University of Leicester Medical School Guide

Leicester Medical School Guide

The famous George Davies Centre was opened in September 2016 with a £42 million investment, the largest investment in medical teaching and applied research by any UK university in the last decade. Leicester Medical School was one of the first to adopt one-iPad-per- student and is one of the few to still offer full-body cadaveric dissection.

Leicester Medical School Entry Requirements

Academic

Category	Grades	Other information
GCSE		Grade B (6) in English Language, Mathematics, Two Sciences Resits: Will consider resits in GCSE English Language.
A Level	A*AA	Including Chemistry or Biology and one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology. Will consider AAA plus EPQ at grade A or B and the A* must be in one of the sciences.
Scottish Highers	–	A minimum score of 6 in three Higher Level subjects including Chemistry or Biology, and one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, or Psychology -34 points
Scottish Advanced Highers	AAA	Chemistry or Biology, and one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology. They will also consider the two sciences at Advanced Higher (grade AA) plus three other subjects at Highers Level (grades AAB)
IB	A minimum score of 6 in three Higher Level subjects including Chemistry or Biology, and one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology    34 points

N.B Leicester offers a Medicine course with a foundation year which requires a BBB offer

Admissions Test

The UCAT is required 

It is used as a significant part of the selection for an interview. Those with a lower score will have their application holistically considered. Applicants with Band 4 in SJT will be automatically rejected.

For 2023 entry the average UCAT score of those given an offer was 2730, the average score interviewed was 2836 and the lowest score of those given an offer was 2510.

Work Experience

Work Experience is an important part of any medical school application, however, it is not essential for Leicester. Considering that, it is still important that you still have some experience or work done in areas where you can communicate with the public and learn skills that you can reflect on. It’s all about quality over quantity.

Personal Statement

Top scoring applicants are invited for interview regardless of their background or schooling. Those in the borderline group where applicants come very close, have all aspects of their application scored and this includes the Personal Statement and Reference.

Several skills that are sought after in the Personal Statement include motivation, commitment, contribution to the wider community and school and appreciation of the challenges at medical school.

Interview

MMI Interview

Likely in-person interviews for 2024 entry

• Interview Selection at Leicester:
• UCAT (50%) – 32 Marks
• Academics (50%) – 32 Marks

If you have achieved A levels, you are automatically invited to interview provided that you have:

• UCAT score in the top 2 deciles
• Band 1-3 SJT
• In your first gap year

Graduate Entry at Leicester Medical School

No, Leicester Medical School does not offer Graduate Entry

International Student Entry Requirements for Leicester Medical School

International students, if not taught in a country that is considered taught in the English medium, must complete an IELTS test and achieve a score of 7.5 with no component below 7.

A level subject requirements are the same as home students.

All applicants must have evidence of academic study within three years of application.

If you did not sit formal exams in Year 10/11 (ie GCSE equivalents) the Medical School will ask for internal school transcripts.

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

The Medical School expects to interview around 1000 plus UK/EU applicants and about 100 international applicants, to make approximately 700 offers for the 290 places (272 Home, 18 international) available.

University of Leicester Medical School Ranking

The Guardian ranks Leicester as the 17th Medical School in the UK. The Complete University Guide ranks Leicester as the 10th Medical School in the UK. 

It’s important to keep in mind that university rankings are subjective and can be based on different criteria. Rankings can be a factor when deciding which medical schools you apply to, but make sure to have a holistic approach when making your decisions and consider which universities you would thrive in the most.

University of Leicester Medical School Fees

Home students pay £9250 whilst international students pay £29,000 in Years 1 and 2 and , £47,00 in Years 3,4 and 5.

Leicester Medical School Medicine Programmes

There are 2 courses offered:
A100 Standard-Entry Medicine – 5 years
A199 Medicine with Foundation Year – 6 years

Leicester Medical School Teaching Style

Integrated
Patient-focused teaching from the get-go, with clinical attachments in each year of studies, starting with Year 1. Students are given iPads to help annotate lecture notes and group work.

When lectures begin, you are placed in a group with 6-7 other people who will be with you for group work during the entirety of Phase 1. The day usually revolves around the two 1-hour lectures you have in the day followed by 2 hours of group work. The rest of the afternoon is free to dedicate to self-study or any other extra-curricular activities.

One of the unique aspects of the course at Leicester is the Compassionate Holistic Diagnostic Detective (CHDD) sessions that occur once every 2 weeks. They aim to prime students with the skills to become empathetic future doctors and teach them how to take comprehensive histories, how to interact with patients, and overall prepare them for when they go on placement and beyond.

In addition to that, the University of Leicester also offers the Health Enhancement Programme (HEP), which is all about taking care of your mental and physical health and wellbeing while you deal with the pressures of being a medical student!

Course Structure

.Phase 1 consists of the first 2 years of the course and involves learning the basics of Medicine and starting to develop consultation and examination skills in preparation for Phase 2. This includes units such as Infection, Muscoskeletal System, Cardiovascular System etc.

Phase 2 involves full-time hospital, GP , and community placements around Leicester.

Leicester Medical School Term Dates

Semester 1	25 September 2023 – 14 January 2024
Semester 2	8 January 2024 – 7 June 2024

Leicester Medical School Hospitals

• Leicester Royal Infirmary
• Leicester General Hospital
• Glenfield Hospital

Leicester Medical School Electives

Towards the end of the course, there are additional opportunities to take an elective placement in a location of your choice – it could be anywhere in the world.

​Have a look at the current Foreign & Commonwealth Office guidance to check the recommended travel guidelines for your chosen country.

Leicester Medical School Interview Format

MMI – in person

Stations that will assess your: motivation to study medicine and genuine interest in the medical profession, insight into your strengths and weaknesses, and ability to reflect on your own work.

• 8 stations
• 7 minutes each

Leicester Medical School Interview Questions

Some example questions you may find in a Leicester interview are given below, with a brief answer guide underneath each.

What experiences have you undertaken to develop your interest in Medicine?

Work experience is a commonly assessed topic at interview. Medicine is a big commitment, and interviewers want to see that you have taken steps to see what medicine is actually like as a career. When discussing your work experience, make sure to reflect on what you saw – what specifically interests you about a career in medicine? Did you witness anything that you may find challenging, and how will you tackle these challenges?

Scenario: You are a medical student, and witness a doctor shouting at her nursing colleague. What would you do?

Communication and empathy are key values for doctors, and this question tests both of these. It is important to recognise that although you may not yet be a medical professional, if you witness something like this as a medical student you should still speak up. Demonstrate good empathy by discussing the feelings of both the doctor and the nurse. In this situation, if you feel that you are out of your depth as a medical student you are well within your rights to escalate to a more senior member of staff.

Tell me about a time where you demonstrated effective communication.

This question tests both how you communicate and how you reflect on your own abilities. Try to split your answer up to cover both what you did to demonstrate good communication and how you know you succeeded. What were your goals, and how can you measure the strength of your communication skills? Would you do anything differently in the future?

Can you be a good doctor without getting high A-Level grades?

A good academic record is not the only requirement to being a doctor – many people with very strong academic abilities may not make good doctors because of other qualities that are required. Communication, empathy, and teamwork (just to name a few!) are all very important skills that a doctor must possess, which aren’t examined by A-Levels or other similar exams. However, it is also important that a doctor has strong academic abilities, as medicine is a very challenging degree with a lot to learn.

Life as a University of Leicester Medical School Student

Social life at Leicester Medical School

Medical School starts with a jam-packed induction week where you can meet your fellow students and get to know them before lectures start.

The Students Union (Percy Gee Building) is at the centre of the campus, and provides students a space to hang out, eat and relax. Right next to it is the O2 Academy which is a popular spot for a night out.

Leicester is a culture-rich city, full of activities so there is always something to do when students need a break from their studies.

Societies and Clubs at Leicester Medical School

The ‘SU’ is also home to over 200 student clubs and societies partaking in sports, performance, media, cultures and faiths, politics, and campaigning – plus societies for every academic subject so there is something for everyone.

The Leicester Medical Society is known as LUSUMA and they host a wealth of events throughout the year!

Intercalated Degree at Leicester Medical School

The University also offers the opportunity to do an Intercalated Degree which can be completed after the second or third year of the Medicine course. Both BSc and MSc are offered.

FAQs

Does Leicester Medical School offer a BSc?

Leicester does provide BSc programmes in a variety of subjects, including biomedical science and psychology. Additionally, there are options to pursue an MSc in clinical education, quality and safety in healthcare, and healthcare administration.

How Much of the Leicester Medicine Course is Clinical vs Preclinical?

Phase 1 (years 1 and 2) is pre-clinical focusing on building foundations of understanding whereas Phase 2 (years 3,4,5) is clinical where students undertake placements in Hospitals across Leicester.

 Does Leicester Medical School Offer Medicine Scholarships?

The University of Leicester offers scholarships to:

• Care leavers
• Students from low-income families
• Some students studying at partner schools/colleges
• Some students who display exceptional musical and sporting talent
• Students participating in the Realising Opportunities Programme (ROP)

Is Leicester Medical School a Good Medical School?

There is no such thing as a ‘good’ Medical School so to speak. What makes a Medical School right for you depends on a variety of factors and in the end it’s up to you to make an informed decision about a University that best suits your needs. Here is a brief pro’s and con’s table that may help with that:

Pros	Cons
Balance between clinical focus and academics	Ranking after exams
The atmosphere is very supportive
Students and staff are very approachable