This article is sponsored by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

While all university applications require a significant amount of time and effort, medical school admissions are known for being particularly rigorous and competitive. The application process can be even more daunting if you’re intending to study medicine outside of your home country. You’ll need to check your academic qualifications are accepted, perhaps sit a language proficiency test or other exam, and be prepared to travel to attend a face-to-face interview.

But fear not! Help is at hand. Dr Rosie Kakkar, senior lecturer and admissions tutor for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program at the University of Central Lancashire, shares her top 10 pieces of advice for those applying to UK medical schools.

1. Check the entry criteria 

The first step, Dr Kakkar says, is to visit the websites of the UK medical schools you’re interested in, and check through the admission requirements. These will typically include academic qualifications, proof of language proficiency (such as the IELTS), references, a personal statement, work experience and a UKCAT (UK Clinical Aptitude Test) score.

As an international applicant, you’ll need to ensure your academic qualifications are accepted. UCLan provides country-specific guidelines to make this easy, but if in any doubt, contact the admissions office. As work experience is such an important factor in medical school admissions, there may also be guidelines to help you ensure you meet expectations. For the MBBS at UCLan, you need to have spent at least two weeks’ working or job shadowing in a medical setting, or have completed at least six months’ community voluntary work.

If you find you’ve missed the deadline to take the UKCAT before applying, don’t panic; it may be possible to take the test after submitting your application.

2. Start your application early – and be meticulous!

For your own peace of mind and to give yourself plenty of time to fulfil all the criteria, start your medical school applications as soon as possible, and check them thoroughly before submitting. Paying careful attention to the guidelines provided is important for all university applications, to ensure you make a good first impression and to prevent delays in your application being assessed. If possible, ask a friend, family member or teacher to proofread documents such as the personal statement before you click “send”.

3. Use your personal statement wisely 

An important part of your application is the personal statement; this is essentially a short essay in which to outline your achievements, ambitions and reasons for applying. The statement has a limited length (4,000 characters), so it’s important to use this space wisely. The UCAS site offers resources to help, and UCLan also offers guidelines specifically focused on writing a personal statement for medical school admissions.

You should show your understanding of the medical profession; highlight relevant work or voluntary experience; demonstrate your ability to work in a team; show good communication and presentation skills; and highlight extracurricular activities and achievements. Try to include evidence to support your claims, such as awards you’ve received, challenges you’ve overcome, or projects you’ve helped to organize.

4. Make sure you have an academic reference

You may be asked to submit one or more references (similar to letters of recommendation) to support your application. Here, Dr Kakkar says, it’s essential to ensure at least one of your referees is a former teacher or academic supervisor, even if you’ve taken some time out of education. Additional references could come from people you’ve worked with in a professional or voluntary context, but an academic referee is a must.

5. Ensure your references and personal statement match up

Dr Kakkar notes that admissions tutors will be more impressed by applications in which the personal statement and references are well-matched. References should reinforce and validate claims you’ve made in the personal statement, providing evidence and examples of your commitment to studying medicine, reliability and perseverance, good communication and team-working skills, ability to empathize and readiness to help others, and your intellectual potential. If there are any mitigating circumstances which may have affected your academic performance, this should also be mentioned.

To ensure your referee covers all the necessary points, show her/him a copy of your personal statement and any guidelines provided by the UK medical schools you’re applying to.

6. Be prepared to travel for an interview 

If you meet all the eligibility criteria, and your personal statement and references impress the admissions panel, it’s likely that you’ll be invited to attend an interview. While some UK medical schools offer opportunities for international students to be interviewed in other countries, it’s usual to be asked to travel to the UK campus of the institution. Dr Kakkar explains that this ensures the assessment is conducted consistently, and adds that it’s a good opportunity for prospective students to explore the campus, meet course tutors, and ask any remaining questions.

7. Get ready for a different kind of admissions interview

For UK medical school admissions, it’s now standard practice to assess candidates using the “Multiple Mini Interview” (MMI) format. This means there are around 10 different stations, which candidates go through in sequence, each designed to assess a particular attribute or skill and each led by a different interviewer. Dr Kakkar says this approach is much more targeted than a traditional panel-style interview, and leads to a more balanced overall assessment of each candidate. She adds that the aim is not to identify applicants who are likely to be good doctors, but rather those who possess the attributes needed to be good medical student.

8. Show you know about the course and the school 

While it’s difficult to prepare for this kind of admissions interview, you can make a good impression by showing you’ve done some research on the course and the medical school in question. Try to demonstrate your understanding of any distinctive features of the school’s ethos, approach to teaching, facilities and student community. Explain what attracted you to apply to study here, and why you believe the program is a good match for your own interests, learning style and aspirations.

9. Do some research on the UK health system 

Demonstrating some knowledge of the UK General Medical Council (GMC) and National Health Service (NHS) may also help you to make a favorable impression, showing further evidence of your commitment and enthusiasm. Even if you don’t intend to practice medicine in the UK, this is the system you’ll be trained within if you study at a UK medical school, so some background knowledge will also be advantageous once your studies commence.

10. Convey your passion and commitment to the field 

Finally, Dr Kakkar emphasizes the importance of conveying your commitment to the field and your motivations for studying medicine – both within your initial application and during the interview. This, she says, is what really makes candidates stand out. Think about what first inspired you to consider a medical career, how you’ve already demonstrated your commitment to pursuing this pathway, and what future ambitions are likely to keep you going through all the years of study and training yet to come.

For further information on medicine at UCLan, call +44 (0)1772 895024 or email international@uclan.ac.uk

This article was originally published in November 2014. It was updated in February 2016.

If you studied performing arts, you might be dreaming of taking to the stage to perform for a living. However, the skills you’ve gained during your degree haven’t just prepared you for roles in theater, film and music. Your skills will also be valuable in a range of other careers, especially if you’re able to effectively combine creative talent with the practical aspects of self-promotion and arts management. Read on to find out where your performing arts degree could take you…

Typical performing arts jobs

Actor 

Actors communicate characters and situations to an audience through dialogue, body language and actions. They typically interpret the work of a writer under the instruction and support of a director, although some actors might devise a character themselves or improvise the responses of a character to a situation. The type of work and media varies immensely, spanning roles on the stage, in film or television and on the radio.

Acting is unfortunately not the most secure of professions – it is very competitive, and there are likely to be periods where you might struggle to find work. However, if you love acting and have a talent for it, there’s no reason why you can’t pursue this career. To get started, you’ll need to build up a showreel of experience in a good variety of roles, as being versatile will make it easier to find work. You might also consider finding an agent, who may be able to find roles and arrange higher pay for you, but will take a proportion of your earnings as a fee.

Dancer 

Dancers use movement to interpret music, tell stories and express emotion, often under the guidance of a choreographer. You might dance in front of live audiences or in recorded performances for TV, film or music videos. Dancers can work and specialize in a variety of dance forms, and you’ll be more likely to find work if you can perform in an assortment of styles. You’ll need to have good rhythm and timing, be able to stay focused, work hard and stay enthusiastic.

If you have a talent for dancing, and the willpower to succeed, this career could be for you. To increase your chances of finding work, you should build up a network of contacts and promote yourself, again possibly with the help of an agent. You could also supplement your income by working as a dance teacher or choreographer.

Musical theater performer

Musical theater performers are generally ‘triple threats’ – skilled in singing, dancing and acting. This can be a demanding career, with eight shows a week being the norm, and competition for roles is fierce. However, as with acting and dancing, there’s no reason you can’t succeed as a musical theater performer if you’re determined, talented and passionate about what you do. You should try and gain as much experience as you can, make connections in the industry, keep challenging yourself to develop your existing skills, and build your confidence as a strong performer.

Dance-, music- or drama- therapist 

These performing arts jobs allow you to use your love of the dance, music or drama to help individuals of all ages overcome personal difficulties. Dramatherapists use activities such as group work or roleplay to encourage people to come to terms with their emotions and express themselves, helping them to overcome or progress on their social or personal difficulties.  Similarly, music therapists use music to help people deal with feelings they can’t put into words. You’ll use music creatively to establish a shared musical experience and aim for therapeutic goals. Dance movement therapists use movement and dance within a therapeutic atmosphere to help people who are facing physical, psychological, emotional or mental problems.

To gain entry in one of these performing arts jobs, you’ll need a postgraduate qualification in your sector of choice, as well as paid or unpaid experience in helping people overcome problems or difficulties.

Theater director 

Theater directors bring scripts to life on the stage, working closely with everyone involved to create a show that connects with the audience. They’re in charge of the practical and creative interpretation of a dramatic script or musical score and are involved in the whole process from start to finish. Some theater directors write, design or act in their own work. To become a theater director, you should try and make yourself indispensable at your local theater as an assistant, perhaps starting with an amateur theater group and working your way up, gaining a strong skills and repute as you go.

Screenwriter

If you have a passion for creating scripts, and a strong interest in digital media, this career could be for you. You’ll use your imagination to create engaging stories for a range of formats, from films to television and even computer games. You’ll need determination, motivation and the ability to meet strict deadlines. Don’t worry if you’ve never formally studied writing before – skill is what counts, and you could develop your skills by joining a writers' organization.

Other performing arts jobs

Arts administrator 

Arts administrators organize arts activities and services and ensure they are successful. They work for various organizations such as theaters or museums. If you’re passionate about the arts and like managing and organizing, this career could be for you, enabling you to gain a different perception of art. You will need strong administration, organization and IT skills for this role.

Theater stage manager

Another performing arts career in which you’ll need good organization skills is that of a theater stage manager, in charge of making sure shows run smoothly. You’ll also need great people skills to manage and network with everyone else involved in the show, including front-of-house staff and the director. This role can be demanding, but offers opportunities for both personal and group achievement. To gain entry to this role, you’ll need to have practical experience in theater work.

Broadcasting presenter 

Broadcasting presenters are the public face or voice of programs presented on television, radio and the internet. They entertain and inform their audiences by presenting information or entertainment in an open and attractive way, generally interacting with the audience and perhaps interviewing guests. This is another competitive area so you’ll need to be driven and enthusiastic, with a strong interest in television/radio. You’ll also need to build up as much relevant paid or voluntary work experience as possible, probably working your way up from an assistant role, and gaining the prerequisite skills as you go.

Teacher/higher education lecturer 

If you want to use your love of the performing arts to motivate and inspire young people and encourage budding talents, a career in teaching could be very rewarding. You could specialize in a particular form of performing arts, and perhaps run a drama club to encourage even more interaction with the performing arts outside of teaching hours.

To gain entry, you’ll need a qualification in teaching (and a PhD if you would like to become a higher education lecturer), as an expert understanding of the subject is essential. You should also have lots of self-confidence and presentation skills in order to efficiently communicate with a large group of students (particularly in a lecture hall as a university lecturer).

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 ‘What Can You Do With a Performing Arts Degree?’ is part of our ‘What Can You Do With…’ series. 

We have also covered art, biology, business, communications, computer science, English, engineering, fashion, history, geography, law, marketing, mathematics, philosophy, politics, psychology, sociology, chemistry, economics and physics.

BI Norwegian Business School and QS are proud to announce a new scholarship exclusive to attendees of the QS World Grad School Tour.

Scholarship value: 100% tuition fee waiver for the 1st year

Based on academic performance, can be renewed for 2^nd year.

Recipients: 2

Eligibility criteria: To be eligible for this scholarship, the applicant must have applied for, and been admitted to, a full-time MSc programme at BI Norwegian Business School for the 2020 admission intake.  Scholarship applicants must demonstrate academic excellence and will be evaluated on their GPA, standardized test scores, course work, and scholarship essay. Only candidates who attended a World Grad School Tour Fair where BI Norwegian Business School participated will be considered.

Essay topic: Why have you chosen to Stand Out and Go North? Explain your motivation for pursuing your master’s studies at BI Norwegian Business School. Indicate the QS World Grad Tour Fair you attended where you met representatives from BI Norwegian Business School in your essay.

Word limit: Maximum 500 words

Please indicate your full name, and the QS World Grad  Tour Fair you attended and met our representative (example: QS World Grad School Fair – Rome – March 2019) at the beginning of your essay. These words will not count toward the word limit in the scholarship essay.

Deadline for application submission:  1st of April 2020

A new report, published today, explores the key priorities, motivations and challenges for prospective students in Latin America. The study draws on the QS World Grad School Tour Applicant Survey, alongside insights gathered from a series of focus groups with students in Mexico and Colombia.

This is the first in a series of reports exploring distinctive motivations and challenges for prospective international students in different parts of the world – with upcoming releases to focus on the experience of applicants in India, South East Asia, China and the US.

Push factors to study abroad

Push factors play a major role in the decision to study abroad for many prospective students in Latin America. In particular, they are often keen to access more specialized programs and advanced resources than would be available to them locally. Colombian master’s student Diana, for instance, said: “I want to specify in communication design – here they don’t teach that.” This was echoed by others across a broad range of subjects, from engineering and science specializations to creative arts.

Seeking specialized strengths – choosing a destination

The quest for more specialized programs and facilities also influences Latin Americans’ choice of destination; they often perceive particular countries as standing out in certain fields of study. As Mexican applicant Sergio explained, “I suppose we all understand that the USA is best in business, Germany in technology – or, in my case, Australia in environmental studies.” A significant number also explain their reasons for choosing a country in terms of personal connections or past experience, such as an exchange program.

Keen to contribute to national development

For many Latin American students, studying abroad is perceived as an important way to gain new skills and knowledge not just for themselves, but in order to benefit their wider society and contribute to national development. And many perceive starting their own business as the most effective way to make an impact, with a high proportion expressing entrepreneurial ambitions. Colombian applicant Maria summed up the feelings shared by many of her peers: “I have a special bond with my own country; there are problems here and change is needed, but you can also make a difference.”

Barriers to studying abroad

Unsurprisingly, financial barriers remain the biggest challenge for many students in this region. International tuition fees and living costs often combine to make overseas study appear 'impossible' without a scholarship. Language skills also remain a key concern, particularly for those aspiring to study degrees taught in English. Meanwhile, some also see an additional future challenge in the possibility of being seen as ‘overqualified’ when they return to work in their home country. As applicant José put this, “I think that if you go to a highly ranked university and come back to Colombia, you might struggle to get the job offer that you want because you will be overqualified. This happens a lot in Colombia.”

The full report, including survey results, focus group analysis and cases studies, is available free to read online. If you're a higher educational professional and want to be the first to receive upcoming reports focusing on prospective students elsewhere in the world, follow us on Twitter and contact us to receive regular email updates.