Preparing for Medicine

Experience what it's like to be a medical student

What is Preparing for Medicine?

Applying to study medicine can be daunting, especially without any experience of university or medicine in the family to draw upon. Preparing for Medicine supports  Year 12 /Level 3 Year 1 students on their path to studying medicine through participation in a range of free activities.   

Why should you sign up?

Events including:

  • Welcome event
  • 3-day, 2-night residential on campus over the Easter holidays
  • UCAT workshop on campus led by current UEA students which demystifies the exam
  • 3-day shadowing at a GP surgery or virtual placement
  • Application Support day on campus
  • Mock interview, coaching and feedback on campus
  • E-mentoring online with a current UEA student throughout the program
  • PebblePad reflective practice online activity throughout the program

A guaranteed interview to study medicine at UEA if students engage with all aspects of the program and meet the minimum course requirements.

And more! You will take part in all of this and more during the rest of Year 12 /Level 3 Year 1 – end of Year 13/Level 3 Year 2). 

What’s more… it's all FREE! 

Here's what students have to say about it

"I found it invaluable to speak to a current Medical student and have her guide me all the way through the application and interview process. I was given so much support and encouragement and this really helped to ensure my application was as strong as possible"

- 2019 attendee, now current UEA Medicine student

Types of careers within Medicine 

Here are some examples of what kind of careers a degree in Medicine can lead to: 

  • Surgeon 

  • Cardiologist 

  • Neurologist 

  • Clinical radiologist  

  • Sports club doctor 

  • Military doctor 

  • Anaesthetist 

  • Hospital doctor 

  • General practice doctor  

To explore more careers in Medicine, visit the NHS website here. 

FAQs

If you want to be part of Preparing for Medicine in 2024-25 then you'll need to:

  • Live in Norfolk or Suffolk 

  • Be in Year 12 or Level 3 Year 1

  • Have the GCSE grades needed for one of the  UEA medical courses. If you are planning on retaking GCSEs to achieve this level, you are still eligible to apply but need to outline this in your application.   

And either: 

  • Live in a TUNDRA quintile 1 or 2 postcode* 

Or:

  • Have currently or previously been eligible for Free School Meals 
  • Be care experienced
    • Being care experienced means you will have spent time living with foster carers under local authority care, in residential care (e.g. a children’s home), looked after at home under a supervision order, or in kinship care with relatives or friends, either officially (e.g. a special guardianship order) or informally without local authority support
  • Are estranged
    • An estranged person is someone who no longer has the support of their parents, and often also other family members, due to a permanent breakdown in their relationship which has led to ceased contact. This might mean your biological, step or adoptive parents or wider family members who have been responsible for supporting you in the past.

As long as you meet any of the criteria above, you will be considered for the activity. If there are more applicants than there are spaces, we will randomly select from the eligible applicants. If you have not been randomly selected, we will place you on a waiting list and you may be able to join the activity if someone else drops out.

*UEA will use the Office for Students ‘Search by Postcode’ tool to check eligibility for this program. If you want to pre-check that you are eligible, you can do so by following these instructions. 

  1. Go to the Office for Students ‘Search by Postcode’ website  

  1. Read the statement and if you agree, click on the box 

  1. Enter your postcode of where you live 

  1. Look at the second line which says TUNDRA MSOA, which Quintile are you in? 

  1. If you are in Quintile 1 (like the example below) or if it says Quintile 2, then you are eligible to apply to Preparing for Medicine. 

Search by postcode webpage

 

If you have any queries about the eligibility criteria, please get in touch - fmh.outreach@uea.ac.uk

Applications for 24/25 will open in January.

If you have any questions please get in touch - fmh.outreach@uea.ac.uk

If you are part of the Preparing for Medicine scheme, you’ll get the chance to visit and get a real feel for what it is like to study medicine.  

You will have the opportunity to*: 

  • Meet current medical students including junior doctors, consultants and academics who teach at our Medical School 

  • Take on the role of a doctor by working in groups on a Problem Based Learning scenario 

  • Get hands on in practical sessions 

  • Receive advice on making your UCAS application stand out from the crowd 

  • Enjoy getting to know like-minded students 

  • Explore our university 

  • Take part in a 3-day placement (subject to availability) or go on a virtual placement 

  • Take part in UCAT workshop 

  • Learn about the application and interview process for different Medicine courses 

  • Meet some UEA Medical clubs and societies 

*All activities are subject to change due to the Government and UEA’s COVID-19 guidance.  

There is no cost to attend, and we will even arrange and pay for your transport to and from UEA. If your application for the Preparing for Medicine scheme is successful, you will automatically receive a place on the events and activities, and we will be in touch with more details.  

The Norwich Medical School at UEA has an established reputation for exciting and innovative approaches to education, supported by a strong and rapidly developing research programme. You can read about education, research and innovation and engagement on the  Norwich Medical School  webpages.