A levels AAAb which must include Chemistry and/or Biology and one other Science or Maths subject. A fourth subject must be studied at AS level at grade B. If Biology or Chemistry is not studied at A level, this must be studied at AS level with at least a grade B. General Studies is excluded. Re-sit candidates may be considered providing they have:
Scottish Advanced Highers Scottish Highers are not accepted alone. Candidates must offer 5 Scottish Highers at grades AAABB in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths and English Language (in any order) and AAA in Advanced Highers in three of the subjects offered at Scottish Highers, including Chemistry and Biology.
International Baccalaureate Minimum 38 points with three subjects including Chemistry or Biology and one other Science or Maths subject at Higher Level (with a minimum of 6 points in each of Chemistry and Biology) and three subjects at Subsidiary Level including Chemistry or Biology if not offered at Higher Level.
Applications are screened to ensure they meet the minimum academic requirements. The BMAT score is used along with the academic information on the application, to select candidates for interview. Applicants are required to meet a minimum standard in each of the three sections of BMAT.
The personal statement is crucial in securing an interview at Imperial and the admissions panel will also require evidence of the following personal qualities before deciding to offer a candidate an interview:
The interview is 15 minutes in duration and will take place between January and April. The panel consists of a chairperson and two other members of the selection panel and often also include a senior medical student and a lay observer. Before the interview, candidates will have the opportunity to tour the South Kensington Campus accompanied by an existing Imperial medical student and this is a great opportunity to ask them questions on the medical programme and what it’s like to study at Imperial.
In the interview, the panel will evaluate each candidate's personal attributes using questions such as: For motivation and understanding of medicine as a career:
For capacity to deal with stressful situations:
For evidence of working as a leader and a team member and ability to multitask:
For likely contribution to university life:
Candidates will also be questioned on their communication skills and maturity of character and will be given an ethical situation to comment on.
The interviewers will have seen a copy of each candidate’s personal statement and will ask questions on this.
Following interview, candidates would normally receive a written response within two weeks.
No offers are made by Imperial without interview.
Imperial has a reputation as being one of the best academic institutions in the world and there is a certain grandeur about the place which is only reinforced by its up-market location in London’s Kensington.
In 1997, the Faculty of Medicine brought together the major west London medical schools to create one world class institution under the name of Imperial medical school. The large population of staff and students affords Imperial medical school a significant research income and it is one of the largest faculties in Europe. Imperial comprises a number of campuses in London and the South East including:
An intercalated BSc degree is integrated into the curriculum and all medical students at Imperial will take this in their fourth year and graduate twice from the Albert Hall!
The first two years at Imperial focus on the following themes:
Students participate in a Patient Contact Course as part of the Foundations of Clinical Practice module, where, working in a pair they will be assigned a patient to visit several times in their home environment and in a clinical setting, throughout the year. They will explore the following themes:
Students and are required to write a report on their experiences which will prove the foundation for their first hospital-based clinical attachment in Year 2.
Topics covered in Year 3 include:
The year is broken down into one 6-week and two 10-week clinical attachments at any of the hospitals associated with Imperial medical school. Students will refine their clinical skills by taking a history and performing an examination with at least two patients a week and they will be required to write these up as case histories. Students will also be expected to learn how to present a patient to a consultant and will be assessed on this.
Students also undertake a 6 week foundation course to prepare them for their BSc course in Year 4.
This year is spent working towards the BSc (see section on Intercalation).
Year 5 starts with a dedicated clinical pathology course followed by rotations on hospital placements in the following clinical specialties:
The final year consists of seven 3-week clinical attachments in:
Students also get to do an SSC, two professional work experience attachments (in medicine and surgery), a practical medicine course and a revision course.
Anatomy is taught in Years 1 & 2 in 3 hour blocks per week. It follows more traditional anatomy teaching methods with lectures followed by cadaveric dissection. Lectures provide the background and theory and in the dissection room, students are split into groups of 10 to examine and work on cadavers under the supervision of anatomy demonstrators. Surface anatomy sessions are also available which allow students to look at anatomy and relate it to their clinical examinations.
Exams in Year 1 take place in June and consist of EMQs, Single Best Answers & Short Answer Questions. Exams in Year 2 take place in April and June and consist of EMQs, Single Best Answers & Short Answer Questions. The pass mark is 50%.
Exams in Years 3, 5 & 6 comprise EMQ, Single Best Answers, OSCEs & PACES. All final exams are taken during the summer of Year 6.
Students can use computer-based self-tests for revision throughout the year.
Teaching at Imperial comprises of lectures, clinical demonstrations, tutorials, seminars, computer-based learning, lab practicals and clinical skills classes, with some PBL.
Students take an 8-week elective in Year 6 in any subject of interest which is related to medicine and generally many students take this opportunity to experience a healthcare environment in an overseas setting.
An intercalated BSc is integrated into the medicine programme at Imperial and all students undertake this in Year 4. The BSc degree course in Medical Sciences is available with one of the following options:
The following specialist courses are also available:
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The information on this page is correct as of August 2010
