Admissions statement: Printable version (pdf file, 31Kb)
This statement should be read in conjunction with University's admissions principles and procedures.
Year of admissions cycle – 2012
Applications to all our programmes are considered as a single pool.
Admissions Tutor - Dr Ann Pullen
Deputy Admissions Tutor - Dr Keith Brown
The members of the admissions team represent the various themes of the school; Dr Ann Pullen (immunology), Dr Keith Brown (cancer biology), Dr Wael Kafienah (stem cell biology and regenerative medicine), Dr Matthew Avison and Dr Darryl Hill (microbiology), and they are usually available on Visit Days to answer questions.
All UCAS forms are considered by two members of the admissions team. The applicants are ranked according to their achieved or predicted A2 results (or equivalent), taking into account the reference and personal statement as outlined below. All applicants are contacted within 4 weeks of receipt of application, to establish contact and inform the applicant of the process to be followed.
Unless also applying for Medicine, Veterinary Science or Dentistry (see below), highly ranked applicants are invited to attend a Visit Day. The remaining applicants who are predicted to meet our normal conditions are notified that their applications will be held until January, after which a decision will be made as to how many offers to make and, thus, whom else to invite to a Visit Day. As far as home students go, we have to aim to make sufficient offers just to fill 56 places available on our group of programmes. All applications are considered on an equal basis. Forms are not segregated by the type of educational institution attended.
At the Visit Days, applicants are given an opportunity to view the School, the wider University and the city of Bristol. In addition, applicants have a one-to-one meeting with a member of staff, which gives them the chance to discuss any queries that they have. This meeting is NOT selective. We make it clear in the original invitation what the purpose of the Visit Day is and this is emphasised in the introductory talk on the day. An offer would normally be made at the one-to-one meeting.
Students are normally given a choice of dates to attend a Visit Day; if they cannot come on any of them, an individual visit may be offered. If they are still unable to come (due to distance from home, for instance), then the UCAS form is reassessed by two members of the admissions team and an offer would normally be made.
In the case of a high ranking applicant whose personal statement makes it obvious that they are primarily aiming for Medicine, Veterinary Science or Dentistry, an offer is made via UCAS. There will be a post-offer Visit Day for such applicants in March.
Applicants who appear to the Admissions Tutor to be very unlikely to achieve our entry conditions have their UCAS form passed to a second member of the admissions team to check the decision, and if there is agreement, the application will be unsuccessful.
We obviously do not expect international candidates to attend a Visit Day, unless they are resident in the UK.
Applicants who are invited to attend a Visit Day will be asked to register and be sent a link to the schedule for the day and a map of the university precinct.
Generally, no other assessment is used. In exceptional cases, an interview may be used to investigate particular factors, such as the amount of Chemistry a non-standard applicant might have and to judge whether an offer should be made. In these cases the applicant would be told what we were looking for. All such interviews are conducted by 2 people, at least 1 trained in fair and effective recruitment techniques, and are undertaken in accordance with the University's policy on equal opportunities.
Not applicable
Applicants presenting with non-standard qualifications are assessed using the Table of Equivalences provided by the Admissions Office or after discussion with the University of Bristol Admissions Office.
When assessing mature students and/or those with non-standard qualifications, the major consideration is that a level of Chemistry equivalent to A-level is required. This might be investigated during the Visit Day. In general, we should expect that courses (particularly Chemistry) would have been taken recently.
Not applicable
Academic entry requirements for standard qualifications (A-level, SQA, IB, Access, BTEC, Welsh Bacc, 14-19 Diploma, GCSEs) can be found under the different Programmes available as listed in the online undergraduate prospectus. Other qualifications, including international qualifications, will be considered on their individual merits; further information is available from the International Office country specific information.
A level chemistry and at least one other science are required. The knowledge of chemistry is essential because all our first year students take biochemistry in addition to units taught by Cellular and Molecular Medicine. Depending on the level of competition for places, we may give preference to applicants with three science A levels.
Results of GCSE and AS-levels may influence decisions on borderline candidates, but will not be included in the offer.
Mature applicants will need to have recently studied science, including chemistry.
We take an holistic approach to all applications, ensuring that the educational and social context in which an applicant applies is taken into consideration, where supported by clear evidence that this may have adversely affected academic achievement. This may include time spent in Local Authority care, information about which is provided in the UCAS application.
We also consider evidence of clear motivation to study. This may include attendance at a University summer school, a targeted Access Scheme (such as Access to Bristol), or participation in Aimhigher outreach activities. Consideration will also be given to applicants who have completed a targeted Access scheme at another university, under the 'Mutual Recognition Scheme'.
We do not take the following into consideration when making admissions decisions: the school type attended by an applicant or whether an applicant’s parent has any experience of higher education.
The personal statement is examined to find evidence of interest in and commitment to the subject, appropriateness of the chosen Bristol course in relation to the candidate's declared interests and aspirations, relevant reading or research beyond the A-level syllabus. We also take account of the standard of written English and the applicant's response to challenges faced. The personal statement might also provide a framework for the one-to-one discussion at a Visit Day.
The personal statement is also checked for evidence of mitigating circumstances or reasons for apparent inconsistencies in academic performance (e.g. A-level predictions not consistent with GCSE or AS grades).
Assessment of the UCAS form is mainly on predicted (or achieved) results given in the Reference. We look for accuracy and consistency of the predicted grades in the light of previous GCSE and AS level achievement, evidence of effort and positive attitude to studies.
The reference is also checked for evidence of educational disadvantage, mitigating circumstances, or reasons for apparent inconsistencies in academic performance (e.g. A-level predictions not consistent with GCSE or AS grades).
English Language requirements can be found in the English language entry requirements policy.
Applicants are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexuality, religion, disability or age.
Typical offers for A-levels and other UK qualifications can be found in the Entry Requirements for each of our programmes as listed in the online Undergraduate Prospectus. Click on the link for the programme you are interested in for the Entry Requirements for that programme. Offers to applicants with non-standard qualifications will be made equivalent to the published A-level offer.
We may make lower offers based on whether an applicant is deemed to have experienced educational disadvantage, as defined in section 7.5 of the University's Admissions Principles and Procedures.
All the school's programmes are offered with the option of Study in Industry. Students who have successfully obtained a suitable placement will transfer to the appropriate programme with Study in Industry at the end of Year 2.
There is a great degree of flexibility and it is possible to transfer between the various programmes offered by Cellular and Molecular Medicine, allowing students to follow their interests as they develop.
Applicants who have previous academic experience similar to that undertaken in Year 1 of our programmes may be considered for entry into Year 2.
Note: some of the documents on this page are in PDF format. In order to view a PDF you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader