News for September 2025
UK University Testing Schedule for September 2025
Source: UCAS and Oxford Websites
LNAT testing begins on Monday 1st September.
UCAS applications for 2026 entry can be submitted from Tuesday 2nd September.
UCAT registration closes on Friday 19th September and testing ends on Friday 26th September.
Registration for Oxford admissions tests (including BMSAT, MAT, PAT, TSA and others) closes on Friday 19th September and test booking closes on Friday 26th September.
Registration and bookings for UAT tests (ESAT, TMUA, TARA) closes on Monday 29th September.
Other News
Still applying for the US?
Considering a career in medicine but still want to apply to the USA?
Q. If I know I want to read Medicine can I apply for direct BS/MD programmes?
Yes, but you will need a grade point average of 3.5. You may or may not need the MACT but if you do the average score is 500. The advantage is qualifying in six years nor eight.
The other requirements will demonstrate your decision to study medicine for the last four years of your school life. Experience will include logged hours as a volunteer at clinics, nursing homes etc,
Extra-curricular activities will need to demonstrate love of science such as leading Medical Societies, Science Societies and pursuing online science courses that demonstrate your enthusiasm for a particular related science subject beyond the curriculum in school.
The highest grades at IB, A level, AP or national curriculum examination.
What are the alternatives to the direct medical entry route in the USA?
What is the Pre-Medical Programme in the USA?
Source: The process of attrition in pre-medical studies: A large-scale analysis across 102 schools - PMC from the National Library of Medicine in the USA.
Pre-med is one of the most rigorous pre-professional paths that students can pursue. According to one study, only 16.5% of students who intended to complete their degree with the coursework necessary to attend medical school do so, as more challenging courses weed out thousands of students from competitive programs.
What is a Pre-Med Programme?
This is not a formal programme. It a set of courses as in the US tradition that prepare students for their post graduate medical school course and the MCAT test.
The courses needed for the pre-med coursework include Chemistry, Biology, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics.
Universities and colleges in the US facilitate course choice advice that will meet the needs of the postgraduate medical school requirements and to ensure that the undergraduate degree has enough core science courses to the level required.
Applicants must also demonstrate experience of healthcare in varying human contexts such as volunteering in a hospital, work experience shadowing doctors, working on a research project.
Counsellor recommendations should focus upon a student’s ability to time manage superbly, provide examples of a student’s experience of grit, determination and resilience and love for intellectual curiosity and challenge in the most demanding curricular offerings available at their school.
Q. I am at school aged 15. What subjects should I be choosing for the last two years of my school life?
You will need an excellent academic record over the last four years of school.
You need to take the most challenging subjects in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Psychology where available. Maths is hugely useful. This may be A level, IB HL, your national curriculum with the option of AP’s offered in US curriculum schools.
A language and Latin is also useful for medical terms.
The MCAT like the UCAT for the UK, tests critical analysis and reasoning.
Reading for pleasure also support the critical thinking requirement for the MCAT.
Q. How important is research experience for a pre-medical application?
Research experience can be a significant asset on your application but is not a fixed requirement.
Summer programmes offering laboratory exposure can be a great way to gain exposure to research.
Online courses such as MOOCs as well as an EPQ or the IB extended essay will provide you with a chance to demonstrate your ability with research methodology and critical thinking.
Q. Can You let me know if my extra-curricular interests are relevant for a pre-medical degree?
Do what you really enjoy. Artificially choosing activities that you think admissions officers will want to see will not produce a genuine application and you are likely to be found out by an alumni interviewer.
What summer programs are best for high school students who want to pursue medicine in the future?
Q. There are lots of summer schools. Which ones are most relevant for a pre-medical undergraduate degree?
The merit-based programmes are the most competitive and also offer you a chance to get involved in a research programme.
Look at Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT, Summer Research Programme (SSRP). Stanford also runs a Medicine Summer School Research Programme at its institutes of the same name.
Q. What Employers Look for in College Graduates: Beyond Grades?
Where does AI fit into guiding students of the class of 2029 and beyond?
Sources: The World Economic Forum, the Institute of Student Employers and Forbes.
By 2030, 39% of core job skills are expected to change, according to the most recent World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report. Rapid advances in AI and constantly evolving work environments are reshaping the professional sphere. It is foreseen that skills relating to technology (particularly AI and big data, followed by networks, cybersecurity, and technological literacy) alongside creative thinking, flexibility, curiosity, leadership, social influence, talent management, and environmental stewardship will grow in importance. Of those, technological skills are projected to increase in prominence more rapidly than any other skills in the next five years. As demands change, workplaces are increasingly investing in training programmes to help their workers align with these new core skills, and businesses, academia, and the government are gearing up to help prepare the future workforce for the world of tomorrow.
As secondary school students prepare for their careers, it’s important for them to think about not only what course they want to study at university, but also about how to build the skills that employers will value several years down the line.
Today, many employers are finding that there is a gap between graduates’ academic knowledge and what they can achieve in a professional setting. Since ‘soft skills’ (personal attributes that enable interpersonal harmony and workplace success, such as clear communication, persuasiveness, time management, or leadership) can help close this gap, they are emerging as increasingly crucial. Finally, the rise of AI is having an impact on entry-level jobs, as AI can handle many routine tasks. According to a Goldman Sachs report 44% of jobs within the legal profession may disappear, due to AI! This means that uniquely human attributes like critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence are likely to become even more important in the next few years.
Skills
The Institute of Student Employers reports that only half of employers believe that recent graduates have the desired ‘soft’ skill set, according to a blog from Reading University. If current students work hard to develop these skills, they will really be able to set themselves apart when applying for jobs.
The WEF report also highlights the importance of non-technological skills, like creative thinking and flexibility. These skills cannot be automated or outsourced, as more technical or routine skills may be. Other important skills to develop include:
Teamwork and emotional-social intelligence: No matter what career current students end up pursuing, these are key skills. Collaborating, working well with others, and building good relationships are crucial to doing well at work and contributing to a positive, cohesive team culture. Additionally, knowing how to assert boundaries in a kind but firm way helps avoid burnout and keeps teamwork healthy.
Public speaking and communication: Again, these skills are used across a range of roles. Although not all roles will involve public speaking, they will involve communication of some sort like email, calls, and/or meetings. Being able to communicate ideas in an assertive yet respectful way is an asset in any workplace.
Building soft skills
Below are some examples of how secondary school students can leverage their activities to build soft skills:
Leadership roles in clubs: Demonstrate responsibility and team management.
Student journalism or debate: Develop communication and critical thinking.
Volunteer work: Show empathy, initiative, and real-world problem-solving.
Online courses (like Coursera, EdX, and other online learning platforms): Focus on practical skills like data analysis, project management, or specific software.
Internships and work experience: These allow students to gain practical experience, understand workplace dynamics, and build a professional network. Even part-time jobs in areas like service and retail can teach valuable transferable skills like time management, teamwork, responsibility, and dealing with unforeseen challenges.
Q. I have read about digital literacy. What is it?
Source: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.
A. There are two key areas of concern for students so make sure that you are applying this learning. One is understanding and recognising bias in research and articles and the other is ensuring that where possible you explore how you can learn more about digital technology by learning to code at school, join robotics clubs, and sign up for online courses found on platforms like Coursera , edX , FutureLearn , and Khan Academy )
