Cement your understanding of the core science topics required for entry to medical school, while developing the academic skills and personal qualities you’ll also need. We’ll use case studies throughout the course to highlight the relevance of every topic to a career in medicine.

As part of our learning community, you will:

●        acquire a comprehensive understanding of the structure and function of cells within the human body and how they aggregate to form tissues and organs

●        explore the physiology and anatomy of the body’s major organ systems and be familiar with the principles of medical imaging.

●        understand the basic principles of physical and inorganic chemistry that are essential for understanding biochemical reactions in the human body

●        learn about the key biological molecules and biochemical processes that keep humans alive

●        explore the psychological and sociological factors that influence health and disease 

●        develop and use scientific enquiry to identify problems, acquire knowledge from reliable sources, apply knowledge, and present solutions

●        identify and consider ethical issues in clinical practice and research 

●        look at changes in our health and disease knowledge and attitudes over time

●        experience the styles of learning and assessment you will encounter at medical school.

Course Breakdown

The course will run from 2 September 2024 to 31 July 2025.

Teaching will be delivered in two 15-week blocks, with up to 24 days of in-person teaching spread across the programme.

You will be expected to attend 2 full days of face-to-face teaching every month, which will take place at a University venue in central Cambridge. There will also be between one and three live sessions (of up to 2 hours) delivered online each week.

Students should anticipate that they will need to dedicate up to 37.5 hours per week to their studies.

Teaching block 1 (September to January)

Biology 1 (Cells and tissues), Chemistry 1 (Foundations of chemistry and biochemistry) and Pre-medical 1 (Research, academic and interpersonal skills).

●        Term 1 Dates*:

Teaching: 2 September 2024  – 13 December 2024 (15 weeks)

Christmas break: 16 December 2024 – 03 January 2025 (3 weeks)

Exams: 13 January 2025 - 24 January 2025 (2 weeks)

Teaching block 2 (February to July)

Biology 2 (Organs and systems), Chemistry 2 (Intermediate chemistry and biochemistry) and Pre-medical 2 (Health psychology and sociology).

●        Term 2 Dates*:

Teaching: 03 February 2025 – 06 June 2025 (15 weeks)

Easter break: 07 April 2025 – 25 April 2025 (3 weeks)

Exams: 30 June 2025 – 11 July 2025 (2 weeks)

*Dates are indicative and subject to change.

Entry requirements  

There are no formal academic entry requirements for this course. The course is aimed at mature students over the age of 21 at the point of entry. It is recommended that students have a foundation knowledge of biology and chemistry prior to entering the course.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate a good understanding of medicine, the scope of practice of doctors, and personal motivation to undertake a medical degree and career. This will be assessed through your online application and, if you are shortlisted, at interview.

Teaching is at first-year undergraduate level. If your first language is not English, you may need to demonstrate proficiency in English language.

Please also note that if you intend to apply to medical school after completion of this course, you must have the following minimum level 2 qualifications and be able to evidence this when you apply: 

6 GCSE subjects at grade B/6 to include: 

• English Language 
• Mathematics 
• at least two Sciences (one to be Chemistry) OR Core Science OR Additional Science OR Double/Dual/Combined Science Award. 

Whilst not a requirement of entry to this course, you will also be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check if you apply to medical school.  

The course is only open to UK nationals or those with permanent right to remain in the UK. It is anticipated the course will have a regional catchment with students residing in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, although we will consider applications from students based around the UK.

The course is aimed at mature students aged 21 years or older at the point of entry.  Younger applicants may contact the team to discuss their specific circumstances in order to determine their eligibility and the relevance of the Pre-Medical course. 

It is essential that when applying for the course you demonstrate a good understanding of medicine, the scope of practice of doctors and personal motivation to undertake a medical degree and career. This will be assessed through your online application and, if shortlisted, an interview. 

Experience, in a paid or voluntary capacity, working with the general public, children, the elderly or people with special needs will help strengthen an application. This includes experience gained in healthcare or social care settings. 

Applicants with previous professional experience in health and social care settings are encouraged e.g., healthcare assistant, paramedic technician, combat medical technician, laboratory technician. 

English language requirement 

If English is not your first language, you need to be able to prove you meet the University of Cambridge English language requirements on application. Please refer to our English language requirements for Undergraduate Certificates, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas pages for further information. 

Technical requirements 

A significant amount of course content will be delivered using video-based teaching platforms and a dedicated course Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You will therefore need to have access to: 

- the internet via a computer, laptop, tablet or other smart device.  

- speakers or headphones in order to hear any pre-recorded material 

- a webcam and microphone for interactive online sessions  

Applying information

Selection process 

Deadline for applications: 10th May 2024

Please note that all shortlisted applicants will be interviewed prior to an offer being made. The interviews will be held either in person or online via Zoom. Interviews are expected to take place in weeks commencing 22nd April 2024, 29th April 2024, 13th May 2024 and 20th May 2024.

The purpose of the interview, which will last 30-40 minutes, will be to assess your motivations and suitability for the course of study. 

Supporting evidence 

There are a number of documents that you will need to provide to support your application to the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies. 

• If you have GCSE qualifications and intend to go on to study medicine, you must include with your application copies of your GCSE certificates in English Language, Mathematics, and Science (uploaded as pdfs).  
• A personal statement of no more than 500 words written directly into the available space on the application form. For further information about the personal statement please see the ‘FAQ’ section. 
• Evidence of English language (if applicable). 
• If you are made an offer, please note that you will be expected to provide proof that you are a UK National or have Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). 

The fee for this course is £8,000. You can either pay:

●        in full when you enrol,

or

●        in two equal instalments: 1) when you enrol, 2) two weeks before Term 2 teaching starts. 

Important: your place on the course is not secured until we have received your first payment, along with any required documents, such as proof of English language proficiency. 

If you are offered a place, you will receive instructions as to how to register and pay. 

Help with fees

The University has many sources of financial help that you can explore. Please visit our pages on bursaries and sources of funding and Disabled Student’s Allowances (DSAs) for more information.  

There are two sources of funding specific to students of this course:

1. Student Finance England loans

Depending on your individual circumstances, you may be able to access funding from Student Finance England (SFE) to cover your tuition fees.

Students can access funding to cover the tuition fees for the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies (120-credits, level 4, resulting in a Certificate of Higher Education award from the University of Cambridge) and their subsequent medical degree at University of East Anglia, Anglia Ruskin University, or the University of Cambridge if they have not previously accessed higher education.

Any individual who has not yet engaged with SFE may be entitled to funding to cover the tuition fees for the duration of their course plus a ‘gift year’. If used, the loan taken out during the ‘gift year’ is added to the final balance that the student must repay to SFE after the completion of their course.  

For students enrolled on six-year medical degrees the first four years of study can be funded using SFE, while the final two years are funded by the NHS. Students are therefore entitled to a total of five years funding from SFE, i.e. four years for the duration of the course plus the ‘gift year’. This five-year entitlement can be used to cover the tuition fees for the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies (using the ‘gift year’) and four years at medical school, while the fees for years five and six are covered by the NHS. Please note that the ‘gift year’ can also be used if extenuating circumstances mean that your studies are disrupted therefore if you use it for the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies you will need to complete your subsequent study without interruption.

If you have previously accessed funding from SFE then your eligibility for finance will be affected and you are unlikely to secure loans for both the CertHE and medical degree.  It is important to note that even if you did not complete a course of study (e.g. HNC, HND, Foundation Degree, Degree) but you did take loan funding from the SFE, this is highly likely to preclude your ability to fund the CertHE through a student loan.

You must research the financial implications of undertaking study at this level and your personal circumstances will dictate the most appropriate funding route for you to ensure your completion of the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies and your medical degree. For further information about loan entitlement, please see: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance.  

2. Pre-Medical Studies bursaries 

The Pre-Medical Studies bursaries are intended to support mature students to enrol on the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education’s level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Pre-Medical Studies (120 credits). 

Up to 12 tuition fee bursaries of £3,000 will be available, reducing the tuition fee from £8,000 to £5,000. 

To apply for the bursary, please provide a personal statement (up to 200 words), outlining your motivations for applying for the bursary.  While all eligible candidates are encouraged to apply, we particularly seek to support applicants with a clear connection to the East of England, with an aspiration to improve access to and the quality of healthcare provision in the region.  

Bursary Eligibility Criteria (proof will be required): 

•  Home address at time of application must be in one of the following area postcodes - AL, CB, CM, CO, IP, LU, MK, NN, NR, PE, RM, SG, SS; 

•  UK Citizen, or holder of UK Indefinite Leave to Remain Status or holder of UK Refugee Status; 

•  Aged 21, or over, by 01 September 2024; 

•  Hold at least 6 GCSEs B/6 grades or higher - including Mathematics, English Language and two science subjects - by 01 September 2024; 

• An intention to apply for medical school after completion of this course with this clearly articulated in the supporting statement 

The bursary application closing date is 24 July 2024. The Bursary Panel will meet to consider applications received up to this date and students will be informed of the outcome within one month of the closing date. 

There is no financial barrier criteria for this bursary. 

Refunds

This course will require a minimum number of students to run. In the rare event that the course is cancelled by us, due to minimum numbers not being met, or for any other reason, you will receive a full refund of any fees paid.

If you would like to cancel your place on the course, please refer to our Cancellations and Refunds policy, which we encourage you to read in full before applying.

We welcome learners of all ages, backgrounds and abilities at the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), and for this reason we have robust learning support in place for any student who needs it.

If you have a physical disability, mental health condition and/ or learning difficulties, please indicate this on your application form. You will then be sent a Student Additional Requirements Form (SARF) to complete. The form asks for further details about your requirements and support needs, and requests that you submit supporting evidence so we can make any reasonable adjustments that you need.

You can also disclose a disability at any time during your course by contacting either your Head of Academic Centre Administration, or the Disability Liaison team: da@ice.cam.ac.uk

Student wellbeing is a key priority at ICE. Please read our page about the learning support we offer to our students with additional needs.

What should I include in my personal statement?  

This is your opportunity to tell us why you wish to join the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies. The statement does not need to be long - around 500 words - and should include your motivation and any relevant experience. Studying medicine at university and working as a doctor in the NHS are both incredibly demanding, and the Pre-Medical Studies programme has been designed to reflect the academic and professional challenges that students will encounter if they choose to pursue this career path. You should therefore use the personal statement to demonstrate, with examples, that you have the commitment, drive, and academic ability to be successful not only on this course but on a medical degree. To do this you will need to show that you have a good understanding of what life is like as a doctor and why this is something you aspire to, and that you have the required personal qualities. You must also illustrate that you have the scientific aptitude, resilience, and work ethic required to undertake this academically challenging programme. For shortlisted applicants the personal statement may be used as the basis for discussion at interview.    

Will I be guaranteed a place at one of the partner medical schools if I complete the course?  

Completion of the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies does not guarantee progression to a medical school. However, it is recognised by UEA, ARU and University of Cambridge as an alternative entry qualification for mature (21+) applicants without traditional A-levels or their equivalent. Students on the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies are eligible to apply to undergraduate programmes at the medical schools of UEA, ARU, and University of Cambridge via UCAS and will undergo the same selection process as other applicants, there is no guarantee of a place. Please note that applicants for medical schools will also be required to hold the minimum GCSE requirements described in the ‘Entry Requirements’ section as well as have an enhanced DBS check.  

Applicants should recognise that entry to medical school is highly competitive and their progression on to a medical degree will depend on their performance in pre-admissions aptitude tests and interviews, alongside a high-level performance on the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies. Students must also be prepared to undergo further Occupational Health and DBS assessments.  

What if I don’t get an offer at medical school?  

You can apply to up to five courses using the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). This means that if you choose to apply to all three partner medical schools (i.e. Cambridge, UEA, and ARU) you have the option of applying for a further two non-medicine courses. Most students use these additional places to apply to courses that relate to medicine such as biomedical sciences or paramedic studies. The competitive nature of the medical school application process* means that we cannot guarantee that you will secure a place to study medicine despite completing the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies.  

If you are not offered a place on any course, then you can use UCAS Extra to find an alternative route (https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/after-you-apply/types-offer/extra-choices). This system is designed to give students another opportunity to find a suitable degree programme.  

*The number of places available for students to study medicine in the UK is capped because the training capacity of the NHS is limited by staff and resource availability. This, coupled with the large increase in applications that has occurred in recent years, means that only approximately 20% of medical school applicants are offered a placed.  

What if I don’t meet the requirements of my medical school offer?  

Students on the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies who are given a place to study medicine will need to meet the conditions of their offer. The specifics will vary between students and institutions, but it is likely that offer holders will need to achieve an average mark of 70-75% in their CertHE to be able to take up their place to study medicine at the partner medical schools. Students who can demonstrate that they did not meet the threshold mark because of extenuating circumstances will be given an additional opportunity to re-sit the affected assessments, and upon their successful completion they will be able to take-up their place. Students who subsequently fail to meet the threshold mark, or who do not have a compelling reason for not meeting the mark stated in their offer in the first instance, will not be accepted into a partner medical school.  

If you do not meet the conditions of your offer you will be eligible to enter Clearing; a process run by UCAS designed to match-up students without a place at university with courses that still have availability. Alternatively, you may choose to re-apply to university the year after you complete the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies, and your tutors will provide you with the necessary documentation to support your application.  

I’ve been offered a place on the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies – what do I need to do now?  

There are several things that you can do to prepare yourself to study on the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies:  

1. Correspond with the ICE admissions team to ensure that they have all of the documentation they need to enrol you on the course, e.g. copies of your GCSE certificates (if applicable) and evidence of British citizenship or indefinite leave to remain in the UK.  
2. Talk to your employer and family to come up with a plan that will allow you to fit your studies around your pre-existing commitments.  
3. Attend Open Days at the medical schools of the University of Cambridge, UEA, and ARU so that you can start to make decisions about which course is going to be the best fit for you if you intend to pursue further studies.  
4. Familiarise yourself with the UCAT (https://www.ucat.ac.uk/) and begin your preparations if you intend to apply to medical school – you can never start too soon!  
5. Dust off your GCSE biology and chemistry textbooks and refamiliarise yourself with the core content. The more familiar you are with the fundamentals of GCSE biology and chemistry, the easier you will find the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies.  
6. Remember that the team at ICE is here to support you so get in touch if you have any questions or concerns.  

Glossary of terms  

UCAS – the University and Colleges Admissions Service. You will apply to the medical schools at University of Cambridge, UEA, and ARU using UCAS. You can apply for up to five courses at five different universities. If you chose to apply for all three of the partner medical schools associated with the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies you will have an additional two courses that you can apply to. Staff at ICE will support you with your UCAS application.  

UCAT – the University Clinical Aptitude Test (https://www.ucat.ac.uk/). UCAT is used by the medical schools at UEA and ARU to assess candidates’ aptitude to study medicine and potential to forge a career as a doctor. The UCAT does not test subject specific knowledge, therefore students are expected to take the UCAT prior to starting the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies at ICE as their lack of recent scientific education will not be a disadvantage. The pre-sessional activities run in the summer before students start the CertHE will partly focus on UCAT preparation.