Graduate with no science background - access to med school?

[New2this]

Hi there,

I have a 2:1 degree from the University of Nottingham in French and A-levels in French, Spanish and Maths (ABB).

I want to completely change my career path and study medicine and don't know the best way to go about it.

Do I need to get A-level Chemistry and Biology (AA)? If so, can I do the AS and A-Levels in 1 year (I live in London).

Or is it better to apply for GEM?

Any advice would be most appreciated!

H x

[kylelowe1990]

I think because you have a non science background it may be best to to an access course. Usually the access courses cover chemistry as part of the curriculum and the access course is at level 3, the same as A levels. However if you were going to work for a couple of years to save up money it may be an idea to do an evening course in chemistry for example, just to keep your mind and brain working.

[new2newmedia]

Hi there,

I have a 2:1 degree from the University of Nottingham in French and A-levels in French, Spanish and Maths (ABB).

I want to completely change my career path and study medicine and don't know the best way to go about it.

Do I need to get A-level Chemistry and Biology (AA)? If so, can I do the AS and A-Levels in 1 year (I live in London).

Or is it better to apply for GEM?

Any advice would be most appreciated!

H x

Hi New2this,

Personally I wouldn't recommend an access course in your position.

Do you know about the financial arrangements for graduates studying undergraduate medicine? As it stands you need to pay the full fees up front (no fee loan) for the first 4 years i.e. 36k. The NHS pays from year 5. You can get another maintenance loan to cover expenses. If this is not a problem then you could do an access or a course with a "built in" access course like Liverpool/Lancater, Dundee, Sheffield I think....

If the money up front is a problem then it will need to be a GEM course. You pay 3k in the first year, are loaned 6k then for the next three years and get a student loan for the remainder of your fees 3x6k. Still expensive but less upfront. Just to save you time as you said you are just starting this wondrous process - funding info on the internet, from student loans company, from the universities and generally from everyone who should know is generally rubbish. The NHS had the wrong info on their website for a good few weeks!

Right. Assuming you are going for GEM then you can apply to Newcastle and Kings just by taking the UKCAT (a further wonder for you to encounter!) no access course, no new A levels - they just want a degree in any subject >= 2:1. You will however need to do well in the UKCAT at least 700 which is around the top 10% of those taking it. Kings is mega competitive so you would need a lot of good work experience as well.

The GAMSAT is your other option. Again any degree and any A levels but the GAMSAT does require scientific knowledge; where as the UKCAT is a psychometric test. This enables you to apply to 4 GEM unis and 1 5 year course. Nottingham (your old uni I believe) is a GAMSAT uni.

So generally for GEM A levels aren't that useful. Southampton however does allow graduates in any subject to apply to its GEM and you need AS levels in chemistry and biology grade E or above. Sounds simple enough but chemistry is a pain in the arse to do part time/distance due to the practical you need to take. There are places in London you can do it though.

Cambridge is the other GEM place that accepts any degree but wants certain A levels.

Personally I'd focus on the GAMSAT/UKCAT because A levels aren't that helpful but it will depend on your priorities.

Obviously the other thing you need to get is as much useful experience as possible. This is especially true for the GAMSAT unis.

If you need a boost I'd suggest you trawl through the threads under mature students - plenty of arts grads who have got into 5 year courses and GEM.

Good luck with it all.

[New2this]

Thank you so much for the advice - and for taking the time to help me.

I'm going to look at the UKCAT/GAMSAT route for now and then A-levels as a back up to do the traditional 5 year course.

Thanks again!

[glambert]

new2newmediamedicine has been pretty comprehensive! However, I'd add St Georges as a good option if you go GAMSAT - Course facts — St George's, University of London for the summary page. The reason being that KCL is super competitive (about 100:1 applicants per place) and Newcastle and Nottingham don't have a ton of places either. However George's have lots of places and take people from a huge range of backgrounds.

I was in a very similar situation to you - arts grad, no science A levels but I didn't do the GAMSAT (not enough time between graduating and application), just UKCAT and there are four choices you can pick from, provided you do some A levels for Soton and Cambridge. I can really recommend this college Ealing Hammersmith & West London College for A levels if you need them, Bio teaching is a little dodgy but chemistry is excellent. If you have any other questions just post!