An UCAS analysis of applications for full-time undergraduate programmes has revealed that UK university enrolments have soared by more than 2,500 compared with the same period last year.

This sees the first growth in the three years since the Brexit vote and is thought to be a result of many overseas students wanting to gain a place at a UK university before Britain finally leaves the EU.

Although this is good news for UK universities who rely on the funding provided by international students, the outlook isn’t so sunny for those hoping to gain a place at university as the competition for a limited number of spaces is now even fiercer than ever before.

A total of 561,420 students have applied to start their course this year, with 63,690 non-EU applicants seeking to study here in the UK. The number of EU applications has also risen by 1 percent despite the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

This heaps even more pressure on students living in the UK looking to secure a place at their university of choice as there are no guarantees that an application will be successful based on country of origin alone.

Instead, universities are seeking students who are able to demonstrate a commitment to their subject of choice and the ability to keep up with the demands of academic study. For those keen to pursue a career in the medical profession, the fact that more and more international students are chasing the same degree courses here in the UK means that they are having to work harder than ever to impress at application and interview places.

UniMed runs several personal statement workshops and doctor for a day courses to help students from all over the globe get the best chance of application success.

Hosted by a dedicated team of university admissions experts, doctors and medical students, the personal statement workshop gives students access to the tips and techniques needed to create a winning personal statement based on the course leaders knowledge of exactly what the universities are looking for.

Our doctor for the day workshop also gives would-be medical students the opportunity to get hands-on and gain real work experience, something that is difficult to access with little or no prior experience. Click here to find out more or to book a place on our upcoming workshops.

Statistics have shown that those looking to gain a place at a medical school here in the UK are going to have to work even harder as application numbers in 2018 soared by the largest increase in decades.

UCAS reported a total of 20,730 applications being made to medical schools during the 2017/2018 application cycle. This equals an 8% increase in applications for their medical degree courses compared to previous years on record, meaning that there are now far more applicants than available spaces.

These findings are worrying those who are currently undertaking their A Levels and are dreaming of continuing their academic careers with a focus on the medical profession once they complete their studies.

With GPs and healthcare professionals in high demand for the NHS and private healthcare providers, many universities are unable to train enough students to meet the ever-increasing needs of a system under significant strain. Medical schools are therefore becoming more and more selective about the applicants they choose to study on their medical degree courses.

This means that good A-Level grades are no longer enough to secure a place at medical school, and would-be medical students must find  other ways to impress during the application process to fend off the competition.

Here are a few tactics that applicants to medical school can deploy to get their application noticed for all of the right reasons and get a better chance of gaining that prized place at medical school.

Work experience

Applications to medical school normally require that some sort of medical work experience, but this can be very difficult to obtain. Instead, Uni Med offers a Doctor for the Day training workshop led by medical professional that allows you to get hands-on with basic medical procedures.

Find out more here.

Personal Statement

A personal statement needs to wow the application officers, so our personal statement workshop teaches the format and tips needed to create a winning personal statement and leave with a polished first draft.

Find out more here.

The Interview Stage

It can be difficult to know what to expect at the interview stage, but with our interview masterclass, we’ll share plenty of firsthand insight along with the tools and techniques needed to make a great impression at the final stage of the application process.

Find out more here.

If you’re thinking that a medical degree is the academic career path for you, then it’s never too soon to start thinking about university options.

Here’s how to shortlist your medical schools of choice in five easy steps

Find the medical degree course that works for you

There are several different gateways to gaining a medical degree, with a standard bachelor’s degree spanning five years. However, for potential students with high academic achievement who have faced barriers to them continuing their studies, there are specialised courses available, so do your homework and shortlist the universities that offer the best course for your personal circumstances.

Home or away?

Living away from home isn’t for everyone. Some students love the additional freedom and independence that studying away from home offers, whereas others prefer to stay at home for additional support and to help save money that would otherwise be spent on student accommodation.

Again, choose the option that suits your individual circumstances as this will help whittle down your medical school shortlist. There is no right or wrong answer here, it’s entirely down to your financial circumstances and personal preference.

Success rates

By now, your shortlist should have come down to four or possibly five universities that offer the course you want at a location that works for you.

Next, take a look at the pass or success rates for your particular course as this will allow you to rank the medical schools from number one (best results) to the lowest success rates.

University facilities

University life isn’t just about hard work and no play; you’ll want to embrace some of the extra curricular activities too! To find out which university has the most going on in terms of your particular interests, take a look at the medical school’s websites as the first port of call.

For real reviews of Uni life from students who have, or are currently studying, you can also find a wealth of information on social media, so don’t be afraid to reach out to a few students to ask for their opinions.

Check the grades you’ll need

Finally, before you create your final medical school shortlist, it’s a good idea to see what grades you’ll require to have a good chance of being accepted on to the course and measure them up against your predicted results.

This will hopefully give you the inspiration and motivation you need to work as hard as you possibly can to gain a place at your university of choice.