Taught Postgraduate Admissions Policy - School of Medicine 2022-23

This policy is for you if your chosen degree has a September 2022 start date onwards.

You must also read the University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy, as both policies apply.

If your degree starts in the 2021-22 academic year, read the School of Medicine Taught Postgraduate Admissions Policy 2021-22.

This policy is reviewed annually by the faculty’s committees, and any amendments made after the point of publication are summarised in the Version control section.

This policy applies to the following courses:

Full-time 

  • Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
  • MRes Medicine 
  • MSc Cancer Biology and Therapy
  • MSc International Health 
  • MSc Molecular Medicine
  • MSc Physician Associate Studies
  • PG Certificate, PG Diploma and Master of Public Health (International)
  • PG Certificate, PG Diploma and MSc Health Informatics with Data Science
  • PG Certificate, PG Diploma and MSc Medical Imaging
  • PG Diploma and MSc Clinical Embryology and Assisted Reproduction Technology
  • PG Diploma Diagnostic Imaging

Part-time

  • CPD Psychiatry
  • MEd Clinical Education
  • MSc Systemic Family Therapy 
  • ND Systemic Practice (Foundation)
  • ND Systemic Practice (Intermediate) 
  • PG Certificate Advanced Health Research 
  • PG Certificate Cardiac Device and Rhythm Management
  • PG Certificate Clinical Education 
  • PG Certificate Echocardiography 
  • PG Certificate, PG Diploma and MSc Diagnostic Imaging 
  • PG Certificate and PG Diploma Health Research 
  • PG Certificate, PG Diploma and MSc Medical Imaging 
  • PG Certificate Systemic Practice 
  • PG Diploma and MSc Child Health
  • PG Diploma and MSc Health Informatics with Data Science
  • PG Diploma Clinical Education
  • PG Diploma and MSc Clinical Embryology (Distance Learning)
  • PG Diploma and Master of Psychoanalytic Observational Studies

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

Please see Course Search for the course list, typical entry requirements, and accepted qualifications. If a course listed on this page does not appear in Course Search, please contact the School's Admissions team, using the contact details in the Useful contacts and resources section of this page.

The typical entrance requirement for the School of Medicine is a good first honours degree of at least a UK upper second class or equivalent. Criteria for entry to individual courses may be higher or lower and applicants are advised to check with the School website prior to applying. Exceptions to this academic requirement may be made when applicants can demonstrate significant relevant non-standard experience and their potential for benefiting from the programme is clear.

Some taught postgraduate courses in the School of Medicine will consider applicants who do not have an undergraduate honours degree but who can demonstrate appropriate work experience. Further details are provided in the programme specific entry requirements on the Course Search pages.

Non-academic requirements

Applicants to some of the courses in the School of Medicine must pass the following checks:

  • Occupational Health
  • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Fitness to practise

Applicants can check whether this is required on the course page in Course Search.

Occupational Health

Due to the nature of some of our postgraduate courses, and to meet statutory and professional requirements, all candidates who are offered a place on these courses will be required to complete an occupational health questionnaire and, where necessary, assessment. Offers made for these courses are conditional upon a satisfactory occupational health assessment and clearance.

Applicants with a health-related issue should contact the School of Medicine as soon as possible if their health is likely to impact on their ability to engage with the admissions process or subsequent course. Please see the Useful contacts and resources section for contact details.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Fitness to practise

Applicants to these courses will be required to declare a criminal conviction at the application stage in order that certain checks with the DBS can be undertaken. Admission may not be possible where satisfactory results are not achieved. The University will send further instructions as part of the admissions process where such checks are required. 

The School of Medicine is obliged to refuse admission to applicants for certain courses which are regulated by national or statutory bodies where enhanced DBS checks or Certificates of Good Conduct reveal prior criminal behaviour giving rise to concern for the protection of the public. 

International students: The DBS check can only include background checks on your time in the UK. If you have been resident in the UK for less than 3 years, then a criminal record check from your home country is required in addition to the UK DBS check. This may be referred to as a ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’ (CoGC) but the name varies.

English language requirements

Teaching, assessment and student support will take place in English, unless otherwise stated. The School must be confident that candidates have the proficiency in English language necessary to succeed on the chosen course and that they meet the UKVI minimum requirements to obtain a Student visa, if applicable.

All applications are considered in line with our standard entrance requirements. Proof of English language proficiency will be required; minimum levels are shown on Course Search and approved tests are shown on the University’s entry requirements page.

Where an applicant does not meet the English language requirements for the academic course, but does meet the requirements for the University of Leeds pre-sessional English language summer courses, they have the option to use the pre-sessional to meet their English Language condition.

Documentation and references

In addition to the documents listed in the corresponding section of the University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy, some additional documents may be requested; typically these are to support the applicant’s previous experience or in the form of evidencing higher education or professional qualifications.

Please refer to the University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy for information on references.

Advanced entry

Any decision on credit transfer or entry of students with advanced standing is an academic decision taken within the relevant academic school at the point of admission onto a course. Retrospective applications from students who are part-way through a course will not normally be considered. Any applicant requesting advanced standing/credit transfer should contact the School.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

Accredited prior learning (APL) is a process undertaken by the University in order to assess and, as appropriate, recognise prior experiential learning or prior certificated learning for academic purposes. For further information see the Advanced entry section of the University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy.

Application process

Application routes and deadlines

All applicants should apply online via the applicant portal unless otherwise stated in Course Search. If an application deadline is in place, this will be stated on Course Search.

For some courses, there is a limited intake to the course and applicants meeting the entry criteria exceed this intake. In these circumstances a gathered field approach will be used. This means applications are scored based on personal statement, academic scoring and admissions tests before the deadline, to obtain a ranking which is used for shortlisting to interview. Applications will be assessed on their strength relative to others in the given field, ensuring that the candidates with the most potential receive an offer.

Part-time study

Some courses in the School of Medicine are offered on a part-time basis; these are indicated in the list at the start of this admissions policy. Applications should be made via the applicant portal unless otherwise stated in Course Search. Overseas applicants should note that Student visa regulations will not normally allow study on a part-time basis.

ATAS, CAS and Student visas

Applicants for the MSc or PG Diploma Clinical Embryology distance-learning courses will not be eligible for a Student visa and should instead apply for a Short-term Study visa. 

For other courses, see the corresponding section of the University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy.

For applicants outside of the UK or requiring a Student visa, please see visa guidance from the UK government

Reapplications and former students of the University

The School of Medicine will consider applications from those who have previously applied to the institution.

The School of Medicine considers applications from candidates who have previously studied at the institution in line with the University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy. Where appropriate, such candidates may be able to apply for advanced entry (see the Advanced entry section).

Confirmation

Applicants are required to submit their results for consideration as soon as possible. Applicants who require a Student visa to study in the UK are recommended to submit their results no later than 31 July for courses starting in September, although they will still be considered if submitted after this date, unless stated on Course Search.

Applicant assessment

Academic grades normally form only one part of the final decision and the following sections give examples of how applicants may demonstrate that they have the skills, knowledge and attributes that we consider will enable them to become successful students on our degree courses.

Please note, the application forms of those who are unsuccessful in gaining a place on their chosen course may be passed to admissions teams for other courses in which the applicant may be interested.

Personal statements

The personal statement of the application form helps us to assess the nature of the applicant’s interest in the academic subject and is an important part of the selection process. It is essential that applicants take this opportunity to demonstrate their enthusiasm and aptitude for the academic subject. We wish to hear about specific working experience or academic achievements that are relevant to the course. For programmes requesting a personal statement, guidance for applicants is provided in the course details on Course Search.

Interviews

The majority of taught postgraduate courses in the School of Medicine do not typically undertake interviews with applicants; however, in some courses this is a routine part of the selection process. Where this is the case it will be indicated on Course Search. Where an interview forms part of the selection process, this gives candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and aptitude for the course.

If invited to interview, the applicant will receive an email invitation from the School to attend an interview on a specific date. We will do our best to accommodate requests for an alternative date but this cannot be guaranteed.

Interviews may take place via a number of alternative means. For example, interviews may take place on a one-to-one basis, either face-to-face or by video conferencing or telephone.

Some applicants (for example, disabled applicants, applicants who are pregnant, etc) will require adjustments at interview (for example, a sign-language interpreter) to provide them with full and equal access to the process. The School is responsible for making reasonable adjustments where possible. The University’s Disability Services team should be consulted for further advice or information regarding disability related adjustments (email Disability Services via disability@leeds.ac.uk) and the Equality and Inclusion Unit should be consulted for advice on other adjustments (email the Equality and Inclusion Unit via equality@leeds.ac.uk).

MSc Physician Associate Studies interviews

All applicants who are successful in the initial stages of the selection process, which will include completion of a values based recruitment tool (The Cambridge Personal Styles Questionnaire), will be invited to interview. Further details will be provided to all applicants to this course and are available on request.

Gathered field

The MSc Physician Associate Studies uses a gathered field approach. 

Where the number of high-quality applicants exceeds the number of places available, a gathered field may be implemented for the purposes of assessing applications. Applications will be assessed on their strength relative to others in the given field, ensuring that the candidates with the most potential receive an offer.

The School of Medicine scores all applications received based on personal statement, academic scoring and admissions tests before the deadline to obtain a ranking which is used for shortlisting to interview.

Other assessment methods

Relevant voluntary or work experience may be taken into account when an application is assessed. Details of this are stated on Course Search.

Decisions and communications with applicants

Please refer to the University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy for information on how decisions will be communicated by the University.

Unsuccessful applicants who wish to request feedback on the reason for the outcome of their application should do so in line with the Feedback section of the University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy, using the relevant email address contact in the Useful contacts and resources section.

Generally, where applicants request feedback on why they have not been admitted, feedback will be given. However, please note that initial feedback is given as standard to all unsuccessful candidates who apply via the applicant portal.

Appeals and complaints

As per the University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy, applicants who have sought feedback and wish to challenge the decision made on their application should contact the Head of School, whose details can be found in the Useful contacts and resources section. 

Useful contacts and resources

For general enquiries and information relating to courses and admission to the University of Leeds, applicants should contact the Admissions Enquiries team:

Email: Email the Admissions Enquiries team via study@leeds.ac.uk
Visit the University of Leeds Masters website.

Admissions enquiries specific to the School of Medicine should be directed as follows: 

Email the School of Medicine Taught Postgraduate Admissions team

Email the School of Medicine Taught Postgraduate Admissions team via pgmed-admissions@leeds.ac.uk

For all School of Medicine admissions complaints and appeals, please contact the Head of School, Mark Kearney:

Email Mark Kearney via M.T.Kearney@leeds.ac.uk.

Version control 

Page published:25 October 2021
Page last updated: 25 October 2021

Details of any amendments since first published: