Birkbeck Uni Access course...to medicine?

**arico** · 17-03-2007, 03:32 AM

Hey people,

Just a quickie, would be grateful if anyone can spread a little light....Ive got no gcses/alevels and so emailed a few med schools to see if by any miracle of a chance they would accept the Certificate in Foundation Year for Life Sciences and Subjects Allied to Medicine at Birkbeck uni as it's the only feasable choice of access course I could do. Most of them did say no which I was expecting and then came this from guys...

"If you were to take the course suggested at Birkbeck University you would
then be eligible to apply to the Medicine course...the course on its
own would be enough to qualify you for medicine"

It sounds too good to be true so I was just wondering what you guys think? Is there anyone out there who has done the course/heard anything about it etc etc

thnx

**blueberrypie** · 17-03-2007, 04:16 AM

I have never done this course, but according to their website, you could get into any university of london medical school if accompanied by a first class degree. I don't know if this is accurate, but after reading your thread, I wanted to read about it.

I am currently an access student at lambeth. I have no GCSE's or A Levels, but am hoping to get into medicine. I can only enter most medical schools via a foundation year, but hopefully I will get somewhere. Have you already started this course or completed it or are planning to?

Let us know how you get on.

**arico** · 17-03-2007, 05:35 AM

I am hoping it'll do for entry to med school and will certainly be applying if I can be sure it'll count. I also read on birkbeck's website that you can gain entry to medicine if you also have a degree but I don't so I thought I'd ask the uni's direct. I've read about the course at Lambeth but was under the impression that not many uni's accept it as an access course??

**Dr Bungle** · 18-03-2007, 08:49 AM

hey arico,

the birkbeck course offers alot on their prospectus about how the course can be a pathway onto medicine, but its not as good in delivering when you are on the course and applying for med.i know people that had very high hopes of getting into medicine and dentistry with the course, but were given the cruel blow after they had sent off their ucas forms applying for medicine. i know 2 universities that may consider this course for definite; brighton and UEA, not sure about the others. you may find this hard to blieve - i didnt - but lambeth is far better recognised than birkbeck. the course is spectacular, the staff are diamonds, and the people and atmosphere - a gem. consider looking into it. i had a place at kings lynn, mancat, lambeth, birkbeck and city and islington college and i picked lambeth and got no hard feelings so far, and am still loving it as we approach the end of the course. the only shame will be that rick gosling, who was the current course leader, retired a few weeks ago. hes still teaching us, but i feel people who join the course from september on are going to miss out on the wise teachings of this great man....i miss you already rickster!!!! but getting back to the point, look into access to med courses, and get maths and english gcses whilst your doing it....unis want these 2 subjects for definite.

hope that was useful.

DrB

**blueberrypie** · 20-03-2007, 01:16 AM

Hey Dr Bungle!!! Its me, Blooberry!!! Lambeth Rules!!!

**Arcade** · 20-11-2009, 02:48 PM

I would forego any courses at Birkbeck. The reputation is not good and neither is the quality of service provided to students or even some applicants. Judging by what some people have to say on this site:

Say NO to Birkbeck

I would skip Birkbeck and try another uni...

**goldhawkgonk** · 23-11-2009, 03:48 AM

I had an excellent experience at Birkbeck and the Access course helped me to get 70 in GAMSAT.

They have excellent student satisfaction scores. Inevitably not everyone can always be happy, but I am 100% satisfied.

**aotdowson** · 24-11-2009, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by goldhawkgonk

I had an excellent experience at Birkbeck and the Access course helped me to get 70 in GAMSAT.

They have excellent student satisfaction scores. Inevitably not everyone can always be happy, but I am 100% satisfied.

Hi goldhawk,

That's great to hear. I am currently in the process of researching and applying to access courses and had overlooked Birkbeck but you would recommend it then? Were you there last year? I have noticed it is less referred to by medical schools in general but your comment is reassuring.

Can I ask what you had done prior to your time at Birkbeck ie. GCSEs/A-levels/a degree? And which medical schools you heard from that looked upon it favourably? Congratulations on your GAMSAT score by the way!

Thanks,

Adam

**goldhawkgonk** · 24-11-2009, 05:14 AM

Hi Adam! To give a bit of background, the course is excellent IMHO but it depends for what reason you're looking to do it as it's definitely not perfect for everyone.

I have a degree and a pretty full time job. I'm looking at doing graduate entry courses to Medicine rather than the 5 years and I wanted a course that would give me the background to tackle GAMSAT, as well as something to fall back on if GAMSAT went very wrong, along with the opportunity to meet people like me.

The Birkbeck course is a huge amount of work crammed into six hours of tuition, a week, over two evenings for pretty much a solid thirtyfive weeks. The lecturers are lovely, course well paced and the college is well funded, and you'll meet lots of interesting people. However it is very much designed as a course for people working at the same time. Other Access courses, like COWA, are full time courses and (although I doubt they're significantly more intense as I wouldn't imagine many people balance FT work with them), they do cover more ground and many medical schools see them as a stronger option, I think.

Having said that a number of people from BBK each year get into some medical schools, particularly Brighton and Sussex. Many more however use it as a robust way to prepare for GAMSAT, entering as graduates. You would need to do home study on top to tackle GAMSAT though - the BBK course is only just the A Level syllabuses.

Hope this helps - had a brilliant time there but, if you can afford to study FT for a year, I think another Access course may be a stronger bet. If you're a grad, or need to work, it could be your best option though.