Yorkshire Medical Schools Summer School: An MSC Pathway Programme

We are excited to announce the launch of the Yorkshire Medical Schools Summer School: An MSC Pathway Programme. The programme is a collaboration between Leeds Medical School, Hull York Medical School, Sheffield Medical School, The Royal College of Surgeons, and the Medical Schools Council, funded by Health Education England.

Running from April – October 2023, the summer school will consist of monthly online activities to prepare students for applying to Medical School. Students will also take part in a week-long online summer school, including a visit to the University of Leeds Medical School for a Surgical Careers Taster Day.

The programme is open to Year 12 students interested in studying Medicine who are from under-represented backgrounds, and targets areas of England that have limited outreach engagement with medical schools.

What’s included in the programme?

Year 12

• Launch event, providing you with more information about the programme and applying to University
• Subject taster sessions, helping you develop your insight into medicine
• Support for students sitting Admissions Tests, required for application to Medical Schools
• Personal statement workshop, helping you understand how different universities use your personal statement and how best to write it

Summer School

• A week of activities, starting with a visit to the University of Leeds campus to take part in a Cutting Edge Careers Day with the Royal College of Surgeons, and supplementary online sessions
• Skills workshops, helping you develop the skills you need to apply to Medical School
• Group presentation project, helping you develop your team working skills

Year 13

• Application support, hear our top tips for your UCAS application
• Interview skills workshop, helping you find out about the different types of interviews and the skills and attributes universities are looking for

How is it delivered?

Monthly sessions will be delivered online via Zoom. University staff and students from the three Yorkshire Medical Schools and guest speakers will deliver content, with opportunities for you to interact and participate. You will also have the opportunity to visit the University of Leeds to take part in a Cutting Edge Careers Day, run by the Royal College of Surgeons.

Online sessions will take place on a weekday evening, so that they do not interfere with your current studies.

The summer school will take place from Monday 10th July – Thursday 13th July 2023:

• The summer school starts with a full day event, taking place on campus at the University of Leeds, where you will take part in surgical taster sessions, as well as meeting clinicians from a wide variety of professions
• Online sessions will then take place on Tuesday 11th, Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th July, 09:30 – 14:30. You will work in small groups to develop your knowledge of medicine, culminating in a group presentation on the final day.
• You will be expected to join each online session, and the full day event at the University of Leeds, unless there is a valid reason that you cannot attend.

You should speak to your teachers / tutor before signing up to ensure you are available during the Summer School week to attend all of the sessions, and that you can catch up on any learning you have missed during this time.

There are a limited number of places available on the Summer School programme so we respectfully ask that you are prepared to fully commit to participation before signing up.

What are the eligibility criteria?

The summer school programme is open to current Year 12 / first year college students who have a genuine interest in applying to study Medicine at university. We are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to students from all backgrounds, recognising that some groups are underrepresented on university courses and in certain health careers.

Students applying to the programme must the following criteria:

• Year 12 / first year college student
• Be currently studying at a state school
• Have achieved / be studying suitable GCSE’s and A Levels to study Medicine at a selective university
• Able to commit to joining both the online sessions and the event at the University of Leeds

Students must be:

• In, or been in local authority care

Or meet a minimum of two of the following criteria:

• Studying in a state school that achieved below the national average Attainment 8 score at GCSE or had attended to the age of 16
• Studying in a state school that achieved below or well below the national average Progress 8 score or had attended to the age of 16
• From a school with a high percentage of students receiving free school meals
• Living in a geographical area with low levels of progression onto higher education
• Are a young carer
• From a family where the parents do not have a university degree from the UK or abroad
• In receipt of or eligible for free school meals or the 16-19 Bursary Fund or Discretionary Learner Support or Means Tested Benefit or Pupil Premium
• Be estranged from both parents or guardians and/or be an asylum seeker or refugee