Lancaster University Medical School uses problem-based learning (PBL) for the delivery of its core curriculum. Many medical schools include some PBL within their programme, but it’s unusual for it to be used to this extent.
HINT: make sure you’re aware of how Lancaster uses PBL for its modules, as well as the positives and limitations of learning using PBL, so you’re able to discuss this rare learning opportunity within your interview.
Learning is also supported using the following teaching methods:
The programme at Lancaster Medical School also includes the following clinical experience:
You can find more information about the programme structure and content on their website.
Lancaster University Medical School has partnerships with the following:
Gain access to a recording of our free webinar and find out what a day in the life of medical student Helen looks like. There's also videos covering all aspects of medical school applications and the UCAT.
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Following your finals in fourth year, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake an elective, allowing you to explore a speciality of interest within a different setting or to observe healthcare in another country.
Lancaster University also offers medical students the option of carrying out an intercalated degree. This gives you the opportunity to suspend your MBChB studies for one year to undertake an additional BSc, MSc, MRes or MPhil intercalated degree. You can find more information about the intercalated degree options within the ‘Year 4’ section on the course details page.
Lancaster Medical School also offers Medicine and Surgery with a Gateway Year. During the Gateway Year you’ll undertake a range of modules designed to prepare you for progression onto the MBChB Medical degree. Find out more information about this programme here.
Lancaster University Medical School uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format for its interview.
Their website specifies that you will undertake twelve to fifteen different ‘stations’, most of which will last five minutes. These stations may include short interviews about your work experience or your suitability to study medicine, or involve reading or viewing information and discussing it.
Lancaster Medical School also includes an additional twenty-minute group work activity to assess your suitability for the problem-based learning curriculum that they employ.
For 2025 entry, interviews will be held in January and February 2025. More information about Lancaster’s MMI process can be found here.
Most medical schools require you to pass an admissions exam before you’ll be invited for interview.
Admissions exam for Lancaster: University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)
For 2024 entry, Lancaster used the BMAT for the last time. From 2025 onwards, the UCAT will be used to determine successful applicants.
The UCAT aims to assess the skills, characteristics and professional behaviours required for medical school. The exam is divided into 5 sections: Abstract Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning, Situational Judgement (SJT) and Verbal Reasoning.
Lancaster will choose applicants who have an overall score within the top 7 deciles, and with an SJT score between 1 and 3.
Our adaptive UCAT question bank will help you to prepare effectively. Using artificial intelligence, our algorithm assesses your individual learning needs and provides questions based on the areas of the syllabus which you need to develop. This means you’ll be focusing on the areas which will improve your UCAT score and not wasting time answering questions which will not have a positive impact on your UCAT performance.
Using the question bank dashboard, you can also easily identify areas which you’ve “mastered” and those which you need to dedicate more time to.
For more advice on preparing well for the UCAT, check out our step-by-step guide and quick tips, on our UCAT page.
