Timeline for 2023/24 entry:
- Deadline for applications: 1st September 2023
- Interviews: Tuesday 3 October 2023, pm & Thursday 5 October 2023, am (in-person, on campus)
- Offers: end of October 2023
- Start of the course: January 2024
Applications that meet our academic requirements are processed in the following manner.
An objective scoring system is initially applied to all aspects of the application that produces two separate scores:
- Academic score (50%)
Alongside academic score, a completed application is essential to decide who is invited to interview. Two references must be submitted alongside a personal statement. Applications which are not complete will not normally be considered.
For those invited to interview:
- Interview score (50%)
After all interviews have been carried out, we will then make offers to candidates who achieve an overall score that is greater than the designated threshold.
Unsuccessful candidates may request feedback on their application.
- How to Apply
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Applications are invited from graduates who have studied or who are about to complete a programme in a health related medical science subject. Please complete an online University of Aberdeen postgraduate application form and provide a personal statement and two referees. One of these would provide an academic reference and the other should be able to comment on your suitability to enter a health caring profession.
**Please note that the deadline for applications is 1st September each year for studies commencing the following January**
If you are unable to attach supporting documentation to your online application, please email your documents to medadm@abdn.ac.uk. Remember to quote your application number in all correspondence.
- Admission Policy
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Admission to the University of Aberdeen is entirely on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve. We operate an admissions policy which ensures equality of opportunity to all applicants. Applications are welcomed from students with excellent academic potential and the University recognises the importance of admitting applicants to a course suited to their ability and aspirations. The selection process therefore takes account of all aspects of an application and not just an applicant's academic profile.
- Read the University of Aberdeen's Postgraduate Admission Policy
Equality and Diversity The University of Aberdeen has an equal opportunities policy to which the medical school adheres. An applicant's race, ethnicity, gender, marital or parental status, educational or social background will have no influence on how their application is assessed.
The University of Aberdeen believes a diverse student population is important from an educational and social perspective; enhancing the educational experience for all.
Disabilities We welcome applications from students with disabilities. A disability need not be a bar to becoming a Physician Assistant if the student can fulfil the rigorous demands of professional fitness to practise. However, it is important that disabilities are declared so that appropriate adjustments to the course can be made in good time. Identification of these needs is the purpose of the Occupational Health Questionnaire described below. Note that dyslexia falls into the disability category and mistakes in prescribing can have serious results if dyslexia is not declared and if protective measures are not in place. Independent assessment of dyslexia is therefore important.
If you have concerns about a disability, you can seek advice from the Admissions Staff. However, only general advice can be given before application and detailed consideration of individual cases is only possible by referral to Occupational Health for a full assessment. This is undertaken separately from the selection process and only once a provisional offer of admission has been made and accepted.
In exceptional circumstances, admission to medical school may be refused and a provisional offer withdrawn on grounds of fitness to practise. The General Medicine Council has made recommendations (Gateways to the professions) concerning Student Health and Conduct.
Occupational Health Questionnaire
Occupational Health wish to know about any disabilities or health conditions that may affect students in their training so that, where appropriate, advice can be given to the School of any support needs students may have and how these can be provided for. Information is also required about conditions which could pose risk to patients so that these can be assessed. Consideration can then be given to how any risk can be avoided, whilst assistance is provided to help students successfully complete the course. This can be achieved with most health problems and disabilities, even if substantial.
As a potential future Physician Assistant, you have a duty to provide relevant information to the School's Medical Advisers, NHS Grampian Occupational Health Service. Failure to disclose information about a physical or mental health problem that could affect patient safety would be a breach of this duty and could result in disciplinary action. All medical and sensitive personal information you provide will be held in confidence by NHS Grampian Occupational Health Service. The school will only be informed of the effects of a health problem or disability, if relevant to your educational needs or patient safety, and of recommendations on support or adjustments that could be of assistance to you.
Thus applicants who have been invited for interview will be issued with a Health Questionnaire that should be returned to Occupational Health. Only the questionnaires of applicants who ultimately take up a place (ie of confirmed entrants) will be reviewed by Occupational Health. The remaining questionnaires will be destroyed.
Convictions All applicants must declare criminal offences on the UCAS form. Any declaration will be further explored and further details will be required.
All entrants to medical schools in the UK must undergo a PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) check, or equivalent police record check). Applicants who accept an offer of admission in Aberdeen will be contacted prior to the start of term and guided through the process of application through Disclosure Scotland for this criminal records check. Non-UK domiciled entrants will be required to supply the university with equivalent certification from their home government. This documentation must be received as soon as possible to allow consideration of the individual circumstances by the University prior to the commencement of studies.
Not all convictions will result in being barred from the profession. Should potential applicants have uncertainty about a declaration, the Admissions Office will be able to offer advice about a future application to Aberdeen
Applicants with serious criminal convictions may be refused entry on grounds of fitness to practise. Failure to declare information, which directly relates to your Fitness to Practise will result in the termination of your medical school course.
Age All applicants are judged on their merits and in particular, their potential benefit to the medical profession.
There is no fixed upper age limit.
Transfers Please note that the School of Medicine does not allow transfer into the Physician Assistant programme to students who have commenced other degree courses. Nor can the School consider applicants who have commenced an alternate degree course with the intention of making an application for the Physician Assistant Postgraduate Diploma whilst they are an undergraduate student of that course.
We are well aware of the difficulties faced by students who, for various reasons, do not wish to complete their course of studies and would prefer to enter the Physician Assistant programme. While sympathy is felt for the plight of such students the School of Medicine is inundated with requests for transfer.
Our usual advice in these circumstances is to complete the current degree to at least 2:1 Honours level and then apply as a graduate.
- Interview
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The Admissions procedure at Aberdeen involves the detailed assessment and scoring of a range of aspects of an application, including academic attainment/predictions (25%), the written application (25%) then subsequent interview performance (50%).
Applications are ranked against all the others received for that year's entry and those who score sufficiently well achieve an interview. The interview is scored and then contributes to the overall score that a candidate may achieve, when offers are made to the highest scoring candidates.
Interviews are conducted in October, in-person on campus, using the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format.
An objective scoring system will cover the same categories scored previously, but in greater depth. Other qualities will be assessed which otherwise would not be apparent from a written statement, e.g.
- understanding of issues;
- problem-solving and analytical skills;
- enthusiasm, interest and motivation to study as a Physician Associate;
- communication and interpersonal skills will also be assessed.
What is an MMI?
Candidates will rotate around a number of stations in turn. A Selector will explore one topic or domain at each station for 7 minutes and score the candidate's performance against pre-determined criteria. Communication and interpersonal skills will also be scored at each station. The whole of the MMI experience will last about 90 minutes for each candidate.
Interviewees will be offered a tour of the Medical School on the day of the interview. The PA student guide will be very pleased to answer any questions and discuss the Aberdeen experience!
Invitation to Interview
Candidates will be invited for interview by email and asked to confirm their intention to attend at the appointed time and date. (Candidates should check their spam folders regularly during this time period). Should candidates have any specific requirements in relation to the MMI please let us know at the time of confirming your intention to attend.
Candidates should make every effort to attend on the allocated time as we can not guarantee that we will be able to reschedule.
A health questionnaire will be issued to all candidates who are made an offer.
Preparing for Interview
You may find the following information useful to help you understand what Selectors are looking for and how candidates might prepare for their interview.
What types of questions will be asked?
Many questions that will be covered in the ten MMI stations are available in the public domain. Although the exact wording may vary, candidates may find it a useful exercise to be familiar with some questions and to consider their own responses that are based upon their own thoughts and experiences, rather than quoting existing text and the opinion of others.
There are many ways that Selectors may explore the ten questioning domains that form part of an MMI. Candidates may be asked to:
- Discuss their preparation for entry to the Physician Associate programme, eg
- Research into curricula.
- Research then understanding of the implications of a career as a Physician Associate
- Experience of caring or other environments.
- Consider a new situation and discuss their thoughts.
- Outline any learning points from previous experiences.
- Reflect upon their own and others' skills and abilities.
- Consider their potential contribution to the care of others.
- Complete a manual dexterity task.
Candidates should be aware that for some questions there will not be a 'correct' answer – simply that the candidate's ability to reflect upon and discuss diverse aspects of the problem may be under scrutiny.
Given that the pre-interview scoring system selects candidates who appear to have sufficient academic potential, the interview is not intended to:
- Test academic knowledge
- Include questions directly related to the school curriculum
Are all candidates asked the same questions?
The same categories of questions will be used on each of the days that the MMI is run.
How will answers be scored?
The candidate will be scored in several areas including:
- Ability to express ideas freely and coherently
- How well they use their existing knowledge to formulate answers to unknown areas
- Their ability to follow a reasoned argument and to formulate an opinion
- The degree to which they are prepared for questions
- Their ability to discuss different aspects (advantages and disadvantages) of a problem / situation
- The degree of motivation, commitment, reflection and sensitivity demonstrated
- Their insight into working with others
Each station will also independently score communication and interpersonal skills.
How can candidates ensure that they answer questions well?
The more research undertaken into a career as a Physician Associate, the more you will be prepared to answer questions confidently and to deal with the unexpected.
Undertaking interview practice with different 'interviewers' will help build confidence in their ability to perform in unfamiliar circumstances, as will frequently practising answering different interview questions.
Coming to interview
Hints and tips
- First appearances are very important. An initial favourable impression is gained if we feel the student has also taken time to prepare for their meeting with us. Candidates should consider carefully what they wear, given the professional nature of the career they hope to embark upon.
- Interviewees should greet each Selector appropriately at the initial introductions.
- As each MMI station lasts for 7 minutes, candidate should try to keep answers succinct, so the interviewer can discover as many of their attributes as possible!
- We do understand that candidates are very nervous and do try to put them at their ease. The interview is NOT an exercise designed to make interviewees feel bad about themselves, but is a process from which we hope to reveal their finest points.
- An initial welcome will give candidates an overview of the MMI process and an opportunity to ask questions. Candidates will then be given a tour by our Student Ambassadors who will be delighted to assist with any questions you might have.
- Offers
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Of the candidates who are invited for interview, offers will be made to those candidates who achieve the highest total scores that are above a designated cut-off, based upon their application and interview performance. All successful applicants will be required to complete a criminal record check (via a PVG application) and an Occupational Health form before commencing studies.
The majority of offers will be made when the interview cycle is complete. The course will start in January each year, subject to there being a minimum number of suitably qualified entrants to commence the programme.
Should the application be successful, the candidate will be made one of the following offers:
- An Unconditional Offer: The candidate has met all the entrance requirements for Aberdeen.
- A Conditional Offer: Specific conditions must be met prior to starting the course. These are usually stated as academic grades in exams to be taken during the current year of study.
- Unsuccessful Applicants
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Most of the applications we receive are very good. However, we do have the difficult task of selecting only a small number of entrants out of the applications we receive each year.
Applicants should understand that the Admissions procedure at Aberdeen involves the detailed assessment and scoring of a range of aspects of an application, including academic attainment/predictions; the personal statement; then subsequent interview performance.
It is not possible to rescore applications any time after the application deadline, should revised personal statements outline further activities undertaken.
Applications are ranked against all the others received for that year's entry and those whose total Objective Scores are above the required threshold achieve an interview, then possibly an offer.
Feedback Process
As a mark of respect for the high quality of applications and commitment of applicants to securing a place, the Medical School has a commitment to offering comprehensive feedback to its unsuccessful applicants.
The process to request feedback goes as follows:
- End of October your decision will be communicated to you via email and in writing
- End of October/November applicants may request further feedback by writing to Medical Admissions
Please quote your Applicant ID number on all correspondence with the medical admissions department.