Candidate Selection Process
Admission for Medicine at Imperial is highly competitive. We receive well over 2,000 applications for entry and interview about 650 candidates. Approximately 500 offers are made, and 286 students will be admitted in October 2012.
A range of criteria is used to assess candidates. Candidates must meet the minimum academic requirements outlined in the section on entrance requirements and have high marks in the three sections of BMAT. No offers are made without applicants attending for competitive interview.
The School of Medicine has a comprehensive admissions policy that ensures that all applications are dealt with in the same way. When applications are received, they are assessed to make sure that candidates fulfil the minimum requirements. Candidates must:
- have obtained or be predicted to obtain grades in GCSE, A and AS levels, International or European Baccalaureate that satisfy the School of Medicine's academic criteria (see Entry Requirements section)
- sit the 2012 entry BMAT examination
- apply by the deadline.
In addition, resit candidates must:
- have previously applied to Imperial College to study medicine
- have achieved at least grades CCC at the first attempt
- have predictions of at least three A grades in the winter resit examinations, and
- have acceptable extenuating circumstances to explain the failure to achieve the grades at the first attempt (the extenuating circumstances should be included in the referee's statement and the candidate may also wish to write directly to the School)
Candidates who do not fulfil the above requirements will be rejected without interview.
If a candidate fulfils the minimum entry requirements, his or her application form will be passed to an experienced member of the selection panel. The selection panel comprises teachers in undergraduate medical education with experience in the admissions process, who will decide whether to offer the candidate an interview. These decisions are ratified by one of the admissions tutors. the panel members look at the following criteria when assessing appliccations:
- GCSE results
- A/AS level or equivalent predicted (or achieved) grades
- BMAT scores
- Motivation and understanding of medicine as a career
- Community activities
- Leadership and teamwork
- General interests
- Referee's report
More about the entry requirements for Medicine.
Interviews
If selected, you will be required to attend a 15-minute interview. This will take place at the South Kensington campus between January and April. The interview includes time for the panel to make its decision.
Normally interview panels consist of a chairman, two members of the selection panel, a senior medical student and frequently a lay observer. Before your interview you will have a chance to take a tour of the South Kensington campus organised by medical students. The interview is not intended to be an intimidating experience and staff will try to put candidates at ease while evaluating the following:
- Motivation and realistic approach to medicine as a career
- Capacity to deal with stress
- Evidence of working as both a leader and a team member
- Ability to multitask
- Likely contribution to university life
- Communication skills, and maturity of character
There will be three possible outcomes from the interview:
- An offer - conditional upon obtaining relevant qualifications
- Reserve list - candidates who are unplaced elsewhere may be reconsidered after the summer examination results
- Rejection
Candidates should normally receive a written response from the School of Medicine within two weeks of interview. Successful candidates may be asked to provide written documentation by way of evidence in support of their most recent and/or substantial work experience.
Candidates who are unsuccessful cannot be reconsidered for entry within the same cycle but may reapply the following year (if they obtain the relevant qualifications at the first attempt) without prejudice to the new application.
The School of Medicine abides by the Equal Opportunities Policy of Imperial College London in this Undergraduate Prospectus.
More about interviews and sample questions
Oxbridge applicants
If you are a pre-clinical medicine Oxbridge graduate who has obtained, or expects to obtain, a degree, you may apply to join the course. You will join the course at the beginning of the third year and follow a special preparatory course to cover elements of the Imperial course not covered at your previous university. You will not study for the BSc.
Applications should be made through the Common Application Scheme. The closing date is December 2011. Arrangements for you to see the facilities and meet students and staff are made between the Students' Union and medical societies, and visits usually take place in November or December.
For additional queries about entry requirements or more information, please email us at medicine.ug.admissions@imperial.ac.uk.
MBBS/PhD programme
In addition to the standard six-year undergraduate medical course, the Faculty of Medicine can offer exceptional MBBS students the possibility of following a PhD programme as part of their course.
This consists of three years of research taken after completing the BSc, before continuing with clinical training. Eligibility for entry to the PhD programme will depend on your performance in the early years of the MBBS course and the BSc classification achieved.
You would need to secure the additional funding required for the three extra years from external sources in collaboration with your proposed supervisor. You are advised to wait until you are on the MBBS/BSc course before exploring the option to undertake a PhD. Final selection will depend on gaining a first or upper second class BSc.
