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School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health

Myths and Legends

There are many myths and rumours about Medical School, most of which are untrue, that deter students from applying. We have listed some of the major misconceptions that students and teachers may have about both Medical School and the Medical Profession.

Its easier to get into Medical School if one or both of your parents are doctors.
Not true. We do not judge or select students on the basis of their parents profession. It is irrelevant. We are interested in the student not the parent.

Medical Schools prefer to take students from private or public schools.
Not true. We do not judge or select students on the basis of which type of school they attended. It is irrelevant. However it should be noted that generally private schools encourage their students to apply to medical school and provide good careers guidance for their students.

I need to get all A grades in my GCSEs and my A-levels to get into Medical School.
Different British Medical Schools have different entrance requirements. In general Medical Schools are looking for students who are bright, not just students who are brilliant. We look for personal qualities additional to academic achievement.

No one from my school has ever got into Medical School before so I will not.
Not true. We do not select from any particular school or discriminate against any school. Students are judged and selected on an individual basis.

I will be discriminated against because I go to public or private school.
Not true. We do not select from any particular school or discriminate against any school. Students are judged and selected on an individual basis.

I cannot get work experience in a hospital or GP surgery so I will not be accepted into Medical School.
Not true. It is true that relevant work experience is essential, but work in a hospital or GP surgery is not the only type of work experience that is relevant. We also understand that work experience in a hospital is not available to all potential students. You will need to show you can work with people in a caring environment so relevant work experience can include volunteer work such as:

  • Helping out in an old folks home
  • Working with the disabled
  • Working with childrens groups
  • Working with a volunteer agency such as the Red Cross, Drug Rehabilitation Centres, The Samaritans etc.

Good A-level grades are not enough to get into Medical School.
True. A good doctor has many skills.You must also display various personal qualities thought to be important in a good doctor. You should also be:

  • A good communicator
  • Well Motivated
  • Hard working
  • Honest
  • Empathic
  • Friendly/approachable

If you are unsure about these qualities, think about what you would like your own GP to be like.

I have a really broad accent so Medical Schools will think I am thick or unsuitable.
Not true. We do not judge or select students on their accent (whether it be Geordie, Glaswegian or Cockney). It is your communication skills that are important.

I did not do A-levels or I did not get the required A-level grades so I cannot get into Medical School.
Untrue. If you did not get the required grades at A-level you can still enter Medical School as a mature student with a degree. However you must meet the grade requirement at degree level. In Phase 1 Medicine at Durham you must attain at least a 2.1 class bachelors degree, even if you also have a Masters degree. If you left school before Sixth Form or have professional qualifications then you can do a Medicine Access Course. There are a number of Medicine Access Courses available around the country but you should always check that it is approved by the Medical Schools you wish to apply to. Medical Schools usually require that you pass an Access Course with distinction.

At Durham we offer the Foundation Programme which is tailored for access to Phase 1 Medicine. Students entering Medicine through the Foundation Programme must complete the 1 Year Programme (treated as Medicine Year 0) with a pass rate of 70% in each of the modules. Students can then progress through to Year 1 of Phase 1 Medicine. If you would like more information about the Durham Foundation Programme then please visit the Foundation Programme website.

I will have to take an entrance exam to get into Medical School.
This depends on the Medical School they vary, some will require you take a test others won't. The tests also vary. Some tests are knowledge based, others test your logical reasoning while others test your personality traits. You should check with each Medical School. All applicants to Durham are required to complete the UKCAT aptitude test.  More information is available at the UKCAT website. 

I will need to be coached to pass an interview.
Not true. The interview process at each Medical School is different. Some last 10 minutes, some as at Durham last 45 minutes, some have a panel of interviewers, some have only 2 interviewers. Interviews are not used to test the academic content of your knowledge of medicine or your level of science knowledge. You should check the website of each Medical School as they often have information about the format of their interviews. Some even include example questions you may be asked.