Frequently Asked Questions

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Use these quick links to find FAQs about different topics:

FAQs: about the 1st year

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FAQs: about revision and 1st year exams

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FAQs: about the Qualifying Exam and Viva

  • I've never had to do a resit before. How do I explain to my parents?
    Get them to have a look at this website! The first thing is that the 1st and 2nd year qualifiers are not technically resits - they are the official end-of-year exams for years 1 and 2, although you can be exempted from them if you do well enough in the end-of-semester assessments. If you haven't done well enough to be exempted from the qualifier, it doesn't mean you are a failing student. People end up sitting the qualifier for all sorts of reasons. Some people simply haven't worked hard enough; others may have worked really hard, but not covered the material in the right way, or misunderstood things. Some people may have been ill or had personal problems during term time, revision time or exam time. Others may just have been unlucky with the particular questions that came up in the end-of-semester assessments.
  • How many people usually sit the qualifier?
    You are not alone! The number of people sitting the qualifier varies slightly from year to year, but roughly 25% of the year group would be a realistic estimate. This is about 50 students from the 5-year course, and 15 students on the 4-year course.
  • What is the written exam like?
    It is in the style of the IMSA exams that you sat in the first year. 15 questions in 3 hours (12 minutes each). For 2nd years, it can cover material from all four semesters.
  • What is the OSCPE like?
    Just like the OSCPE you just sat - 12 stations. (Second years - there is no OSCPE for you, just a written paper).
  • How do I prepare for the qualifier?
    Many people feel overwhelmed at this stage, particularly those who only found they were in the qualifier after Semester 2/4 results. Just keep in mind that you are only human, and can only do so much. Think honestly about the reasons you didn't pass the end-of-semester assessments, and that will help you to plan a strategy for qualifier study. You may not be able to cover everything - but everyone else will be in the same boat. Try not to panic - just do what you can, whilst making sure you take the time to look after yourself as well. For example, reward yourself with time off when you have finished a particular topic, or worked well for a certain amount of time. And if it all seems really depressing, try to hold on to the thought that any extra work you do now will give you a headstart when it comes to revising for the Phase 1 exam later on - therefore nothing is "wasted". Working alongside someone else may be helpful for some people.
  • How does the marking work ?
    Each written paper question (or OSCPE station) has a threshold mark to pass the question. You have to pass a certain number of questions/stations overall. As a rough guide, Prof Petersen mentioned 18/27 for first years, but this can change after discussion with the external examiners. So breadth of knowledge and understanding is equally important as depth - keep this in mind when planning your strategy.
  • What happens if I pass the qualifying exam?
    That's the end of the process for this summer - you will start the next academic year as normal.
  • What happens if I fail the qualifying exam (first years only)?
    If you are a first year, you have then failed the year and are not allowed to progress to the next academic year. Some people who have "mitigating circumstances" go through the appeals process, and are allowed to resit the year. If you choose not to appeal, or your appeal fails, you will not be allowed to resit the year. The appeals process can be complex - seek specialist advice from the Students' Union Education Unit.
  • What happens if I fail the qualifying exam (second years only)?
    If you are a second year, you will be invited back to do a viva (oral examination). In previous years, this has involved you chatting with two academics, one from the medical school and one from elsewhere. Dress up smartly, look the part, and try to convey your enthusiasm for the subject.
  • What happens if I pass the viva (second years only)?
    You have passed the year, and will continue the next academic year as normal.
  • What happens if I fail the viva (second years only)?
    If you fail the viva, then you have technically failed the year, and are not allowed to progress to the next academic year. Some people who have "mitigating circumstances" go through the appeals process, and are allowed to resit the year. If you choose not to appeal, or your appeal fails, you will not be allowed to resit the year. The appeals process can be complex - seek specialist advice from the Students' Union Education Unit.
  • How many people pass/fail at the different stages?
    There are no fixed quotas. To give you a rough idea, we have statistics for the first year qualifier in 2005. However, note that the system for first years has now changed and there is no viva. We have yet to see how this affects numbers of people passing.
    • 61 people took the qualifier (from both the 4-yr and 5-yr cohorts).
    • 37 passed at this stage; 24 sat the viva.
    • Of these 24, 14 passed the viva and 10 failed.
    • Of these 10, 6 repeated the year and 4 left the medical school
  • How can Medics' Welfare help me?
    We are able to put you in touch with people who have sat the qualifier in previous years, if you want to find out how they coped and what it was like. Come and see us on exam results day, or e-mail medicwelfare@le.ac.uk . If you have any particular academic difficulties, we should be able to set you up with a student tutor. We are also, of course, available just to talk to and help get things in perspective.
  • What was the name of that book that Kish recommended in his talk?
    This one!

FAQs: about the Appeals process

  • How many people failed the Qualifying Exams in Summer 2007?
    The number of people failing this year was unusually high.
    • For 1st year 5-year students, 28 failed and 24 passed.
    • For 1st year 4-year students, 6 failed and 9 passed.
    • For 2nd year 5-year students, 24 failed and 16 passed.
  • What happens now?
    You have to give yourself a couple of days to recover from the shock, and then start doing some quick thinking. Here are a few things that you will need to think about in order to decide whether entering the appeals process is the right thing to do. It is important to remember at this stage that even if an appeal is successful, you will be resitting the year you have just done.
    • Was there a reason why I didn't do as well as I should have this year?
    • Do I still want to be a doctor?
    • Is it possible for me to change things so that I have a good chance of being successful next year? Or will I spend the next 4/5 years struggling with the work and/or circumstances and fail again?
    • Can I cope with resitting the year (emotionally, financially, academically...)?
    • Should I appeal the decision?
  • Do I have to enter the appeals process?
    If you want to continue and be a doctor, the answer is yes. However, if you feel that medicine is not for you after all, there is no reason why you have to appeal. Some people may feel put under pressure from family and friends, but in the end, you have to make the decision that is right for you.
  • I've decided to appeal. What happens next?
    You need to act quickly. Look at the information that the medical school have given you. There are deadlines for telling the medical school that you want to appeal (17th August 2007) and for submitting a supporting letter (22nd August 2007).
  • How do I go about arguing my case?
    Take time to think about the issues and structure your supporting letter carefully. Note that they don't want a huge essay - they have specified a maximum of two sides of A4. Be succinct - you can expand on the issues during the meeting if necessary. The guidance for presenting your case is quite specific - they don't want testimonials or references. There are three criteria that you need to meet in order to be successful:
    • That you still really want to be a doctor - you are still motivated. You can't just say this - you have to demonstrate it.
    • You need evidence that something this year limited your capacity to perform in the examinations. They need specific information about the extenuating circumstance and its severity and effect upon you. Evidence could be something like a doctor's certificate if you were ill during the year.
    • You need to demonstrate that the circumstance can be put right this year, and that you have the potential to pass. If your circumstance was illness from which you have now recovered, this part will be straightforward. If it's more complex, you need to prove that there are steps in place to resolve the problem, to allow you to work more effectively this year.
  • How confidential is the process?
    Only the members of the Academic Progress Committee (APC) will see your documentation. If your extenuating circumstance is very personal or sensitive, there are ways to ensure an even higher level of confidentiality - just letting one member of the APC know all about it. If this applies to you, please contact Anne Peppitt for more information.
  • How does the appeals process work?
    You (and a companion) will be invited to meet with a Sub-Group of the Academic Progress Committee. This will consist of two people plus a secretary. Previously, students faced the larger committee, but the medical school are trying to make the process less intimidating this year. During this meeting you will have an opportunity to expand upon your written case. You need to remember to take your ID badge and library card with you. This meeting will take place during the bank holiday week (last week of August).
  • Who can I take with me, and what do they have to do?
    You are allowed to take a companion with you to the Sub-Group meeting. This person has to be a member of the University (staff or student), not a family member. You need to let the medical school know the name of your companion as soon as you can. Your personal tutor or a school tutor might be a good choice, especially if you have talked to them over the year about any difficulties you may have been having. During the meeting, your companion will be invited to speak in support of your case. However, if you wish to take someone just for moral support, they are not obliged to speak. If you would prefer to attend the meeting by yourself, that's allowed too.
  • What happens after I have met with the Sub-Group of the APC?
    The full APC meet on Monday 3rd September 2007, and make decisions on all the cases. This committee consists of staff from the medical school, and there will be a psychologist or psychiatrist present to evaluate your mitigating circumstances, where appropriate. The APC receive a report from the Sub-Group meeting, and use this as part of the process to inform their decision. You will be informed by post of the result.
  • Where can I get further support and advice?
    Have a think and see if you know anyone in your year who is resitting. If they are, the chances are that they have been through this process before (although some people choose to go down a year because of circumstances, rather than being forced to resit). Try getting in touch with them and see if they can answer your questions, but be aware that they may not wish to share their individual extenuating circumstances with you. The real experts on the appeals process are the Students' Union Education Unit, and you would be well advised to take advice from them. Medics' Welfare also have names of a few people who have been through this process in previous years. Contact us by e-mail if you would like us to put you in touch with them, but bear in mind that 3rd years and above will shortly be on holiday until mid-September.
  • What happens if the APC decide that my course should be terminated?
    You will need to decide whether to appeal at university level, to the "Termination of Registration" committee. This will consist of university staff members who are not part of the medical school. You will be invited to argue your case, and a representative of the APC will put forward their view. You will succeed in this appeal if you can demonstrate that either: 1) there has been a procedural irregularity, i.e. the APC has not done its job properly; or 2) that new evidence has come to light since the APC meeting. However, you are strongly advised not to hold back any information from the medical school appeals process - it will not count as new evidence unless you can prove that it is genuinely new.
  • What are my chances of being successful in the appeals process?
    It depends very much on your individual circumstances, and how you present your case. However, Prof Petersen did provide some historical information to give a very rough idea. About half of the APC appeals were successful, and those students resat the year. Of those who were recommended for course termination, not all decided to pursue the appeal further at university level, but of those who did, about a third were successful.

FAQs: about Special Study Modules

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FAQs: about the Phase 1 exam

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FAQs: about Phase 2

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FAQs: for international students (by Jun)

  • What is the best way to call home?
    Although you can buy a phone card to call home, I have found that using Skype is the most economical way. Skype gives you a better rate than most phone cards. For example, to call China, Skype costs 14p while a phone card costs 17p per minute (depends on which card you use). Also, even if you don’t use the phone card everyday, it takes a couple of pence each day. You also don’t get all the minutes you are promised. It might say that you have 55 minutes left when you make the call but you actually end up talking for only 10 minutes. If you would like to buy a phone card, the site I use is: www.londonphonecards.co.uk. You need to register and it takes about 1 day before you can actually buy a phone card from the site.
  • What is the cheapest way to buy a ticket back home?
    I found that buying tickets online is cheaper than going to an actual travel agent. One of the best sites to find cheap tickets is www.travelfusion.com . This website compares airfares across all airlines and finds you the cheapest one. You can compare these prices with other websites like www.opodo.co.uk or www.statravel.co.uk. The STA website gives student deals but you need an ISIC card, which you can buy from the website.
  • How do I travel around Europe?
    The best thing about being in England is that you can take the time to travel around Europe. If you plan ahead of time, you can find amazing deals on plane tickets all over Europe. You can find tickets that are as cheap as 1p! However, the catch is that they add quite a bit of airport tax. Even so, you may be able to find tickets under £50. You just have to plan ahead of time. You can find these tickets with the following airlines: bmibaby, Ryanair, and EasyJet.
  • What is the best way travel to travel around England?
    You may have found that transportation in England is quite expensive. However, there are ways to find the best deals. To travel with the train, the most important thing is that you buy a student railcard. Without it, you will pay a lot more than you would with one. With the railcard, you can find one way tickets to London for as cheap as £4. However, you have to book them at least a week in advance. There are also National Express buses that go to London that is a lot cheaper than the train even without advance booking. The only thing is that it takes around 3 hours.
  • How do I get to the airport?
    There are buses that go to Gatwick and Heathrow airports each day from Leicester. The buses leave from the St. Margret’s bus station in town. It is about 5-7 minutes away from the University by car and it would cost around £5 to get there in the cab. You can book these tickets online from www.nationalexpress.com .
  • Which is the best bank to use for international students?
    From what I understand, Lloyd and HSBC charge £5 each month for international students. However, you can upgrade your debit card from a solo card to a maestro card. The benefit of this is that there are few places that do not accept solo cards (although they are few). Natwest and Barclays do not charge money but you will only be allowed to have a solo card no matter how long you stay with them.
  • What do I do with my stuff when I have to move out during holidays?
    As you might be aware of it or not, all students living in catered residents need to move out each vacation time. This is especially inconvenient for international students since most of use do not have parents who can pick up our stuff. Some residents (like John Frost Hall) have small storage spaces especially allocated for international students. If there are none, then you can use a storage company to store your stuff over the holidays. They can be fairly affordable and convenient because they will provide you with the packing boxes and pick up your belongings and deliver it back to your residence on the specified date. They charge by the number of boxes and the length of time you are storing your belongings. 7Seas is one of the storage companies. If you are planning to use a storage company, make sure you plan ahead because it is subject to availability. If you do not want to spend any money, then the best thing to do is ask a friend who lives in private accommodation to store it for you over the holidays.
  • Where do I go for groceries?
    If you are living in Oadby, you can walk to ASDA. For students living near campus, there is the ASDA bus that runs every Wednesday from Opal Court at 5:30pm and leaves ASDA at 7pm back to Opal Court. Make sure you are out and done at least by 6:50pm because the bus leaves early sometimes. For those of you living near campus that does not want to go through the hassle of taking the bus to ASDA and back, you can walk to Morrisons, which is near Nixon Court. There is also a market in town that is open everyday except Sundays where you can get fresh fruits and vegetables for really cheap prices.
  • How should I go about learning how to drive?
    There are many driving schools around Leicester. Most of these schools are independently owned. I found that BSM (British School of Motoring) was one of the best. Unlike the rest, it is a franchise and it can be found all over England. Although they are slightly more expensive than the other privately owned schools, the fees include CDs and books to help you pass the written and practical tests, as well as the cost for the tests. They have a “pass promise” where they will pay for the second test for both the written and practical tests in case you fail it the first time. Most people who learn to drive have around 60 hours of practice time.
  • How do I find my way around Leicester?
    www.multimap.com is a very useful site to find directions around Leicester, as well as the whole of England. Just enter the postcode of where you are starting from and where you would like to go and a map will show you how to get there.

International Students: Bank accounts

Here is some information about opening a bank account as an international student. These questions and answers are drawn from someone's experience with NatWest bank - other banks may handle things slightly differently.

  • How long does it take to open a bank account if you are an international student?
    It takes about a week for them to open and activate your bank account. However, it takes about another 3 weeks for the bank to send you your debit card and activation code to activate your internet banking. This means that you will not be able to access the money in your account for about a month because you need your debit card to withdraw money. So make sure you have enough cash on you for this period!
  • What do I need to open a bank account?
    You need to take your passport, a letter from school which has your full name, course name, when you finish, address in Leicester, and date of birth. The school office has a standard format already created for these types of letter so just ask them to print out a letter for the bank. Give them a week for the letter.
  • What type of account can I get as an international student?
    There is only one type of account you can get from the bank - a Step account which gives you a Solo debit card. There are no real big disadvantages to a Solo debit card, but some stores and online retailers do not accept Solo (can be a problem for plane tickets).
  • Do I get a cheque book?
    No, Step accounts do not come with cheque books.
  • Can I get a credit card?
    Yes. You have to apply for the credit card separately.


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