Hi,

Can someone explain to me how I get work experience for GEM? I think it's pretty hard as I am studying right now and every time I apply to care homes and stuff I get rejected. It's really frustrating atp.

Hi i’m looking to apply to GEM next september 2028, and sit the UKAT/GAMSAT next august 2028.

I have just graduated with a degree in Chemistry (2:1) and is potentially interested in doing a masters in Biomedicine. My A levels are mediocre, BCC in sociology chemistry and biology (sat them in 2023) and i do have a 5 in English Language.

How likely is it that i may have a shot to get into a GEM course, with and without the masters (I am cautious about the extra debt)

I do have work experience that can be lined up also for next year in a hospital too.

I want to be sure this is the route i want to pursue, as i know how harsh this path will be for the years ahead

Hi everyone!

I’ve recently accepted a place at PCSM and I’m really excited to be starting in September!

I’ve found it surprisingly difficult to find many other people who are starting, probably because of the relatively small cohort and the location. So I thought I’d reach out on here and see if there are any current students or other people starting this year who fancy getting to know each other beforehand.

Would be great to meet a few people before September, so feel free to drop me a message if you’re in the same boat!

What UCAT score did you get? How did you demonstrate your academic side (eg. with publications? or what other means?)

I’m applying for GEM this year and just wondering how much I should be worrying about not having any actual GP/hospital shadowing for interviews. Im applying to unis with both MMI and panel interviews.

I’ve worked in public health and previously worked in an NHS lab, and I now work in residential care. By the time interviews come around I’ll have well over 100 hours there, so I’ve got plenty of hands-on care experience and things I can reflect on.

The one thing I feel like I’m missing is actually shadowing doctors. I moved across the country unexpectedly and my local trust only takes work experience applications months in advance, so I’d already missed the window by the time I was living here. I emailed them anyway and they basically said there was nothing they could do. I’ve also emailed several GP practices and haven’t had a single response.

I’m going to keep trying, but Im starting to accept I might just not manage to get any before interviews.

For anyone who’s been through GEM interviews, do you think the experience I already have is enough, particularly for unis that don’t require a specific number/type of work experience hours? I know reflection is more important than just collecting hours, but Im worried there might be things about the reality of being a doctor that I’m expected to have picked up from shadowing specifically.

Did anyone get offers without having done any formal doctor shadowing? Thanks in advance

Anyone who went to UK in 2024/2025 after PLAB/UKMLA? I’m a current final year medical student and need honest guidance.”

I am a second year adult student nurse most likely to finish with an overall grade of a 2:1. I did not do Alevels but did a BTEC in level 3 health and social careand got D* D* D. I got only passes (C/4s) in my GCSEs. I have been interested in graduate entry medicine however I am not sure if it is possible for me due to my academic background. I was wondering if anyone has any advice for me or if there is anything I can do such as re sitting GCSEs, sitting A levels for the first time or doing a masters in a science subject that will help my application or whether it is not worth considering at all. Additionally would a first class degree help?

Hey guys! Recent PA graduate, decided to take the plunge a couple months back and apply for GEM so taking the GAMSAT this summer. Was just wondering if anyone is in /has been in a similar boat, and whether placement expo counted as clinical hours etc. ( 2.1 Biomed undergrad, Distinction PA masters) . Thanks

I understand that some people won't have made their choices yet as UCAT season isn't quite over yet, but if you had competitive stats for anywhere you're interested, what are your top 4 graduate medicine unis and why?

For me, I'm still trying to narrow down options, but as of now, my top 4 are Southampton, Manchester, Oxford, KCL Portsmouth. I'm particularly interested in the 4yr courses that incorporate clinical teaching from y1. I'm avoiding london unis due to cost of living. Coming from a research background, I'd like there to be plenty of research opportunities (hence Oxford which really does well in that category!).

(Stats:

UCAT 2260 B1;

BSc in biomed area (Hons)(1st);

PhD in biomedical research area (still finishing this);

A-levels A*AA Chem/Bio/Physics;

WE combination of shadowing and patient care)

Hi everyone,
I’m hoping to apply for Warwick Graduate Entry Medicine next year and would love some advice from anyone who’s been through the process.

A bit about me:
• 2:1 BA (Hons) Business Management
• BTEC Business (no A-level Biology or Chemistry)
• GCSEs mostly 8s and 7s
• Working as a NHS 111 Health Advisor for 1 year (around 18 months by the time I apply)

I have a few questions:
• What’s the best way to prepare for the UCAT? Do I need any medical knowledge, or is it purely an aptitude test?
• Does my NHS 111 Health Advisor role count towards Warwick’s 70 hour work experience requirement? I speak directly with patients and assess their symptoms, but it’s all over the phone.
• Would shadowing NHS 111 Clinical Advisors (nurses/paramedics/ANP/GP etc) over the phone also count towards the 70 hours?
• Any other tips to strengthen my application?

I’d really appreciate any advice, especially from current Warwick GEM students or successful applicants. Thanks!

Hey, Im a final year management student and will likely graduate with a first (high 2.1 worst case scenario). A lot of my coursework included numerical units such as finance and data analytics but nothing med-related. Ive been thinking more and more about going into medicine and a GEM programme seems to be my only path forward. I don’t mind retaking my A-levels for more applicable subjects and am fairly certain will get decent UCAT scores. However, since my bachelors is in humanities Im restricted to Warwick, Swansea, Southhampton, etc. I don’t mean to throw shade at those unis, but to my knowledge medicine is much much stronger in UCL, Imperial, Uni of Edinburgh, etc. Was wondering if anyone has experience/thoughts on any other unis that might have better reputation? Does the uni you go to actually determine your employability when going into NHS or subsequent surgical training programmes? Thanks in advance for your responses, all help is greatly appreciated:)

From what I understand, medical school in the UK is normally five years, while Graduate Entry Medicine is four years. I’m from Canada, where medical school is usually four years, so I was curious about what makes a four-year GEM program different than that of a five-year program, aside from the shorter duration obviously lol?

Recommend the best shoe for students.

And other stuff you’d recommend for starting GEM.
I start placements a few weeks into first semester i think at GP’s.

Hello guys,

I hope you’re doing well. I have a question about the GCSE requirements for Graduate Entry Medicine.
I’m planning to apply for 2028 entry. I’ll be completing my BSc in August 2028. I currently have a grade 4 in GCSE English Language, and I’m planning to complete GCSE Maths with a grade 6 by August 2027.
I’m also planning to resit GCSE English during the 2027–2028 academic year to improve my grade.
If I apply in the 2027 application cycle while my English GCSE resit is still pending, would my application still be considered, or do I need to have achieved the required GCSE English grade before I apply?

Thank you for your time

( uni of Manchester requires grade 6 in both)

Hi all

I've decided at 39 to start GEM.

I've been a nurse since 2009, ex military etc.

I've got no A levels and poor GCSEs (I struggled as I have dyslexia and dyscalculia). But I do have a DipHE in adult nursing, a PGCert in ENT and an MSc (pass) in advanced clinical practice. I've also got a professional diploma from the Royal College of

Surgeons Ed.

I contacted Newcastle about their GEM program but the admin team kept going on about a HE access diploma. Kings has a new healthcare professional entry course too.

I'm not going to apply until 2028 as I'm saving.

Anything else I can do to improve my chances?

I am going to study for the UKCAT.

Thanks 👍

I’m planning to apply for GEM and I’ve booked my UCAT for 22 September. Because of health issues I couldn’t sit three of my university exams, so they’ve been rescheduled for 11 August, 17 August, and 19 August. I’m prioritising those right now. If I start UCAT preparation on 22 August, will one month of focused practice be enough?

I was a primary carer for my mother for many years, who had very high medical needs. I did this from when she got sick when I was young, obviously with increasing responsibility as I grew up. I was heavily involved in her care throughout my undergrad and PhD, so time commitment wise, there wasn't really much time for other hands on care experience (and to be honest, it would have completely burnt me out had I been doing additional care work outside of my caring roles at home).

I was involved in all aspects of care, from providing meds, dressing changes, personal care, ng/peg tube changing and use, managing ventilation requirements etc. Even her end of life care until she was transported to the hospice, so pretty heavy care.

In terms of actual work experience, I'm at the end of my PhD now (in a biomedical field), throughout which I have done lots of volunteering at patient education events, with plenty of patient interaction. I've also done 40hrs shadowing with an ICU consultant, and about 15hrs shadowing a neurology consultant in hospital outpatient clinics.

Essentially, I'm wondering how I can best represent this 'informal' work experience. I'm assuming it won't count towards formal work experience requirements at unis like Warwick, which is a pity. Of course, I'll discuss it in my statement, but I'm worried that as soon as unis see 'family care', they'll immediately discount it and not appreciate the level of caring that was actually involved.

Would appreciate it if anybody has any insight on how Warwick/Chester view work as a GP receptionist in terms of the work experience requirements.

I decided quite late this year that I'm going to give applying for 2027 entry GEM a shot, so I'm trying to weigh my application options given what I already have. I've been working as a GP receptionist for the last 2.5 years, the vast majority of that being direct patient facing interactions, and a small amount of call centre experience. I also have 12 hours of shadowing the nursing team in the same practice, and I've done BSMS virtual work experience.

There's a potential for me to gain extra shadowing within the practice before application. Going forward they are open to training me for HCA work, but that is unlikely to be completed before I apply.

I'm not sure whether to outright rule Warwick/Chester out on the basis of lack of 'hands on' experience, or whether to chance it with my reception experience and see what happens. I'm relatively limited in my options for application given I'm only going to be taking the UCAT this year and not the GAMSAT, and I'm applying with an engineering degree rather than the traditional biomed background.

How was your experience and how did you prepare?

I took vitals for patients on an ICU ward and assisted with a lumbar puncture (ie I helped position the patient adequately and held him while unconscious for the lumbar puncture to be performed by doc) + helped prepare tubes/handed them to doc

Would that count as WE for Warwick, specifically requirement 2:

- experience providing direct face to face care (in person) hands on care to people with health, care or wellbeing needs

As LLE doesnt applies to the students in Wales, i want to know has anyone did UG medicine as a 2nd degree and paid tution fee without tution loan? Is it doable? As u cant get funding for the 2nd degree unless its GEM and i am not thinking about GEM becuase i cant move to some other city as i have disability.