Deferred Entry Applications

At Sheffield Medical School we welcome applications from students who are planning to take a gap year before commencing their degree studies. If you are currently planning your gap year we would suggest you refer to the previous section on Relevant Work Experience. There are many advantages to taking a gap year, including:

• An opportunity to travel the world and meet people from different cultures. This will develop your cultural awareness, which is of course important in the medical profession.
• Additional time to gain further work experience in a relevant area, such as participating in a volunteer project overseas, thus reinforcing your evidence of commitment to caring and insight into the profession.
• Lastly, the opportunity to earn some money over the coming year to help fund your studies at Sheffield. This reflects very well on you as an individual, as you are demonstrating social responsibility.

A number of students find that taking a gap year leads to increased confidence, maturity, and self-insight, all of which are relevant to a career in medicine.

We are happy to consider deferred applications; you simply need to state this on your UCAS form. Students applying for deferred entry should summarise (briefly) their plans for the year ahead in their Personal Statement. Not only does this show that you have given considerable thought and effort into planning your gap year, but will also give you an opportunity to demonstrate relevant work experience that will enable you to be come a good doctor in the future.

If you decide you wish to defer your entry mid-way through the application cycle, we may still be able to accommodate your gap-year plans. You will need to put your request in writing (either via email or post) to the Medical Admissions Team, explaining your reasons for requesting deferment. In the majority of cases we can amend your year of entry accordingly.