University of Birmingham: UCAT and Medical Course Information (2021 Update)

Do you want to do Medicine or Dental Surgery at the University of Birmingham? Are you still unsure about the entry requirements and UCAT? Don't fear! We explain it all in this article.

This article explains the requirements, clinical placement opportunities and rankings of the University of Birmingham’s Medicine and Dentistry degrees — 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 the University of Birmingham,

 

Overview of the University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham was founded in 1900 and established by Queen Victoria by the Royal Charter. Today, the university has 3 main campuses with additional sites across Birmingham, England.

They have also opened their own stand-alone dental hospital providing a learning environment for their 600 Dentistry students.

Accommodation is offered in 3 main village:

Each village houses numerous houses and residence buildings that offer a variety of different features, including shared bathrooms or en-suites, self-catered food or meal plans, and single, duplex or shared bedrooms.

There are also sustainable living options like The Green Community or unique housing for UK and international students like the Global Community. Dedicated studios and apartments are available for both undergraduates and postgraduates.

The University of Birmingham also houses fine art pieces like Monet, Van Gogh and Rosetti in their Barber Institute of Fine Arts and 4.5 billion-year-old fossils in their Lapworth Museum of Geology.

They have a state-of-the-art library, world-class sport and fitness center (includes a rock-climbing wall, pool and squash courts) and a life-sciences park! With so many unique facilities and over 250 clubs and societies (ranging from Harry Potter to acapella and skydiving), there is always something for students to do and enjoy.

 

Rankings

Times Higher Ed RankQS RankingsAcademic Ranking of World Universities
10787101-150

 

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.

 

University of Birmingham Medical Courses offered that require UCAT

Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery

Course CodeLengthCampus
MBChB code: A100

University of Birmingham code: B32

5 Years Full TimeEdgbaston Campus

 

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

ATAR or Tertiary Entrance Rank or Equivalent (Australia):

  • 96
  • AND excellent results for relevant subjects

A levels:

  • AAA
  • With predicted AAB including Biology/Human Biology and Chemistry (However, in 2019, entry scores were A*AA, with predicted AAA).

Note: General Studies, Critical Thinking, EPQ, and other non-standard subjects are not accepted. You should contact the University for advice.

GCSE (or equivalent):

  • 7 GCSE
  • B/6 or higher in relevant subjects (See prerequisites below)

SQE:

  • Highers: 5 full academic courses with grade A (AAAAA)
  • Advanced Highers: 2 subjects offered (AA)

IB (International Baccalaureate for International students):

  • Minimum of 32 points

EB (European Baccalaureate for European students):

  • Overall 85%

 

Prerequisites: 

For A-level:

  • Predicted AAB including:
    • Biology/Human Biology
    • Chemistry

For GCSE:

  • English Language (min B/6)
  • Mathematics OR ONE of Methods in Mathematics and Applications of Mathematics (min B/6)
  • Biology and Chemistry, OR dual award science (min B/6)

For SQA:

  • Highers: 5 subjects:
    • Chemistry (A)
    • Biology (A)
    • Mathematics (A)
    • English (A)
    • Other subject (A)
  • Advanced Highers:
    • Chemistry (A)
    • Biology (A)

For IB:

  • 3 appropriate subjects at Higher Level (6, 6, 6):
    1. Chemistry (6)
    2. Biology (6)
    3. Approved and relevant subject (6)
  • Standard level (must include below if it is not offered at Higher Level):
    1. Mathematics (Maths Studies is accepted)
    2. English

For EB:

  • Chemistry (min 85%)
  • Biology (min 85%)

 

Entry requirements:

Students are accepted based on their academic results that are listed above, their UCAT results and their Personal Statement.

UCAT:

Student’s total UCAT scores are ranked to determine successful applications. In 2019, the cut-off for the interview rounds was a total score of 2550.

The Situational Judgement Test component is not considered in this process.

 

Application Process:

  • Students are required to achieve the minimum academic standards stated in the above section
  • Students need to score a high mark in their UCAT exams
  • Students need to write a strong Personal Statement
  • They also need to fill in a UCAS application form

 

Interview Criteria and Structure:

The University of Birmingham usually invites 1200 students to attend the Multiple Mini Interviews.

For 2021 entries, interviews are held online, as opposed to face-to-face, due to COVID. However, the criteria remains the same:

  • Criteria: Examiners assess students’ personal attributes, including
    • Motivation to study medicine
    • Communication
    • Perspective and empathy
    • Self-insight
    • Ethical reasoning
    • Critical evaluations
    • Ability to prioritise
    • Accurately manipulate numerical data

 

For the online interview, there will be:

  • Structure:
    • Two 6 minute interview stations:
      • Role Play station
      • Dealing with personal and ethical challenges Station
    • A 10-minute Calculation Station (held on a different day to the Interview)
    • Each station will take approximately 10 minutes, with 2 minutes for preparation (given discussion topic and question), 6 minutes to respond, and another 2 minutes to move between stations.
  • Scoring:
    • 1/4 marks awarded for EACH of the interview stations
    • 1/4 marks awarded for calculation station
    • 1/4 marks awarded for UCAT Situational Judgement Test (Band 1 = Max, Band 2 = 2/3 Max, Band 3 = 1/3 Max, Band 4 = 0)

 

In previous years, interview format and stations took place face-to-face:

  • Structure:
    • They usually have 5 interview stations and 2 calculation stations, each 6 minutes long.
    • Calculation stations require students to solve GCSE level mathematical questions. Students need to recognise important data that needs to be manipulated and figure the right order to solve the problem. You are given a calculator and a laptop.
    • 5 interview stations consist of:
      • Critical thinking station (interview)
      • Interaction in a social setting (role play)
      • Motivation and insight into Medicine (interview)
      • Dealing with personal and ethical challenges (interview)
      • Interaction in a healthcare setting (role play)
  • Scoring: The results of the interview process are determined in this way:
    • 1/7 marks awarded for each of the 5 Interview Station
    • 1/7 marks awarded as an average of the 2 Calculation Stations
    • 1/7 marks awarded from student’s UCAT Situational Judgement Test results (Band 1 = Max, Band 2 = 2/3 Max, Band 3 = 1/3 Max, Band 4 = 0)

Other options to entry:

  • There are post-graduate options to enter a Medical degree at the University of Birmingham.

 

Bachelor of Dental Surgery

Course CodeLengthCampus
A2005 Years Full TimeBirmingham Dental Hospital

and

School of Dentistry (a mile from Edgbaston)

 

Entry requirements

Academic requirements:

ATAR:

  • 94

A levels:

  • AAA

GCSE (or equivalent):

  • 7 GCSEs offered
  • Required subjects below in prerequisites

SQA

  • Highers (Scotland): AAAAA

IB (International Baccalaureate for International students):

  • 32

 

Prerequisites: 

ATAR:

  •  N/A

A Level:

  • Chemistry (A)
  • Biology/Human Biology (A)
  • Note: General Studies, Critical Thinking, EPQ, and other non-standard subjects are not accepted. You should contact the University for advice.

GCSE:

  • Chemistry (A*/8) and Biology (A*/8), OR dual award science (A*/8)
  • Mathematics (or one, but not both of Methods in Mathematics, and Applications of Mathematics) (A/7)
  • English Language or Literature (A/7)

SQA:

  • Advanced Highers:
    • Chemistry (A)
    • Biology (A)
    • Note: Don’t need third advanced Higher

IB:

  • At Higher Level:
    • Chemistry (6)
    • Biology (6)
    • Any subject (6)

 

Entry requirements:

Acceptance is based on a variety of factors including academic results, UCAT results, non-academic interests and achievements and your confidential reports.

UCAT:

  • Students’ UCAT scores are ranked then divided into quartiles. Those in the lowest quartile are automatically rejected. Students who are in a higher quartile will receive more credit. Birmingham relies on UCAT and other aspects of an application to select students for an interview (eg. work experience). Students with a weaker UCAT score can be compensated by the other aspects (if they are not in the lowest quartile), and students with higher UCAT scores can compensate other weaker areas.
  • Note: As of now, Situational Judgement is not assessed.

Work experience:

  • Apart from achieving high UCAT scores, Birmingham also looks for students who have work experience. They expect students to have a minimum of 3 days work experience in an NHS or NHS and private mixed practice setting.
  • Note, they do not consider purely private or hospital work as work experience. Students with work experience will be more likely to be invited for an interview
  • Note: For 2021 applicants, work experience and volunteer work has been cancelled because of COVID-19.

Volunteering:

  • Birmingham also expects all students to volunteer in the community to develop their communication skills and gain an appreciation of the need for public health. More credit is given to students who volunteer in more challenging areas. These include care homes, the homeless, people with learning difficulties or patients, not sports clubs or schools.
  • Note: For 2021 applicants, work experience and volunteer work has been cancelled because of COVID-19.

Personal Statements:

  • Your Personal Statements must shows that you are highly motivated to work in the Dental field. You need to be committed, empathetic, involved and have a strong understanding of the role of healthcare for the wider community.

 

Application Process:

  • Students are required to achieve the minimum academic standards covered above
  • Students also need to sit the UCAT exam and score a high mark
  • Students also need to write a Personal Statement
  • Students will also need to pass the interview stage
  • A UCAS application form needs to be filled out

 

Interview Criteria and Structure:

Birmingham interviews approximately 300 candidates for their Dentistry course. They will invite strong candidates to their multiple mini-interview (MMI) sessions.

  • Structure:
    • The interviews are structured intro Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI).
    • There will be 5-10 mini stations, each lasting from 5-10 minutes.
    • There will be 2 interviewers at each session who will give you independent marks.
  • Criteria: You are assessed on:
    • Communication
    • Perspective and empathy
    • Self-insight
    • Ethical reasoning
    • Critical evaluations
    • Manual dexterity
    • Leadership
    • Motivation to study and work in Dentistry
    • Relevant work experience

 

Other options to entry:

  • For graduates:
    • 2:1 in a health sciences related degree (OR for unrelated degrees, you need an average of 65%)
    • AND minimum ABB at A Level for:
      • Chemistry
      • Biology
      • Other
  • Resits for A Level and GCSE are not accepted

 

Degree facts:

  • Birmingham only offers 3 places in their Dental Surgery Course for international students
  • They will not accept students who applied for both Dentistry and another medical course, like Medicine

 

Clinical placement information

Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery

At the University of Birmingham, medical students begin clinical placement in general practice surgeries in their first year, and they go on to practise in hospitals (as listed below) in later years. In the General Medical Council’s report on Birmingham School of Medicine, they note how they “were impressed by the commitment and enthusiasm of the clinical teachers”.

 

NHS Trust Partners

 

Associate teaching hospitals

 

BANNER-UCAT-MASTERCLASS-FREE-PRACTICE-EXAM-CTA-3

 

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