RCGP Widening participation programme 2020
WHAT IS WORK EXPERIENCE?
According to the Medical School Council, work experience is any activity or life experience that helps you to prepare for medical school.
WHAT IS WIDENING PARTICIPATION?
Widening participation means the pupils come from backgrounds which are under-represented. i.e. if your parents/carers have not completed Higher Education.
DID YOU KNOW?
Applying to study medicine in a UK Medical School is a competitive process with over 20,000 pupils applying each year. Historically, various groups have been under-represented in medicine as a university subject and in turn as a profession.
Research has found that some pupils find it difficult to gain the experiences that are recommended to apply to medical school, particularly when they don't have family contacts or network in healthcare.
That is why Experience Medicine has partnered up with RCGP to bridge this gap and work towards eradicating the barrier to medicine through one medical placement at a time.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?
Any activity that you have had a people-focused experience of providing a service, care or help to others and that you understand the realities of working in a caring profession.
We have partnered up with the Royal College of General Practitioners to facilitate their widening participation primary care work experience program.
KEY FEATURE FOR OUR WIDENING PARTICIPATION PROGRAMME:
1. Open to 16-18 year olds interested in studying medicine.
2. Candidates who meet at least one of our widening participation criteria.
3. Preparation workshop, covering important ethical aspects of clinical contact including confidentiality.
4. Three-day placement in general practice with the opportunity to spend time with different members of the multi-disciplinary team.
5. Post-placement workshop, providing resources to aid applications to medical school and reflecting upon their experience.
6. Placement resources provided by the Royal College of General Practitioners.
7. Students from under-represented boroughs in London and Greater London regions only.
WIDENING PARTICIPATION CRITERIA?
1. From a household with an annual income of £25,000 or below.
2. In receipt of 16-19 Bursary Fund or Discretionary Learner Support with an income threshold of £25,000.
3. In receipts of free school meals during GCSEs.
4. In the first generation of the immediate family to apply to higher education.
5. Living, or have previously lived in local authority care
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM?
1. Do you meet at least one widening participation criteria?
2. Are you interested in applying to study medicine at university?
3. Are you on track to achieve the necessary grades to get into medicine?
