The entry requirements below apply to you if you completed your GCE A levels, or equivalent qualifications, within five years of the start of the application cycle, e.g. qualifications completed since 2015 would still be valid when applying in 2020. If your qualifications fall outside this criteria please refer to the 'Non-Direct School Leaver' section below.
All of the typical offers listed below are not necessarily the threshold for interview selection. Other factors including the number of applications received and performance in the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) influence the threshold for interview selection.
The school reserves the right to use all information on the UCAS form including evidence of social engagement and insight into medicine in the selection process for interview.
Applicants need to achieve 7 GCSE passes at grades A-C/9-4 which must include English Language, Mathematics and either GCSE Double Award Science or two from single award Chemistry, Biology, or Physics.
Plus suitable level 3
qualifications as outlined below.
We are unable to consider Scottish Highers for entry onto this course.
D3, D3, D3 – D3, D3, M2 including D3 in Biology and D3 in one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths, and Psychology.
Extended entry requirements
Re-sit Applicants
Re-sit applicants are considered
for this course. Please note that, in order to be considered with predicted
grades, a minimum of ABB must be achieved on first sitting. Where ABB is not
achieved on first sitting, applicants must re-sit the required qualifications
and apply once suitable grades have been achieved. Applicants with re-sits must
achieve a suitable qualification profile on first re-sit attempt. For other
qualification re-sit criteria please contact the Admissions Team at meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.
Centre Assessed Grades
We
appreciate that the past few months have been very challenging,
emotional and disappointing due to the unprecedented process in which
this year’s Level 3 qualifications have been awarded. With this in mind,
the University of Plymouth will be amending the way we consider
applicants who have been awarded Centre Assessed Grades (CAGs).
If
you have received CAGs that are in line with our entry requirements,
along with the required GCSE and UCAT results, we would encourage you to
submit an application as normal.
If you were unsuccessful in meeting the required grades through CAGs, your application will be considered as follows:
- If
you are sitting A level exams in the autumn of 2020, we will consider
this your first attempt at A levels and you will be able to apply with
predicted grades, which will need to be provided by your school, college
or tutor. Your CAGs will not be considered.
-
If you are
sitting A level exams in the summer of 2021, we will consider this your
second attempt at A levels. In this instance, we will apply
a resit grade requirement which will be more flexible than our usual
threshold of ABB on the first attempt, allowing three grade drops over
three subjects (BBB) or three grade drops over two subjects (ABC). You
will need to
apply with predicted grades for your summer 2021 exams from your school,
college or tutor.
Qualifications
completed outside of the UK
Please contact the Admissions Team if you have studied outside of the UK so we can advise on the suitability of your qualifications.
University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
As part of our commitment to a fair and transparent admissions process, Peninsula Medical School uses the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) in order to make more informed choices from amongst the many highly qualified applicants who apply for a place on the BMBS programme. UCAT test results will be used alongside the above listed qualifications to select Direct School Leavers for interview. You will be required to meet a minimum overall target score which is set and reviewed annually by the Admissions Advisory Panel.
Please note that the UCAT is valid for 12 months and must be sat in the year of application.
The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) threshold score applied to determine candidate selection for interview can alter each year and is influenced by overall candidate performance in the UCAT and the number and quality of applications received. Below are examples of the score thresholds applied during the 2017–2020 admissions cycles and the requirement for 2021 entry.
Year of entry |
Verbal reasoning |
Quantitive analysis |
Abstract reasoning |
Decision analysis |
Overall
|
2017 entry |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1870
|
2018 entry |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2400
|
2019 entry |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2330
|
2020 entry |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2390
|
2021 entry |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2400 |
If you have sat the UCATSEN please be aware that you will need to provide standard evidence of your entitlement to this additional time by submitting the following:
- If you are still in education, an official letter from your school, college, University that states that on the basis of a diagnosis from a qualified medical practitioner, educational psychologist or specialist teacher the candidate is currently entitled to additional time in public examinations (or have had additional time in public examinations within the last 2 years);
Or
- If you are no longer in education, a post-16 year’s diagnosis or report from a qualified medical practitioner or educational psychologist that explicitly recommends additional time in public examinations.
UCAT Website
Official UCAT candidate preparation toolkit
Official UCAT advice and information videos on YouTube
Widening access to Medicine
As part of our commitment to widening access to medicine, Faculty of Health undertakes a programme of outreach activities with local schools in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. For further information please visit our outreach pages.
The School is also represented at the UCAS Higher Education Conventions in the UK.
Non-Direct School Leavers
The entry requirements set out in this section apply to you if your current suite of qualifications do not meet those published above in the Direct School Leavers section or more than five years has lapsed since achieving them. Please note that you do not
need to have completed degree level study to sit the GAMSAT.
Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT)
Peninsula Medical School uses the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) as the entrance requirement for non-direct school leavers. GAMSAT assesses your academic aptitude for the study of medicine. Results from the test are the only academic qualification that will affect the shortlisting process and previous qualifications will not be considered. The results are valid for 2 years.
GAMSAT is a 5 ½ hour written test that assesses your reasoning in Humanities, Social Science, Biological Science, Physical Science and Written Communication. As this test only assesses academic aptitude, if you're successful you'll still need to show us at interview that you have the appropriate personal qualities to train and practise as a doctor.
If you'd like to know more or to register for the test, please visit the GAMSAT website.
Below are examples of the score thresholds applied in previous admissions cycles.
|
2016 entry |
2017 entry |
2018 entry |
2019 entry |
2020 entry |
2021 entry |
Section 1 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
52 |
55 |
47 |
Section 2 |
62 |
62 |
62 |
56 |
55 |
48 |
Section 3 |
61 |
61 |
61 |
51 |
58 |
54 |
Overall |
65 |
63 |
63 |
63 |
63 |
66 |
International student admissions
Peninsula
Medial School welcomes and encourages applications from suitably
qualified international students who are either self-funded, supported
by scholarships from their respective governments, or sponsored by
scholarship programmes operated by the British Council and similar
funding bodies.
If you're an
international applicant you need to meet the equivalent admissions
criteria described for home students, including the UCAT. Applicants
applying with overseas qualifications should contact the Admissions Team
at meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk
prior to submitting an application through UCAS. Please note that from
2021 entry applicants from the EU will be considered international
students for fee paying purposes and may be required to obtain a visa to
allow study in the UK.
In
addition, international applicants need to be fully proficient in the
English language. If English is your first language, we will accept your
home country’s equivalent of a GCSE grade A/8 in English Language
providing it is at Level C1 or above according to the Common European
Framework of Reference (CEFR). Students whose first language is not
English must demonstrate proficiency in the English language by
achieving one of the following qualifications:
-
IELTS band 7.5 or above with at least 7.0 in each of the Speaking and Listening sections (taken within 12 months of entry).
-
lGCSE or GCSE
English Language (as a first language) grade A. A supplementary
statement confirming inclusion of the Speaking and Listening components
will be required for IGCSE 0500.
-
IB score of 6 at the ordinary level in English Language (as a first language).
We
know that university life is a challenge for any student but especially
when you're a long way from home.
We pride ourselves on being
friendly and supportive and we
have a nominated academic tutor to coordinate the
induction and academic support provided to international students.
International Student Advice (ISA) also
provide support and can assist you with any non-academic issues
affecting international students. There are also student welfare support
and counselling services, wardens and student health centres on hand if
you need them.