Aston University

Overview

Aston University Medical School took its first intake of medical students in September 2018. They have developed a curriculum that is patient-centred, while enabling students develop the core competencies in medicine. Aston have partnered with a number of carefully selected NHS trusts and primary care providers to provide students with a diverse range of communities and settings to learn including, the inner city, smaller towns and rural locations.

As long as you meet the minimum academic requirements, Aston use just the UCAT to shortlist candidates for interview. Therefore if you score near previous cut-offs it could be a great option for you – especially if GCSE or A-Level grades are slightly lower. Aston commit a number of places for applicants who meet specific widening participation criteria. In 2019, of the 153 applicants who applied and met the WP criteria 125 received an offer so it’s definitely worth checking to see if this also applies to you!

Course overview: 

Aston University, based in the centre of Birmingham, is home to another new medical school.  With their first medical students starting in 2018, this initial cohort will graduate in 2023.
Aston University’s medical programme is five years, emphasising compassionate patient care and working in multi-disciplinary teams. Medical students learn through lectures, group work, workshops, independent study, with increasing amounts of patient contact as the course progresses. Course highlights include a student selected component, with the option to obtain a postgraduate qualification from Aston Business school.
Phase One (Years One and Two):
Students learn clinical skills early at Aston, with specialised placements helping development of consultation skills and clinical reasoning. Emphasis is placed on patient-centred care from the start.
Phase Two (Years Three, Four, and Five):
The majority of learning occurs in clinical attachments in phase two, where medical students work alongside practising doctors and allied health professionals. Medical students can also undertake research at Aston Medical Research Institute, with major themes including: regenerative medicine, maternal health, mental health, and cardiovascular medicine. Before graduating, students undertake a six week foundation assistantship to develop diagnostic and management skills.

Note: Our year-by-year overview of UK medical school course structures can help you see how this course structure compares with progressions through studies, clinical rotations, and (where relevant) intercalation at other medical schools.Work experience: 

It is recognised that not everyone will be able to secure medical work experience, and that it is possible to get the same outlook, experience and qualities by doing work experience in a non-medical environment too. For example, working in a hospital shop will mean that you deal with all kinds of patients and people and allow you to develop your communication skills, teamwork skills, following instructions, and leadership skills.
Another area where you can show ability and understanding of what medicine is all about and that you can deliver care and compassion is if you happen to have a family member that is ill or elderly with multiple health complaints. If you have been involved in their care then you will have realised that they are vulnerable, that they need to have their dignity maintained.
By bringing these characteristics together and being able to demonstrate that you have them, it will show that you have an understanding of what it means to be a good doctor and will be able to cope with the study and practice of medicine.Widening access: 

40% of students from widening participation backgrounds, with the majority (approximately 75%) allocated to local students, including those on the Sir Doug Ellis Pathway to Healthcare Programme.
The remaining places will be offered to UK-wide widening access applicants.Personal statement: 

Personal statements are read in conjunction with the reference but are not scored.
Personal statements may be used to differentiate between borderline candidates.Notes about admissions test: 

The UCAT will be considered alongside other required qualifications. No further information givenType of interview: MMIInterview notes: 

Candidates are assessed on: Oral and written communication skills, listening skills, empathy, compassion, respect and dignity, emotional intelligence, problem solving, motivation, team working, leadership, and understanding of limitations & when to ask for help.Intercalation notes: 

As explained on this medical school’s website(link is external): “Intercalated degree programmes are one-year courses for students who have completed two or three years of a medical degree. At Aston University this enables you to learn about a new area of biological science or cognitive neuroscience. After successfully completing two or more years of your medical degree, the following programme is available: BSc Biological Sciences….  After successfully completing three or more years of your medical degree,the following programmes are available: MSc Cognitive Neuroscience MSc Health Psychology MSc Pharmaceutical Sciences MSc Drug Delivery MSc Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine.”Medical school history: 

The first undergraduate MBChB students commenced studies in September 2018, following approval of its programme by the General Medical Council which regulates the medical profession in the United Kingdom.

Key Points

About the university

Key Information
Website	aston.ac.uk/study/courses/medicine-mbchb
Email	ugadmissions@aston.ac.uk
Phone number	0121 204 3030
Course Information
Teaching style	Integrated The patient-centred course gives you very early clinical experiences alongside teaching in a systems-based approach.
Course length	5 years
BSC	Yes, optional There is an option of intercalating at both BSc and MSc level.
Courses offered	1 course offered: A100 Standard Entry Medicine – 5 years
Graduate entry	No
Foundation or access	No
University Life
Local area	Birmingham Birmingham City Centre is a great place to live and study! The city is large (the biggest outside of London in the UK) and full of life. There are a total of 6 universities in Birmingham so it is a a great place for students with plenty of student events always going on. Despite the city being big, the city centre is easy to navigate with great public transport.
Social life	There are a lot of societies available at Aston, including MedSoc to represent all medical students. Despite being a newer medical school there are still lots of medical societies including paediatrics and surgical society! Birmingham has a large student population so it’s a great place to meet other students (even from other universities) with plenty of clubs, pubs and restaurants to keep you entertained.
Interview
Interview style	MMI 7-10 stations, each lasting 6-8 minutes in length
Interview dates	December-March
Interview topics	Oral and written communication skillsListening skillsEmpathy, compassion, respect and dignityEmotional intelligenceProblem solvingMotivationTeam workingBeing able to lead as well as followKnowing limitations and when to ask for help
Admissions Tests
UCAT	UCAT Required There is no cut off score for the UCAT. Aston use the UCAT in conjunction with your academic performance to invite students to interview. The lowest UCAT interviewed in 2020 was 2110.
BMAT	N/A
GAMSAT	N/A
Academic Requirements
GSCE	5 GCSEs at grade B/6 or above Subjects required: English Language, Maths, Chemistry, Biology or Double Science GCSE’s not used for shortlisting beyond the minimum requirements
A-level	AAA Subjects required:Chemistry and Biology plus any third subject
Retake policy	Resits of GCSEs and A-Levels will be considered. Applicants must normally achieve their final qualification in no more than three academic years (one re-sit year allowed) Referee must provide brief explanation for resit in the reference
Scottish highers	N/A
Scottish advanced	AAA Subjects required: Chemistry and Biology
IB	36 points 6,6,6 at Higher Level Subjects required: Chemistry (HL6) and Biology (HL6)
Bachelor’s Degree (Gradutes Only)	2:1 degree Subjects required: any degree discipline A-Level requirements: ABB including Chemistry and Biology, with one of these being at grade A Note: usual GCSE requirements apply to graduate applicants too
Statistics
Applications in 19/20	979
Interviews in 19/20	363
Offers in 19/20	307
Success rate in 19/20	approx 1 in 3