Medical Degree University of St Andrews Application and Selection Process

Mrs Mary Ainsworth Administrator Medical Admissions

Areas to be covered  Facts & Figures – places/offers etc  Application process – UKCAT + academic – Non-academic (personal statement + reference) – Interview  Qualifications to practice in North America

Facts and Figures  A (approx) applications  100 RUK/EU/Scottish places  (approx 50 places on both Scottish and Manchester route)  40 overseas places (Manchester route) – 20 from IFM  A990 – 20 places for Canadians (Edinburgh route)

Deadlines  Prefer applications through UCAS  Deadline ‘home’ applicants15 October in the year prior to entry  ‘Overseas’ apply by end of January in the year in which they will enter Medicine in the September  Prefer them to apply earlier

Length of course  6 years – the first 3 years (Phase 1) St Andrews (Bsc Hons)  Final 3 years (Phase 2) at the University of Manchester Medical School (MB ChB)  All A100 overseas students will progress to Manchester for Phase 2  A990 – will progress to Edinburgh

Campus Codes  Campus code selection for Phase 2  M: Manchester  S: Scotland  E: Either  Student’s offer indicates which route – Scotland or Manchester  A100 Overseas must choose Manchester  A990 do not need to select campus code

UKCAT  All applicants must sit the UKCAT in the summer in the year before entry to Medicine  No other tests will be accepted in lieu of the UKCAT See Medicine website as to how we use it

Entry Requirements United States of America  Strong in Mathematics and Science with a particular strength in Chemistry and Biology  English is also required  High School Diploma and APs OR High School Diploma and Advanced/Accelerated Honours courses or IB (see IB grades below)

USA cont.  At least 3 AP’s (or equivalent) at 4 or 5 (Chemistry 5)  High School Diploma GPA of at least 3.5  Chemistry both Year 11 (min 85%) and 12 with 90%  SAT II score in lieu of a year of Chemistry study  Chemistry plus one more of Biology, Maths or Physics in Year 11 and Year 12  Biology, Maths and English MUST be offered in at least Year 10

USA cont  A decision to make an offer will be based on attained grades for Year 11 and the grades predicted for Year 12  Interim grades will be requested

SATs  We may consider SAT II in lieu of a year of Chemistry  SAT I (Verbal, Mathematics and Critical Reading) minimum 2000  SAT II subject test, 700 Biology and Chemistry

ACT A combined score of 30+ in the ACT would be comparable with SAT Is

Entry Requirements Canada  Applicants need to be very strong in Mathematics and Science with a particular strength in Chemistry and Biology  English study is also required  High School Diploma or IB

Canada cont.  Average over 85% in grade 11 would be considered but 90% would be more competitive  A conditional offer would be made on Year 12 grades  When calculating the average, academic subjects will be considered

Canada cont.  An applicant with an average of over 85% in grade 11 might be considered.  However, significant improvement in grades could be expected for Year 12.  In previous years conditions of offer set on Year 12 have been 85% overall with 90% in Chemistry, one of Biology, Maths or Physics and also in one other subject.

International Baccalaureate  Competitive - predicted to obtain a majority of 7s 38 required overall but to include:  Higher Level: 7,6,6, including Chemistry (7) and one other of Biology, Mathematics or Physics  Subsidiary Level: 6,6,6, including whichever of Mathematics or Biology is lacking at Higher Level  English is also required at the minimum of Grade 6 at Standard Level or in HSD

Non-academic aspects of application  Reference  Personal Statement

Reference  Accurate  Supportive  Personal qualities of applicant  Approach of applicant to their studies  Suitability for course/s to which they have applied  One reference - from school

Personal statement  Why want to study medicine  How they have investigated medicine as a career  Including work experience  Personal qualities in relation to medicine  Positions of responsibility, organisational ability, interests, hobbies and achievements other than academic

Interviews  We now interview all applicants that we are interested in If cannot attend on one or our interview days then Overseas applicants can be interviewed by phone or skype

Other Requirements  Fitness to Practice – Criminal Records Disclosure – Disability/ill health  Contact Admissions/University Disability Officer for advice on support. Declare on UCAS application. – Immunisation  Screened for TB, Hep B + C, HIV  Immunisations carried out on entry  Infection with above might restrict practice

After MB ChB  St Andrews – BSc Hons in Medicine  Manchester - MB ChB  Equivalent to an MD qualification  Provisionally registered by the General Medical Council  Matched to the Foundation Training Programme  For more information please see the website:

Post Foundation Years  Return to own country  Graduate with MBChB  To practice in North America - sit the licensing examinations  United States Medical Licensing Exam  Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination A990 – see details on Medicine website

St Andrews’ degree – entry to Pre Med?  As far as we are aware 3 year Hons degree from St Andrews does not qualify for entry to later years of Medical programmes in North America  Not generally thought be equivalent to a Pre Med degree in the USA

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