This might sound like a dumb question...but?

[kimzyhoe]

Right what I don't get is how come you get five years at med school and others six years? and when you have like a bio med degree can you apply for like an example 4th year ( or whatever as I don't know ) and what good does an hons degree have? I get most stuff like when it comes to applying to do an access you get in to the six years as I am hoping to do!

might sound stupid but I have been reading through posts and was wanting to know.

[kimzyhoe]

and how come some uni's say a degree only gets you into first year even if its bio med.

[Chwirkytheappleboy]

The six year degrees are typically one of two kinds:

1.) A normal 5 year medicine degree preceded by a foundation year, typically for students from underprivileged backgrounds who would otherwise find entry to Medicine particularly challenging
2.) A normal 5 year medicine degree with an "intercalated" degree (i.e. a "minor" in other subject). The intercalated year is typically taken between the pre-clinical and clinical parts of the medical course.

Biomedical Science, although closely related to Medicine, is not the same course and thus does not cover all of the core material required for the pre-clinical parts of a Medicine degree. Thus you can never "skip" any years of Medical School, however a degree will often qualify you to apply for compressed graduate entry courses, which last only 4 years.

Honours is a mark of a particular standard, but in fact is generally associated with non-Medical degrees (which are typically awarded without Honours). Honours degrees are usually classified (1st, 2:1, 2:2, and 3rd), while an "Ordinary" degree (one without Honours) is typically awarded to students who have performed below a 3rd class level, but are just about considered to have passed their degree. As I said this doesn't really apply to Medicine - Medicine is generally "pass or fail"; there are no classifications. Either you meet the standard required to become a doctor, or you don't

[dances_with_lamposts]

Traditionally, medicine courses were/are 5 years. A relatively recent thing is that medical students are able to intercalate (i.e. get an extra degree) as part of their course, this often adds an extra year to their course (although not always, Nottingham's intercalated BMedSci is part of the 5 years), Some med schools have optional intercalation, some compulsary. Another way of lengthening the course to 6 years is by getting onto a foundation course (this is for people who may not have studied the right subjects at A level for a traditional course, it adds an extra year).

People who have got a previous degree are able to apply for graduate entry courses, these are 4 years long and there is usually no opportunity to intercalate (why would you need to? if you already have a degree). Graduates always start from the first year, whether it's a 4 or 5 year course. Very rarely, people can transfer from their degree to the 2nd year of a 5 year medicine course. Some graduate entry courses specify that you have to have a science degree to be considered, but others will take people with any degree subject.

Hope that helps to clear things up.

[Tuggummi]

WHAT EXCEPTions do they make for people from underprivileged backgrounds because my GCSE grades are far less than what is expected but they are way above what most others got at my school.

[Philippa*]

None Tuggummi I'm afraid - there are so many applicants that have the right grades that they don't need to even look at people who don't.

[Tuggummi]

wot is that bout man this isnt funny.

philip dun know!

[gbsilp]

Do medical schools even look at gcses (apart from Cs in Maths and English) for mature students?

[Kes83]

Do medical schools even look at gcses (apart from Cs in Maths and English) for mature students?

Some do, some don't. Most I have found seem to just want a certain grade in Maths and English and don't seem too worried about any others.

[Kes83]

WHAT EXCEPTions do they make for people from underprivileged backgrounds because my GCSE grades are far less than what is expected but they are way above what most others got at my school.

Access to medicine courses are a useful route of helping smart people who have been disadvantaged because of their background enter medical school.