Welcome to our UK Medical School Review series. In this series, we work with current students to produce an in-depth overview of each UK Medical School, covering what it is like to study there, how the course looks and what you need to get in.
Today, we are focussing on Liverpool Medical School, a member of the Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities. Areeba, a Liverpool Medic, will share her experiences and insights as a current student throughout.
Let’s start with an overview of Liverpool Medical School…
Overview Of Liverpool Medical School
About Liverpool Medical School
Liverpool Medical School predates the University of Liverpool by 47 years, first being established in 1834. Initially the Royal Infirmary School of Medicine, the school kept its independence until 1884 when it became the Faculty of Medicine when affiliated with Victoria University, which had the power to award medical degrees. The University of Liverpool received its royal charter in 1903 and led the way for many Medical Schools. The University of Liverpool also established the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in 1898 which was the first of its kind in the world.
Now, it is one of the largest Medical Schools in the UK, offering 2 Medicine courses leading to the award of an MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery) degree: a standard 5-year Undergraduate course, and a Foundation to Human and Animal Health Professions course that offers a Foundation Year 0 before progressing to the standard 5-year course – a total of 6 years. This course also provides Foundation to a 5-year Undergraduate Dentistry Course.
Liverpool Medical School
- University Age: 188
- UK Ranking: 24th
- Pint Price: £3.00
- Alumni Notability: 8/10
- A-level Requirements: AAA
- Places Available: 332
- Applicant Success Rate: 11%
- Teaching Style: CBL
- Interview Style: MMI
- Admissions Test: UCAT
Liverpool Medical School Alumni
Among notable alumni from Liverpool Medical School include Lord Henry Cohen, a prominent lecturer who taught there for over 5 decades; Thomas Cecil Grey, a pioneer in anaesthetics, and Sir Charles Scott Sherrington, the discoverer of the synapse.
Why did you choose to study at Liverpool?
“I chose Liverpool for a few reasons. One of the main being that I wanted to study at a city University as being from a big city myself, I was used to the constant noise and the busy atmosphere associated with cities. Also, I wanted a place that was diverse and multicultural which Liverpool is. I also wanted to study somewhere which was close to home and as I am from Manchester it is literally a 50-minute train ride or drive home which is pretty convenient.
Compared to my other two choices, I found Liverpool to be the best choice as it was the only Medical School that I felt truly challenged me and made me push myself out of my comfort zones and test my limits to the max.”
What is the best thing and worst thing about your Medical School?
“The best thing about Liverpool is just how much everyone looks out for each other. From Day 1, you find yourself a support system in the form of mentors from the years above or your academic advisor. There are groups for every type of person. Outgoing societies like LMSS provide mentors to the freshers and have a variety of different activities you can attend to try and make friends from the get-go.
The worst thing I found was the structure of some of the teaching as the foundation blocks are running linearly alongside other blocks which makes it tough to keep up with the lectures. This, coupled with the timing of the lectures, means you end up with lots of work to do and are constantly trying to catch up.”
Medical School Rankings
The following link will take you to the Complete University Guide Medicine League Table. Here, you can see that Liverpool Medical School takes 24th position with an overall score of 96%:
Rankings will, of course, differ between other tables; the Guardian includes different aspects to the Complete University Guide. When making your own decision on which table to look at, think about what you place more importance on, such as spending per student or career prospects. Keep in mind that all Medical Schools are highly ranked with excellent ratings across the board.
Liverpool Medical School Fees And Financial Support
The yearly tuition fees for home students is £9,250. For the Foundation year it is £5,140. For international students, fees are £37,350 per year. Tuition fee loans are offered to all UK students by the Government and cover the course fees in full. Fees do not have to be paid upfront. The University of Liverpool is also keen on Widening Access to Higher Education and offers a range of scholarships, bursaries and support for students to help with costs.
What are the living costs like?
“Living in Liverpool can be both expensive or reasonable depending on whereabouts you live. If you live in private accommodation they tend to be a lot pricier than University halls. The most convenient and closest accommodations to campus are Crown Place and Vine Court, both situated opposite some of the lecture buildings. It costs around £159.53 per week to live in a single, self-catered ensuite bedroom at Crown Place and around £174.79 per week to live in a single, self-catered ensuite bedroom at Vine Court.
There are also other accommodations like Greenbank, which is approximately 15 minutes by bus with a studio, self-catered ensuite apartment costing £222.46 per week or still within walking distance but a bit further is Tudor Close and Melville Grove both costing approximately £147.84 for a single-bed, self-catered room. A cost of a pint can start anywhere from around £3 upwards depending on where you go and buses cost around £5 for the day.“
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What Is Studying At Liverpool Medical School Like?
The first 2 years of the programme are for establishing a core knowledge base and understanding of the medical sciences ready to learn in a clinical environment. Teaching is through lectures, practicals, clinical skills sessions, communication skills practicals and small group learning, and follows an integrated approach. Anatomy is taught via cadaveric dissection. All teaching takes place on the University of Liverpool campus. Students do experience early patient contact in these years through secondary care placements starting in Year 2.
Clinical learning continues in Years 3 to 5. Students rotate through a variety of integrated hospital and community-based settings in locations such as Liverpool, Chester, Preston and Blackpool. Lectures and case-based teaching are still given in an ‘Academic’ week that precedes each placement block.
What is a week in first year like at Liverpool Medical School?
Mon:
09:00-10:00 Introduction to Endocrine
10:30 – 12:30 Good Doctor Session
13:00-17:00 Lectures 1-3
Tues:
09:00 -13:00 Lectures 4-6
14:00 – 16:00 Pharmacology Intro Lecture
16:00 – 17:00 Q&A drop-in session
Wed:
09:00-12:00 Lectures 7-8
12:30-17:00 Sports and Social
Thurs:
10:00 – 12:00 PSM session
13:00 – 17:00 Lectures 9-10
Fri:
10:00 – 12:00 Pharmacology Lecture 1 (absorption)
13:00 – onwards Social
Liverpool Medic’s Timetable
Liverpool Medical School Degree Content
The curriculum is integrated and spiralling – what is learnt will be built upon and revisited in later years. Each year has a different focus: Year 1 – Core Clinical Science, Year 2 – Pathology and Disease, Year 3 – Becoming a Practitioner, Year 4 – Broadening expertise and Year 5 – Preparing for Practice. Throughout the course, teaching is also directed by a number of supra-themes: Science and Scholarship, The Good Doctor, Core Skills, Patient in Secondary Care and Patient in the Community Setting, that each fall into specifically defined themes.
Students in Years 1 and 2 will also undertake a unique leadership development course and be introduced to the Foundations of Research with the opportunity to conduct Research and Scholarship projects in their ‘Academic’ weeks before placements in clinical years.
There is the chance to intercalate between Years 3 and 4 if students desire to, in an area of interest either at the University of Liverpool or elsewhere.
At the end of Year 4, a 4-week elective is offered for students to follow particular interests in Medicine, either in the UK or abroad.
Students can conduct further research in Year 5 with the opportunity to undertake a 5-week research project.
Placements in Final Year are also supported by ‘Preparation for Practice’ weeks and a full week of interprofessional simulation to help prepare students for work as a Doctor.
Summary of the curriculum:
Year 1:
- Introduction to the science and practice of medicine through a series of problem-based learning modules.
- Biomedical sciences such as Biochemistry, Physiology and Anatomy are explored through their application to various human body systems.
- Weekly classes in a specially designed clinical skills centre introduce students to basic clinical methods.
- Communication skills training.
Year 2, 3 and 4:
Progress through 4 stages
- Understanding how healthy bodies normally develop and function
- Learning to recognize health problems
- Developing skills needed to diagnose illness and disease
- Knowing how to manage patients
- Hospital and community-based clinical experience.
- Students complete their final written assessment at the end of year 4.
Year 5:
- Gaining intensive clinical experience in hospitals and the community to prepare students for their careers as doctors.
This Foundation Year 0 provides students with the opportunity to progress onto a variety of Health Studies programmes including Medicine and Dentistry. This programme is typically aimed at mature students and is not offered to A-Level students or School Leavers. When applying, applicants must apply for the 1 programme they wish to progress onto. Throughout the year, students are introduced to multiple learning methods including lectures, workshops, and practical laboratory sessions and are expected to complete assessment tasks including written assignments, data handling and practical examinations. There are shared modules for all students and then route-specific modules to prepare students for their chosen programmes. Upon completion of the year, students progress into Year 1 of their chosen Undergraduate programme.
The 5-year Undergraduate Dentistry course at the University of Liverpool can also be accessed through the Foundation to Human and Animal Health Professions Course. The course prepares students for a Dentistry career through a combination of clinical study and basic and advanced dental sciences. Teaching is through a combination of PBL, student-led research and flipped classrooms, lectures, simulated patients and clinical placements.
Liverpool also offer a graduate entry medical programme (often shortened to GEM). This is a 4-year programme which is only available to graduates, rather than undergraduates who are just leaving school or sixth form. At Liverpool, the first year of GEM teaching condenses the first two years of the undergraduate course. After passing the first year, GEM students then join the undergraduates (who are in their third year) in their second year.
What Makes Liverpool Medical School Unique?
What makes your Medical School unique?
“Liverpool Medical School is unique in the way it treats its Medical Students. Its main priority is the health and well-being of its students whether that be mentally, physically or financially. It’s like a big family, everyone wants to help and there is so much on offer. There are, in particular, so many student-led society teachings both small group and whole year led which makes Liverpool unique as students care about helping each other no matter what year, and all the staff are extremely helpful and supportive of you. At Liverpool, you feel valued and understood and enjoy your experience.
The teaching hospitals are absolutely phenomenal and that just makes Liverpool University so much more unique as everyone cares. Succeeding is obviously important but Liverpool Medical School listens to its students and their feedback which is given either by surveys at the end of each block or via the course representatives. It makes you feel like you belong and is extremely diverse in its teaching with so much support available. I could honestly sing its praises in that regard.”
Liverpool Medicine Selection Process
Stage 1: applicants pre-screened against academic criteria.
Stage 2: pre-interview scoring conducted through a combination of academic performance and UCAT scores.
Stage 3: higher scoring applicants invited for interview.
Stage 4: applicants attend interview.
Stage 5: scores from interview compiled and offers made.
Liverpool Medical School Entry Requirements
| Exam | Undergraduate Medicine |
|---|---|
| GCSEs | 6 GCSEs at grade B/5 or above including Mathematics, English Language, Biology and Chemistry (or Dual Science) |
| A-levels | AAA including Chemistry or Biology, Physics or Mathematics if Chemistry not taken. EPQs not considered. 4TH subject not an advantage, A* not rated as higher than A. Re-sits only accepted in exceptional circumstances |
| IB | Overall score of 35 with a mark of 6 in 3 Higher Level subjects one of which must be Chemistry or Biology |
| Other | Cambridge Pre-U, Irish Leaving Certificate (Higher Level), Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers |
| Exam | Foundation |
|---|---|
| GCSEs | For Medicine and Dentistry a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade B/6 or above, including Mathematics, English Language and either Biology, Chemistry or Physics. |
| Other | For Medicine and Dentistry an upper second-class honours in your first degree in any subject. Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced. |
| Exam | Dentistry |
|---|---|
| GCSEs | A minimum of 8 GCSEs to include 5 subjects at grade A/7 and 3 at grade B/6 including Mathematics, English Language and Science. |
| A-levels | AAA including Chemistry and Biology. |
| IB | Overall score of 36 points with 6 at Higher Level including Chemistry and Biology. |
| Other | Irish Leaving Certificate, Scottish Higher/Advanced Higher. |
Craft an application worthy of Liverpool with 6med!
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With our Complete Bundle, we guarantee that you will get at least one offer to study Medicine, or your money back.
Liverpool Medical School Personal Statement
The personal statement can be used by Liverpool to assess students’ applications. The following criteria are highlighted as important to include: knowledge and insight into the profession, work experience and shadowing (the University is aware this can be difficult at the time and recognise other attempts to gain into the Medicine career such as speaking to professionals, online learning, voluntary work and reading), evidence of a caring nature, cohesive writing skills and strong and positive personal values. Try to show the core values and skills of a good doctor that you have gained from your experiences that make you right for the medical career.
The most important thing is to remember to be candid and know your personal statement inside out as you can always be asked to draw on these points and speak about the content of your personal statement in your interview!
Liverpool Medical School Admissions Tests
UCAT
You need to undertake the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) in order to apply for the University of Liverpool. There is no threshold for the UCAT however any applicant with a Band 4 in the Situational Judgement Test will be automatically rejected. The remaining students’ score makes up 25% of pre-interview scoring – the other 75% being academic performance. Top applicants will be invited for interview. For reference, the average UCAT score for those invited for interview has been around 2557. The GAMSAT is required for any graduates but the BMAT is not required.
Liverpool Medical School Interview
MMI Interview Style
Interviews for Medicine at the University of Liverpool are in the Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) format. Previously, it has typically been 4 stations consisting of 2 questions each with 2 interviewers. The interviews typically take place between December and February, and the number of applicants interviewed is roughly 1.5x the number of available places.
Common interview topics include: applicants core values and attributes (this uses your personal statement), teamwork, motivation for Medicine, communication skills, ethical views, what you have learnt from work experience and caring roles, healthcare awareness and insight into current affairs and numeracy.
Example Liverpool Medical School Interview Questions:
- Give me an example of when you have shown empathy (2018)
- You are on your first clinical placement, the nurses are extremely busy and have asked you to help. What do you do? (2019)
- A patient is prescribed 50mg, tablets are 12.5mg each: how many tablets will you give? (2021)
- A drug is available as 20mg/5ml: your patient’s prescription is for 40mg, how many ml will be given? (2020)
- Why do you want to attend the University of Liverpool Medical School? (2020)
- Why have you decided to study at Liverpool? (2019)
- Why have you chosen to study Medicine? (2021)
- What steps did you take to find out if the medicine is the right path for you? (2019)
- Is it ever justified for doctors to lie to their patients? (2021)
- Describe the way you took to get here from your home. (2021)
- Should physician-assisted suicide be legal in the UK? (2021)
- What are the ethical considerations regarding abortion? (2021)
Extra-Curriculars At Liverpool Medical School
Outside of study time, what do most people get up to?
“There is a lot to do in Liverpool. Just a 15-minute walk away from campus you have the main city centre with so many food places and shops. Bold Street has a vast range of foods from Middle East Cuisines to Indian foods and Fish and Chips. No matter what you are in the mood for it’s there. You’ve got places like the Albert Docks which are absolutely stunning especially when the sun is setting and it reflects off the water. Another place that Medical Students like to go to is Sefton Park which in the summer, is the most gorgeous place to go for a picnic or even to study during exam season whilst getting your vitamin D. If you love the Beatles, you can always go and visit the museum.
Additionally, for those who love hiking or beautiful views, Widnes and the Lake District are not far so can easily go spend the day down there or go camping. For the extroverts, you have places like the Raz, which is good for having a drink or partying after a stressful day followed by brunch at the Leaf on Bold Street. Finally, after a year of stress, a lot of people love going down to the beaches like Crosby to unwind and relax whilst you get your tan in, or playing volleyball, or even building sandcastles and tearing them down, are all activities you can do on a hot summer’s day followed by a bonfire while the sun sets.”
What is the Liverpool accommodation like?
“Crown Place is by far the best University accommodation. It has a beautiful layout and common areas for all the residents to gather in. It’s pretty central and close to most of the common lecture theatres as well as the Guild and one of the on-campus pubs. Vine Court is also pretty ideal, located close to Sydney Jones Library but still on the other end of campus from the Medical School building and HARC. Greenbank is approximately 15-minutes away from campus via bus. All the accommodation is really good with a cleaner coming in at least once a week and some give the option of catered and self-catered. The bigger your budget, the better the accommodation you can stay in.
Additionally, there are lots of private accommodations nearby which are within walking distance but are again a bit more expensive than halls.”
Liverpool Medical School Contact
Telephone: +44 (0)151 794 5927
Email: [email protected]
Postal address:
University of Liverpool,
Foundation Building,
Brownlow Hill,
Liverpool,
L69 7ZX
Advice For Prospective Liverpool Medical School Students
What advice would you give to a first-year student starting at Liverpool Medical School?
“My advice would be to take up any extra-curricular options as possible. A big pitfall I think for first years is that they try too hard to stay on top of everything and then let opportunities pass by. Try and go to as many events and meet as many new people as you can because the further up you get in the Medical School ladder, the less time you have.
Obviously, do your lectures and try to work hard but remember taking time for yourself will help you develop healthy habits and procure a work-life balance ensuring you take care of your mental and physical health and wellbeing. Liverpool is an amazing Medical School and I hope you enjoy it there as much as I do. Good luck and enjoy your journey!”
Check out our other UK Medical School Reviews:
Not sure where to start with your Medical School application?
Our Complete Bundle provides support for your Personal Statement, UCAT, BMAT and Interview and guides you to a successful application.
With our Complete Bundle, we guarantee that you will get at least one offer to study Medicine, or your money back.
By Phoebe Baker
