Peninsula Pathways at Plymouth: eligibility, deadline and what it gives you
Peninsula Pathways is the University of Plymouth's outreach programme for students in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset who want to study Medicine or Dentistry. It has three strands, a five-day summer work experience programme, Brightside e-mentoring with a current student and online workshops, which together count as significant engagement if completed by the end of Year 12. Significant engagement is a contextual indicator for Plymouth's lower offers and, with enough other indicators, unlocks the UKWPMED guaranteed interview.
- Closes
- Closed
- For
- Year 10 to 12 students, medicine and dentistry
- Where
- South West
- Gives you
- Guaranteed interview, then ABB or AAB instead of A*AA
What you get
Completing Peninsula Pathways gives you a guaranteed interview and an offer of ABB or AAB instead of A*AA for medicine and dentistry at Plymouth.
- Significant engagement (work experience, e-mentoring and 3 workshops by the end of Year 12) counts 1 point towards the 5 needed for the AAB Medicine offer
- UKWPMED membership: guaranteed interview and ABB at Plymouth, Birmingham, Brighton and Sussex, Hull York, Keele and Manchester
- Dentistry: one of the 3 indicators needed for the AAB BDS offer, and 3 points for the BDS foundation year; UKWPMED does not cover Dentistry
- Applications for 2026/27 are closed, so current Year 12s who have not already joined cannot reach significant engagement in time
To get it, you must
- Reach significant engagement and hold 5 contextual points for UKWPMED
Who can apply
You need to
- Attend a school or sixth form college in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset or Somerset
- Be in Year 10 to 12 at a school or sixth form college in the South West
- Come from a background under-represented in higher education
Plus at least one of
- Care-experienced
- Free school meals
- Refugee or asylum seeker
- Low-progression school
- Low household income
- Deprived postcode
What it involves
- Complete the five-day work experience, e-mentoring and at least 3 workshops by the end of Year 12, or 6 workshops plus e-mentoring
Dates
- Applications open
- Not published, 2026/27 round closed
- Applications close
- Not published, 2026/27 applications closed
- Programme runs
- Online workshops through the year, with work experience in June and July
- Apply to university
- UCAS deadline 15 October 2027 for 2028 entry
How to apply
Apply through the Peninsula Pathways for secondary school students page. It is run by Plymouth Faculty of Health outreach team. Questions go to outreach@plymouth.ac.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Does Peninsula Pathways guarantee an interview?
Yes, if you complete the programme and meet its academic conditions. Significant engagement (work experience, e-mentoring and 3 workshops by the end of Year 12) counts 1 point towards the 5 needed for the AAB Medicine offer.
Who is eligible for Peninsula Pathways?
Attend a school or sixth form college in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset or Somerset. You need to be in Year 10 to 12 at a school or sixth form college in the South West, come from a background under-represented in higher education, and meet at least one of its widening participation criteria, such as care-experienced, free school meals, refugee or asylum seeker.
When is the Peninsula Pathways deadline?
This cycle's closing date has not been published. Not published, 2026/27 applications closed. Applications not published, 2026/27 round closed.
What offer do Peninsula Pathways students get?
Students who complete the programme are made an offer of ABB or AAB instead of A*AA. Significant engagement (work experience, e-mentoring and 3 workshops by the end of Year 12) counts 1 point towards the 5 needed for the AAB Medicine offer
Not sure this one fits?
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