What will I be studying?

The course will cover the core science topics required for entry to medical school, whilst also developing the academic skills and personal qualities required to be successful on a medicine degree. You will be supported in your applications to undergraduate medicine degrees and will be given opportunities to engage with a variety of clinicians currently working in the NHS to develop their understanding of the psychological and sociological factors that influence health and disease.

The aims of the course are to:

• Provide students with the appropriate foundation biology, chemistry, maths and physics knowledge and practical skills required for medicine
• Foster an appreciation of psychological and sociological sciences in relation to healthcare
• Offer opportunities for students to develop and use scientific inquiry so they can identify problems, acquire new knowledge from reliable sources, apply their knowledge and present solutions (within the constraints of the course)
• Foster an appreciation for the fact that health and disease knowledge and attitudes change over time and that research is ongoing
• Allow students to experience the styles of learning and assessment they will encounter at medical school and develop the skills required to successfully engage with these (i.e. independent study, Problem Based Learning (PBL) /small group discussions and exams)
• Develop the required academic literacies, learning mindset and coping strategies to be successful on a medical programme
• Support student’s UCAS application, aptitude test and medical school interview preparation; including reflection on previous experience and completion of service-user involved experience

The course is comprised of the following modules which will be delivered over two 15-week teaching blocks:

Teaching block 1

• Biology 1 - Cells and tissues. You will become familiar with the structure and function of cells within the human body and understand how they aggregate to form tissues and organs. You will also learn about the fundamental principles of genetics and inheritance.
• Chemistry 1 - Foundations of chemistry and biochemistry. This introductory chemistry module covers the basic principles of physical and inorganic chemistry that are essential for understanding biochemical reactions in the human body.
• Pre-medical 1 - Research, academic and interpersonal skills. Much of this module will be taught alongside Biology 1 and Chemistry 1 and will therefore appear largely integrated. Study skills workshops will focus on academic skills, numeracy, and data handling. Additional lectures and workshops will be delivered by practicing clinicians and you will engage in professional discussions to demonstrate your understanding of the NHS and the qualities required to be a doctor.

Teaching block 2

• Biology 2 - Organs and systems. This module focuses on the physiology and anatomy of the body’s major organ systems and introduces students to the principles of medical imaging.
• Chemistry 2 - Intermediate chemistry and biochemistry. You will extend your knowledge from Chemistry 1 and learn about the key biological molecules and biochemical processes that keep humans alive.
• Pre-medical 2 - Health psychology and sociology. This module discusses healthcare in a psychological and sociological context and examines the factors that influence patient outcomes.

The course content will provide you with a broad but medically relevant knowledge base that will prepare you for the academic rigours of medical school, and case-studies will be used throughout to highlight the relevance of every topic to a career in medicine.

You will gain an appreciation of how knowledge underpinning heath and disease is continually developing and you will be able to identify and consider ethical issues in clinical practice and research thus allowing you to refine your professionalism and inclusive outlook.

When will I study?

Students will attend up to 24 days of face-to-face teaching spread across the 11-month programme. The course will be delivered using a blended approach including a mixture of online and in-person activities such as live workshop sessions (online and in-person), pre-recorded lectures, recommended readings, and a variety of tasks and assignments such as essays, presentations and worksheets designed to consolidate learning. The aim of this approach is to maximise access opportunities for mature learners who may have considerable work and family commitments. You will be expected to take part in two full days of face-to-face teaching every month, and there will be two or three live sessions of up to two hours length delivered online each week. This model will be subject to change based upon university and government guidelines, and subject to review based upon student experience.

How will I be taught?

The CertHE is a full time course that will mirror the intensity of medical school whilst providing sufficient time for you to develop your independent learning skills.

You will be taught using pre-recorded (asynchronous) lectures, and live (synchronous) online and in-person workshops alongside lab-based practical sessions. You will complete weekly formative* multiple choice question quizzes, contribute to discussion forums, and engage with regular formative assignments. The term 'asynchronous' applies to teaching and learning that is undertaken in the student's own time, whereas 'synchronous' teaching and learning is formally timetabled and occurs at a specific date and time. 

You will be expected to complete a range of tasks designed to consolidate your learning and academic skills such as group and individual presentations, conference posters, ethical debates and structured professional discussions, literature searches, and academic and reflective essays alongside your summative** assessment programme, which is comprised of 70% formal written examinations and 30% coursework. You are expected to take responsibility for the nature and quality of your outputs and demonstrate the skills necessary to take a scientific line of enquiry to make evidence-based judgements.

The abilities to communicate accurately, both verbally and in writing, and to work as part of a team are essential for a career in medicine and therefore will be at the heart of the learning and teaching on this course. Medicine is also a scientific profession that requires people to be competent with practical work both in clinical and laboratory settings and these skills will be developed throughout the course through a practical laboratory programme.

Self-directed learning will be encouraged throughout the course in preparation for the high level of independent study expected in a medical degree.

*formative - tasks and assignments to develop your skills. These will not contribute to your overall mark
** summative - tasks and assignments that are formally assessed and contribute to your overall mark for the course.

Once you have completed the course you will be able to:

• Describe the organisation of the human body and the key structures and functions at a chemical, cellular, tissue, organ and system level
• Explain how key structures and mechanisms at each level result in body function and how the body responds to specific challenges
• Apply fundamental physics principles to body function in health and disease
• Describe core psychological and sociological theories related to health and explain why these factors are important in modern healthcare
• Use specified numerical approaches and techniques to process, explain and evaluate data in given tasks

How will I be assessed?

Your grade for the Certificate of HE in Pre-Medical Studies (120 credits at FHEQ level 4) will be determined by your engagement with all formative tasks and your performance in the summative assessments. All summative assessment together will total 18,000-24,000 words or their equivalent.

• In the first 15-week teaching block you will take Biology 1, Chemistry 1, and Pre-Med 1, and your marks in the summative assessments for these modules will constitute 50% of your final grade.
• In the second 15-week teaching block you will take Biology 2, Chemistry 2, and Pre-Med 2, and your marks in the summative assessments for these modules will constitute the other 50% of your final grade.

Should you wish to exit the programme with a Certificate in Human Science Foundations (60 credits at FHEQ level 4) you will be awarded a course grade based on:

• Engagement with all formative tasks in Biology 1, Chemistry 1, and Pre-Med 1.
• Your marks in the summative assessments for Biology 1, Chemistry 1, and Pre-Med 1.

The fee for the course is £7,500 in academic year 2022-23.

This includes teaching, and access to specialist software required as part of the course.

It does not include food or accommodation during the course or travel to and from in-person teaching sessions.

You can pay in three ways: 

• in full on enrolment by credit or debit card 
• in instalments (credit/debit card only). The instalment plan is usually in three equal instalments, the first on enrolment with the second and third instalment being taken on 1 January and 1 April. The exact dates will be confirmed in the student’s individual booking details
• It may be possible to access an undergraduate student loan to study this course and a subsequent medical degree.

A small amount of protective, practical equipment may be required including lab coat, goggles, an appropriate lab book and university approved calculator at the cost of approximately £30.

There will also be costs associated with applying to an undergraduate degree programme to study medicine but bursaries are available in some cases. 

Pre-Medical Studies Bursary.

The Pre-Medical Studies bursaries are intended to support mature students, who have not previously studied at higher education level, to enrol on the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education’s FHEQ level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Pre-Medical Studies (120 credits), which will be delivered as a blended online and in-person course in the academic year 2022-23.

Up to 12 tuition fee bursaries of £2,500 will be available, reducing the tuition fee from £7,500 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 to connection to the East of England, with an aspiration to improve access to and the quality of healthcare provision in the region.

Eligibility Criteria (proof will be required):

1. 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;
2. UK Citizen, or holder of UK Indefinite Leave to Remain Status or holder of UK Refugee Status;
3. Aged 21, or over, by 01 September 2022;
4. Hold at least 6 GCSEs B/6 grades or higher - including Mathematics, English Language and two science subjects - by 01 September 2022;
5. Not have previously studied at higher education level (i.e. FHEQ level 4 or higher).

The bursary application closing date is 31 May 2022. You can apply here and terms and conditions can be found here. 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.

Can I access a Student Finance England (SFE) loan for this course?

Yes, students can access funding to cover the tuition fees for the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies (120-credits, FHEQ 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 is 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 because they are separate courses.  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.

It is important to consider 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.  

SFE can be contacted Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, and Saturday 9am to 4pm and their contact details can be found below:

Telephone

0300 100 0607

Text relay (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone)

18001 then 0300 100 0607

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.  

When is the application deadline?

The application deadline is 31 May 2022.

When are the interviews?

Interviews will be held in the week commencing 13th June. You will be given a date and time, along with more information about the specifics of the interview if you are shortlisted after application.

The course description says that it will be delivered to fit around my existing work and family commitments. How does this work?

We understand that many students on the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies may have considerable work and family commitments. We will support students to complete their studies by delivering the course using a ‘blended’ model. Blended learning means that teaching will be delivered using a mix of online and face-to-face teaching sessions, and students will only be expected to attend teaching in Cambridge for two consecutive days a month. We hope to confirm dates late in May or early June.

Each week you will be given access to several pre-recorded lectures and homework tasks that you will watch and complete in your own time, meaning that you can fit most of your learning around other commitments. Pre-recorded lectures and homework tasks are called ‘asynchronous activities’ because every individual in the cohort will be completing their work at different times. In addition to the asynchronous activities, all students in the cohort will come together to attend up to three hours of synchronous online teaching each week. These synchronous teaching sessions will be delivered in the evening and, whilst attendance is highly encouraged, they will be recorded for those who cannot make it.

Below is an indicative example timetable of a ‘typical’ week, but please be aware that this is subject to change:

Although the course is designed to allow people to continue to work as they study, it should be noted that the workload on this programme is high, and students should anticipate that they will need to dedicate up to 37.5 hours per week to their studies.

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

Completion of the HE Certificate 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.

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 (UCAT and/or BMAT) 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. In this eventuality, the academic and administrative staff at ICE will work with you to find an appropriate solution that meets your specific needs, and this may involve accepting an offer that you have received to study on an alternative (non-medicine) degree programme.

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, and staff at ICE will work with individuals to help them obtain a place on a course that is appropriate to their interests and abilities.

*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 reapply 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, evidence of British citizenship or indefinite leave to remain in the UK, and DBS paperwork.
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.
4. Familiarise yourself with the UCAT (https://www.ucat.ac.uk/) and begin your preparations – 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 fundamentalsof 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.

BMAT – the BioMedical Aptitude Test (https://www.admissionstesting.org/for-test-takers/bmat/). All students who apply to study medicine at the University of Cambridge are expected to take the BMAT. It is a standardised test that is broken down into three sections; 1. Thinking Skills, 2. Scientific Knowledge and Applications, 3. Writing Task. The BMAT tests scientific knowledge, therefore students on the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies will sit it in the February after they start the course to allow them sufficient time to develop their understanding of the relevant scientific disciplines. If students are offered a place to study medicine at Cambridge, they will be expected to attain a benchmark value in the BMAT before they can take up their place and this benchmark value varies from year to year. Students on the CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies who do not apply to Cambridge will not need to sit the BMAT.

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.