Access to Sheffield (Medicine)

The programme is for you if you're interested in becoming a doctor, and offers a range of activities which will benefit you when reflecting on your experiences, whether that’s on your UCAS application or at a medical school interview.

Throughout the programme you will work with current undergraduate medical students, gaining an understanding of what studying a medicine degree here at Sheffield is really like.

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Programme structure

Year 12

• Welcome and team building day - This is the chance to meet the other Access to Sheffield (Medicine) students and and take part in a number of team building and medicine related activities.
• Medical Careers Conference -This half-day conference gives an insight into the career options open to medics. Run in a carousel style format, you'll get to ask questions to, and hear from, a number of medical professionals and find out about their chosen specialty. Guest speakers include a Plastic Surgeon, Emergency Medicine consultant, GP, and a Psychiatrist, among others.
• First aid day - You get to learn basic first aid skills, such as suturing, dealing with burns/bleeds/fractures, CPR and the recovery position, what to do if someone is choking and how to move a casualty. You'll work with current medical students, and find out how these procedures are applied in medical school.
• Integrated Learning Activity - You'll get the chance to experience how medicine is taught at the University of Sheffield by taking part in an Integrated Learning Activity, which includes researching a case study on an illness, presenting the findings and coming to a diagnosis.
• First year Medical School lecture - Access to Sheffield (Medicine) students are invited to join first year medical students in a lecture focusing on the skeletal system, this will showcase what the teaching is like at Sheffield. You will also get the opportunity to meet the lecturer for a Q&A session.
• Residential Summer School - This three day residential summer school will give you a taste of life as a medical student. During the week, you'll take part in a range of interactive sessions including medical ethics debates, clinical skills practice, an anatomy workshop and a mock interview session. You'll also take part in social activities, a sports evening, and a joint Summer Social with students on Dental and STEM Access to Sheffield programmes. Participants get to stay in our award winning student accommodation.

Year 13

• UCAS guidance and Personal Statements support - We will help you prepare a strong UCAS application, including focused work on personal statements. We also offer students bespoke 1-2-1 personal statement help from current medical students.
• One-to-one session - Your opportunity to take part in a mock medical school interview.
• Celebration evening - If you successfully complete both phases of Access to Sheffield (Medicine), you'll be invited to a celebration evening, along with your parents and supporters, to celebrate your involvement and success with other Access to Sheffield students from across all five programmes. There will also be tailored sessions for the parents/supporters to engage with.

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Contextual offer

Students who successfully complete the programme will be eligible for a contextual offer from the University of Sheffield, subject to conditions, including passing an interview (where required).

If you wanted to take a one year break before applying to the University of Sheffield, or need to resit A Levels to achieve a higher grade, the contextual offer would be made available in the following year only.

Read our access admissions policies for more information.

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Eligibility requirements

Access to Sheffield (Medicine) is for students from target groups who are currently underrepresented in Higher Education. 

Students are expected to attend events on campus so must be living within commutable distance of the university, for a 9am arrival. 

GCSE requirements

Achieved a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 9-6, plus a minimum of grade 4 in English, Maths and Science subjects (if not already included).

A Level requirements 

You should be studying at least 3 A Levels including Chemistry OR Biology AND another science subject. The combination of Chemistry and Biology is acceptable.

• Other accepted science subjects are Physics, Maths and Psychology

•  EPQ and General Studies A Level are not acceptable as stand-alone qualifications

• Further Maths (with Maths A Level) and Critical Thinking will not be counted by the Medical School as stand-alone A Levels

Students must meet one or more of the following criteria in addition to the academic requirements detailed above.

Category 1

Priority will be given to students who are:

• care experienced
• young carers
• experiencing estrangement
• a forced migrant

Category 2

Further consideration will be given to those who meet any of the following: 

• Are eligible for Free School Meals
• Live in an area of Low Participation Neighbourhood (measured by TUNDRA data)
• Are from an ethnic/gender/socioeconomic group currently underrepresented in HE

Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis. As this is a programme for 16-18 year olds we can only accept students starting Y12 in September who are no older than 17 years old as of 1 September in this application cycle.

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How to apply

You should talk to the head of your sixth form or course leader to find out more. They'll tell you if you're eligible based upon the criteria and information we have provided for them. Students and parents/carers will then need to complete the online application form, via the registered school/college coordinator.

Taking part in Access to Sheffield shows commitment and could enhance your university application. However, it does not guarantee you a place at university. Places are subject to availability and you can only be registered on one sustained Widening Access pathway at the University of Sheffield at any one time.

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Contact us

Email: medicine.accesstosheffield@sheffield.ac.uk

Phone: 0114 222 1027