Medicine

The course

The three-year Cambridge course in pre-Clinical Medicine is academically demanding and scientifically based with an emphasis on the understanding of basic principles and experimental evidence. This approach provides a solid foundation for Clinical Medicine and research and for General Practice. You should read this section together with the Cambridge 'Guide to Admissions in Medicine'.

The College

Pembroke is ideally suited for those reading Medicine: the back gate of the College leads directly into the New Museums Site where most of the pre-Clinical laboratories are situated. The College has thus, not surprisingly, a strong tradition in the subject. Like in all universities, Cambridge is restricted in the number of places which can be offered in Medicine: over the last few years Pembroke is allowed to admit eight medical students each year (Home and Overseas). As in all Colleges, Medicine is a very competitive subject. All students are offered College accommodation for their three pre-Clinical years. About half choose to stay at Addenbrooke's for their Clinical studies and can then continue to live in the College's houses for this period. Those who do not choose to stay at Addenbrooke's tend to go to the London teaching hospitals or Oxford. In addition to those primarily concerned with the pre-Clinical part of the course, the College has a Fellow in Clinical Medicine, Professor Ken Smith, who directs studies for the College's clinical students at Addenbrooke's Hospital. He also contributes clinical elements to the course for pre-Clinical students and provides a link with clinical activities at Addenbrooke's.

Admissions

If you are applying to any Cambridge College to read Medicine, you will be required to take a two-hour test (the BioMedical Admissions Test, BMAT) in your school or college before coming for interview. If you are a post-A-level candidate, please get in touch with us to discuss where you should take the test (many post-A-level candidates arrange to take it at their old school or college).

The course is tough, and we would expect those applying to have a very strong background in the appropriate sciences.

The most useful combinations of A-levels(or equivalent) are Physics, Chemistry, Biology; Maths, Physics, Chemistry; or Maths, Chemistry, Biology. We have no preference between these combinations.

Candidates taking only two of the four subjects Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics through to the full A level (or equivalent) will not be disadvantaged, but we would expect to see A grades in three of these subjects at AS level. In practice, the large majority of our applicnts take three sciences/maths at A-level (or equivalent).

Interviews and Assessment

We are looking for students who are highly motivated and enthusiastic about medicine and have the academic ability to learn very fast in a demanding course. You should have a strong scientific interest in medical sciences and a realistic view of Medicine as a career. We do not admit for medicine without interview, and interview all candidates who stand a reasonable chance of gaining a place at Cambridge; some overseas candidates applying from Singapore, Malaysia or Hong Kong can be interviewed in their own country: please ask for information about this.

Medical candidates are given two or three interviews with those who teach in medically-related fields: we will assess your interest and ability in the more scientific aspects of medicine, and your attitude to Medicine as a profession.

Please note that the pre-medical requirements for Cambridge differ from those of some other Medical Schools. It is advisable to check the details in the University Prospectus.

Gap Year

We are happy to offer one or two deferred medical places each year to candidates who wish to take a gap year and we encourage those who are very young (ie would be coming up to Pembroke under 18) to defer.

Students with disabilities

Whilst we welcome applications to Pembroke from students with disabilities, it is important to realise that, in being admitted for medicine, you are entering the medical profession. You will need to be assessed as to whether you will be eligible for registration by the General Medical Council on graduation as being 'fit to practice'. We encourage any student with a disability who may be considering applying for medicine to consult us at an early stage.

See also the University Prospectus entry for Medicine.

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