interview

36. 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

37. 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

38. Typical Offer (5-year course)
A level grades AAA
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
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

39. Typical Offer (6-year foundation course)
A level grades AAA
Only one from Chemistry, Biology, Physics
Only one Maths subject counted
General studies and Critical Thinking not counted
Plus AS level grade C

40. European Baccalaureate International Baccalaureate
Welsh Baccalaureate
European Baccalaureate
International Baccalaureate
(36 points – no theory of knowledge/extended essay)
BTEC National & Higher National
National Diploma in Distinction (DDD) – A104
Higher National Distinction (DDD) – A100
Scottish Highers
AAAAB highers – A104 +AA Advanced highers –A100
Irish Qualifications (A104)
AAAABB at higher level
Other International Qualifications

41. The academic requirements!!!

42. Academic Requirements: Applying with GCSEs (A100/A104)
GCSE(or Equivalent)- Minimum Reqs
Science/Additional Science AA
3 Separate Sciences AAB
Mathematics B
English/Welsh Language 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!!!!

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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

46. Plus – Fitness to Practice (GMC)
Enhanced Criminal Record Check
Spent and unspent convictions, cautions, admonishments, reprimands, warnings, bind over orders, fixed penalty notices, ASBOs etc
Health Check

47. UK Clinical Aptitude Test
Tests Cognitive Skills:
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

48. Good Luck!!