Widening access to medical school
BMJ 2007; 335 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.0709302 (Published 01 September 2007) Cite this as: BMJ 2007;335:0709302
- Hugh Ip, student editor1
- 1Student BMJ
Spotlight on
Ever since her aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, Negin Amiri wanted to become a doctor. She arrived in London with her family four years ago. Her parents had administrative jobs in Iran, and now they are studying English. After completing her GCSEs (general certificates of secondary education) in 2005, she still had no understanding of the medical school application process.
She attended a pre-medicine summer school in 2005, where she was exposed to the hospital setting and guided through “the confusing admissions process.” She found out about the necessary A level grades and work experience. Two more years of hard work later, she was accepted to the medical course at University College London. Negin starts this September.
KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON
The UK's commitment
Statistics show an indisputable skew toward higher socioeconomic classes in medical student populations in the United Kingdom (fig 1). The Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Department of Health are committed to tackling the under-representation of poorer socioeconomic groups in medical schools. Evidence for this is the allocation of funding for medical school places now and during the increase in places leading up to 2005. Such a commitment is based in social justice–equitable access to a degree course and profession and the need for doctors' backgrounds to more closely reflect the diversity of patients. It also aims to ensure that the health and social needs of patients from poorer socioeconomic groups are met.
Socioeconomic status of UK applicants (above) and UK students accepted (below) to UK medical and dental schools
The smaller proportion of applications from poorer socioeconomic groups directly affects the composition of medical student populations (fig 1). Several explanations have been posited. Students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds …
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