University of Cardiff Medical School Guide

Cardiff Medical School Guide

Cardiff Medical School, an esteemed institution in medical education and research, proudly houses the state-of-the-art Cochrane Building, which includes a Clinical Skills Centre, a high-technology Medical Simulation Centre and a library. Cardiff Medical School is at the forefront of innovative educational approaches, integrating cutting-edge technologies into its curriculum to enhance student learning. Additionally, the school upholds the tradition of full-body cadaveric dissection, offering students a comprehensive and hands-on experience.

Cardiff Medical School Entry Requirements

Academic

A Levels:

AAA. These must include Biology and Chemistry with a pass in the practical elements of the science A-Levels.

IB:

36 overall (excluding Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay) including 19 at HL. Must include grade 6 in Biology and Chemistry. They will accept a Grade 7 in SL Biology or Chemistry in place of HL Biology or Chemistry if you also have grade 6 in HL Maths, Physics, or Statistics.

GCSE:

English language or Welsh language at GCSE grade B/6 or an equivalent (if you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements).

GCSE Double Science at grades BB/66 (or grade B/6 in Biology and Chemistry separately), and GCSE Maths grade B/6, and five other GCSEs at grade B/6, or equivalent qualifications (level, subjects, and grade).

Admissions Test

UCAT is the admissions exam choice at Cardiff Medical School. Applicants must complete it before submitting their application. Currently, there is no minimum threshold, however they do prioritise attained academic qualifications.

Cardiff Medical School is notoriously vague about their use of the UCAT as part of their Admissions Criteria and its respective weighting amongst other aspects of a student’s application.

Work Experience

In addition to showing evidence of experience in a volunteer setting, candidates should exhibit insight into a career in medicine. However, Cardiff Medical School understands that depending on each applicant’s background—including their social, cultural, and geographic circumstances—opportunities will differ.

Personal Statement

For all applicants the personal statement should include:

• Insight into a career in medicine,
• Evidence and reflection of personal responsibility,
• Evidence of a balanced approach to life,
• Evidence of self-directed learning.

The Personal Statement is screened, but not formally scored.

Interview

To shortlist candidates for interview, Cardiff Medical School scores applications. Points are awarded for nine GCSE subjects, which must include Biology, Chemistry, English Language and Maths. For grade 8, 9 or A*, you score 3 points; for grade 7 or A, you score 2 points; for grade 6 or B, you score 1 point.

The cut-off score for interview varies each year, as it depends on the competition. The UCAT score may also be used as part of the interview shortlisting or offer selection process usually in borderline cases.

Graduate Entry at Cardiff Medical School

This course is only for those who have graduated with the following degrees:

• BSc (Hons) Medical Pharmacology Degree School of Medicine Cardiff University (B210)
• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences Degree School of Biosciences Cardiff University (BC97)
• BMedSci Degree from the University of Bangor (B100)
• BSc (Hons) Medical Sciences Degree from the University of South Wales (B901)

These applicants need the following:

• UCAT
• At least 2:1 In their undergraduate degree
• BBB/ABC at A-level or equivalent including Biology and Chemistry
• language or Welsh language at GCSE grade B/6 or an equivalent. If you require a Student visa, you must ensure your language qualification complies with UKVI requirements
• 8 GCSEs including grade B/6 in GCSE Maths, Biology, and Chemistry, or equivalent qualifications (level, subjects, and grade).
• Show an awareness of the healthcare system in the UK and the nature of the medical training in your personal statement.

How many places are there for home and international students at Cardiff Medical School

Ratio of home applicants per interview:	1.9
Ratio of home applicant interviews per place:	4.7
Ratio of home applicants per place:	9
Ratio of international applicants per interview:	4.1
Ratio of international applicant interviews per place:	4.2
Ratio of international applicants per place:	17.3

Ranking

The Complete University Guide ranks Cardiff Medical School as 14th and the most recent The Guardian ranking also places Cardiff at 14th.

Make sure to remember that ranking is only a small part of the process when selecting a Medical School and each one is subjective!

Cardiff Medical School Fees

They’re currently awaiting confirmation for Tuition Fees for the 2025/2026 year for both International and Home Status.

In the previous year, for Home Status it was £9000 and for International Status, fees were £43700.

Cardiff Medical School Acceptance Rates

Approximately 3000 applications are received by Cardiff annually, of which 1200 (or 40%) are interviewed for approximately 300 course spots. Roughly 500–700 offers are submitted.

Applicant offers are overall: 1 in 4 or 1 in 6 and the success rate overall: 1 in 10 or 1 in 11.

Cardiff Medical School Medicine Programmes

There are 2 degrees offered at the Medical School:

Degree	UCAS Code
Medicine (MBBCh)	A100
Medicine: Graduate Entry (MBBCh)	A101

Cardiff Medical School Medicine Course Structure

Throughout the course, you spend time with patients in clinical settings to provide context to what you are learning. As you progress, your exposure to patients increases along with the complexity of your clinical cases and your responsibilities for patients’ care.

Clinical placement teaching takes place at hospitals, community medical centres, and over 200 general practices across Wales. You develop skills and professional behaviours throughout the curriculum so that you are fully prepared for your Foundation Programme and Postgraduate Medical Training when you graduate.

Years 1 and 2

In Years 1 and 2 you will meet patients with clinical problems you have been learning about. You will learn in hospitals and community settings across South-east Wales.

Years 3 and 4

During Years 3 and 4 you will spend time on extended clinical placements, all around Wales. Each Clinical Placement Block is eight weeks and will consist of bookend weeks led by Cardiff University. Teaching is delivered from either Heath Park Campus (UHW) or University Hospital Llandough (UHL).

Year 3 Placement:

• Oncology and Surgical Practice
• Hospital Front Door
• Chronic Disease 1, (includes Primary Care)

During Chronic Disease 1, you will spend dedicated time in a General Practice.

There is a CARER stream in Year 3, with a year-long placement in a GP surgery in West or North Wales. As well as learning from GP practice patients, you will spend time at your local hospital. Learning outcomes for the year are identical to students on the main program, but you will also have had a year as an important part of a valued primary care team.

Year 4 Placements:

• Clinical Neuroscience, Psychiatry, and Ophthalmology.
• Women, Children and Family. Under the European Exchange Scheme, you may have the opportunity to do this placement at a partner university.
• Chronic Disease 2 (Geriatrics, Musculoskeletal and Dermatology).

C21 culminates in your final year, preparing you for your work in the NHS. The “Harmonisation” years (final year of C21 and first year of your Foundation Programme) will allow you to take your developed knowledge and skill and apply it in the clinical environment, under close supervision.

Final Year

Final year placements:

• Junior Student Assistantship
• Primary Care Attachment
• Senior Student Assistantship

Additional Information

Intercalation is not compulsory at Cardiff University but there is an option to do so between 3^rd and 4^th year or between 4^th and 5^th year. There is an opportunity to intercalate at an external university but this requires permission.

Cardiff offers a multitude of BSc choices including EPIC; emergency, primary and immediate care (only available to those who have completed 4^th year), pharmacology, sports science, and psychology.

Cardiff Medical School Teaching Style

It is a flexible curriculum with small group teaching, Case Based Learning, significant patient contact and well-timed clinical assessments to allow students to make the most of working on the wards during their final year.

Through small group learning, co-ordinated lectures, clinical placements, clinical skills training and self-directed study Cardiff combines a variety of disciplines in order to integrate science, social science and clinical practice.

Cardiff Medical School follows a Spiral Curriculum where in each year of your study you will revisit common clinical problems and build on what you have learned already. This means that the new information is easier to remember and to apply in a clinical context when you see patients.

Cardiff Medical School Hospitals

• University Hospital of Wales

Cardiff Medical School Elective

The final year elective is often the highlight of a medical student’s time at Cardiff Medical School.

You design an experience that focuses on a topic area that interests you and can either arrange your own project or work with one of our partner institutions at home or abroad.

They have links with Universities in Europe and Asia, although you may prefer to arrange your own elective, which can be almost anywhere from Australia to Zambia. You will need to fund your own trip so to help you, dedicated management teams, well organised programmes and financial bursaries are available.

Cardiff Medical School Interview Format

The format is MMI Interview, which consists of a verbal interview spread across multiple stations each examining a different topic.

Cardiff Medical School generally asks questions relating to their course, ethics, your understanding of a career in medicine, the NHS, working in teams, self-directed learning, motivation, empathy, resilience, and communication.

The interviews for entry 2024 will be online and the process is currently being reviewed therefore it is likely that we will be doing verbal interviews only (as previously a written paper was involved) and may include 6 stations.

Every candidate receives an email with the booking link in December usually.  

Cardiff Medical School Interview Questions

• What are the main obstacles that the NHS in Wales is facing?
• Which role do you think you play—that of a leader or a follower
• You want to study medicine, but why?
• What is your biggest strength?
• What are the negatives to a career in medicine?

Additionally, be prepared for a math-related station that may involve dosage calculations, mole calculations, and similar mathematical concepts.

Cardiff Medical School Summer School

There are 60 programme places available for the Medicine Degree Summer School with the Sutton Trust from the 7th of July 2024 to the 10th of July 2024.

Attending presentations at the Summer School on student support, volunteering, international opportunities, societies, and sports will give you a great overview of what it’s truly like to be a medical student at Cardiff University.

You will gain an exciting and distinct perspective on the medical degree at Cardiff during the programme. Students will be given a taster of Case Based Learning and have the opportunity to exercise real-world clinical skills as you learn about Cardiff’s approach to teaching medicine!

Life as a Medical Student at Cardiff Medical School

Social Life at Cardiff Medical School

Wales’ capital, Cardiff, is renowned for its abundance of sports, museums, eateries, and coffee shops, the city itself is energetic and offers all the advantages of a big city!  With its stunning natural scenery just a short drive outside the city, Cardiff is also a fantastic city for those who enjoy the outdoors. You’re never far from the action because the university is  in the centre of it all!

Due to the numerous universities in the area, there are usually a tonne of student events taking place, which has helped to define the city. Though Cardiff is well-known for its nightlife, there are lots of other things to do if you’re not into partying. There are many other societies at the institution, and the MedSoc is well-known for hosting a large number of year-round activities.

Societies and Clubs at Cardiff Medical School

Cardiff University wants its students to recognise that life continues beyond your studies – they offer a wide range of clubs and societies that will allow you to meet lots of people and encourage you to try new things.

Cardiff’s medics sports teams are very popular. They field teams in basketball, netball, hockey, football and, of course, the very loved Cardiff Medicals Rugby Club. These are all designed to fit into your schedule so you can give it your all without sacrificing your academic performance.

A student-run organisation called CUReS seeks to enhance Cardiff’s medical students’ access to research opportunities and to strengthen the relationship between educators and learners.

Intercalated Degree at Cardiff Medical School

An intercalated degree will take you much deeper into a particular area of medicine, and will earn you a BSc.In an intercalated year, you complete a BSc in a medically related subject. You can do this after year three or year four of your MBBCh studies.

Approximately 100 students intercalate each year, most studying BSc courses in Cardiff University or at Bangor University, which is closely linked

FAQ’s

Does Cardiff Medical School offer a BSc?

Between Years 3-4 and 4-5, Cardiff University offers a number of intercalated BSc and MSc degree opportunities in health-related disciplines such as: Applied and Experimental Clinical Immunology, Anatomy, Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Emergency, Pre-hospital and Intercalated Care (EPIC) and more.

How much of the Cardiff Medicine Course is Clinical vs Preclinical?

C21 places a strong focus on the value of studying science in a clinical setting and the patient’s essential role in a doctor’s practice. Since the Medical School truly thinks that patients are the foundation of medical education, you will be interacting with them from your first year on.
The programme places a growing emphasis on developing clinical skills, which are first acquired in a simulated context before moving on to longer clinical assignments with more responsibility in hospital and community settings across Wales.

Does Cardiff Medical School Offer Medicine Scholarships?

Yes, the Cardiff University Elite Sport Scholarship and the Cardiff University Bursary are only two of the many scholarships and bursaries that the Cardiff University Medical School provides to students.

Is Cardiff Medical School a Good Medical School?

To put it another way, there is no such thing as a “good” medical school. Many criteria determine whether a medical school is the appropriate fit for you, and ultimately it is your responsibility to choose the university that best meets your needs – do your research and you’ll find the place for you!

Support with Getting Into Cardiff Medical School

UCAT Tutoring

As Cardiff Medical School has competitive entry requirements, it’s a good idea to get a UCAT tutor to help you achieve the best score even though there isn’t a listed threshold or cutoff. When picking a tutor, choose someone who has excelled in the UCAT and has prior tutoring experience. Your tutor should be able to analyse your strengths and weaknesses so that you can spend your session time working on the areas where you

Medicine Interview Tutoring

The interview is an important part of the admissions process, and you should prepare well if you want to attend Cardiff. We recommend meeting with a medicine interview tutor at Cardiff to receive the most realistic preparation for the interview. An interview tutor may assist you in developing confidence, skill, and the edge required to stand out from the rest.