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University of Oxford

Overview

The University of Oxford is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world. Notable alumni include two British Kings and 17 winners of the Nobel Prize for Medicine – maybe you could be next! The course offered at Oxford takes a traditional approach with distinct pre-clinical and clinical phases, allowing students to fully understand and explore the scientific theory underlying clinical practice before they stepping foot onto hospital wards. Oxford, like Cambridge, is a collegiate university so students will additionally benefit to membership to one of the 39 colleges. Your college will provide accommodation and other facilities including dining halls, study rooms and libraries. Studying at Oxford is a unique experience based on tradition and the traditional experiences.

Table of Contents

Oxford attracts the strongest applicants from across the globe. With a strong emphasis on academics and BMAT score, Oxford is an ideal choice for very strong all-round applicants keen to experience a traditional Oxbridge education.

Key Points

  • BMAT
  • Traditional Course
  • Compulsory Intercalation
  • Oxbridge

Insider’s Guide to Oxford Medical School from Antoni, Oxford Medical Student

What makes Oxford unique to other medical schools?

Oxford is unique in its very particular style of teaching, most notably the tutorial system. Tutorials are small group teaching sessions (usually no more than 2-5 people with a tutor), which are a chance to solidify your understanding of the lectures and also explore beyond them. Tutorials can be incredible because you might even find yourself one on one with a world expert in a topic, and there have been several times where I’ve had my mind blow. But they are also a lot of work, especially when you have a lot of essays set for these tutorials. The essays can form the majority of your weekly workload, so this really is a big difference from other medical schools that only set very occasional essays. While these essays are rarely fun, they do teach you how to search literature, improve your prose, and ultimately they force you to revise content.

Course Structure at Oxford Medical School

Year 1 at Oxford Medical School

Biochemistry, anatomy, physiology & pharmacology, and medical sociology. There is almost no clinical exposure, except a few GP sessions.

Year 2 at Oxford Medical School

Pathology, neuroscience, applied physiology & pharmacology, and psychology. Again, there is almost no clinical exposure, except a few GP sessions.

Year 3 at Oxford Medical School

Final honour schools year: 8 week lab project, 3000 word extended essay and option choices (e.g. cellular neuro). Also learn about statistics and critical reading of papers.

Year 4 at Oxford Medical School

The first clinical year including a mix of clinical placements and experiences: Basics of clinical medicine and interaction with patients, short GP attachment, lab medicine, surgery, special study modules (wide variety of options to choose from).

Year 5 at Oxford Medical School

Specialist rotations, including: neuroscience & related specialties, community medicine, orthopaedics, rheumatology, emergency medicine, paediatrics and women’s health.

Year 6 at Oxford Medical School

Final year includes both general clinical studies (medicine, surgery and clinical options) and vocational skills preparing you for becoming a doctor (including 10 week elective).

Teaching Style at Oxford Medical School

What is the general teaching style at Oxford? E.g. is it PBL/Traditional? etc.

Traditional in the sense that it is very lecture-based with little PBL or CBL. However, tutorials often offer an experience similar to PBL alongside your main studies, so you are exposed to a mix of teaching. There are also small-group seminars.

Does Oxford offer dissection?

No, it is predominantly prosection. In my experience, this has made teaching much more efficient and the prosections tend to be more expertly cut than any dissection I reckon I could manage.

Does Oxford offer a BSc? If so, how is the BSc year?

After the three pre-clinical years at Oxford, you receive a BA in medical sciences. Third year is a fantastic chance to get a taste of research in a lab and really feel part of the team. Some students decide that they would like to pursue a PhD following their third year, which is useful if you decide on a career in research. The year also teaches you to look at papers more critically, and occasionally you may even get your name on a paper too!

What is the pre-clinical / clinical split like? Do you get early clinical exposure?

The pre-clinical / clinical split is very marked at Oxford. The first two years are pre-clinical with only a few GP sessions, while the last three years are largely clinical. You are unlikely to step into a hospital until fourth year.

Social Life at Oxford Medical School

What are the clubs and societies like?

The university has a fantastic range of clubs and societies, with many sports and activities pitched at both pros and beginners. However, what makes Oxford unique is the existence of college teams, which allow you to represent your college in various sporting and non-sporting activities on a casual basis with less commitment, which can be great fun. The MedSoc also has teams, but these are not as popular.

What is the social life like?

Oxford can cater to a range of social lives. There are clubs and plenty of pubs, but the colleges also offer a quieter place to hang out and you have the chance to meet people from lots of different subjects within your college.

FAQs

→What is the University of Oxford Medical School?

The University of Oxford Medical School is a prestigious medical school located in Oxford, England. It is part of the University of Oxford and is considered one of the top medical schools in the world.

→How do I apply to the University of Oxford Medical School?

To apply to the University of Oxford Medical School, you must complete an application through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). The application process involves submitting your academic qualifications, personal statement, and references.

→What are the entry requirements for the University of Oxford Medical School?

The entry requirements for the University of Oxford Medical School vary depending on the course you are applying for. However, generally, you must have excellent grades in relevant subjects, such as Biology and Chemistry, and have completed the necessary tests, such as the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT).

→What courses are available at the University of Oxford Medical School?

The University of Oxford Medical School offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Biomedical Sciences, Clinical Embryology, and Global Health Science.

→Is there financial support available for students at the University of Oxford Medical School?

Yes, the University of Oxford Medical School offers a range of financial support options, including scholarships, bursaries, and student loans. Students can also apply for funding from external organizations, such as charities and research councils.

→What are the career prospects for graduates of the University of Oxford Medical School?

Graduates of the University of Oxford Medical School have excellent career prospects, with many going on to become doctors, researchers, and healthcare professionals. The school has a strong reputation in the medical industry and is highly respected by employers around the world.

→Is it hard to get into Oxford Medical School?

Yes, it is considered difficult to get into Oxford Medical School. The school is highly competitive, and the admissions process is rigorous, with a large number of applicants for a limited number of places. The school receives thousands of applications each year, and only a small percentage of applicants are accepted. The entry requirements for Oxford Medical School are also high, with applicants expected to have excellent grades in relevant subjects and perform well on standardized tests such as the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) or the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT). However, while the admissions process is competitive, it is not impossible to get into Oxford Medical School, and many students are successful in their applications each year.

About the university

Key Information
Email [email protected]
Phone number 01865 285788
Course Information
Teaching style Traditional
Traditional course, where the first five terms focus on pre-clinical learning, delivered mainly through science-based lectures, followed by clinical training.
Course length 6 years
Courses offered 2 courses offered:
A100 Standard-Entry Medicine - 6 years
A101 Graduate-Entry Medicine - 4 years
Graduate entry Yes
Foundation or access No
University Life
Local area Oxford
Oxford is a historic student-centered city. The University has no central campus but is made up of over 30 colleges and halls spread across the city centre and beyond. These colleges are at the heart of Oxford's reputation as one of the best universities in the world and make it a very special place to study and live. Every student belongs to a college as well as being a member of their course department and the University. This means all Oxford students have the benefits of belonging to both a large, world-class university and to a small and friendly academic community.
Social life One of the many myths about Oxford is that there is no time to have fun. Alongside your college community you will be able to develop your interests, old or new, through over 400 clubs and societies, many of them University-wide.
Interview
Interview style Panel
Panel interviews at two colleges. Applicants will be interviewed at two colleges, taking place over a period of two days. Accomodation will be provided. The number and format of the interview will vary between colleges, however in general you will be interviewed by at least two academics at each college and by at least one practising clinician.
Interview dates December
Admissions Tests
UCAT UCAT Required
GAMSAT N/A
Academic Requirements
GCSE GCSEs
No specific subject requirements, but GCSE performance data for schools in Great Britain and Northern Ireland are used, where available, to assess whether an applicant's grades at GCSE reflected an under- or over-performance within the context of the school at which they were taken.
A-level A*AA
A-levels: A*AA (excluding Critical Thinking and General Studies, and the international A-level in Thinking Skills) taken in the same academic year. Candidates are required to achieve at least grade A in both Chemistry and at least one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics. If a practical component forms part of any of the A-levels taken, we expect candidates to have taken it and passed.
Scottish Advanced/Highers AAAA
AAAAA at Scottish Highers. Only accepted with Advanced Highers, taken in the same academic year
IB 39 points
Overall score of 39 (including core points), and scores of 7, 6 and 6 in subjects taken at Higher Level. Applicants are required to offer the following subjects at Higher Level: Chemistry (compulsory) and at least one from Biology, Physics and Mathematics. Where applicants offer Mathematics at HL, we have no preference for either the Analysis and Approaches (AA) course or the Applications and Interpretation (AI) course.
Bachelor's Degree (Gradutes Only) 2:1 Honours degree
Applicants with an Honours degree and appropriate A-levels are welcome to apply. Award (or prediction) of a first class or high second class degree is likely to be a relevant pre-requisite to demonstration of suitability for the academic demands of the course. Our standard academic requirements and selection processes apply for all applicants; a good Honours degree cannot compensate for relatively poor results in A-levels or equivalent qualifications or qualifications in subjects not directly relevant to our course.
Statistics
Number of applicants per interview Home: 4, International: 8.5
Number of applicants per place Home: 10, International: 42
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