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Bookmark usSat Feb 04 2012
- We are now accepting applications for September 2012 entry. LIMITED PLACES. APPLY NOW!
- Specialist preparation for UKCAT, UCAS Personal Statements and Medical & Dental School Interviews, book now!
- New 5-year MBBS at the prestigious University of West Indies - call now for further information.
- The M & D Pre-Med® has had an excellent success rate to secure a place at a university in the UK and 2nd year at Spanish dental school.
- We are pleased to announce our new progression partners, Birkbeck College, University of London, offering possible progression from the M&D Pre-Med onto the second year of their BSc course.
- New 5-year course in Dentistry in Valencia, Spain - limited places left for September 2012 entry - apply now!
M&D Pre-Med FAQ's
Please click on a question in order to view the answer.
M&D Pre-Med
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The M&D Pre-Med programme is designed primarily for students who do not meet the academic entry requirements for direct entry into our affiliate medical schools in the Caribbean and Continental Europe. It also provides a suitable route for students wishing to enter medical schools in the UK and other countries, increasing their chances of securing a place by more than double.
Please see the diagram on: Progression Routes
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Medicine and Dentistry are possibly the most competitive degree courses to apply for in the UK and as such there can be no guarantee that you will gain entry to a UK medical school. However, we can offer what is arguably the best – the only – way to secure yourself a place in a medical school, hopefully in the UK, and if not, overseas. Successful completion of the M&D Pre-Med opens several windows of opportunity for our students which is what makes the M&D Pre-Med so unique, effective and quite possibly the only course of its kind.
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Students can in fact re-sit their A-Levels as part of the M&D Pre-Med Programme to improve their grades to medical/dental school standard. This means they are strengthening their application from all angles.
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Although the M&D Pre-Med can not guarantee any student entry to a UK medical school, it does provide many alternatives, such as studying medicine on mainland Europe or in the Caribbean. Please see our Progression Routes diagram for further information.
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No: access to Medicine courses are usually designed for those who have a non-science background and may have already worked within healthcare (such as nursing) then decided to move into medicine. These courses are usually run at a local college close to a medical school, and students on such courses are usually over the age of 21.
These courses usually have a low success rate, with very little or no alternative options if students are not accepted by a UK medical or dental school.
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No; medical foundation courses are usually run by a UK medical school and are designed for those who have excellent grades in non-science subjects. Competition for places on these courses is extremely fierce and these courses are not usually offered to students who have already completed science A-Levels. These programmes are aimed at candidates with no scientific background.
However, the M&D Foundation Programme considers all applicants who have an interest in studying medicine or dentistry and would like to increase their academic knowledge, enhancing their applications to medical or dental schools.
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The M&D Pre-Med is designed primarily for prospective medical students, however as the M&D Pre-Med consists of degree level basic sciences, we have contacted all UK dental schools for their view and acceptance, and some are willing to consider applicants. Very few, if any, students apply for UK dental school; so far one dental school in London has admitted an M&D Pre-Med student.
However, for dental students that are open to studying abroad, such as in Spain, the M&D Pre-Med is the most secure way to ensure a place is won on completion of this programme.
In 2011, ALL students who successfully completed the M&D Premed were offered a place to study dentistry abroad and in some cases, students were offered direct entry to the 2nd year of studies.
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Over the past 4 years, over 25% of students who successfully completed the M&D Pre-Med were made an offer by a UK medical school (about 1 in 4 applicants).
As a comparison, about 11% of students who apply directly to UCAS receive an offer from a UK medical school (about 1 in 9 applicants).
Many of our M&D Pre-Med students have gone into the 2nd year of a BSc degree at University and may well secure a place at UK medical school in due course, increasing the percentage of 25%.
Most students were unsuccessful in their initial applications to a UK medical or dental school, but since completing the M&D Pre-Med many of these students have secured an offer on their second or even third attempt. For these students, the M&D Pre-Med has more then doubled their chances of receiving an offer. However, the M&D Pre-Med Programme should not be regarded as a route solely designed for gaining entry to a UK medical or dental school – we encourage students to be open to the possibility of studying their medical or dental degree outside of the UK.
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Not everyone on the M&D Pre-Med wants to go to UK medical or dental school.
Many students use this route to quality for other overseas schools such as St. Matthews University.
As such, these grades reflect the minimum academic requirement to successfully pass the programme, which is at level 1 and level 2 university degree standard. They alone are not adequate for UK medical or dental school entry and students who apply via UCAS usually have higher grades.
Despite accepting students with relatively low A-level grades, we have still managed to maintain a success rate of 25% for UK medical school entry.
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If they do, it's usually because they only accept students with excellent (straight ‘A’) grades anyway, so their success rate would be higher.
We have a minimum grade requirement of grades B, C, C in at least 2 science subjects at A-level, or equivalent.
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We can offer assistance by way of personal statement, UKCAT preparation and 'mock interview' practice, which may get you the UK medical school offer you need.
It's difficult to confirm exactly how UK medical schools will view your application until you apply. However, should the worst happen and all 4 preferred UK medical schools reject your application, you may still be able to progress into the second year of a BSc. degree in Biomedical Sciences or into the second year of a medical school in Europe. You will also have met the requirements for overseas graduate medical schools that would normally only consider students with a 3-year BSc. degree.
In this scenario, you can give it your best shot for UK medical school entry, safe in the knowledge that you will not have spent a year of studies in vain. -
Applicants are usually chosen on the basis of their A-Level or equivalent results, and the strength of their application, i.e. references, personal statement etc. Conditional offers will be made to successful applicants based on predicted results if A-Levels are not yet completed.
In a small number of cases, students may be invited to an informal interview.
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The programme consists of modules tailored to build on what students have already studied in preparation for medical/dental school. For this reason, depending on the academic background of the student, the exact course content for individuals may vary.
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Some universities will not accept A-Level re-sits and therefore the M&D Pre-Med could be beneficial in this situation. Many UK universities take a positive view of the M&D Pre-Med as it as a positive step. You are advised to contact universities individually as some will only accept A-Levels passed at high grades at first attempt, and some will not accept non-standard qualifications. By doing the M&D Pre-Med the student should not lose out as it serves as an excellent route to European and Caribbean medical schools and can also lead to second-year entry of a BSc. degree.
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No, there is no test or entrance exam and applications are made on www.applyformedicine.com. Click here for a link to the on-line application system.
Eligibility
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The M&D Pre-Med course contains components which are at first- and second-year degree level and therefore students who do not have a Science background are advised that the M&D Foundation course may be more suitable for them. Please contact us to discuss individual requirements.
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All applicants are assessed on an individual basis and so you are advised to send us your application for consideration. Many students have been accepted whose A-Level grades were below the requirements for UK medical schools as the course aims to fill in any gaps in their knowledge and build on A-Level content. Applicants are also assessed on the strength of their application therefore personal statements, references and work experience all count.
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Yes. Each year a growing number of the M&D Pre-Med students are international students and we consider students with a broad range of international qualifications. Please contact M&D to discuss individual requirements.
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In some cases, you may be able to secure a conditional offer for the M&D Pre-Med provided you are happy to bring your knowledge up to standard on a summer course either at the Albion College or one of our partner colleges.
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6 passes at Higher Level with at least B, B, B, B, C, C. However, all applicants are assessed on an individual basis, so if you don't feel you are able to meet this requirement you are advised to contact M&D to find out if you could be accepted.
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Yes, we accept the European Baccalaureate as an appropriate qualification, and would expect students to pass with at least 72% and at least 2 science subjects, preferably Chemistry and Biology.
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You must pass IB with minimum 30 points, with at least 16 in HL subjects, to include Biology and Chemistry. If you don't feel that you meet these requirements you are encouraged to contact M&D as each applicant is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
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No, but if you are planning to apply to UK medical schools that require these tests, you will need to arrange to take them whilst you are on the M&D Pre-Med. We may be able to offer specialist preparation for this test for M&D Pre-Med students.
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As the M&D Pre-Med requires specific Science subjects rather than an overall points score, students will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, so please do not hesitate contact M&D.
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Students who are not eligible for the M&D Pre-Med will be recommended for a place on our one-year M&D Foundation Programme at Albion College in London. This is an entry-level course and students who enrol on the course are given a conditional acceptance to start the M&D Pre-Med the following year. Whilst at Albion, students may also have the opportunity to take or re-take A-Levels.
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Yes, the M&D Pre-Med is taught at university level and Chemistry is required so you are well prepared.
Costs
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There is a non-refundable application fee of £150. This can be paid on-line, over the telephone, by cheque or bank-to-bank transfer. See here for more details.
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For the academic year 2011/2012 entry the tuition fees of the programme are £14,400+VAT.
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No–all students must be able to finance their studies privately. Unfortunately the course is not approved for LEA funding, but international students may be able to secure funding from their home countries.
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The average cost of living for a student to live modestly in London is about £10,000 a year, however this will vary according to lifestyle.
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All students of the M&D Pre-Med pay the full fees of the programme, regardless of nationality.
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An initial non-refundable deposit of minimum £1,000 must be paid to M&D at least 14 days before enrolment. This is deducted from the fee for the last term of the course. The remainder of the course fee is paid in three instalments with each instalment becoming due before the start of term. VAT may be charged in addition to the M&D Pre-Med fees for individual study plans.
Progression to Medicine
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Universities often make offers for Life Sciences courses to students who are unsuccessful in their applications to study medicine or dentistry with them. Although this may lead to medical school entry three years later, they usually make no guarantee of this. In reality, the percentage of students who actually secure a place at medical or dental school is very low and this may be a way to attract students onto three-year BSc. courses which are struggling to attract students.
The M&D Pre-Med is a one-year programme and will lead onto medical school, preferably in the UK, if students pass the programme. It may also be possible for students to progress onto the second year of Life Sciences courses to complete a BSc. and apply for graduate entry to medicine or dentistry. This way, by completing the M&D Pre-Med, students are not losing three years of study on a course they never really wanted to do in the first place; they are also not wasting a year if the M&D Pre-Med does not lead to the medical degree course of their choice.
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M&D’s partner universities in Europe and the Caribbean have agreed that the M&D Pre-Med is a suitable course to prepare students to study medicine successfully with them. The M&D Pre-Med confirms to partner universities that the students have met the academic requirements for entry into their first year/semester.
Entry is not guaranteed because other non-academic factors are also taken into consideration, such as visa requirements, police background checks and other deadlines. In the past all students who have successfully completed the M&D Pre-Med have been able to secure offers from at least one of our partner universities. Many students who enrol on the M&D Pre-Med receive a conditional offer of acceptance to St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine (SMU) on Grand Cayman, to be taken up upon passing the M&D Pre-Med.
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Unfortunately it is very unlikely that you will be able to transfer into any other year or be exempted from any part of the course in our Eastern European Universities.
Students may also be able to transfer into the second or third year at University Cardenal Herrera - CEU on successful completion of the M&D Pre-Med along with previous related higher education studies. -
This is often possible in our European medical schools and you are advised to contact M&D for advice, but if you are hoping to go to a Caribbean medical school as an undergraduate then the M&D Pre-Med is a requirement – the course is four years in length; with the addition of the M&D Pre-Med students study the same length of time as an undergraduate medical degree in the UK.
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Yes, although successful completion of the M&D Pre-Med will not guarantee a place at a UK medical school, it arguably increases the chances of securing a place at a UK medical school as the student is being proactive in studying relevant material. The M&D Pre-Med is particularly useful for students wishing to go to a Caribbean medical school such as St. Matthews University (SMU). These are graduate-entry schools which will only accept undergraduates if they have completed the Pre-Med. Students may also wish to take the M&D Pre-Med programme whilst they reapply for UK medical schools through UCAS so that if they are unsuccessful they will have the option of our European and Caribbean universities as a backup, or can usually progress to the second year of a relevant BSc. degree course.
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Yes, students of the M&D Pre-Med can receive specialist help in preparing their personal statement and interview technique. Students on the programme have usually already completed other exams required by UK medical and dental schools, such as the UKCAT, BMAT and GAMSAT. Students are therefore advised to contact us about preparing for these exams before they enrol on the M&D Pre-Med.
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Students are advised that admissions policies between universities differ, and so students should contact individual institutions to find out if the M&D Pre-Med will be an acceptable qualification to them. Not all universities will accept non-standard qualifications, but in the past some students have been able to secure places at medical schools in the UK upon successful completion of the M&D Pre-Med.
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Below is a list of UK universities that have accepted students of the M&D Pre-Med in the past. Studying the M&D Pre-Med does not guarantee entry to these medical schools as students are assessed individually, looking at how well they are performing on the M&D Pre-Med. Additionally, universities that do not appear on the list may consider M&D Pre-Med students, so we advise students to contact the university they are interested in directly to find out the status of the M&D Pre-Med at that institution.
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School
- Keele
- University of East Anglia
- St. Andrew’s
- Barts & The London
- Durham
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You need to pass with at least 50%.
Alternatives to Medicine
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No, students who successfully complete the M&D Pre-Med will have the option of applying for second-year entry to a science (BSc.) course at a number of UK universities, as such they will not have lost any time whilst studying the Pre-Med. Then upon completion of a BSc. degree students will be eligible to apply for postgraduate medical programmes in the UK should they wish to do so.
In past years, we have had several Pre-Med students who have taken this route and secured a place at a UK medical school.
Accommodation
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Accommodation is readily available in Central London and housing advice can be provided for M&D Pre-Med students. However, students are expected to make their own individual accommodation arrangements.
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If you have any questions about accommodation please contact us.
Applications
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No, the course is only available through M&D Europe. We strongly advise that you apply for the M&D Pre-Med as early as possible because places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
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There is no formal deadline but places are strictly limited and applicants are encouraged to submit their completed applications as soon as possible.
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Yes, applicants can indicate their preferred year of entry on the application form, and in some cases will be permitted to change the entry date after submission of the application form, although this may incur additional application fees.
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This is not necessary as the student will make a formal application to the M&D medical school(s) of their choice at a later date (once they have commenced the Pre-Med) so that they are applying for the correct year of entry.
Other
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The course runs from 12th September 2011 to 22nd June 2012.
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The M&D Pre-Med is currently the only one-year Pre-Medical Programme in the UK offering its unique features and benefits. It is currently hosted in Central London and may branch out to different parts of the UK in the future.
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Yes, we have recently been able to provide a January intake each year as well.
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At Birkbeck College, University of London
If you have any questions which this website has not answered, please do not hesitate to contact us
Opening hours (Mon-Fri): 10:00 - 18:00 GMT. Closed December 23rd - January 2nd inclusive.
Many UK medical schools and dental schools receive many applications to study medicine or study dentistry and places are very limited. Therefore, the preparation of a UCAS application form for medical or dental school is very important. Online Medical Admission forums are an excellent way to exchange views and ideas on what medical schools are looking for and which medical and which dental schools actually ask the toughest interview questions. The premed course is an excellent way to secure a place at a UK medical schools in the UK or medical schools based abroad. Medical and dental school applicants are strongly advised to get as much medical work experience and possible. Medical work experience seminars and dental work experience seminars consist of a series of medical seminars and dental seminars at a NHS hospital based in Britain. Many students also fine that UKCAT revision and UCAS Personal statement checking is very helpful.
Fierce competition for UK medical school places has encouraged students to embark on medical degrees and dental degrees outside of the UK, such as: Medical schools in Poland, Medical schools in Slovakia, Dental schools in Slovakia, Medical schools in Prague, Dental schools in Prague and Medical schools in the Caribbean.