COURSE FACTSHEET
Advanced Level Foundation — Medical School Pathway Recognised by Aston University and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN)
Who is this course for? The Kings Advanced Level Foundation Medical School Pathway is ideal for highly motivated and academic students who want to access the study of Medicine in the UK.
Key Facts Start dates: 9 September 2019, 14 September 2020. Participation in the Medical Summer Programme before this course start is highly recommended (see overleaf). Locations offered:
Oxford
London
Bournemouth Brighton
Level: Minimum IELTS 6.5 Completed 11 – 12 years of schooling. Minimum age: 17 Length: 1 Academic Year (3 terms) Lessons: Average 21 hours per week (plus homework and private study) Class size: 8 – 12 Learning outcomes: à Raise academic qualifications to UK university entrance level à Raise English to university level à Develop learning and self study skills for degree level à Full preparation for the UKCAT exam and participation in the MMIs à Develop relevant working experience required for entry into medical school
Gaining a place to follow a Medicine course at undergraduate level in the UK is very demanding — with 8,000 applicants for only 600 international places. Aside from the more traditional A-level route to Medical School, we also now offer a pathway to Medical Schools at Aston University and UCLAN, through our Advanced Level Foundation.
The Programme Students will be helped in choosing the best subjects and devising the best study plan to prepare for Medical degrees. They will benefit from small classes and an intensive teaching and learning environment. In addition to classes, students will have the chance to meet University staff and Kings advisors who will give guidance on the application process and on studying Medicine.
Aston University entry criteria
UCLAN entry criteria
Students will be eligible to apply to Aston University’s Medical School upon completion of the Advanced Level Foundation to the following standard: à Final grade of 75%, with at least 70% in Chemistry and Biology à IELTS 7.5 (minimum 7.0 in each category)
Students will be eligible to apply to UCLAN Medical School upon completion of the Advanced Level Foundation to the following standard: à Final grade of minimum 70%, with at least two Science subjects and one of these needs to be Chemistry à IELTS 7.0 (minimum 7.0 in each category)
Progression Students undertaking the Advanced Level Foundation will have the opportunity to apply to either Aston or UCLAN to undertake their medical degree commencing in September of the following year. The offer of a place at these universities is also subject to a series of other requirements on top of successful completion of the Advanced Level Foundation: à UKCAT: Students will need to register and book to take a UK Clinical Aptitude Test. Registration needs to happen even before the student starts the Advanced Level Foundation. We will send information about booking a date on application to the course. à UCAS application: Once they have taken UKCAT, Students will need to apply for their degree at Aston or UCLAN via the UCAS website by mid-October (exact date may change year on year, check with us or University website). We have UCAS advisers in each school who will support with UCAS applications. à MMIs: Universities will usually require students to attend MMIs (Multiple Mini Interviews) to help them choose which students will get an offer. We will help students prepare for MMIs and get to the Interviews at the University of choice. Aston MMIs are held in Kings Colleges.
Please refer to the medical brochure for further advice and information on medical school preparation.
COURSE FACTSHEET
Course structure and content The programme is highly flexible, and able to adapt to the needs and academic aspirations of each student. It does this through a combination of core modules and a series of elective modules which can be combined in different ways to create main subject streams. Students will be required to study at least two sciences one of which is Chemistry.
Benchmarking against A-Level grades
Pearson assured The Kings Advanced Level Foundation has Pearson assured status, awarded after an annual Pearson audit of quality assurance.
Typical top 30 university offers to students following the Programme are based on their normal A-level offers. The Programme is benchmarked against A-level grades as follows: Typical A-level offer
Typical Kings Foundation offer
Advisory Panel
AAA
80%
AAA
75%
Standards for the Programme are set by an external and independent Advisory Board which meets three times each year to ensure best practice, moderate marks where required and hear appeals.
AAB
70%
ABB
65%
BBB
60%
CCC
50%
Medical Summer Programme Start date: 8 July 2019 Length: 2 weeks Location: Oxford This programme is strongly recommended for students preparing to join the Kings Advanced Level Foundation — Medical Pathway in preparation for Medical School applications as these need to be completed by mid-October in the year prior to the degree start date. It includes Medical-related visits and guest lectures, research into the application process and UKCAT and MMI practice.
2018 – 19 Sample academic timeline September
October
November
December
January
Note: Students must book their UKCAT test before starting the course
10 Sept: term starts Student induction
20 – 28 Oct: half term 15 Oct: deadline for UCAS applications for medical students
MMI training
14 Dec: term ends CSS Assessment 1 (Written) End of term exams
7 Jan: term starts MMIs take place
February
March
April
May
June
July
14 – 17 Feb: half term CSS Assessment 2 (Presentation)
22 Mar: term ends Assignments* End of term exams
8 April: term starts Assignments*
Assignments*
14 June: term ends CSS Assessment 3 (Listening and Reading exam)
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1800 09/18
*Students spend two weeks on each assignment and do three in total — one for each of their ‘elective’ modules. Please note that specific dates are subject to change.