The BMA report in their Survey of Medical Student Finance 2008/09 that only 15% of respondents were from skilled trades, semi-skilled and unskilled occupational backgrounds, with only 5% came from semi-skilled and unskilled occupational backgrounds. This reflects a realatively low increase since the introduction of the widening participation scheme in 1999.

In March 2009 the British Medical Association provided a submission to Andy Milburn, the chair of the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions. It mentioned several potential barriers to entry from those from a poor socio-economic background. These are:

• a lack of encouragement/aspiration
• the fear of debt (especially due to course length and lack of opportunities for part-time and out of term time work due to the rigorous requirements of study for a medical degree),
• difficulty in getting work experience
• lack of role models
• a typically lower than average performance at medical school interviews.

On this website we have provided information to help with some of these aspects. See our pages on:

• Outreach programmes (See section below)
• volunteering opportunities/work experience
• Interview advice
• Resources (about finance/debt)

If your students come from a background which has led to a significant educational disadvantage, then it may be possible for them to study for a foundation/pre-clinical year at a medical school (or colleges that have a concordat with a medical school) prior to taking an undergraduate medical degree.

It is important to note that the widening participation programmes are designed for high achieving students with the demonstrable potential to study at one of these institutions. We do not want to raise false hopes of those who may not be plausible candidates for undergraduate study at medical school. In order to enter onto the widening participation schemes it is important to emphasise that your students have to excel at science and for example, obtain both good GCSE and A-level grades. Only a few medical schools will accept the new 14-19 Advanced Diplomas as part of a combination of qualifications.  For information on entry levels and to check the qualifications accepted, it is best to check the individual websites for the foundation/pre-clinical year, by using the link at the bottom of this section.

The foundation/pre-clinical year aims to prepare applicants for undergraduate medical education. Often these courses are designed for those with no, or limited experience of, laboratory based science and who have not studied chemistry. However, some places may be reserved for those coming from adverse circumstances leading to significant educational disadvantage.

The medical schools website gives you a list of existing foundation/pre-clinical year courses.

The Access to Medicine Programmes are distinct to the foundation/pre-clinical year programmes (see section above). They are typically one year full-time courses designed to help mature students that do not have the necessary qualifications to get into medicine. A pass at distinction level is normally required for entrance into medical school.

Your students should look for courses that:

• Have selective entry requirements
• Have a differential grading system e.g. pass with a distinction (or a % pass mark).

Several well-established Access to Medicine courses are:

• BSMS in partnership with Sussex Downs College

• West Anglia College, Kings Lynn

• The Manchester College

• Stow College, Glasgow

Sources: The Access to HE website: https://ava.qaa.ac.uk/SubSites/PublicSearch/search.aspx and http://www.scottishwideraccess.org/index.php?section_id=1

N.B. Not all medical schools accept this qualification and applicants should check the entry requirements of individual schools on the UCAS website (http://www.ucas.ac.uk/).

Typically the above courses run from September to June each year. The Manchester College course also runs a 2 year part-time option.

Medical schools are encouraging widening participation to attract, support and enable greater numbers of disabled students and so to encourage a more diverse medical workforce. Into medicine is a publication giving information about applying to medical school; it features case-studies of disabled students and trainees.

The Medical Schools Council also provides the following guidance:

'Applicants are encouraged to seek advice from the Medical Schools as early as possible to facilitate timely consideration. A history of serious health issues will not jeopardise a career in medicine unless the condition impinges on professional fitness to practise. In addition to the Medical Schools, the disability centre within the University can also advise disabled applicants'. (See point 6 in Guiding principles for the admission of medical students).

GMC Gateway Guidance - October 2010

A useful resource which highlights how reasonable adjustments can be made to encourage disabled students to apply to medicine:

Gateways to the Professions: Advising medical schools: encouraging disabled students

Medical schools often take part in outreach work to schools and further education colleges, raising the awareness of medicine as a career. Medical students will go into local schools (or will organise events) where they will talk to young people who have:

• been identified as being having no previous family background in higher education,who have expressed a strong desire to study medicine and/or
• who excel at science and wish to explore a potential avenue for their talents.

A typical session will aim to increase confidence, motivation, and will expose your students to a range of medical student role models, as well as providing practical guidance on issues such as financial planning, constructing personal statements and interviews.

You can find out what is available from your local medical school. The BMA have also produced this really useful guide to widening access schemes in medical schools. Often the outreach schemes are organised by societies that are run by the medical students themselves. These students offer to come into local schools on a voluntary basis. Some of these outreach societies take part in roadshows, travelling across the country, so it may be possible for them to come out to your school even if you are not close to a medical school.

Finally, another route for your students to consider is undertaking a science degree first (they are easier to get onto) then going onto a Graduate Entry Programme (GEP).

BMJ Careers article on widening participation:

http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=20000808

For details about mentor programmes see:

https://www.brightjournals.org/

http://www.purepotential.org/

http://www.brightsideuniaid.org/

http://www.socialmobility.org.uk/

Information on university fees and the financial help available:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/DG_073697

The British Medical Association: http://www.bma.org.uk/careers/becoming_doctor/wideningparticipation.jsp

The BMA have also produced this really useful guide to widening access schemes in medical schools.

GMC Gateway Guidance - October 2010

A useful resource which highlights how reasonable adjustments can be made to encourage disabled students to apply to medicine:

Gateways to the Professions: Advising medical schools: encouraging disabled students