Widening access to Medicine at Manchester
At Manchester, we are committed to widening access to the study of medicine by ensuring students from less privileged backgrounds have the chance to enter medical school.
Our dedicated medical school widening participation team works alongside our Admissions team to enable pupils to learn more about applying to and studying on medical courses.
Read more about our activities below, or visit the widening participation programmes page for specific information on how pupils in these programmes can progress to university medical courses.
On this page:
- Working with school pupils
- Supporting medical students from WP backgrounds
- Working with other medical schools
Working with school pupils
We have been delivering outreach events from primary school to Year 12 since 2013, with our activities often led by medical student Widening Participation Partners.
Each year, we deliver a masterclass conference for Manchester Access Programme (MAP) students, as well as lead a Faculty Hello Healthcare Day for Year 10 pupils from Greater Manchester. The latter involves colleagues from different healthcare programmes within The University of Manchester, and provides an opportunity for pupils from widening participation backgrounds to find out more about different healthcare professions.
We continue to offer a range of talks at secondary schools, delivered by WP Champions and our Academic Lead for Admissions. Our WP Champions are trained doctors, current students and academic staff, who deliver inspiring talks and details on how to apply to medicine.
For more information on our widening participation work, please email Albert Jennings (albert.jennings@manchester.ac.uk).
If you would like to book an admissions-focused talk, please email Drew Tarmey (drew.tarmey@manchester.ac.uk).
Year 12 MAP Masterclass Conference
The Manchester Access Programme (MAP) is the University's award-winning widening participation scheme for local Year 12 students in Greater Manchester.
An annual masterclass conference is available to Year 12 students on the MAP. This in-person conference includes workshops on communication skills, values and behaviours, and the multiple mini-interviews (MMIs) used in the Medicine application and admissions process.
It also includes inspiring lectures and the opportunity to speak to medical students currently on the MB ChB course.
For further information on MAP, please visit the MAP website. You can also email map@manchester.ac.uk.
Hello Healthcare Day
We are excited to announce our second annual conference for Year 9 pupils interested in healthcare careers.
The conference will include workshops delivered by different healthcare professionals, as well as opportunities to meet and network with admissions and programme staff.
Please contact us if you would like further details.
Email: albert.jennings@manchester.ac.uk
#IMADEIT videos
Our #IMADEIT YouTube channel has lots of videos from medical students and doctors from WP backgrounds talking about their journey to medical school. These videos offer advice on applying to medical school, as well as showing what life in medical school is like.
Watch our videos: #IMADEIT (YouTube)
Plant a Seed Series
The Plant a Seed (PAS) series is an online pre-recorded three-part video series to inspire, educate and motivate secondary school pupils from widening participation backgrounds on medicine. It was developed by current medical student and former WP Partner Nadin Hawwash.
Please contact us if your school would like further details.
Email: albert.jennings@manchester.ac.uk
Read more about the Plant a Seed series: Plant a Seed series: the impact of an online outreach package on school pupils’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes to medicine (BMC Medical Education).
Supporting medical students from WP backgrounds
In Manchester, we realise that our WP work does not end with you getting into medical school.
With this in mind, we have developed resources and a WP peer mentoring programme to improve the learning environment for those from WP backgrounds. You will be invited to join the scheme when you join.
We also have a Manchester Widening Participation Medics Society you can join.
Working with other medical schools
The Manchester WP team are the founders of the National Medical Schools Widening Participation Forum, a collaborative organisation of 39 medical schools, UCAT and voluntary organisations that began in 2015.
The National Forum aims to improve access to and experiences in medical school for students from WP backgrounds.
Follow us on X for more information: @NMS_WP_Forum
You can also read about our work in this article: Developing a UK widening participation forum (The Clinical Teacher).
The current chair is Professor Nana Sartania at University of Glasgow Medical School, and there are teams committed to student access, student success and progression, and research. We also have a strong medical student team, who deliver an annual conference for staff and students.
We would encourage you to consider Manchester. Both the city and the University are proud of their diversity, and the opportunities they offer for everyone.
Dr Enam Haque (GP, Clinical Senior Lecturer and Academic Co-Lead for Widening Participation, University of Manchester Medical School)
Dr Emma Sahgal (Academic Co-lead for Widening Participation)
Follow Enam on X: @enamhaque31