The Aspiring Medics
3 min
Updated: Dec 10, 2022
The University of Aberdeen Medical School provides its students with a dynamic course, taught using a systems-based, integrated approach.
The purpose-built medical school is based at Foresterhill; the largest health-care campus in Europe, providing students with patient contact from the very beginning of first year.
Thanks to the excellent relationship between students and staff and the high importance placed on student support, UoA creates an environment where students thrive and feel supported and encouraged by everyone.
All of the information you need for your interview at Aberdeen can be found on the University website- here you will find everything you need to know about the interview format and course curriculum!
Research the unique aspects of Aberdeen, specifically their curriculum relating to remote and rural options and how this would suit you. There is a shortage of medical practitioners in rural settings, so if this type of career is appealing to you, plan to communicate this in your interview.
Regularly read your personal statement and ensure that you know it well. You need to be able to summarise it, as well as highlight and elaborate on any point in it.
You should read up on the GMC’s Good Medical Practice
The interview is a serious part of the decision-making process, so candidates should give careful consideration about what they wear, and their general appearance, given the professional nature of the career they hope to embark upon.
Aberdeen Medical School places importance on early patient contact allowing students to develop clinical skills from the start of Year 1. Students receive a well-rounded medical education through their Remote and Rural teaching in Inverness and the Highlands and Islands, where students get to experience the importance of rural healthcare. Students have the option of intercalation, either after their third or fourth year. The Humanities block in third year encourages students to consider medicine from a different angle. This part of the course allows the development of new skills and is something students always find rewarding.
Situated in historic Old Aberdeen, the medical campus is just a 15-minute walk away at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, the largest clinical site in Europe. Almost every medical specialty sits right next door to the Suttie teaching centre. There are gorgeous beaches and castles and lochs to enjoy just a short drive from the centre of town. The city centre has excellent bars, restaurants and shopping centres as well as plentiful train and bus transport links and an international airport. Most first year students decide to stay in university accommodation. Hillhead student village, only a short walk from the main campus, accommodates over 2000 students. The university offers a free bus service allowing students to get easily from Hillhead to the main campus and ARI throughout the day.
At Aberdeen University students are encouraged to mix with peers from all courses, e.g. through shared accommodation at Hillhead Student Village, or by joining one of the many student societies on offer. There are medic-specific sports teams and a medic choir/ orchestra to allow students to take part without feeling they have too much of a commitment away from studies (although you are more than welcome to join the main uni clubs and societies). Aside from the more typical Uni societies to join, there are also societies for almost every medical speciality from Emergency Medicine to Geriatrics to Aviation and Space Medicine! Aberdeen MedSoc also hosts many wonderful social events throughout the year which everyone can get involved in!
The University of Aberdeen Medical Society is the largest and oldest society on campus. Famous for its dedication to supporting Medics and its excellent social calendar.
Adoption Night is a yearly highlight, setting up first year ‘children’ with their new second year ‘parents’, serving as an excellent night out and instigating support from older students for years to come. Other events like SNIMS, BNF, and the Medsoc Ball are legendary.
The medsoc committee also serve as recognisable faces on campus. They are always easy to talk to and offer support.
In the year of Covid, Medsoc could not be stopped and adapted well to deliver the socials they were so famous for.
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