What qualifications do I need?
To study at KMMS, you must possess the abilities, commitment and personal qualities that are necessary to deliver the core NHS values and become an excellent doctor.
When selecting our students, we look for:
- A resilient all-rounder who can demonstrate a number of skills and attributes
- A realistic and committed attitude to medical training and clinical practice
- A commitment to quality of care,compassion and improving lives
- An understanding of the NHS core values and the ability to reflect on their importance
- The ability to communicate and work effectively in a team for the benefit of patients
- An appreciation of the need to treat people with dignity and respect
- The ability to appreciate other people’s points of view
- A willingness to accept responsibility
- Academic achievement and potential
Entry requirements
We want to educate and support pioneering students who are right for the profession. Our student doctors will become committed and compassionate practitioners who are really in touch with their patients and committed to improving their future health and care experience.
We expect academic ability, but equally we are looking for the right personal qualities that people require in a good doctor; someone who is able to demonstrate understanding of the core NHS values.
Minimum entry requirements:
| Qualification | Grades required | Required subjects | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSCE or equivalent | Normally A* to B or 9 to 6 | 5 subjects which must include English Language and Mathematics. We also require Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Double Science will be accepted as an alternative to the three separate sciences. | ||
| A Level (or equivalent) | AAB** | 1st A level group* Chemistry, Biology | 2nd A level group* Chemistry, Biology, Maths, Psychology, Physics, Computing/Computer Science | 3rd A level group Any other A Level except General Studies/Critical Thinking |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points | Must include Biology or Chemistry at Higher Level 6 and one further Higher Level subject in Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Physics or Psychology at grade 6 | ||
| Degree | 2:1 or above | Biology or Biosciences-related subject. Most Health Professions degrees also accepted. | ||
| BTEC | Not accepted | |||
* Including the practical endorsement in Science A Levels where appropriate
** Offer ABB or BBB for contextual admissions
Additional information
- All students must have a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service and Occupational Health Check
- All students must have taken the UCAT (Universities Clinical Aptitude Test) in the year that they are applying
- Applicants who have studied an Access to Medicine programme will be considered for entry unless they are within three years of sitting A Level or Degree exams. We will accept a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 with 30 credits at Distinction and 15 at Merit. Applicants should achieve 15 credits in Chemistry or Biology with at least 12 graded level-3 credits at Distinction. Please note that Access to Medicine courses are not standardised and the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) have not yet developed criteria for credentialling. We will therefore consider candidates on a case by case basis
- We will consider applicants who have an upper second class honours degree in Biology or a Biosciences-related subject and most Health Related professions for entry onto the first year of our BM BS degree
- Due to the highly integrated nature of our programme, we are only able to accept applicants into the first year of the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery undergraduate.
- All applicants must be 18 years old or above when they undertake their first clinical placement in week seven of the first term of Year One
- Resits
- GCSE resits: We will accept GCSE resits towards the minimum requirements. These need to have been completed before an application is submitted.
- A Level resits: We will not accept applications from candidates who are re-sitting or have re-sat A Levels unless there are extenuating circumstances. We will require formal evidence of any extenuating circumstances to support your application and this will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis
- Deferred entry
Applicants cannot apply for deferred entry for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery undergraduate programme. However, if you are made an offer and your circumstances then change, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can consider your request for deferral.
Literacy and numeracy
All applicants must have qualifications in English and mathematics equivalent to at least GCSE grade 6 or B.
Approved English language qualifications for international students:
The qualifications and grades we accept are listed below. Your qualification must have been taken no more than two years before your course start date and must be completed before you apply, and have been taken at a UKVI-approved centre. If you have taken an in-country qualification or A level, IGCSE or IB English, this may not be required. This is assessed on an individual basis for applicants requiring a Tier 4 visa. For the IB we accept Higher Level English A Language or Language and Literature at grade 4, and Standard Level English A Language or Language and Literature at grade 5.
| Accepted English Language Qualification | KMMS Required Scores |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7.0 overall and a minimum of 7.0 in each component (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening) |
| Cambridge English: Advanced and Proficiency (CAE/CPE) | 191 overall with a minimum of 184 in Writing, Reading, Speaking and Listening |
| TOEFL iBT | 104 overall including at least 26 in all components |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | 70 overall with 70 in each component |
Overseas candidates from countries listed in the UKVI list of majority English-speaking countries are exempt from this requirement for Tier 4 purposes. However, you must still meet our English language requirements for academic purposes.
In-country qualifications:
You may use one of the following English language qualifications in your visa application as proof of meeting the Level B2 requirement. This does not guarantee you will be exempt from taking an accepted English language qualification, as listed in the table above, and Kent and Medway Medical School will determine this on a case-by-case basis.
| Country | Qualification and minimum grade requirement |
|---|---|
| Austria | Grade 1 (Sehr Gut) in Reifezeugnis/ Maturazeugnis English |
| Bermuda | Bermuda Secondary School Certificate (BSSC) in English grade B |
| Botswana | Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) in English grade B |
| Brunei | Brunei-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (B-C GCE) O Level in English grade B |
| Cameroon | GCE O Level English at grade B |
| Caribbean | Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) in English at Grade 1/Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) in English grade B |
| Denmark | SKX Written English at grade 10 |
| Finland | Ylioppilastuutkinto/ Studentexamensbetyg English at M 5 |
| France | French Baccalaureate Written English at 14.0 or higher OR OIB English at 11.0 or higher |
| Ghana | WAEC/WASSCE in English at B3 |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education in English Language at 5* with 5* in each component |
| India | Standard XII in English at 70% (if English medium school)/Standard XII in English at 80% (if non English medium school) |
| Kenya | Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in English grade B |
| Luxembourg | DFES English at 43 OR English Lit at 45 |
| Malaysia | Cambridge English Language Syllabus 1119 (SPM) grade B |
| Malta | MATSEC English at grades 1-2 |
| Mauritius | Cambridge Overseas Secondary Certificate (COSC) in English grade B/4 |
| Netherlands | VWO English 8.0 |
| Nigeria | Senior School Certificate (NECO) or WAEC/WASSCE in English at B3 |
| Norway | Vitnemal for Videregaende Opplaering (ENG1002) at 5 |
| Singapore | Singapore O Level in English grade B/6 OR Singapore Integrated Programme English grade B |
| South Africa | National Senior Certificate in English at 5 |
| Tanzania | Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE) in English grade B |
| Uganda | Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) in English at 3 |
| West Africa | WASSCE in English at B3 |
| Zambia | Zambia School Certificate in English at 6 |
| Zimbabwe | Cambridge School Certificate/Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)/Zimbabwe General Certificate of Education (ZGCE) Ordinary Level in English grade B |
| Worldwide | University of Cambridge IGCSE First Language English at grade B |
| Worldwide | University of Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language at grade A |
| Worldwide | GCSE/O Level English Language at grade B |
Contextual data
We want to encourage aspiring doctors from all backgrounds to seriously consider medicine as a career.
KMMS is committed to widening participation to medicine and has ambitious targets to recruit students who have the talent and aspiration to study medicine and are from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Contextualisation is a method of assessing a student’s academic achievement within its proper educational and social context. We shall therefore be seeking information on schooling, area of residence and possibly certain household-related data in order to review applications.
We will guarantee an invitation to interview for applicants who meet the standard entry requirements and our required UCAT score if they are:
- Currently studying at schools in the Kent & Medway Progression Federation (KMPF), a partner school or college of either Canterbury Christ Church University or the University of Kent or at a University of Kent Academies Trust school
Eligible students from a widening participation background will be considered for a lower conditional academic offer of either ABB or BBB. Further consideration will be given to widening participation applicants at all stages of the admission process. For example, if an applicant has not had the opportunity to take up an NHS work placement we will take into consideration other relevant experience as part of your application and within the interview process.
The extenuating circumstances process
If an applicant has extenuating circumstances then we would expect the relevant examination boards to be informed so that the appropriate adjustments can be made.
If an applicant has extenuating circumstances at the point of application which include ongoing issues that have affected their studies or application form then it is possible to flag these issues through the ‘Extenuating Circumstances’ process. It is the applicant’s responsibility to inform us of any extenuating circumstances.
Extenuating circumstances include:
- Significant caring responsibilities, recent bereavement or serious illness within immediate family
- Being estranged from family or key family members
- Serious disruption to the provision of education at School or College
- Other serious disruption where the school/college/doctor or social worker feels that this information should be considered.
In these cases an extenuating circumstances form should be requested via their KentVision portal (details for which will follow the UCAS application) and completed and returned to the admissions team as soon as possible after the application deadline (for 2020 applicants this was October 20th 2019). The form may be completed by a teacher, doctor or social worker. This information will be considered by the Admissions Committee during the selection process.
If an applicant’s circumstances change after submission of this form then the Admissions Operations Manager should be informed.
UCAT process
The UCAT (Universities Clinical Aptitude Test) is a requirement for all applicants who wish to apply for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery undergraduate programme at KMMS. For the latest information about the UCAT process and timings please visit the UCAT website.
You can use the the UCAT test centre locator on the UCAT website to find your nearest test centre.
To prepare for the UCAT we advise students to use the free practice materials available on the UCAT website.
Please note that as we are a new medical school, we cannot publish our accepted UCAT score from the previous year as a guide, as we do not yet have one.
The UCAT scores will be used alongside our entry criteria when initially assessing applications. There will be a further review of contextual data and applicants’ personal statements before the final selection for MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) takes place.
* Disclaimer: This information is for indicative guidance only. KMMS is a new medical school and the BM BS programme is subject to successful progress through the General Medical Council’s quality assurance programme.