The Extended Medical Degree Programme (EMDP) is a 6-year program for students with the potential for a medical career but who may not achieve the required exam results for a standard 5-year program. Students cover the same material as the 5-year program but at a slower pace over the first 3 years, using extra time for additional study sessions. By the end of the 6 years, EMDP students complete the same requirements and exams as students in the 5-year program and earn an identical medical degree.

1. School of
Medicine
Extended
2012 entry
Medical Degree
Programme

2. How are students selected for the EMDP? In order to decide whether to offer a candidate a place on
the Extended Medical Degree Programme, we will consider
King’s College London School of Medicine uses a number of all aspects of the admissions process.
different methods to ensure that the best students are selected All applications to the Extended Medical Degree
for the Extended Medical Degree Programme. Programme must be made through UCAS. The UCAS
All applicants applying to start the course in 2012 and course code is A101, short course name MBBS6. The
beyond must sit the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) deadline for applications for September 2012 entry is
before submitting their UCAS application. This test helps 15 October 2011. In order to be considered for the EMDP
ensure that the best candidates are interviewed. UKCAT you MUST apply to A101.
registration opened on 1 May 2011 and normally costs £75 Applicants to the Extended Medical Degree Programme
to take. For further details about the UKCAT and to register should use the other four course choices on their UCAS
for the test, visit www.ukcat.ac.uk form for any subject they wish, without prejudice to their
After submitting your UCAS application, you may be application to King’s. If applicants also wish to be considered
called for interview. This will take the form of a Multiple for the conventional five-year medical degree at King’s
Mini-Interview (MMI) on either 12, 13 or 14 March 2012. (A100) in the same year as their application to the EMDP
The MMI will consist of a number of short five minute they need to apply for it separately.
interviews by members of staff.

3. • The Extended Medical Degree Programme (EMDP) is for
students who have the attitude and the academic potential for
a career in medicine, but who may not have the projected or
actual results in their GCSE, AS and A2 exams to enable them
to secure a place on a conventional medical degree course.
• By the end of the six years of the EMDP, students on the
course will have covered exactly the same topics, at the same
level of detail, as the conventional medical students on the
standard five-year programme.
• The Outreach for Medicine team run a series of activities
that applicants may find useful – please see the back of this
brochure for further details.

4. What is studied on the EMDP? Extended Medical Degree Programme
By the end of the six-year EMDP, Year 1A conventional medical degree topics:
students will have covered exactly the • first semester: biochemistry, • second semester: the liver, kidney
same topics, at the same level of detail, as cell biology, pharmacology and and gut are covered via six clinical
the conventional medical students on the histology scenarios
standard five year programme. They will • anatomy and physiology of the • one student selected component
have sat the same examinations and been kidneys, liver and gut (SSC) is completed at the end of the
required to achieve the same pass marks. year
So what is different about the six- plus EMDP-specific material:
year programme? The difference lies • chemistry • ‘writing & discourse’
in the pace at which the subjects are • numeracy • subject-based tutorials
covered (and examined) in the first three
years. In their first year (1A), EMDP Year 1B conventional medical degree topics:
students cover about 55 per cent of • first semester: immunology; • medical sociology, psychology and
the conventional first year course; in anatomy and physiology medical ethics
their second year (1B) they cover the relating to the heart and lungs • one year 2 SSC
remaining 45 per cent of the first year • second semester: the heart and • clinical skills are covered in GP and
and about 20 per cent of the conventional lungs are covered via seven hospital visits and inter-professional
second year course. In their third year clinical scenarios education (IPE)
(2), the remaining 80 per cent of the
conventional second year is covered. plus EMDP-specific material:
The extra ‘space’ that is created in • one EMDP-specific SSC • subject-based tutorials
the timetable during the first three
years enables EMDP students to have Year 2 conventional medical degree topics:
additional time for study – part of this is • 23 clinical scenarios, as covered in the conventional degree programme
self-directed and part is timetabled. The
timetabled extra sessions cover medically In their final three years, EMDP students experience the clinical parts of the
related aspects of chemistry, numeracy, course in exactly the same way as the conventional students. There will be
presentation skills and academic writing, no extra EMDP-specific study time in the timetable and no extra academic
together with the more difficult concepts support during this period. The medical qualification obtained by EMDP
in the medical course itself. students at the end of their course will be identical to that obtained by
students on the five-year course.

5. Who is the EMDP for?
The Extended Medical Degree Programme (EMDP)
is for students who have the attitude and the academic
potential for a career in medicine, but who may not have
the projected or actual results in their GCSE, AS and A2
exams to enable them to secure a place on a conventional
medical degree.
The minimum entrance requirement for the EMDP
is normally 3 A2 levels achieved over a one or two
year period. These must include Chemistry and one
other science or mathematical subject. The offers made
currently vary from AAA-BBC and are based on the
average A-level results of the school or college attended
as reported by the Department for Education.
Candidates with an Access to Medicine qualification
will be considered if it can be demonstrated that the
science components are equivalent to those required
above. Candidates for the EMDP are strongly preferred
to have grade B or above in at least English Language,
Maths and Science at GCSE level.
The Extended Medical Degree Programme is open to
anyone currently studying at a non-selective state school
or further education college in one of the following areas:
• Kent
• London
• Medway
Additional requirements: to be eligible, candidates must
have attended only non-selective state schools since the
age of 11. Candidates who have started or completed a
degree are not eligible for the EMDP.

6. Getting ready for a career in medicine
There is no simple checklist of activities that will guarantee
you a place at medical school. There are, however, a few
things you should really try and do:
• Arrange work experience at a hospital or GP surgery and/
or voluntary work in a hospital. If this is not possible to
arrange, volunteer to help out in an old people’s home or a
day centre for people with disabilities instead.
• Get involved in activities that demonstrate that you can
work effectively in a team. This could be on the sports
field, in a band or orchestra, a faith group or a local
community action project. It could also take the form of
part-time employment.
• Find out what life at medical school is like and what it
means to be a doctor today. You could do this by talking to
your GP or by taking part in outreach activities.
• Investigate areas of medicine and science that interest you
beyond the core science curriculum you are studying by
getting involved in extra-curricular activities.
For general enquiries about Outreach for Medicine
Being involved in activities, such as those detailed above,
will greatly enhance your medical school application and or to request a booking form for any of their
interview. The Outreach for Medicine team run a series of events, contact Dr Jane Valentine:
activities that you may also find useful. These include: The Phone: 020 7848 6972/6968
Worshipful Company of Barbers’ Science and Medicine Email: outreachformedicine@kcl.ac.uk
in Action lecture series; group mentoring workshops with
current undergraduate medical students and MED-VIEW For specific enquiries about admissions and your
(an intensive 3-day medical conference). application, contact the student admissions office:
Phone: 020 7848 6501/6502
Email: ug-healthadmissions@kcl.ac.uk
DESIGN & PRODUCTION Corporate Design Unit, King’s College London
design@kcl.ac.uk, © King’s College London, August 2009, 494