UEA sees 338% increase in disadvantaged pupils getting offers
The rise comes in free school meal eligible students on the Uni's 'Preparing for Medicine programme'
A University in Norfolk say they've seen an over 300 per cent increase in medicine degree offers being given to disadvantaged students, who they're supporting.
The University of East Anglia's 'Preparing for Medicine programme' has been running since 2010 and aims to help students who are eligible for free school meals, break into the industry.
The Uni says this boost is thanks to extra spaces funded by the Medical Schools Council, NHS England, and UEA’s Access and Participation Plan (APP).
This follows research published in February by the Sutton Trust, which highlights the unequal access to medicine for socio-economically disadvantaged students.
"It's always been a problem for medical schools"
Dr Charlie Williams is from Norwich Medical School:
"It's always been a problem for medical schools that you're more likely to get accepted onto a degree course in medicine, if you've gone to a private school.
"That's largely down to the fact that there's hidden parts of the application process that these students are more versed in.
"They're showing the students how to do the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) and the interviews, along with getting the relevant work experience.
"However, those who go to schools that aren't doing so well, they're less likely to have financial support or the same expertise around how to get an offer to study medicine.
In its first year, 12% of those who took part in this scheme went on to studying Medicine at UEA. A figure which. rose to 21% in following years.
Between 2018-2021, more than 55% of 272 participants have gone on to study medicine or dentistry after completing the UEA programme.
More than 52% of students from the 2022 cohort applied to study Medicine at UEA, with 75% of those gaining offers on the MBBS Medicine with a Gateway Year and MBBS Medicine courses.
Medicine is among the most competitive of university courses to apply to.
In 2023, only 21.5% of applications to UK universities to study medicine resulted in an offer, compared to an offer rate of 77% for all courses.
"I am continuously grateful for the support it gave me"
Laura Flower from Norwich, a final-year Medicine student at UEA, who took part in the programme in 2018-19, said:
“I truly believe that I owe my medical school place to the Preparing for Medicine programme, and I am continuously grateful for the support it gave me. As a first-generation university student and the only student to ever apply for medicine from my sixth form, I initially found the medicine application process terrifying.
“The Preparing for Medicine programme myth busted the entire application process – making it clear, understandable and, more importantly for me, achievable. With the help and support of the Preparing for Medicine team, they helped me develop the essential skills and confidence for me to go on and apply for medicine.
“In fact, it equipped me so well that I gained a place at all four medical schools I applied to, something I am incredibly proud of.”
"The programme gave me much more confidence in myself"
Imogen La Chapelle, a final-year Medicine student at UEA who is also from Norwich, who took part in the programme in 2019, said:
“The whole experience just made me feel incredibly supported and motivated to do Medicine at UEA. Before the programme’s residential, I had done a lot of research into different medical schools and was still quite unsure about where I wanted to study.
"After the residential, I was certain that UEA was right for me. Everyone was incredibly friendly, and I learnt so much.
“The programme gave me much more confidence in myself and in understanding the application process.
"It wasn’t just the residential itself, but also the UCAT study day, the mock interview, the personal statement activity. There was so much support throughout, which meant getting into medical school felt much more achievable.”