Receiving a medical school offer or a dental school offer is a huge privilege and will reflect the hard work put into your medical school application.
UCAS can be confusing. In this article, we’ll walk you through what to do once you’ve received a medical school offer, how to accept or reject offers, and how to approach making this big decision, especially if you are on a waitlist for a medical school this year.
What To Do After You Receive An Offer To Study Medicine Summary:
Attend University Offer Holder Days
Visit The University Again
Speak To Current Medical Students
Consider Which Type Of Course Is Best For You
Finalise Your University Offers
Join University Group Chats
Apply for University Accommodation
Maximise Your A-Level Grades
👉🏻 Read more about what to do if you don't receive any medical school offers
What Are The Different Types Of Medical School Offers You Can Receive?
There are different 2 types of university offers that you can receive when applying for UK medical school.
These are conditional and unconditional offers.
What is an Unconditional Medical School Offer?
You may receive an unconditional medical school offer if you:
have already sat your A-level or IB exams, &
have received your exam grades, &
these are above the threshold required for the university you have applied for.
The offer for a place at medical school will also be based on your performance at the interview/MMI and in your UCAT exam.
What Is A Conditional Med School Offer?
A conditional offer is made by a university to a student who is still in the process of completing their qualifications (usually A Levels or IB) at the time of their application.
This is the most common type of medical school offer given out.
It will detail a set of minimum grades required for you to be accepted onto the course.
You generally need to get these grades in order to start at that university in the autumn term, however, some medical and dental schools are occasionally lenient if you have slipped a grade.
What Is A Medical School Waitlist In The UK?
Waitlisting is becoming more and more popular each year.
Being placed on a medical school waitlist or a dental school waitlist means you’re still in the running for a spot, even if you haven't been given a direct offer. It at least means you have not been rejected.
This approach is particularly useful for medical schools as it helps them balance their intake more accurately and steer clear of entering the UCAS clearing process.
Whilst there are no publically available medical school waitlist statistics, we have seen that there’s often a fair bit of movement on these waitlists.
Here are some medical schools that are rumoured to have used waiting lists in the 2024 admissions cycle (not exhaustive):
As some students opt for different offers or change their plans, new opportunities arise for those waiting - so do not lose hope.
👉🏻 Read more about how hard the UCAT entrance exam is
How Do You Accept A Medical School Offer?
After submitting your UCAS application, you can monitor the responses from your chosen universities via the UCAS Track system.
When you have received replies from all of the medical schools you have applied to, you can then confirm your firm and insurance choice.
This means that you will be rejecting any other offers that you hold, this includes offers for your 5th choice in a different subject such as biomedical sciences.
A Firm UCAS Choice
Your firm choice should be the offer that you prefer, and the medical school that you would like to attend. This can be based on many different factors including the conditional offer given to you.
Many medical schools offer incentives for applicants who put them as your 'firm' choice. This can be through better access to accommodation, access to scholarships, or even reduced grades for entry.
It is worth bearing this in mind before making your choice.
An Insurance UCAS Choice
Your insurance choice should ideally have a lower offer than your firm choice (though this is not always possible). This should be a “backup” choice for you, but it should still be a university which you wish to attend.
This means that if you don't fulfil the conditions of your firm offer, you are still likely to have a place at medical school through your insurance choice.
👉🏻 Read more about interviews for medical school & next steps
What Are The Key Dates For Accepting A Medical School Offer In 2024?
The key dates in 2024 for accepting your medical school offers are:
6 June 2024 - if you received your last offer on or before 16 May 2024
24 July 2024 - if you received your last decision on or before 17 July 2024,
The date above describes the deadline for replying to university offers.
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What Should You Do Once You Receive Your Medical School Offers?
Step 1: Attend An Offer Holder Day
This is optional, but attending an offer holder day allows you to gain a deeper insight into the medical course at your chosen university, view the campus facilities and gauge the atmosphere and support services available.
This is one of the most productive methods of researching the universities for which you have offers.
Some things to consider at a university offer holder day include:
The location of the student accommodation in relation to the medical school
The prices on campus
The study spaces on campus
Step 2: Revisit Your Choice Medical Schools
Revisiting your choice of universities outside of an offer holder day may provide extra benefits.
Visiting on a regular day will allow you to see the university in its everyday state, giving you a more realistic glimpse of what life is like on campus without the special preparations which are made for offer holder days.
👉🏻 Read more about how to choose a medical school
Step 3: Speak To Current Medical Students
Speaking to current students on the course and at the university in which you’re interested can provide vital insight in the form of first-hand experiences of the curriculum, teaching methods, workload and student satisfaction.
These are all factors which are difficult to ascertain from brochures and university material.
Students can also provide you with a realistic idea of the types of challenges faced by students at the university, from financial to social and academic.
Step 4: Consider What Course Style Is Best For You
There are several different styles of medical school teaching, and it’s important to decide which you feel you would be most suited to, before choosing your firm and insurance universities.
From Problem-Based Learning (PBL) to traditional lecture courses, it’s important to find a course which you feel suits your learning style best and will give you the best opportunity to succeed.
👉🏻 Read more about UK medical school rankings
Step 5: Finalise & Submit Your Offer Choices
Once you’ve ruled your options down to 2, it’s time to finalise them!
You can do this through UCAS Track.
Your required reply date will depend on when you receive your final university decision. You can check this through the UCAS Track portal.
👉🏻 Read more about where to apply with a low UCAT score
Step 6: Join Your University Admission Group Chats
Joining group chats for the university that you’ve confirmed can be a useful tool to connect with your potential coursemates and ease the transition to university.
They can also be an invaluable resource for sharing information about the university, such as important darts, accommodation and course materials.
Be wary that sometimes there can be a lot of scaremongering on these chats - so please do be careful.
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Step 7: Apply For University Accommodation
As soon as you've accepted your firm and insurance university choices, it's worth taking a look at their accommodation pages to check when you can apply for accommodation.
Some medical schools allow you to apply as soon as you've accepted their offer, whereas others will have a central date when their accommodation portal will open to applications.
Step 8: Maximise Your A-Level Grades
Once you've finalised your offers, it's time to focus on achieving them. It's vital that the distraction of a medical school offer doesn't compromise your revision for your A-Level examinations.
Remember that your place to study medicine is only secure when you've achieved your offer grades.
👉🏻 Read more about how to ace your MMI interviews
Can You Change Your Firm & Insurance Universities After Accepting An Offer?
If you've accepted an offer but changed your mind within 14 days, you can contact UCAS Track, who will be able to authorise this change for you.
If over 14 days have passed since accepting your offer, you should still contact UCAS Track, however, there is a chance that you might not be able to change your offer. This is because your decisions will have been sent to the relevant universities and a contract will have been agreed.
After the 25th July 2024, you will be unable to change any offer replies.
👉🏻 Read more about how much doctors in the UK earn
Medical School Offers: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a conditional university offer in the UK?
A conditional offer from a medical school specifies that you must meet certain academic requirements, such as achieving specific A-level grades, before you can be fully accepted into the program.
How does an unconditional offer differ from a conditional offer in medical school admissions?
An unconditional offer means you have already met all the academic requirements and your place is secured regardless of any future exam results, whereas a conditional offer requires you to meet certain criteria in upcoming exams.
What steps should I take after receiving a medical school offer?
After receiving a medical school offer, you should attend offer holder days, speak with current students, reassess your choices, finalise your firm and insurance selections through UCAS Track, and join university-specific group chats.
How do I choose between my firm and insurance choices for medical school?
Choose your firm choice as the university you most prefer and where you meet or are likely to meet the offer conditions. Your insurance choice should require lower grades, serving as a backup should you not meet the conditions of your firm choice.
What are the benefits of attending an offer holder day after interview?
Offer holder days provide prospective students with the opportunity to explore the campus, interact with faculty and current students, and gain comprehensive insights into the facilities and the overall learning environment.
Why is it important to speak to current medical students before replying to my university offers?
Speaking with current students offers a deeper understanding of the academic and social climate of the university, giving insights into the workload, teaching methods, and student life that aren’t visible through official brochures.
How can I benefit from joining university group chats after accepting an offer?
Joining university group chats helps you connect with future classmates, exchange important information, and ease the transition to university life by building a support network before the term starts.
When is the UCAS deadline for replying to medical school offers for the 2024 entry?
The deadline for replying to medical school offers through UCAS for the 2024 entry cycle is 6 June 2024. This may differ on when you received your final offer.
How should I assess which course style suits me best in medical school?
Evaluate different teaching styles like Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and traditional lectures by considering your learning preferences, and choose the style that aligns with your educational approach to maximise your success in medical school.
What considerations should I keep in mind when revisiting medical schools before making a decision?
Consider practical aspects such as the location of accommodation, campus amenities, study spaces, and the general vibe of the campus on a typical day to ensure it meets your expectations and lifestyle needs.
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