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Education liaison
  1. Queen Mary University of London
  2. Education liaison
  3. Students
  4. Medicine and Dentistry
  5. Bridge the Gap

Bridge the Gap

Bridge the Gap

About the programme 

The programme provides students with the opportunity to find out more about medicine, dentistry and the alternative science/allied-health subjects. Through a programme of online and in-person activities, we aim to improve students understanding of these subjects and support them on their journey to higher education. 

Overview of events 

This is a longitudinal programme with each year of the programme building on the previous year, the programme comprises of the following events: 

School Year 9

In year 9 the in-school discovery sessions will introduce students to university alongside medicine, dentistry and the range of alternative health/science related subjects, the intended audience of these sessions will be students who have academic potential to go into the health/science professions and who may or may have not have considered this as an option.  

We wish to target schools in Barking and Dagenham, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest for these sessions. Get in touch with us here if you are a teacher and interested in this opportunity. 

  • You can hear from a range of healthcare professionals at the following webinars: 
    • Year 9 – 11 Medicine Careers Discovery Session: Meet the Medicine Professionals (12 March, 5:00 – 6:30 pm)
    • Year 9 – Y11 Dentistry Careers Discovery Session: Meet the Dentistry Professionals (26 March, 5:00 – 6:30 pm) 

A booking form for these webinars will be published here in January.

School Year 10 -11 

Students interested in medicine or dentistry will apply directly to take part in the programme from Year 10 onwards. 

  • Year 10 and 11 Online Launch for participating students and their parents/carers (5 February, 6:00 – 7:00 pm) 
  • Year 10: Taster Day (Half Term – 19 February, 10:30 am – 3:30 pm)
  • Year 10: Online Discovery Session (14 May, 5:00 – 6:00 pm)
  • Year 11: Online Discovery Session (12 February, 5:00 – 6:00 pm) 
  • Year 11: Taster Day (Friday 11 July, 10:30 am - 3:30 pm) 

School Years 12 and 13 

At the end of year 11, if you are considering applying for medicine or dentistry you will continue the programme in year 12 and 13 or if you are interested in pursuing an alternative subject be given the opportunity to take part in an alternative programme in year 12 that matches your interests. 

  • Year 12: The focus of the programme is to prepare students for the medicine or dentistry application process, the programme will build on their existing experiences and knowledge to improve their understanding of medicine and dentistry to ensure that students prepare the strongest application that they can. 
  • Events for 2023-24
    • Launch (End of January, evening, TBC)
    • Taster Event 1 (Half Term – Thursday 20 February)
    • Taster Event 2 (5 March)
    • Taster Event 3 (30 April)
    • Taster Event 4 (7 May) 
  • Please note Taster Event 1 will place during the afternoon with the other events taking place after school from 4:30 - 6:30 pm.
  • As part of the programme in year 12 students will be required to complete a 600 word reflective assignment on their experiences of the programme.
  • Year 13: The programme will continue to support students on their application journey whether they are intending to apply for medicine, dentistry or an alternative course. 

Please note, this programme specifically aims to work with students from specific schools/boroughs, and priority will be given to those students in targeted areas. Before applying, please ensure you read the eligibility criteria and that you understand the expectations of the programme. If you have any questions, please email us.   

Parents/Carers

Parents/carers and their young people selected for the programme will be invited to the Online Launch for year 10 and 11 programme on 5 February at 6:00 – 7:00 pm. 

There will be Parent/Carers Evening at Queen Mary University of London for those who have students taking part in the programme on 21 May 6:00 – 7:30 pm (subject to demand) 

Applications for 2024-25 will close on 15 November 2024.

  • Students will improve their understanding of medicine, dentistry, and alternative science/allied-health subjects 
  • Students will develop skills and knowledge that can support them on their journey to higher education 
  • Meet a range of students and healthcare professionals that will give an expert insight in to university and the professions
  • Enhanced careers information, advice and guidance, including contributions from Queen Mary Alumni 
  • Students who successfully complete the programme will be eligible for a contextual offer of at least one A-Level grade below the standard entry offer. 

To be eligible for the Bridge the Gap programme, students must: 

Meet all of the criteria in step one: 

  1. Attending a school currently involved in the programme or studying at a school in Barking and Dagenham, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest  
  2. You should be academically able (i.e., if you are in year 10 or 11 have the potential to achieve at least six GCSE’s at AAABBB/777666 including English Language or Literature, Mathematics, Science or if you are in year 12 then you should have achieved at least six GCSE’s at AAABBB/777666 including English Language or Literature, Mathematics, Science)
  3. If you are applying for the year 12 programme you should be studying two sciences at A Level:   
    • First A Level - Chemistry or Biology 
    • Second A Level – A further science subject from (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or Maths) 
    • Third A Level - Any A level subject with the exception of Critical Thinking and General Studies.  Further Maths is not accepted if Maths is taken as your second A level.   
    • If A level Maths and Further Maths are offered in the same sitting, Further Maths will not be counted towards the minimum A Level requirement. 
    • General studies and Critical Thinking are not accepted subjects. 

Meet at least two criteria from step 2*: 

  1. Are currently, or have previously lived in local authority care, or is permanently estranged from both parents (applicant to expand in free text box below)    
  2. Has a disability defined under the ‘Equality Act 2010’. A physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.
  3. Be living in an area of high deprivation (IMD Quintile 1 or 2) or be living in an area of socio-economic disadvantage (ACORN groups M, N, P, Q, R, S or U)
  4. Are a young carer (you look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem).   
  5. Were previously entitled to Free School Meals during Key Stage 4, or are currently in receipt of the 16-19 bursary. 
  6. Are living in an area of low-participation to higher education (TUNDRA Quintile 1 or 2).    
  7. Neither parent or carer has attended higher education in the UK or abroad   
  8. Are a refugee or asylum seeker.   
  9. Are from Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller background, inclusive of Showmen and Boater communities . 

* This programme works with academic schools at Queen Mary that under-recruit students from certain ethnicities, as such, students from Black - Caribbean or Caribbean British and White backgrounds may be prioritised for the programme in times of over-subscription. This is in line with national priorities for fair access to university and Queen Mary’s 2030 Strategy.  Where demand for the programme exceeds the number of places available in a given year, places will be allocated based on students meeting the highest score in step 2, alongside institutional access priorities. 

  1. Ensure you have checked that you meet the eligibility criteria outlined above
  2. If you are applying for the year 10 programme, submit your application using the online form found by clicking here
  3. If you are applying for the year 11 programme, submit your application using the online form found by clicking here
  4. If you are applying for the year 12 programme, submit your application using the online form found by clicking here
  5. Ensure that you have included your parent or carer, and your designated teacher or school contact, email addresses 

Applications for the year 12 programme will close on Friday 15 November

Applications for the year 10 and 11 programme will close on Tuesday 21 January

Students who participate in the Bridge the Gap programme are expected to attend the events throughout the programme. 

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