UKWPMED

We are committed to supporting talented people from underrepresented backgrounds to fulfil their ambition of studying Medicine – and consequently, tomorrow’s doctors better reflecting the patient population.

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Introduction

Widening participation in Medicine: A collaboration of UK medical schools

We are committed to supporting talented people from underrepresented backgrounds to fulfil their ambition of studying Medicine, ensuring that tomorrow’s doctors better reflect the diverse patient population.

We are proud to be part of UKWPMED, an innovative collaboration of seven medical schools across the UK, to enhance the opportunity for applicants from widening participation backgrounds to study Medicine.

The scheme is open to students in Year 13 who complete a recognised widening participation programme at a participating UKWPMED medical school. Students may have the opportunity to interview at any of those schools, and if successful at interview, receive a reduced offer.

Medical students and their clinician supervisor on a clinical placement in ED at Hull Royal Infirmary

Medicine student and a GP with a patient at Brough GP Surgery

Students practising taking bloods in clinical skills

Benefits of the UKWPMED

Opportunity to interview at participating medical schools

The UKWPMED participating medical schools’ widening participation programmes are recognised at each other’s institutions as part of their admissions process.

Students can choose to apply to study Medicine at one (or more) of the participating medical schools.

Students who successfully complete one of the participating widening participating programmes and who successfully meet the respective medical school's entry criteria for Medicine (and any additional admissions requirements, for example additional UCAT criteria) are offered the opportunity to interview at any participating medical school.

As part of the collaboration, all students will be given the same consideration as the medical school’s respective widening participation programme, regardless of which recognised widening participation programme they have completed.

Reduced offer to study Medicine

Subject to meeting the entry criteria and if you are successful at interview at a participating medical school, you will be given a reduced offer of up to two grades lower, subject to meeting the entry criteria. Here at Hull York Medical School, this is dependent on a firm acceptance of your offer. Alternative offers may be dependent on a firm acceptance of your offer, please check with the relevant admissions team.

Participating medical schools

The following medical schools are participants in the scheme. Widening participation programmes normally cater for local widening participation students. If there is a course local to you in this list, please visit their website to check your eligibility and how to participate.

Medical school	Widening participation programmes
Birmingham Medical School	Routes to the Professions: Medicine
Brighton and Sussex Medical School	BrightMed
Hull York Medical School	Pathways to Medicine
Keele University School of Medicine	Steps2Medicine
Leicester Medicine School	AccessLeicester: Medicine (starting from 2024 entry)
Manchester Medical School	Manchester Access Programme Preston Widening Access Programme (for Medicine)
Peninsula Medical School	Peninsula Pathways PLUS

Other widening participation programmes

Unfortunately, we can only offer the benefits of the scheme to students from a participating university medical school.

We hope in time to add more schools to the collaboration. However, depending on your widening participation credentials, you might still get some benefits from the above medical schools. Check their websites for details.

Eligibility criteria

The UKWPMED scheme is open only to applications for A100 Medicine only in the 2024 application cycle.
The scheme is open to Year 13 students. Medical schools may not consider applicants as part of the UKWPMED scheme if they have completed Year 13 at the time of application (check with the medical school before applying).
Medical schools will consider only UKWPMED applicants who are classified as home status, and each medical school will follow their own procedures for determining this status.
Applications must complete one of the participating widening participation programmes. Successful completion is defined by each programme.
Applicants must meet the pre-A Level academic requirements for each medical school to which an application is made.
Applicants must meet the UCAT requirements for each medical school to which an application is made. Exceptions are: Students on BrightMed widening participation programme can apply with BMAT if they have not taken UCAT; Brighton and Sussex require BMAT for standard entry, although they will accept applications from those on UKWPMED programmes who have only sat the UCAT.

A level resits – Each medical school has its own policy regarding resits. You will need to discuss with the medical school you are applying to whether they will be able to offer you any benefits under the UKWPMED scheme.

Gap years – If you wish to take a gap year, either you should apply for deferred entry, or, if your application is successful, request that your offer is deferred. Please check with your medical school before applying. For deferral requests received after an application is submitted, each medical school will consider those requests according to its own policy.

How to apply

Applications to study Medicine are made through UCAS in the standard way. Please note this scheme is open to A100 Medicine applications only.

To be eligible for the scheme, you will need to include details about your participation in the UKWPMED in your UCAS application.

You can apply to one or more of the participating medical schools. You can also apply to non-participating medical schools, however you will not be entitled to the benefits of this scheme at those medical schools. Depending on your widening participation credentials, they may be able to offer you some benefits – please check with the medical school you are applying to.

By applying as part of UKWPMED through UCAS, you are consenting to allow each medical school to check your eligibility by contacting the medical school where you completed your widening participation programme.

How to add your participation in your UCAS application

Please follow these instructions to include the required information in your application:

1. Select the 'Extra activities' section in your application.

UCAS application form - Activities section

2. Select ‘Add activity’ and complete the details as follows:

Select Masterclass / subject insight from the 'Type of activity' dropdown list
Select UKWPMED from the ‘Activity provider’ dropdown list
In the Name of the medical school and programme, provide the name of the course as above (for example, Hull York Medical School - Pathways to Medicine')
Choose the start and end dates of your programme in the date fields

UCAS application form navigation for extra activities

What happens after you have applied

Applicants will follow the medical school’s usual admissions process for A100 Medicine applicants. Medical schools will invite successful applicants to an interview. All medical schools will follow their own admissions procedures, check with your medical school.

As part of the collaborative project all students will get the same consideration whether they are from the host widening participating programme or from another.

Please note an interview at one school does not guarantee an interview at another.

Contact us

If you have questions about our Pathways to Medicine widening participation programme, please contact our Outreach Team: outreach@hyms.ac.uk

If you have questions about your eligibility for the UKWPMED scheme or applying to study Medicine with us at Hull York Medical School, please contact our Admissions Team: admissions@hyms.ac.uk