Peninsula Medical School

BMBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery with Foundation (Year 0)

An exciting new course offering an alternative entry route into medicine for able students whose education has been impacted by adversity. Using a Problem Based Learning (PBL) approach, this course begins the journey towards the development of the academic, personal and professional skills needed for a career in medicine.

It aims to aid the transition to university through building a strong sense of belonging within the medical student community, as well as introducing you to our learning, teaching and assessment methods. Students successfully completing Year 0 will enrol directly onto Year 1 of the standard 5 Year BMBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery course with no further selection process.

Key features

  • £1,000 bursary available in year zero for each new entrant to the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery with Foundation course (6 Years).
  • Offers an alternative entry route to medicine for those whose academic potential has been adversely affected by educational and social factors.
  • A strong inter-professional study component which incorporates experiential learning in community healthcare.
  • Provides supported learning designed to develop students in all aspects required to thrive in their future medical study.
  • Delivers shared teaching with the BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science with Foundation Year to raise academic standards in science and facilitate collaborative learning.
  • Direct enrolment onto Year 1 of the standard BMBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery course without further assessment, subject to successful completion of Year 0.
  • Responds to the University, government and GMC mission to ensure medicine is a career open to all and that doctors of the future reflect the communities they serve.

Course details

  • Year 0

  • Teaching will be delivered across a mixture of shared and bespoke core modules. Shared modules are delivered in collaboration with the School of Biomedical Sciences. 

    Semester 1 – compulsory modules


    FMD001 – Molecules to Cells – shared (20 credits)
    Introduction to key aspects of genetics, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology that will underpin your later learning.

    FMD002 – Introduction to Human Physiology – shared (20 credits)
    Provides a grounding in key aspects of human anatomy and physiology that underpins later learning in pathophysiology, pathology and developmental biology.

    Semester 2 – compulsory modules


    FMD004 – Interdisciplinary and Team Based Learning – shared (20 credits)
    Develops key skills required for working in multidisciplinary teams through encouragement to work with peers to problem solve and manage tasks.

    MED001 – Active Life Sciences Learning – bespoke (20 credits)
    Introduction to the practical and professional skills required to study medicine; studying clinical skills, learning about interaction with patients and how to integrate learning from different disciplines.


    Two further bespoke modules will run across both semester 1 and 2:

    MED002 – Workplace related hot topics in Medicine
    The opportunity to observe clinical teams in practice alongside learning about the academic scholarship useful to medical practitioners. Gives a grounding in understanding how the health service works, particularly in terms of how people work together in teams to provide integrated healthcare for patients.

    MED003 – Learning Skills for Medicine
    Learning how to adopt an independent, reflective and active approach whilst learning study skills, scientific communication and mathematical skills.


    For information about the remaining five years of this course, please refer to the BMBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery course page.

Entry requirements

UCAS tariff

120

Interviews for the BMBS with foundation course for the 2018/19 admissions cycle will be conducted on 14, 15, 16, 23 and 24 January 2019. 

We aim to build a picture of the circumstances that may have adversely affected an applicant’s education and academic potential. When assessing an application we will consider a range of educational, social, family, and individual characteristics and experiences.

  • GCSE
    At least seven GCSE passes (grades A-C/ 4-9) to include Maths, English language and either Biology and Chemistry or Double Award Science.
  • A level/ AS level
    BBB to include Biology and at least one other science from Chemistry, Physics, Psychology and Maths. 
  • BTEC National Extended Diploma
    DDM. Must contain units covering sufficient Biology and another science. 

  • BTEC National Diploma
    DM. Must contain units covering sufficient Biology and another science. To be accompanied by GCE A level Biology at grade B.

  • Access to Higher Education at level 3
    45 level 3 credits with a minimum of 33 at Distinction and 12 at Merit, including a minimum of 15 in Biology.

  • Welsh Baccalaureate
     A Pass or grade B in the WB in addition to BB at GCE A Level, which must include Biology and one other science from Chemistry, Physics, Psychology and Maths.

  • Scottish Qualifications Authority
    Higher level grades BBB to include Biology and one other science from Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, and Maths.

  • Irish Leaving Certificate
    ILC – H2, H2, H3, H3, H3, H3 to include Biology
    or
    A2, A2, B2, B2, B2, B2 or B1, B1, B3, B3, B3, B3 at Higher Level, to include A2 or B1 to include Biology and one other science from Chemistry, Physics, Psychology and Maths. Ordinary Level Grade C in Maths and English also required.

  • International Baccalaureate UKCAT
    IB Diploma score– 28-32 minimum including 5 at higher level in Biology and one other science from Chemistry, Physics, Psychology and Maths. Not required for this course.

We welcome applications from home/EU direct school leavers, students who have not achieved a first degree, and refugees currently residing in UK/EU. All applicants must have achieved the required A levels, or equivalent level qualification, no more than five years prior to submitting a UCAS application.

Other UK qualifications
Other UK qualifications will be considered on an individual basis and you are advised to contact the Admissions team on +44 1752 437333 or email: meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

International student admissions
We welcome and encourage applications from suitably qualified international students with proven disadvantage who are in receipt of a bursary for fees from their country of origin. International applicants need to meet the equivalent admissions criteria described for home students.

All teaching at our school is in English, so if English is not your first language and you do not have a GCSE or IGCSE pass at grade C/4 in English language, you must have one of the following qualifications:
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) band 7.0 or above with at least 6.5 in each of the speaking and listening sections taken within 12 months prior to entry.
  • IB score of 5 in English B at the standard level.

Contextual entry requirements
All applicants, in addition to meeting or exceeding the published academic criteria above will need to meet a minimum of four from the following seven contextual indicator options:

  • POLAR4
    Living in a low participation neighbourhood as determined by your postcode (POLAR4 quintiles 1 and 2).
  • Indices of Mass Deprivation
    Living in an area categorised as being in Indices of Mass Deprivation (IMD) 1–4 or 20% most deprived as determined by your English postcode. Northern Ireland postcode, Scottish postcode, and Welsh postcode.
  • School type
    Attending a state or scholarship funded school (scholarship to fee paying school only) – Evidenced by school letter submitted by applicant at the point of application to meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk

  • School performance
    Attending a low performing school/college e.g. 16–18 performance in the ‘below’ or ‘well below average’ classifications.  If you attend a secondary school or college in Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales, please contact meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

  • UKCAT, EMA or 16-19 bursary
    In receipt of one or more of these bursaries.  UKCAT downloaded from source. EMA or 16-19 bursary entitlement to be evidenced by an official award letter or a school letter submitted at the point of UCAS application to meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

  • Free school meals
    Being in receipt of free school meals – Evidenced by school letter submitted by applicant at the point of application to meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk

  • In care/care leaver
    Being in care or a care leaver – Evidenced by school letter submitted by applicant at the point of application to meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk

Subject to the quantity and quality of applications received, the faculty reserves the right to refer to additional contextual indicators in order to select suitable applicants for interview. These additional contextual indicators could include being a Carer, Refugee, belonging to a Romany/Gypsy/Traveller community, local resident in the South West of England. Please note this additional list is not exhaustive and is for indication purposes only.

Interview
Candidates that meet the necessary admissions requirements, as above, will be invited to attend an interview before an offer is made. The interview will follow our standard BMBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (5 Year) course selection method. Details of the interview process.

Fees, costs and funding

New Student 2018 2019
Home/EU To be confirmed To be confirmed
International To be confirmed To be confirmed
Part time (Home/EU) To be confirmed To be confirmed
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per a number of credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances.


NHS Student Bursary Services Authority Bursaries

Currently all home and EU students have their fee liability for Year 5 met by the NHS in the form of a non-repayable bursary. In addition to this, the NHS BSA also offer a means tested maintenance bursary which is paid monthly to the student.

Year 0 bursary
All new entrants enrolling for the BMBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery with Foundation (6 Years) course will be entitled to a bursary of £1,000 from the Penninsula Medical School. This award will be paid directly to the student in two equal instalments in December and February. 

If you are experience financial difficulty throughout the duration of your course, please contact the Student Funding Unit for advice.

How to apply

All applications must be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All applications for the BMBS with foundation course must reach UCAS between 01 September and 15 October annually.

The UCAS code for the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry is P60 PLYM.

For more information contact the Admissions Team: 

Admissions Team
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
The John Bull Building
Plymouth Science Park
Plymouth
PL6 8BU 

Tel: +44 1752 437333  Fax: +44 1752 517842

email: meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk

Facilities

From the very latest electronic patient simulators and 3D human anatomy models to our web-based Managed Learning Environment and extensive library and learning facilities, you'll benefit from exceptional facilities throughout your degree.

Find out more about our facilities

Teaching and learning

Our teaching approach balances the core knowledge and skills you need to practise as a doctor with the flexibility to focus on the specialist themes and topics that interest you the most.

Find out more about teaching and learning

Widening access

As part of our commitment to widening participation to medicine, dentistry and health courses, we undertake a series of initiatives in order to raise aspirations and awareness.

Find out more about widening access activites

Chris Gummow – Bachelor of Medicine, Batchelor of Surgery graduate

Coming from an entirely non-medical background with no contacts in that sphere, until that point, I had always doubted whether I would be able to get into medical school.”

Read more about Chris' journey.

Careers

Whether it’s working as a doctor in the NHS or taking your skills to developing countries, we’ll work closely with you throughout your degree to give you all the advice you need to take your career in the direction you’d like.

Find out more about your career opportunities