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University of Dundee (Gateway Year)

Overview

Dundee Medical School is one of the smallest medical schools in the UK, with only around 160 students in each cohort. The medical school is integrated with Ninewells Hospital allowing students to learn in one of Europe’s largest teaching hospitals including world renowned research facilities. There are placement opportunities across Scotland giving students a chance to experience a wide variety of clinical environments and diverse populations. The Gateway Year is designed for students who haven’t taken the suitable combination of subjects or who failed to meet grade requirements due to personal circumstance. It guarantees entry to Y1 medicine if a satisfactory grade (B3), satisfactory UCAT score and MMI performance are achieved.

Table of Contents

Dundee consider both UCAT and previous academic attainment when scoring applicants so it is ideal for candidates who are strong consistent all-rounders.

Key Points

  • Foundation Year
  • Tailored Teaching
  • Small Group Learning
  • Possible Entry to Y1 Medicine

FAQs

→What is the Gateway Year at the University of Dundee?

The Gateway Year is a one-year course offered by the University of Dundee that provides an alternative route into undergraduate study for students who may not meet the standard entry requirements for their desired degree program. It is designed to help students develop the academic skills and knowledge they need to succeed in higher education.

→Who is the Gateway Year intended for?

The Gateway Year is intended for students who have the potential to succeed in higher education but may not meet the standard entry requirements for their desired degree program. This may include students who did not achieve the necessary grades in their high school qualifications or mature students who have been out of education for some time.

→What subjects are available for study in the Gateway Year?

The Gateway Year offers a range of subjects across different disciplines, including science, engineering, business, humanities, and social sciences. The available subjects may vary depending on the year and the university’s program offerings.

→What are the entry requirements for the Gateway Year?

The entry requirements for the Gateway Year may vary depending on the degree program that students wish to pursue. Generally, students are expected to have a minimum of three Scottish Highers or equivalent qualifications, although some programs may have higher or lower requirements. Mature students who do not have formal qualifications may also be considered based on their life experience and other factors.

→How is the Gateway Year structured?

The Gateway Year is structured as a full-time course that runs for one academic year. It consists of a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops, and practical sessions, as well as assessments that are designed to help students develop their academic skills and knowledge.

→What are the benefits of the Gateway Year?

The Gateway Year provides a supportive learning environment that helps students develop the academic skills and knowledge they need to succeed in higher education. It also provides an opportunity for students to explore their interests and develop their personal and professional skills, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of the university experience and the degree program they wish to pursue.

→What are the career prospects after completing the Gateway Year?

The Gateway Year is designed to help students develop the academic skills and knowledge they need to succeed in higher education. By completing the course, students may be eligible to progress onto their desired degree program at the University of Dundee, which can open up a range of career opportunities in their chosen field.

About the university

Key Information
Email [email protected]
Phone number 01382 383617
Course Information
Teaching style Blended teaching style
The course uses a spiral-based curriculum with a variety of modern teaching methods including traditional lectures, PBL and anatomy dissection. Clinical experience is integrated throughout the course, with the opportunity to meet your very first patients very early on in the course. The Gateway Year focuses on the individual, with timetable personalised based on each student's own academic needs, and aims to bring students up to the standard to enter Y1 medicine.
Course length 6 years (1 Gateway Year + 5 Year Medicine)
Courses offered 2 courses offered:
A100 Standard Entry - 5 years
A104 Gateway to Medicine - 6 years
Graduate entry No, however Dundee is part of ScotGEM programme.
Foundation or access Yes
University Life
Local area Dundee
Dundee is a small city on the East coast of Scotland. A large proportion of the cities population is made up of students so it is designed well for student living. The campus sits near the heart of the city so is within easy reach of everything you need including a huge variety of places to eat!
Social life Most students opt to live in student accommodation on the main campus, meaning you're only ever minutes away from the university facilities including libraries, gym and the student union. The city has a thriving student population meaning there is plenty of student events and societies to get involved in - including medicine specific societies tailored to your medical interests.
Interview
Interview style MMI
Multiple mini-interviews
Interview dates Dec-Jan
Admissions Tests
UCAT UCAT required
No cut-off is used. The score is one part of the pre-interview decision making process. For 2021-entry the average UCAT invited to interview was 2313.
GAMSAT N/A
Academic Requirements
GCSE GCSEs used for selection
No minimum requirements but GCSE achievements are considered when scoring application
A-level BBC
*Under review for 2023/24* Widening Access applicants: BBC at A-Level (A2), to include chemistry and another science subject. ABBB / BBBBB grades at Higher, to include chemistry and another science subject. The other three Highers can be your own choice and this will not influence assessment.
Scottish Advanced/Highers Scottish Advanced
Subjects required: Chemistry and one other science subject
Applicants from a non-science background are welcome to apply but must obtain grades AAAAB at Highers including no more than one science subject (excluding chemistry). Offers will be conditional on the attainment of three Advanced Highers taken in 6th year.
Please note Nat 5 achievement will be considered when scoring applicants AAA grades at A level (A2), to include no more than one science subject excluding chemistry.
IB 37 points
** Under review for 2023/24 ** Minimum of 37 points, to include 6, 6 and 6 at Higher level. Subjects at Higher level should include no more than one science and exclude chemistry. Plus 3 subjects at Standard Level with an average of grade 6.
Bachelor's Degree (Gradutes Only) 2:1 Honours degree
A minimum of an upper second class Honours degree in a non-science subject is required to allow consideration.
Statistics
Number of applicants per interview no data available
Number of applicants per place no data available
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MohamedkhairMedic Mind Tutor

30 July 2022

Personal Statement
My desire to study medicine stems from my long-standing fascination of the natural sciences, in particular biology and chemistry, compounded with desire to help people and alleviate suffering. The complexity of the human body is fascinating, the digestive system has been a particularly interesting area of study, as I find the drawings and structure of organs to be incredible. However, having witnessed close relatives suffer from several ailments, such as cancer and kidney failure, I am also acutely aware of the danger the human body can present to oneself. Reading the Truth about Cancer by TYM. Bollinger, I was curious especially about cancer on how this disease results when cellular changes cause the uncontrolled growth and cell division. This realization, coincided with further research into the medical field such as reading The House of God by Samuel Shem, which taught me that without teamwork you will not be capable of solving critical situations, further confirmed by desire to enter the medical field.
As well as having conducted research into the medical field, I have also been fortunate enough to have an extremely insightful and hands on work experience at Central Doctors Hospital – Khartoum Sudan. This included working in the emergency room where I was taught how to do the first aid for patients who arrive the emergency room and follow the emergency doctors’ protocols. I took the vital signs for patients and managed changing the surgery dressing. The next department I worked in was the Intensive Care Unit which whilst demanding and challenging was an extremely important hospital experience as it taught me how to manage my time, think and work fast.
In the intensive care unit, I also worked with monitors and ventilators. One experience that was of particular significance to me was dealing with a patient who had a brain haemorrhage due to a car accident. I was taught how to place the ventilator and NG tube to this patient and how to work with the suction tube. What I learned from reading a monitor is the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and when it rises and how to keep them in control. Meanwhile, working in the HDU allowed me to further develop my skills treating and understanding patients in less critical positions. I was also granted permission to observe an orthopaedic surgeon who did a cartilage surgery for an adult, as well as experiencing the more administrative and pharmaceutical roles, and was subsequently able to gain an understanding of how medicine is organised and administered to patients. Overall, the experience was extremely valuable, and further ignited my desire to study medicine.
As well as my experience in the field, I also feel my academic capabilities lend me to the field of medicine. Studying Biology and Chemistry has equipped me with the academic foundation to pursue medical science. This coincided with Maths has enabled me to develop my problem-solving skills. I am also aware that entering the field of medicine requires more than a strong academic profile, but a sense of humanity and people-skills, to manage and assist people in vulnerable positions. I feel my extra-curricular hobbies and achievements have enabled me to develop such skills. Adding to that I completed an NCUK foundation course from the 5th of January to the 12th of July 2022 at MPW Birmingham with the subjects of Math, Biology, chemistry and English and I will receive the results in August. Furthermore, I completed an online work experience with Allied HealthCare Mentor work experience, and I got a Certificate for that. As a member of Sudan’s national swimming team, I have participated in several internal and external swimming competitions, including the Zone 3 championships in Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt and Sudan. I am also a member of the Khartoum Sea scout, and work to collect money for charity to fight poverty and to help the homeless. This included hosting festivals such as crossing the Nile festival with the Embassy of the Netherlands, that enabled me to develop skills in leadership and people management and taught me to manage difficult scenarios.
Working in the medical profession will provide me with life-long personal and intellectual challenges, and I believe that I can draw upon my experiences, skills and attributes to pursue this career successfully.