BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography vs BMBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery

Course Comparison

Course	BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography	BMBS Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
Award	Bachelor of Science - BSc (Hons)	Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery - BMBS
Duration	3 years	5 years
Assessment breakdown	-	-
Course type	Full-time	Full-time
Placement	(with placements)	(with placements)
Location	Plymouth	Plymouth
Provider	Peninsula Medical School	Peninsula Medical School
Entry requirements	Please note the following information concerning entry requirements for this course: None of the typical offers listed below are necessarily the threshold for interview selection. Other factors including the number of applications received may influence the threshold for interview selection. We are only able to consider Level 3 qualifications completed within five years of the start of the application cycle. For example, qualifications completed since 2016 would still be valid when applying in September 2021. GCSEs Applicants need to achieve 5 GCSE passes (grade C/grade 4 or higher) which must include the following subjects: English Language Mathematics Science Plus one of the below Level 3 qualifications Level 3 qualifications must include the equivalent of one A Level in one of the following subject: Biology/Human Biology; Chemistry; Computing; Design and Technology; Electronics; Environmental Studies; Geography; Geology; Maths/Pure Maths/Further Maths; Life and Health Sciences; Physical Education; Physics; Psychology; Science (applied); Statistics. GCE A level The typical offer is BBC at GCE A level to include one science as listed above BTEC National Extended Diploma DMM in a relevant subject, which must contain units covering sufficient science as listed above BTEC National Diploma DD in a relevant subject, which must contain units covering sufficient science as listed above Access to Higher Education Diploma Pass an Access to Higher Education Diploma in a predominantly science subject area, meeting the following criteria: 60 credits overall to include 45 level 3 credits You must achieve Distinction in 15 level 3 credits, and Merit in the remaining 30 level 3 credits International Baccalaureate 28-30 points overall including Higher Level 5 in one science as listed above Scottish Advanced Highers BBC to include one science as listed above Other UK qualifications Other UK qualifications will be considered on an individual basis. Please contact the Admissions Team on meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk for advice on suitability. Applications from military veterans are welcomed and each application is assessed on an individual basis, as we realise that some military courses are not externally validated. International Applicants We welcome and encourage applications from suitably qualified international students who are either self-funded, supported by scholarships from their respective governments, or sponsored by scholarship programmes operated by the British Council and similar funding bodies. International applicants need to meet the equivalent admissions criteria described for home students as outlined above. Applicants applying with overseas qualifications should contact the Admissions Team at meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk prior to submitting an application through UCAS. In addition, international applicants need to be fully proficient in English language. All teaching at our school is in English, so if you are an international applicant you must have one of the following English Language qualifications. If you are unsure whether your English Language qualification is suitable, please contact meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk: If English is your first language, we will accept your home country’s equivalent of a GCSE grade A/8 in English Language providing it is at Level C1 or above according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). GCSE or IGCSE grade A in English Language International English Language Testing System (IELTS) band 7.0 or above with no element below 6.5 taken within 12 months prior to entry. The University will no longer accept the IELTS indicator (online test). All applicants will have to take the IELTS test at an approved centre. IB score of 5 in English B at the standard level. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 94 or above. We know that university life is a challenge for any student but especially when you are a long way from home. You will find us friendly and supportive. We pride ourselves on being friendly and supportive, and have a nominated academic tutor to coordinate the induction and academic support provided to international students. International student advice also provide support and can assist you with any non-academic issues affecting international students. There are also student welfare support and counselling services, wardens and student health centres on hand if you need them. Students who have an offer of a place should apply under for a Student (formerly Tier 4 General Student) visa. Further information is available on the UK Border Agency's website. Re-sit Applicants Re-sit applicants are considered for this course, with the following requirements: If you are applying with predicted grades, a minimum of CCC must be achieved on first sitting of A Level Where CCC is not achieved on first sitting, applicants must re-sit the required qualifications and apply once suitable grades have been achieved A Level or accepted equivalent qualifications must be completed in no more than 3 years of study, unless otherwise advised A suitable qualification profile must be achieved on first re-sit attempt We do not have an AS Level resit policy, however, full A Levels must be completed within the above timeframe. For re-sit criteria of other qualifications, please contact the Admissions Team at meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk. Selection and admissions process Applications should be made through UCAS by the published deadline. This is typically the 15th January. All decisions on applications are made by the Admissions Advisory Panel, which consists of academics, clinicians and senior members of the administrative team. The University of Plymouth Medicine and Dentistry Admissions Team process applications as follows: 1. Shortlisting for interview– Applicants are considered for interview based on relevant academic qualifications alone. We do not currently consider personal statements or work experience when selecting for interview The Admissions Advisory Panel consider many factors when choosing who will be invited to attend an interview, including the number of places available on the course and the number of applications received, alongside the academic profiles of all of our applicants 2. Interview – Successful applicants are invited to attend an interview process. We use Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) as the format for our interviews. Find out more about our medicine and dentistry selection and admissions process . Following interviews, candidates are ranked based on the score achieved and the top performing applicants are offered a place on the course 3. Offer – Offers are made via UCAS. Within all offers, candidates are required to complete a series of health and police checks, full details of which are communicated to firm offer holders by the Admissions Team. Practising as a doctor requires the highest standards and we take seriously our commitment to only enrol and teach students with the integrity required of the profession. Full details can be found on our Student Conduct and Fitness to Practise page. Full details of our medicine and dentistry selection and admissions process . The University is supportive of students with special needs and disabilities. Applicants are encouraged to disclose any needs or disability so that appropriate adjustments can be made in learning support and their individual needs met. A comprehensive procedure is in place involving Student Services and the Admissions team to ensure that all applicants are treated equitably The Diagnostic Radiography programmes follow the guidance for Occupational Practitioners when providing adjustment for students in regulated professions. The Faculty of Health has an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee . The webpage associated with this committee has a link you can access for more information and support. Students must be 18 years old or over at the start date of this programme. Student Conduct and Fitness to Practise Please view our Student Conduct and Fitness to Practise .	In order to meet the academic requirements for this programme, you must have one of the following combinations of qualifications: GCSE, A levels and UCAT GAMSAT A levels and stage 1 of either Biomedical Science or Human Biosciences with the University of Plymouth. Degree study at other institutions is not considered. A Bachelors degree course through the University of Plymouth School of Biomedical Sciences. Degree study at other institutions is not considered. Full details on the subject and grade requirements for these qualifications can be found below. None of the typical offers listed necessarily determine interview selection. As described in the relevant sections, various factors influence the threshold on an annual basis. We are unable to consider applications from students who have academically failed a previous medical degree or incurred Fitness to Practise (FtP) proceedings. If you apply and indicate you have previously enrolled onto a medical degree elsewhere, the School will contact your former institution for confirmation of any academic failure or FtP. GCSE Applicants need to achieve 7 GCSE passes (minimum grade 4/C) which must include: English Language Mathematics Two Science subjects - either GCSE Double Award Science or two from single award Chemistry, Biology, or Physics We are unable to consider functional skills in lieu of GCSEs. A Level We are only able to consider A levels, or equivalent qualifications, completed within five years of the start of the application cycle. For example, qualifications completed since 2019 would still be valid when applying in September 2024. If your A levels, or equivalent qualifications, outdate this, please refer to the GAMSAT section. Additional AS levels or Extended Project Qualifications (EPQ) are not recognised and will not advantage an application. The typical offer is AAA – AAB at GCE A level which must include the following : Grade A in Biology Grade A in a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology Your third A level can be in any subject, we do not give preference to three science A levels. General Studies is not accepted. For AAB offers please refer to the Widening Access section. Alternative qualifications to A level The following qualifications can be considered in place of A levels, alongside the GCSE and UCAT requirements. International Baccalaureate 36–38 points overall to include the following: Higher Level 6 in Biology Higher Level 6 in one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology Scottish Advanced Highers AAA to include the following: Grade A in Biology Grade A in one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology. We are unable to consider Scottish Highers for entry onto this course. Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge/Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales The Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge (now called Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales) can be considered in place of a third A Level alongside Biology and a second science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology. Irish Leaving Certificate H1, H1, H2, H2, H2, H2 to include Biology and one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology Cambridge Pre-U Diploma D3, D3, D3 including Biology and one further science from Chemistry, Physics, Maths or Psychology. For widening access applicants, we will consider M2 in place of grade B at A Level. Other UK qualifications We do not consider any UK Level 3 qualifications for this course that are not listed above. If you do not have any of the above qualifications, please refer to the GAMSAT section. Qualifications awarded outside of the UK We welcome applicants with qualifications from outside of the UK and assess equivalence to UK qualifications using Ecctis. To check the academic suitability of your qualification, please contact the Admissions Team meddent-admissions@plymouth.ac.uk UCAT As part of our commitment to a fair and transparent admissions process, Peninsula Medical School uses the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) alongside A levels and GCSEs to select applicants for interview. The Admissions Advisory Panel reserve the right to consider all aspects of the UCAT when shortlisting for interview. The UCAT is valid for 12 months and must be sat in the year of application. The UCAT threshold score applied to determine candidate selection for interview can alter each year and is influenced by the number and quality of applications received. We are therefore unable to confirm the cut off for the coming academic year until all applications have been received and assessed. Previous overall score thresholds are shown below for illustration: 2020 entry: Home – 2290 points 2021 entry: Home – 2400 2022 entry: Home – 2610 2023 entry: Home – 2680 International – 2440 UKWPMED – 2330 2024 entry: Home – 2210 International – 2600 UKWPMED – 2210 If you have sat the UCATSEN you will need to provide standard evidence of your entitlement to this additional time by submitting the following: If you are still in education, an official letter from your school, college or university stating that following diagnosis from a qualified medical practitioner, educational psychologist or specialist teacher the candidate is currently entitled to additional time in public examinations (or has had additional time in public examinations within the last two years) or If you are no longer in education, a post-16 years diagnosis or report from a qualified medical practitioner or educational psychologist that explicitly recommends additional time in public examinations. Please consult the UCAT website for advice, information and preparatory resources. Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) Peninsula Medical School uses the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) as an alternative entry route to A levels. Although the GAMSAT is called a graduate admissions test, you do not need to be a graduate to sit the GAMSAT or apply with this qualification. We are unable to consider previous degree study for this programme, other than the internal transfer options detailed below. Candidates holding degrees or without suitable A levels should therefore sit the GAMSAT to meet the entry criteria. The GAMSAT assesses your academic aptitude for the study of medicine, including reasoning in humanities, social science, biological science, physical science and written communication. Results from the test are the only academic qualification that will affect the shortlisting process and previous qualifications will not be considered. The results are valid for 2 years but must be sat at the latest by September in the year of application. As the GAMSAT assesses academic aptitude, you will still need to show us at interview that you have the appropriate personal qualities to train and practise as a doctor. For further information or to register for the test, please visit the GAMSAT website. We are unable to set the GAMSAT threshold in advance of the application deadline. All GAMSAT applicants are ranked based on scores achieved, examples of the score thresholds applied in previous admissions cycles are: 2020 Entry Section 1: 55 Section 2: 55 Section 3: 58 Overall: 63 2021 Entry Section 1: 47 Section 2: 48 Section 3: 54 Overall: 66 2022 Entry Section 1: 53 Section 2: 55 Section 3: 66 Overall: 66 2023 Entry Section 1: 54 Section 2: 47 Section 3: 53 Overall: 61 2024 Entry Section 1: 43 Section 2: 43 Section 3: 48 Overall: 52 You will typically only get student finance if you are completing your first higher education qualification, even if your previous course was self-funded. You may still be eligible for limited funding in certain circumstances and for some courses. Within your offer conditions you will be required to provide evidence that you have funds available to cover tuition costs for the first four years of the programme.