Graduate
Entry Programmes (GEPs) have been in existence in the UK since 2000
and the accelerated programme has been created for those who have
already gained a first degree. They provide an opportunity to study
medicine for those who are ready for a career change.
The GEP degree should normally take four years
to complete instead of the usual five; the reason for this is
because if you already have a degree you should already possess
well-developed learning skills and good critical reasoning skills
etc. However, if you are a graduate you may still decide to
complete a five-year undergraduate course as it will be less
intensive. Many graduates decide that they would prefer to do this.
Some medical schools offer a five-year undergraduate programme with
no reduction for those who already hold a first degree. Two
examples of where this is the case are: Brighton and Sussex Medical
School and University of East Anglia. The UCAS website will have further
information on such courses.
If you do not hold a degree in a scientific
area or you did not gain a 2:1 or above, it may be wise for you to
complete an Access to Medicine course
prior to applying for medical school. These are usually run by
colleges of further education. It is advisable to think first
whether you would want to do this course, as it may not be
necessary. Some universities take on students on their GEP with a
degree in a non-scientific subject and without the access to
medicine course. Swansea is one example, and again, it would be
wise to check the information on the UCAS website.
The Graduate Medical School Admissions
Test (GAMSAT) is a test that some of the GEPs set prior to
accepting you on a course. The GAMSAT UK website has more
information on this test and it would be advisable to check with
the individual medical school to see if they use it.
See our page on applying to medical school for further details
on the application form and the interview for medical school.
For a list of schools which run Graduate Entry Programmes, see
our further information pages.
For information on bursaries/funding for GEPs in 2013/14 see the
page dedicated to it on the
BMA website.
NEXT: Read our page on further
information for GEP Entry.
We also have case-studies on doctors who have taken the GEP
route:
Case-study 1
Case-study 2
Case-study 3