Med Schools for non-graduate Mature applicants and Open University qualifications

[Costello]

I've spent some time going around these forums (and others) looking for info on which universities seem to be open to mature non-graduate candidates. The information available is generally patchy at best so i got in touch with quite a few of the medical schools asking outright if they accepted mature students on the basis of A-Levels or Open University courses. I've broken the universities down into categories with links to the relevent entry requirement pages or, if these aren't specific enough, responses i received from each:

(A) Friendly/mildly receptive to Open Uni courses instead of A-Levels:

St. George's Medical School

Peninsula

Nottingham

Hull York

Oxford - depends on courses and preferably in combination with A-Levels

Liverpool

Dundee - considered on an individual basis

Barts and the London - Open Uni degree only and no A-Level resits

(B) Receptive to A-Levels (distance learning and/or resits):

UCL
Glasgow
Aberdeen

(C) Not at all receptive - response was basically "bugger off":

Birmingham
Edinburgh
Sheffield

Category A responses:

As I’m sure you’re aware our standard entrance requirements are: three A-levels at A grade or equivalent qualifications, taken at one sitting. One A-level must be Chemistry, the second should be Biology, Physics or Mathematics and the third can be any other subject except General Studies or Critical Thinking.

One option would certainly be for you to take A-levels and fulfil the entrance requirements above. It may be that Open University courses are another option, but we will only be able to assess their equivalence to A-levels (in terms of science/Maths content) by seeing further detail of them. If you have an idea of which courses you are interested in, we could look at them for you.

I would bear in mind that entry to the course is extremely competitive, and those taking unusual qualifications (such as Access courses or Open University courses) would only be capable of competing for a place on an even playing field with other candidates holding A-levels or the IB if they are performing consistently well across all elements of their chosen course.

Applications for medicine offering Open University courses (Level 1 standard) are considered by the medical school selectors on an individual basis.

If you decide to go for A Levels, you would need to obtain AAA Grades in the one sitting. This should include chemistry and one other science subject.

Thank you for your interest in Barts and the London. We do not accept A level or Higher resits, nor do we accept Open University credits. In you wish to apply to Barts and the London, you must offer a degree with a 2:1 or higher. An Open University degree is acceptable.

Category B responses:

I am afraid that Open University courses do not fulfil our academic entry requirements and will not admit to this medical school. As Scottish Highers do not meet our entry requirements you will either need to study Advanced Highers or A levels.

It is acceptable to sit Highers/A-levels again if your existing ones were achieved more than 5 years ago.

Highers:

AAAAB at Higher Level at one sitting including Chemistry and Biology and either Maths or Physics.

A Levels:

AAA in three A2 examinations at one sitting to include Chemistry and one of Maths, Physics or Biology. General studies is NOT acceptable as a third subject at A2. A GCSE pass in English at a minimum of Grade B is also required. If Biology is not studied at A2 level, it should be taken at GCSE or AS level with grade A required. Biology and Human Biology are considered as equal subjects. We do not consider Maths and Further Maths as two separate subjects at A Level.

The Admissions Committee is pleased to consider applications from appropriately qualified mature applicants. Applicants who have completed full time secondary education and who have elected to delay University entry, but whose life-long experiences are comparable at least to those of a graduate, are considered as "mature applicants".

Mature applicants can be considered if our minimum academic requirements have been achieved. These may be achieved through different routes:

School-leaving qualifications:

Such applicants are expected to achieve the same minimum academic requirements for entry as school-leavers, however these qualifications may be obtained over two diets of examinations. Please refer to our website at:

Category C responses:

Thank you for your enquiry. Because of the very high competition for entry, we will consider only those school-leaving qualifications achieved at the first attempt. Therefore, I am afraid that even undertaking A-levels would not help in an assessment of a future application from you.

Thank you for your email. Unfortunately, we do not accept qualifications gain through Open University or distance learning.

We do not normally consider Open University courses here. Competition for places here is extremely fierce and the best advice would be to undertake a degree prior to medicine and apply here as a graduate. Our graduate requirements are on the website:

Open Uni science courses:

The S104 Exploring Science and SK277 Human Biology are the two Open University courses which are most commonly listed as required by those universities receptive to the Open uni.

General Listing - Science Courses - Open University
Exploring Science - S104 - Exploring science - Open University Course
Human Biology - SK277 - Human biology - Open University Course

[Profanius]

Hello Costello, welcome to the forum.

Thanks for a well researched and informative post.

I went through a similar process 2 years ago when I first got a real bee in my bonnet about being a doctor. I already had a BA degree, but was a 2.2, good A-levels, but all the wrong subjects. I was also 18 months into an OU science degree, but was quite dissapointed that very few Unis acknowledged the courses completed thus far or the qualifications gained (Certificates, Diplomas).

It's worth pointing out that some of your Category A Universities also require the GAMSAT exam (Notts, Pen, SGUL). Also some Unis aren't particularly receptive to finished OU degrees for their GEPs. Warrick and Oxford seem to like OU graduates, Kings will accept them but also specify a requirement of 100+ lab hours - which is difficult to get through distance learning. I've never had a Uni say they actively discriminate against OU degrees, but there are always rumours.

Despite being comfortably into my 30's I decided to finish my OU degree and haven't regretted it. Applying to med school has given me the motivation to get a 1st, when I would probably have gotten a 2.1. It also means I have other career options if the whole medicine thing doesn't work out. The last two years have also given me the opportunity to get some brilliant work experience and do some pretty amazing things that I would have never even considered doing in my previous life. Even if I never get into med school I would consider the last few years well spent.

Either way, good luck with your application.

[Ruffian]

Thank you for the information. I am currently an OU student with big medicine dreams.

[sjk]

I am quite intrigued... I'm not sure I have read this correctly but are you saying that certain Universities would accept the SK277 and S104 from the OU instead of A-levels?