Kent and Medway Medical School Guide

Kent and Medway Medical School is a unique collaboration between the University of Kent and the Canterbury Christ Church University. They had their first cohort of medical students in September 2020. The medical school works in partnership with the renowned Brighton and Sussex Medical School. Kent and Medway Medical School aims to train competent and compassionate doctors. It attracts students of all backgrounds to create a diverse workforce. The campus is situated in the medieval city of Canterbury, Kent. It is home to cobbled streets, and historic sights but also known for its museums, cathedrals and food & drink. Read further to find out what more Kent and Medway Medical School has to offer!

Kent and Medway Medical School Entry Requirements

Kent and Medway Medical School will divide applicants into five groups for the selection procedure.

Group A	Pre A level/Pre IB, GCSEs achieved from English school
Group B	Post A level/IB OR Pre-graduate student in final year of Bachelor’s degree
Group C	Others, including no school data; Scottish and international qualification; no GCSE
Group D	Post Bachelor’s degree, relevant subject
Group E	International applicants with overseas fee status

Academic

KMMS only uses achieved grades and NOT predicted grades.

Group A	5 subjects at Grade 9-6 (A*-B) Including English Language, Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics (or Double Science and other subject) The standard offer is AAB in A-Levels.
Group B	5 subjects at Grade 9-6 (A*-B) AAB in A- Level with Chemistry and Biology or Chemistry and Physics/Maths/Psychology/Computer Science IB Diploma – 34 points
Group C	If school data is not available, KMMS will consider applicants with international secondary school qualifications according to their UK equivalencies BTEC qualification are not accepted
Group D	2:1 Honours or above in specific degrees
Group E	IB – Higher Level English A Language or Language and Literature at grade 4, and Standard Level English A Language or Language and Literature at grade 5

Admissions Test

All applicants are required to sit the UCAT. Here are the ways the UCAT was used in the 2023-24 application cycle.

Group A	Threshold of 2500 and UCAT SJT Band 3
Group B	Threshold of 2500 and UCAT SJT Band 3
Group C	Threshold will accord with their status as school leavers (groups A, B) or graduates (group D)
Group D	Threshold of 2500 and UCAT SJT Band 2
Group E	Threshold will accord with their status as school leaver (groups A, B) or graduates (group D)

Work Experience

KMMS advises applicants to gain a realistic insight into medicine as a career. This can be through work experience in a clinical setting or undertaking a caring role. Taking work experience will help you to write about it in your personal statement and discuss it at the interview stage.

Personal Statement

The personal statement is a great opportunity to note down all your experiences, extra-curriculars and reflections. This medical school does not rank the personal statement or use it during the selection process. However, reflecting well on your experiences will help you have a template on what to say at the interview stage.

Interview

Kent and Medway Medical School uses Multiple Mini Interviews to select applicants and these happen in January.

Graduate Entry at Kent and Medway Medical School

Graduated applicants will be considered as Group D during the selection process. The medical school requires 2:1 Honours or above in the following acceptable degrees:

Biology

Biomedical sciences

Physiological Sciences

Psychology

Clinical Studies

Medical Science

Nursing

Physiotherapy

Pharmacy

Operating Department Practice

Clinical Psychology

Dentistry

Radiography

Paramedic Science

Optometry

International Students Entry Requirements for Kent and Medway Medical School

International applicants are considered as Group E during the selection process. Qualifications will have to be equivalent to AAB in A-levels. The UCAT threshold will be set according to their status as school-leaver or graduate entry. The interviews are online for international applicants and the previous interviews have had 3 short stations and a group station.

How many places are there for home and international students at Kent and Medway Medical School?

Home	110 places
International	8 places

Kent and Medway Medical School Ranking

According to the Complete University Guide, Kent and Medway Medical School is not ranked as it does not meet the inclusion criteria. It’s important to keep in mind that university rankings are subjective and can be based on different criteria. These rankings must only be one of your deciding factors. It is important to have a holistic approach when making your decisions and consider which universities you would thrive in the most

Kent and Medway Medical School Fees

Home	£9,250
International	£47,900

Kent and Medway Medical School Acceptance Rate

Applications	Interviewers	Offers	Acceptance Rate
1763	436	176 (Home) 14 (Overseas)	9.9%

Kent and Medway Medical School Medicine Course Structure

Year 1	First year teaches the foundations of medicine and the content will involve anatomy, biochemistry, the cardiovascular and excretory systems. This will be embedded with community placements and some clinical skills.
Year 2	Year 2 follows a similar structure with more focus on the nervous system, reproduction and the musculoskeletal system. Placements in primary care will continue and further clinical skills will be taught.
Year 3	Year 3 is the beginning of clinical rotations in specialties such as surgery and geriatrics. Along with this, pharmacology is also taught to build on your knowledge from the pre-clinical years.
Year 4	Year 4 is primarily based on specialist rotation, GP and an opportunity to undertake a research project.
Year 5	Final year consists of senior rotations to prepare you for your career as a junior doctor. Finals will also happen in Year 5.

Kent and Medway Medical School Teaching Style

At Kent and Medway Medical School, you will be taught by systems-based learning. Lectures will be paired with tutorials, cadaveric dissection, workshops and clinical simulation. Therefore, KMMS has an integrated style of teaching which gives you the best of both worlds. Clinical exposure also begins early for you to develop your professional skills.

Kent and Medway Medical School Hospitals

Kent and Medway Medical School affiliates with many healthcare facilities to aid teaching. This consists of over 200 GPs and 13 community hospitals! The NHS trusts include:

• East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
• Kent & Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Foundation Trust
• Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
• Medway NHS Foundation Trust

Kent and Medway Medical School Interview Format

The medical school uses MMIs and each MMI circuit will consist of six stations that are seven minutes long. There is a three-minute break
between stations and one rest station. After the circuit, there is a seventh station which is a group activity and lasts 40 minutes.

The attributes that are assessed are:

• A resilient all-rounder who can demonstrate a number of skills and attributes 
• A realistic and committed attitude to medical training and clinical practice 
• A commitment to quality of care, compassion and improving lives 
• An understanding of the NHS core values and the ability to reflect on their importance 
• The ability to communicate and work effectively in a team for the benefit of patients 
• An appreciation of the need to treat people with dignity and respect 
• The ability to appreciate other people’s points of view 
• A willingness to accept responsibility 

Kent and Medway Medical School Interview Questions

1. Why Medicine?

This question will assess how genuine your interest in medicine is and what fuelled it. It requires an honest, passionate answer but not overdramatic. It is ok to share a personal experience that you may have had first-hand or with a family member. You should begin by mentioning what sparked your initial interest towards a healthcare career – e.g. was it your passion for science but also wanting a career that enables a lot of communication? Then, you should explain in chronological order how you gained further insight into medicine to confirm that this is the career for you.

1. Talk about a time you showed good leadership skills.

This question asks you to draw on your experiences and talk about what you did to display leadership. It is always advised to link your experience back to medicine and talk about the importance of leadership as a medical student and doctor.

Life as a Medical Student at Kent and Medway Medical School

Social Life at Kent and Medway Medical School

The medical school is situated in the scenic city of Canterbury. There is something for everyone whether you are interested in historic sites, cathedrals or love a modern vibe. The area is home to many gardens, art galleries, museums and restaurants as well. Some must-see places that all students enjoy are the Canterbury Cathedral, River Great Stour, Westgate Gardens and Garage Coffee!

Societies and Clubs at Kent and Medway Medical School

The fusion of two universities gives students access to both student unions and all their societies. You can participate in sports, music, art or whatever you are interested in. The student unions are welcoming to making new societies as well. There is also a MedSoc for medical students which has many sub-societies for you to volunteer, gain revision help and explore your interests within medical specialties!

Intercalated Degree at Kent and Medway Medical School

Kent and Medway Medical School does not offer an intercalation programme of their own. Despite this, they do allow students to intercalate at other institutions and gives them the freedom to pick from a wide range of degrees. They only require approval from the medical school. This option is available for medical students in Year 3 or Year 4 of the course. You can find out further about the intercalation policy here.

FAQs

Does Kent and Medway Medical School Offer a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree?

No, KMMS does not offer BSc degrees for medical students to intercalate. However, medical students can intercalate at other institutions.

How Much of the Kent and Medway Medical School Medicine Course is Clinical vs Preclinical?

The medicine course at Kent and Medway Medical School is quite balanced with the first 2 years being predominantly preclinical and the next 3 years being based on clinical rotations.

Is Kent and Medway Medical School a Good Medical School?

Kent and Medway Medical School aims to educate compassionate and competent doctors and has a high student satisfaction rate. It is ideal for all medical students however, it depends on what your priorities are when selecting a medical school. It is best to visit the university on their Open Days to gain a realistic idea of the place and speak to the friendly staff!

Support with Getting Into Kent and Medway Medical School

UCAT Tutoring

Due to Kent and Medway Medical School being fairly competitive, it’s a good idea to get a UCAT tutor to help you surpass the threshold safely during the selection process. When looking for a good tutor, it’s wise to consider someone who has recently achieved an excellent UCAT score and who has experience with tutoring. Your tutor will be able to assess your strengths and weaknesses to focus your lesson time on improving the areas you need improvement in.

Medicine Interview Tutoring

With an acceptance rate under 10% in 2023, entry to KMMS is competitive. A large part of the admissions process is the MMI, which you’ll need to thoroughly prepare for if you’re serious about getting into KMMS. We recommend booking in with a medicine interview tutor at Kent to get their most realistic preparation for the unique interview process. An interview tutor can help you to gain interview confidence, competence, and the knowledge base you need to stand out from the crowd.