New medicine programme will enable local students to fulfil their dream of becoming doctors

Hull York Medical School launches new Medicine with a Gateway Year programme

Hull York Medical School’s new Medicine with a Gateway Year programme aims to provide an opportunity for those students who do not meet the standard entry requirements of the existing Medicine Programme to still fulfil their dream of becoming doctors.

Professor Una Macleod, Dean and Practising GP herself believes the programme will enable more young people to fulfil their dream of becoming doctors. She says:

From solving problems, to the interaction with patients and doing small things which make big differences on an individual level, being a doctor is an enormous privilege and as a School we are committed to raising aspirations and supporting and encouraging young people who wish to pursue a career in medicine.

The Medicine with a Gateway Year is a six year programme. The Gateway forms the first academic year and is focused on facilitating students transition from school or college to university – ensuring students have the required level of scientific knowledge and study skills, as well as teaching them about professionalism and the NHS. Students will learn in the brand new £28million Allam Medical Building, at the heart of the University of Hull’s Health Campus where they will rub shoulders with other healthcare professionals in training, including nursing, physician associate and midwifery students.

Students will also experience clinical placements in a GP and Hospital setting from the very start of the programme, coming into contact with real patients from the very start of the programme, thus enabling them to develop the communication skills, confidence and empathetic approach to delivering care that Hull York Medical School Graduates are known for. Upon successful completion of the Gateway programme students will automatically progress to the School’s five year MB BS Medicine programme.

Una goes on to say: ‘Through this programme we hope to inspire local students to study medicine in this area so they might make a difference to the health of patients locally’.

Dr Paul Docherty, Admissions Tutor for the School, says:

We recognise that demand for medical school places is high and that there are many factors which can impact student’s success in securing a place – from academic entry requirements to parents’ academic attainment or personal circumstance. The Medicine with a Gateway Year programme is a widening participation initiative which aims to support those students who may not meet the entry requirements of the School’s five year MB BS Medicine programme but have a passion for making a difference and are keen to pursue a career in medicine.

Applications are now welcome for 2019 entry. In terms of eligibility to apply, applicants need to be 17 or over on 1 October in the year they commence the course and should have a gap of no more than three years between completing secondary education and beginning the Gateway Year.

In terms of ‘A’ Level requirements applicants should have BBC (B grades must be in Biology and Chemistry), maximum predicted grades AAB. This is lower than the entry requirements for the School’s five year undergraduate MB BS Medicine programme which are AAA (including Biology and Chemistry).

Priority will be given to those applicants living in the Hull York Medical School region* although the School welcomes applications from anyone with a passion for making a difference and a drive to deliver excellent healthcare.

For further information about the Medicine with a Gateway Year programme, including who should apply and entry requirements, visit https://www.hyms.ac.uk/gateway-year

Hull York Medical School is the joint medical school of the universities of Hull and York. It works in partnership with regional NHS Trusts and community healthcare providers to ensure it responds to local workforce needs and provides its students with the knowledge and skills to deliver exceptional care to patients. Over 1400 doctors have trained with the School and many of these are now working within the region and beyond as GPs, Psychiatrists and Consultants. In recognition of this and following the Department of Health initiative to expand the number of medical school places in England, Hull York Medical School has been awarded an additional 90 places – representing a 69% increase in places from 130 home places available in 2017 to 220 in 2019.

As well as ensuring its doctors are equipped with the knowledge and skills to deliver brilliant healthcare, the School has since day one been providing opportunities and support for young people across the region to fulfil their dreams of becoming doctors, through a variety of widening participation activities which include a Summer Residential for Year 12 students,  and a successful Pathways to Medicine Programme funded by the Sutton Trust, the School has helped young people pursue a career in medicine – with many of these students now studying at Hull York Medical School.

These initiatives together with the launch of the Medicine with a Gateway Year programme demonstrate the School’s commitment to training more doctors locally with a view to improving the health of people in the region and beyond.

*City of York, East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull, North and North East Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool