Keele University: UCAT and Course Entry Information (2021 Update)

This article explains the requirements, clinical placement opportunities and rankings of Keele 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 Keele University,

• Overview of the Keele University
• University rankings
• Keele University courses requiring UCAT
  • Bachelor of Medicine
• Clinical placement information
• NHS Trust Partners

Overview of Keele University

Keele University was established in 1949 by the Vice-Chancellor of The University of Oxford.

The School of Medicine was established in 1978 and has three principal buildings which are located across the main campus and University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust.

Keele has 2800 bedrooms on campus and caters to a wide range of accommodation needs. There are 5 different on-campus Halls:

• Barnes Hall has a common room and a bar, offers various types of rooms, and price ranges from £110 – £165 per week.
• Lindsay Hall is located on the south side of campus and is close to science faculties, has a common room, and price ranges from £87 – £158 per week.
• Horwood Hall costs £144 a week and has space for about 690 students
• Lindsay Hall houses about 550 students and costs £158 week
• Holly cross and the Oaks costs £158/ week and has 321 rooms

Campus life at Keele’s has a multitude of activities to keep students engaged, especially with over 130 societies and clubs (including Acapella, Harry Potter, and Medical Charity) you could be part of. Keele’s has an on-campus post office, a small high street with a coffee shop, pharmacy, and a bookshop.

Once a week during the term, there is a farmers’ market held outside the Students Union! The university has a 24/7 library, an on-campus arboretum, and a range of sporting facilities.

Rankings

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Keele University Medical Courses offered that require UCAT

Bachelor of Medicine

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements:

ATAR:

• A minimum ATAR of 95

IB (International Baccalaureate for International students):

• A minimum of 35 points from six academic subjects
• Must achieve HL 666; SL 665

A-Levels:

• AAA grades in addition to GCSE requirements.

GCSE:

• A minimum of five A/7 courses with a minimum of B/6 in maths, English language, and sciences

Scottish Qualifications:

• Advanced Highers: AB
• Highers: AAAAB
• National 5’s: 5 grade A’s.

Prerequisites:

For ATAR:

• Band 6 in Sciences and Mathematics
• Band 5 in English

For IB:

• Higher Level subjects must include two sciences including Chemistry or Biology
• Marks awarded for the Extended Essay or Theory of Knowledge are not taken into account but they must have been completed
• English Language at SL grade 5 is acceptable.

For A-Levels:

• Biology or Chemistry (A);
• Plus second science subject (A):
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Economics
  • Further Maths or Mathematics or Statistics
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Note: A pass in the practical component of science subjects is compulsory
• NOTE: A-levels must be completed within two years.
• NOTE: Citizenship Studies, Critical Thinking, General Studies, and Applied A-level subjects are not considered.

For GCSE:

• Must study Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
• Must study English Language and Mathematics

Scottish Qualifications:

• Advanced Highers:
  • Two sciences sat in S6 including Chemistry or Biology
• Highers:
  • AB from two sciences including Chemistry or Biology
• National 5’s:
  • Minimum grade B in Mathematics, English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics

Entry Requirement: 

• Applicants must sit the UCAT, submit a Roles and Responsibilities form, meet minimum academic requirements, complete a personal statement, and if selected undergo an interview.

UCAT:

• UCAT scores below 2280 will not be considered
• A Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test will also not be considered for an interview.

Roles and Responsibilities Form (aka Work experience):

The University realises that COVID-19 would’ve affected applicants’ work experience. So, Keele doesn’t expect students to have work experience in hospitals or healthcare settings. Instead, any kind of experience, whether it is volunteering at a school or Church group, mentoring in sports or being a lifeguard will still count as experience.

• The Roles and Responsibilities Form will assess student suitability for the Medicine Program through the following criteria:
  • Commitment to Medicine through paid/ voluntary work in a caring or supporting role
  • Value of work undertook
  • Level of responsibility taken in the role
  • Example of a situation where you did something that had a significant beneficial outcome for another person
  • Exceptional achievements or circumstances

Personal Statement:

• The personal statement will be used in the interview and must address the following criteria:
  • An understanding of the role of a doctor
  • Example of hands-on experience involving supporting, helping or caring for people
  • Depth of experience
  • Reflection on what was learned from such experiences
  • Initiative/ enterprise
  • Ability to balance work and personal priorities
  • Teamwork
  • Communication

Application Process:

• NOTE: There were over 1797 applications in 2020 for 154 home places into the program.
• Students are required to apply through UCAS with all academic results and an academic reference.
• Students are required to achieve the minimum academic standards covered above.
• Students also need to sit the UCAT exam and score a high mark, complete a Personal Statement, and a Roles and Responsibility form.
• If selected, students will need to attend an interview usually in late December, January, February, and March.

Interview Criteria and structure:

Approximately 700 students are invited for an Interview, and only 400 offers are made.

Note: Normally, the University holds interviews in-person, however, due to COVID-19, interviews will be held online.

• Criteria: The interview assesses:
  • Motivation to pursue a career in Medicine
  • Empathy
  • Understanding of challenges associated with being a doctor
  • Awareness of ethical issues in health and society
  • Resilience
  • Comprehension
  • Effective communication.
• Structure:
  • The interview is structured as Multiple Mini Interviews.
    • There will be 2 separate 15-minute interviews. You can choose between a morning or afternoon session.
    • One or more sections can include role play
  • You will also be interviewed by 2 different interviewers in each session. That is a total of 4 interviewers.
  • Numeracy Test: Applicants will also complete a separate test that assesses their ability to perform clinically relevant calculations. Students must pass this test ( > 8/20)
    • Note: Normally, a numeracy test is held. However, due to COVID-19, this test is temporarily suspended.

Alternate Entry Pathway:

If you do not receive a direct offer to the Medicine program, you are able to apply through the Medicine with Health Foundation Year (A104) program that is 6 years in length.

The criteria to apply for this program is:

• Students must exhibit that they are from an under-represented background and do not meet normal academic entry requirements.
• No science subject beyond 16 years of age.

Clinical placement information

Year 1

Over the course of 9 half-days, students will visit various primary care, secondary care and third sector settings to observe healthcare workers and interact with patients.

Year 2

In addition to 8 half-days on clinical placement, students will undertake the Community Partnership Placement (CPP) so that they can experience and observe how third sector organisations operate. These organisations may aid refugee families, asylum seekers or people experiencing homelessness, mental health problems or learning disabilities. Whatever the case, students will have the opportunity to make connections within the local community and support these clients.

Year 3

Students will spend 4 weeks at a general practice where they will consult with patients and receive feedback from their GP tutor.

Year 4

Students will spend another 4 weeks at a general practice where they will learn to obtain a basic patient-centred medical history and to perform a physical examination.

Year 5

In this final year, students will undertake comprehensive assistantships to prepare them for their role as a Foundation Year doctor. They will work at in general practice for 10 weeks and in hospital for 20 weeks, learning about medicine, surgery, emergency medicine and critical care.

NHS Trust Partners

• Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust
• North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust
• Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust