First Choice: Medicine at Sunderland - eligibility, deadline and what it gives you
First Choice: Medicine is the University of Sunderland's workshop series for Year 12 students at First Choice partner schools and colleges, replacing the earlier Med Start scheme. It runs an online welcome, a hospital clinical experience day, a UCAT workshop and the three-day First Choice Summer School in early July. Students who attend every compulsory session and meet the entry requirements get a guaranteed MMI for 2028 entry.
- Closes
- Not published
- For
- Year 12 students, medicine
- Where
- England
- Gives you
- Guaranteed interview
What you get
Completing First Choice: Medicine gives you a guaranteed interview for medicine at Sunderland.
- Guaranteed MMI for Medicine MBChB in the 2028 intake
- Free UCAT preparation workshop, mock MMI and hospital visit
- Sunderland's contextual offers still apply on top: AAB with FSM or a UCAT bursary, ABB with a North East or Cumbria postcode plus one WP criterion if you firm Sunderland
- First Choice completers who firm Sunderland can get a £500 travel award and enter a draw for ten £1,000 scholarships
To get it, you must
- Attend all compulsory sessions and complete the interview selection tool
- Meet the GCSE and A-level requirements, with UCAT in the top 8 deciles and SJT band 1 to 3
Who can apply
You need to
- Attend a First Choice partner school or college, with priority for the North East
- Be in Year 12 at a First Choice partner school or college, with Home fee status
- Have 5 GCSEs at grade 7 or above, with at least grade 6 in Maths, English Language, Biology, Chemistry and Physics
- Be studying three A-levels in one sitting, including Biology or Chemistry plus another science or Maths
Plus at least one of
- Free school meals
- Low household income
- Deprived postcode
- Care-experienced or estranged from parents
- Young carer
- Refugee or asylum seeker
- Disabled or long-term health condition
What it involves
- Attend all compulsory sessions, including the summer school
Dates
- Applications open
- Register interest when the team visits your school, usually in the autumn term
- Applications close
- Not published, previously before Christmas
- Programme runs
- Online welcome, hospital day and UCAT workshop across 2027, with a summer school in early July
- Apply to university
- UCAS deadline 15 October 2027 for 2028 entry
How to apply
Apply through the First Choice page. It is run by Sunderland First Choice team with the School of Medicine. Questions go to first.choice@sunderland.ac.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Does First Choice: Medicine guarantee an interview?
Yes, if you complete the programme and meet its academic conditions. Guaranteed MMI for Medicine MBChB in the 2028 intake.
Who is eligible for First Choice: Medicine?
Attend a First Choice partner school or college, with priority for the North East. You need to be in Year 12 at a First Choice partner school or college, with Home fee status, have 5 GCSEs at grade 7 or above, with at least grade 6 in Maths, English Language, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, be studying three A-levels in one sitting, including Biology or Chemistry plus another science or Maths, and meet at least one of its widening participation criteria, such as free school meals, low household income, deprived postcode.
When is the First Choice: Medicine deadline?
This cycle's closing date has not been published. Not published, previously before Christmas. Applications register interest when the team visits your school, usually in the autumn term.
Not sure this one fits?
The widening participation explorer lists all 60 UK programmes and filters them by where you live, your year group and your background.
Open the explorer