Medical Schools

Overview of Lancaster Medical School

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Lancaster University Medicine is one of the newer medical schools in the country, admitting only 129 students per year. Last year, there were over 1200 applicants. The medical school has been training medics since 2006, initially in collaboration with the University of Liverpool and independently since 2012. Lancaster University is consistently ranked in the top ten in national league tables – 6th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019, joint 7th in The Guardian University Guide 2020, and 7th in the Complete University Guide 2020. As one of the UK’s smaller medical schools, Lancaster Medicine's size allows them to offer a student-focused learning environment within a highly supportive community.

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Lancaster University Medical School Course Structure

Year 1: You will experience early patient contact in primary care when you visit several local GP practices

Year 2: You will be on campus Monday and Friday, and spend two days per week on hospital placement. You will also engage in community-related activities, including several days in GP placements , community clinical teaching (CCT) sessions with GP tutors and two community-related assessments. 

Year 3: comprises five rotations, each of which includes patient contact, clinical teaching, PBL and other teaching activities such as tutorials and lectures 

Year 4: You will spend a minimum of three days a week in a hospital setting, in two 15-week blocks, and will complete a Primary Care placement. 

Year 5: You will undertake five clinical attachments, two of which are Selectives in Advanced Medical Practice (SAMPs)

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University of Central Lancashire Medical School Entry Requirements

GCSE

8 subjects - At least 13 points where A*-A or 7-9 = 2 points; B or 6 = 1 point Grade 6 (B) in biology, chemistry, physics, english language. If Biology or Chemistry is not studied at A-level, then GCSE must be at least grade A/7. All other subjects must be at least grade C or 4.

A Levels

AAA or AAB plus EPQ

IB

36 points.

To include: At Higher Level (HL): any two of Biology, Chemistry or Psychology and one other subject; all at a minimum of 6 points. At Standard Level (SL): three subjects, all at a minimum of 5 points. We will consider applications from applicants who have taken longer than 2 years to achieve the required grades in the International Baccalaureate.

Scottish Higher

At least five subjects taken at one sitting, after one year of study including Biology (A), Chemistry (A), plus at least three other subjects. Minimum grades required: AAAAB

Scottish Advanced

UCAT

BMAT

Yes

How Does Lancaster Medical School Look At The BMAT?

Will be ranked by BMAT, all three scores added together, at least 10.5 is needed in 2020 entry.

GAMSAT

No

Intercalation

Not specified

Yes, between Years 4 and 5 of the MBChB programme, you will have the option to take a year out from your studies to complete an intercalated degree. Intercalation provides you with an opportunity to study a subject related to medicine at greater depth or engage in academic research for a year.

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University of Lancashire Medical School Work Experience

Your work experience does not have to be shadowing a doctor but can be any experience (unpaid work, paid work or volunteering) within a healthcare setting that gives you an insight into what it would be like to ‘be a doctor’ today. It is important that you reflect on these experiences to decide whether you have the skills, values and attitudes to work in healthcare.

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Lancaster Medical School Personal Statement

Not assessed but used for interview. 

You should demonstrate what you have done to establish that medicine is the right career path for you. For example, you should outline any relevant work and voluntary experiences and describe what you have learned about being a doctor, and about your own suitability, from these experiences. You do not need to have shadowed a doctor; voluntary or caring roles, especially in a healthcare setting, are just as valuable. Voluntary and caring roles can also be useful to demonstrate your commitment to improving the lives of others. You should describe the skills you have developed through engaging in these roles and explain their relevance to a career in Medicine.

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Does This Medical School Have A Gateway or Foundation Year?

Website

Lancaster University - Medicine and Surgery with a Gateway Year

Description

This is a great course for anyone that can fulfil widening participation criteria or have mitigating circumstances that resulted in lower than deserved A Level performance. It helps progression onto the Medicine course. 

Criteria

Entry Requirements

• A Level: ABB

• Required Subjects: A level Biology and Chemistry

• GCSE: requirements: will vary depending on individual circumstance but all applicants must have achieved grade B (or grade 6) in Core & Additional Science (or Biology, Chemistry and Physics), Maths and English Language.

• BMAT: Required

• Interview: Required (MMI)

Eligibility Criteria

We will use a range of indicators to determine whether you are eligible for entry to our Gateway year course. You may be eligible for the Gateway Year, and to be made a lower offer compared to those applying directly, if you fulfil certain widening participation criteria, such as living in an area where a low proportion of school leavers go onto higher education; being from a low income family or being the first in family to attend university.

The Actual Criteria:

You are a UK applicant. EU and International students are not eligible for Medicine and Surgery with a Gateway Year.

If you meet two or more of our widening participation criteria (see below), meet the academic entry requirements and are successful at interview, you may be considered for a contextually lowered offer (CLO) of ABB. Care leavers and care experienced applicants will automatically be considered for a CLO regardless of how many other criteria they meet.

• You live in a neighbourhood of low participation in higher education or live in an area that is less advantaged, as assessed by multiple factors. To find out if this applies to you please visit the Index of Multiple Deprivation, or if you live in Scotland, the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. A map of the UK, showing the areas that differ in terms of young people’s participation in higher education can be found on the Office for Students website.

• You live in a low income household. This can be demonstrated in any of three ways: (1) your parent or guardian is in receipt of a means-tested benefit (e.g. Universal Credit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance); (2) you receive or are eligible for the 16-19 bursary or, if you live in Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland, Education Maintenance Allowance instead of 16-19 bursary; (3) you receive or are eligible for free school meals.

• The school where you completed your GCSEs is a non-selective state school and has a below-average Attainment 8 score. You can view your school’s Attainment 8 score from Compare School Performance.

• The school where you completed/are completing your A Levels (or equivalent) is a non-selective state school, whose examination results are below average for schools/colleges in England (C- or below). You can view your school’s average A Level results from Compare School Performance.

• Your parent(s) did not attend university or attain a higher education qualification, apart from as a mature student.

• You have been in local authority care for three months or more, or considered as Care Experienced , including residing within a secure or children’s care home, foster care and kinship care. You can find out more on our Care Leavers page.

• You are a young carer to a parent or sibling.

• You are a refugee.

Type

- Number of stations: 12-15 

- Length of each station: 5 minutes

Dates

January & February

Topics

Lancaster Medical School Interview Questions / Topics:

• Teamwork and leadership

• Understanding of the career