Leicester spearheads event to encourage more medical students from non-traditional backgrounds

The Universities of Leicester and Nottingham are spearheading efforts to boost recruitment into the study of medicine by focusing on locations where young people have traditionally not applied for the subject.

The conference ‘A journey to medicine and healthcare’ takes place on 29 June from 9.15am to 3.45pm at North Kesteven School in Lincoln. Unlike other student recruitment events, the organisers are taking this conference out of the university, to the teachers themselves in an effort to hit home the message that medicine is open to everyone.

The free one-day conference is designed for teachers and career advisers from schools and colleges who do not send many students to university to study medicine, nursing or allied health professions, or are serving communities with high levels of disadvantage. It will be an opportunity for delegates to meet with staff from medicine and healthcare courses at universities from across the East Midlands.

The conference is being jointly organised by the University of Leicester and the University of Nottingham in association with the Medical Schools Council and North Kesteven School. The University of Lincoln and De Montfort University will also be represented.

The event will provide delegates with information and guidance about the admissions processes for medicine, nursing and allied health professions; advice and useful resources; interactive workshops on admissions tests, interviews, access programmes and funding; and access to experts from the universities for questions.