FAQs for GEP at Swansea University

[noodlepeg]

Hi Claire,

Not sure if you still check this, but I was just wondering if you can give us a rough idea of the timescale for offers and rejections as it stands now, and when we can expect to hear anything?

Sorry to bother you when I'm sure you're really busy...

[DanDeLions]

Hi, I have a question about the course at Swansea if any current students or anyone with a greater understanding of the course than myself can spare me acouple of moments.
I am interested in the exact role of group work within this particular course, from what i have gathered through my own research all i can find out is that it include...
"Seminars and group learning sessions - to explore scientific concepts, ethical and moral issues, and the challenges of diagnostics and therapeutics".
I know some medice degrees involve a high level of group work with graduate groups meeting each week a couple of times or more. I dont think this is the case at Swansea but it isn't very clear to me. Just how often are these seminars and group learning sessions, and how many people do they involve in a group. I am really just trying to find out if they are an integral part of the course or not, and if not then is it predominantly lectures?
I do apolgise if this has been repeated elsewhere on the forum but my wee search didn;t come up with anything
I f anyone could clear this up i would be very grateful!
thanks

[pipedreamer]

There's definitely more lectures than group work. Group learning sessions probably refers to things like clinical skills and anatomy teaching where you are divided into small groups and rotate around teaching stations - you are still taught by a tutor, just in smaller groups so you can have a go at things and ask questions more easily.

In terms of more self-directed group work there are some assignments that you do in small groups in the first two years and a year long audit project you do in the third year. However this is not the same as problem based learning (PBL) courses which I think is what you're describing. PBL is where you are given a case or question each week and you have to work on your own in groups to figure out the answer/diagnosis/whatever. Swansea is NOT a PBL course - it is what I would call a taught course with lectures and teaching sessions filling most of the timetable for the first two years.

If you can make it to an open day they are a good way to find out more - they include a kind of demo 'mini week' of teaching so you can see how a typical week is structured.

Hope that helps. Feel free to ask any more questions

[sali37]

Hi Claire,

I'm not sure whether you check these 2008 applicants threads but I had a question which is really frustrating me. I have 64+% overall in my degree (graduated with 2:1), I'm currently studying for an MSc, plus I have BCCD in my A Levels which I did back in 2002 and 12+ GCSEs Bs/Cs in 1999. I have plenty of healthcare experience in primary and secondary care trusts and lots and lots of voluntary work. Plus employment in various places and lots of extra curriculum stuff that I do as part of fun.

What are the chances of me facing a rejection with what I have??
I look forward to your reply.

[Arch_Angel]

Only your degree class matters is so far as an out right rejection. The other things it just depends how well you put yourself across in interview and in your personal statement.

It all depends on the other applicants that apply

You need to have a decent GAMSAT score too.

[Nurse_to_doctor]

This is to Claire Cowell (nee Jones),

In praise of Claire!

I can write this because you do not know who I am I have found you really helpful on the phone, answering my queries. Some of the other university admissions co-ordinators aren’t quite as helpful…

One thing that stands out, for me, about Swansea GEP is how organised it is. I particularly like the GEP Open Day, which I will soon go on. The GEP programme booklet is also of a very high standard.

Thanks again,

N2D