Applying for the course

Below you will find all the information you need regarding applying for the course. This includes the applications process, application assessments and additional information that help you with your application. if at any time you need help or assistance please email the admissions tutor.

You can also download the application form and get your application started straight away.

Applying to the course.

Prerequisites for application

  • Applicants must hold a medical qualification from a medical school in the UK or one recognised by the General Medical Council (GMC) as being approximately equivalent to one awarded in the UK and listed on the world directory of medical schools. The list of acceptable courses can be found here. https://www.wdoms.org/  

  • Applicants should have at least two years post grad clinical medical experience and have been in some form of clinical practice within the last five years. 

  • Applicants from non-native English-speaking countries should have at least IELTS level seven, or OET grade B in all four aspects of the test and taken the medical version of the OET.

Costs

The cost of the full programme is £14,100 which can be paid in full or with a deposit of £8100 followed by 6 monthly payments of £1000 each. Students should also factor in the costs of travel and accommodation should that be necessary.

The process

  • Applicants express an interest in the course by contacting the admissions tutor and are given all the information necessary to make an application and the process that involves including information regarding the portfolio and OSCE.  

  • The applicant is asked to fill out application form and monitoring forms (appendix 3) which they submit to the admissions tutor. The application form includes a small portfolio to compile requesting information about their present or previous practice, which demonstrates their skills, knowledge and ability in certain areas. 

  • The applicant is invited for interview with two members of staff, which also involves a review of their portfolio and a small OSCE which tests their knowledge and skills in other areas. 

If the applicant passes the assessment processes, they will be offered a place on the course subject to the below being satisfied.

• UK applicants are required to bring three forms of identification to the college for a DBS check to be completed. For non-UK applicants they should provide an equivalent to DBS in their country of residence or if this is not possible, they should supply a letter of good standing from their local police station, which will need to be checked through primary source verification.

• Applicants are also asked to undertake primary source verification checks, these include:

  • For UK applicants who are currently registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) they will have their prior medical experience and medical qualification checked by primary source verification. The admissions tutor will check their current registration status with the GMC.

  • For UK applicants who are not currently registered with the GMC they will also have their prior registration checked by primary source verification.

  • For non UK applicants they will have their medical qualification, past medical experience, past or present registration and their identification checked by primary source verification. They will also have their letter of good standing from their local police station checked if an equivalent to DBS is not available.

All information will be gathered and verified by the admissions tutor and another member of the management team. Passed to a nominated trustee for verification before being passed to the board to be officially accepted on to the course.

Admissions assessments

The MLCOM course is an accelerated course for those with a prior medical degree and clinical experience. Applicants are expected to have certain skills and knowledge prior to entry.

The admissions assessment for the course forms an important part of our quality assurance mechanisms. It also allows us to ensure applicants have some of the skills necessary for osteopathic practice before being accepted on to the course.

There are three main elements

• The portfolio

• The interview

• The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

Applicants are required to submit an application form that includes a portfolio, this is designed to allow them to demonstrate their skills and abilities as a healthcare practitioner in the areas detailed below. They will be required to supply evidence in the form of written reflections on the issues explored in the portfolio.

The portfolio must be submitted no later than one week prior to interview to allow assessors time to work through the portfolio and make a decision on what elements they need further clarification on, if any. These will then be explored at the interview. Applicants will be assessed as demonstrating they have an adequate understanding of each portfolio section or an inadequate understanding by two assessors who will also interview the applicant. The marking grid is shown in appendix 2.

In areas where they are deemed to be inadequate, the applicant will be given the opportunity to provide further evidence at the interview. If the student fails to provide adequate information at this stage assessors will make a determination based on their performance in other areas of the applications assessment.

The determination can be

• Accepted on to the course

• Accepted on to the course with conditions

• Not accepted on to the course

The decision of the admissions assessors is final.

Marking for the assessment is Pass, Fail or Borderline

If the candidate fails the assessment they are rejected with feedback so they can re-apply at a later stage.

If the applicant is deemed to be borderline they are given feedback and are required to develop a personal development plan to address their areas of weakness, this will be assessed by senior management team and if it is felt to be comprehensive enough the academic council will be asked to make a judgement on whether the applicant should be offered a place. If they are offered a place it is subject to the below being satisfied.




Additional information

Portfolio

The portfolio is an essential part of the application procedure. and forms part of the application form. It must be returned to the admissions tutor no less than one week prior to interview.

The portfolio is designed so the candidate can demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in the areas listed below from the Osteopathic Practice Standards (OPS).

  • A1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 Communication and consent

  • B2, 4 D11. Reflexivity. Examples of reflection in action and after. with own health and performance

  • B4, D5 Confidentiality. Record keeping. Basic principles of legibility, storage etc

  • C5 Health & Safety

  • C6 Public health

  • D4 Complaints handling scenario

  • D7, 8 honesty, integrity, inside and outside professional role.

  • D12 professionalism




The Interview

The interview gives assessors the opportunity to explore in more depth the answers given in the applicant’s portfolio as well as to explore specific issues.

Each interview will thus be structured slightly differently but the overall aims are set out below. Again, these are designed to explore the candidates knowledge and skill in certain OPS areas and to determine their appropriateness for the course.

Observations

  • A1. Does the candidate display good verbal and non verbal communication skills?

Interview questions should be focused around

  • A6 Patient’s dignity and modesty

  • A7, D6 Equality, beliefs and values

  • D1 Acting with honesty and integrity

  • B3 Professionalism.

  • C3 Confidentiality

  • D2 Boundaries trust and candour




This could include the use of scenarios. Or direct questions

• What would you do if?

• How would you handle?

• Can you give examples of?

• Can you tell us your understanding of?




The Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCE)

The OSCE is undertaken after the interview.

The OSCE will take place directly after the interview and will involve the same two assessors. It should last no longer than 30 minutes.

The OSCE should be structured to elicit the applicant’s knowledge and skills with regards to the following OPS areas.

  • A4 Consent & Communication

  • B1 Pathophysiology, Psychosocial aspects to health,

  • C1 Clinical examination skills

  • C6, D9, 10 working with other healthcare professionals

This will involve a clinical scenario split in to three section.

Station 1 (appx 5 minutes)

initial information will be given about a clinical scenario that details the patient’s presentation.

The applicant will be given five minutes to read and digest this information followed by five minutes of questioning around this information.

This should include an assessment of what their initial thoughts are regarding the cause of the patient’s symptoms.

Station 2 (appx 10 minutes)

The applicant will then be asked what further information they would like to elicit or additional examinations or assessments they would like to undertake.

The applicant will be asked to perform some or all of the assessments they have identified or if they have failed to identify relevant assessments the assessors could choose from several of the below.

• Cardiovascular examination including auscultation of the heart, palpation of peripheral pulses, radio-femoral delay.

• Neurological assessment including testing of power and reflexes, sensory testing, coordination, cranial nerves II to XII

• Respiratory system assessment including auscultation of the lungs

• GI. Abdominal palpatory investigation.

The applicant’s knowledge of what is being tested, why and what any finding would mean will be assessed using questioning.

Station 3 (appx 5 minutes)

The applicant will be given additional information regarding the patients, mainly findings from their investigations. applicants will be given five minutes to read this and order their thoughts.

Station 4 (appx 10 minutes)

Applicants will be asked to comment on the findings and what they would propose to do at this stage regarding the patient. This may include additional testing, onward referral or the involvement of other healthcare professionals.

Additional information may also be collected at this stage from earlier sections if it is felt necessary to explore in more detail information omitted during the assessment.