Aston University: UCAT and Medical Course Entry Information (2021 Update)

Are you thinking about doing a Medicine at Aston University? Are you still confused about your entry requirements? Well, this article explains everything you need to know about Aston University's UCAT and course requirements!

This article explains the requirements, clinical placement opportunities and rankings of Aston University’s Medicine degree — find out what they have to offer and what you need in terms of academic achievements, UCAT results and work experience!

In this article on Aston University,

Overview of Aston University

Aston University was established in 1966 and currently has students from over 120 countries enrolled. There are over 10,000 students currently enrolled.

Aston Medical School has an on-site Research Institute and has a patient-centered curriculum, giving students a large amount of clinical exposure in year 3-5 of their degree. It is a relatively new medical school with its first undergraduate cohort starting in September 2018.

Aston University offers student accommodation, with first-year students being offered the option between a 5-bed or 7-bed flat. All flats are spread out between three buildings:

These residences are each in equally close proximity to the main campus building. Each residence offers similar facilities and students can preference one building over another, however they are not guaranteed to receive that preference. Room prices for each of the buildings are the same. A 5-bed flat costs 138 Euros a week and 7-bed flat costs 133 Euros a week.

Aston offers a lively university experience through its various facilities. These include:

 

Rankings

Times Higher Ed RankQS rankingsAcademic Ranking of World Universities
401–500511-520701-800

 

Need a UCAT Cheatsheet?

Before you get into uni, you need to crush the UCAT. Downloading our FREE UCAT Cheatsheet is your first step to campus.

 

Aston University Medical Courses offered that require UCAT

Bachelor of Medicine

Course CodeLengthCampus
A1005 Years Full TimeBirmingham Campus

 

Entry Requirements

Academic Requirements: 

ATAR:

  • A minimum ATAR of 90

GCSE:

  • A minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade B/ grade 6 or above

A-Levels:

  • A minimum A-level grade of AAA

IB (International Baccalaureate):

  •  A minimum score of 36 overall (6, 6, 6)

Scottish Qualifications:

  •  Students must receive AAA

Prerequisites:

For ATAR:

  •  A minimum overall mark of 92 is required in both:
    • Chemistry
    • Biology

For GCSE:

  •  GCSEs must include:
    • English Language
    • Mathematics
    • Chemistry
    • Biology or double science

For A-Levels:

  •  A-levels must include:
    • Chemistry (and a pass in the practical elements)
    • Biology (and a pass in the practical elements)
  • The third A-level subject can be of your own choice
    • However, General Studies and Critical Thinking are not included
  • NOTE: Students taking more than three A-levels will have their Chemistry, Biology and next best grade considered.

For IB:

  • Students must achieve a minimum of 6,6,6 at Higher Level. This must include:
    • Chemistry at HL6
    • Biology at HL6
  • Rest from 3 subjects at Standard level; and
  • Diploma Program Core

Scottish Qualifications:

  • Scottish Advanced Highers must include:
    • Chemistry
    • Biology

Entry Requirement: 

  • Students must take the UCAT in the year of applying to the Medical School.
  • Students must also complete a personal statement and have a reference submitted to UCAS by the deadline.

UCAT:

  • There is no specified threshold UCAT score students need to achieve.

Personal Statement

  • The personal statement should not be longer than 4000 characters long.
  • It needs to be a reflection of the applicant’s personality and motivation to study medicine.
  • It should include:
    • A section on you and your inspiration to pursue medicine
    • Academic achievements and work experience and how these relate to the course
    • Extra-curricular activities
    • Skills: such as leadership shown through peer mentoring or being a prefect at school
    • Volunteering.

Application Process:

  • The application will holistically assess the following skills before an offer is made:
    • Meeting academic requirements
    • Willingness to engage in new environments
    • Curiosity
    • Strong interpersonal skills
    • An attitude which illustrates the ability to learn through collaboration
    • Empathetic, compassionate, and a good communicator
    • A desire to interact with patients and work in partnership to solve issues at hand.
  • Interviews will take place between December- March.

Re-applying criteria:

  • Resits will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Interview Criteria and structure:

After applicants have been ranked, students who meet the criteria will be invited for an interview.

  • Criteria: The interview assesses:
    • Understanding of studying and pursuing Medicine
    • Motivation
    • Verbal Communication skills
    • Listening skills
    • Team-work
    • Personal attributes such as compassion, respect, and dignity
    • Problem-solving skills.
  • Structure:
    • The interview is structured as a Multiple Mini Interview.
    • NOTE: No remote interviews are possible.
    • The interview will include a number of stations that are 6-8 minutes in length.
    • On average, there may be between 7-10 stations.

Note: Due to COVID-19, MMIs will be held exclusively online. 

More Information about the program:

  • The course offers the chance to undertake integrated placements.
  • There are 100 UK/ EU places on offer.
  • 40% of UK places who meet specified widening participation criteria.

 

Clinical placement information

Bachelor of Medicine

Year 1

Students will undertake clinical placement in a primary care setting over 2 one-week blocks.

 

Year 2

Students will spend 9 days over the course of the year in primary care clinical settings. They will develop their consultation skills in a manner that is medically thorough and empathetic to the patient’s needs and desires.

 

Year 3

Students will undertake 3 twelve-week block placements; two of them will be across various medical specialities and the other will be in a general practice.

 

Year 4

Students will attend 7 clinical placements in five-week blocks, and each placement will provide students insight into a different speciality, e.g. Dermatology, Obstetrics, Child Health, Neurology and Gynaecology.

 

Year 5

Students will spend six-week blocks at a primary care setting and two hospital settings. At the end of the course, students will undertake a six-week elective (this can be done almost anywhere in the world) and a six-week foundation assistantship which is basically involves being an apprentice to a Foundation Doctor.

 

NHS Foundation Trust Partners

  • Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
  • University Hospitals Birmingham
  • Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
  • Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust
  • Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
  • Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
  • Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust

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