The next Widening Access to Medicine taster days will be Easter 2027.
Applications will be open from Tuesday 1 September to Tuesday 1 December 2026.
Eligibility
This free programme is for Year 12 UK students planning to apply for a medicine course through a widening participation programme or a contextual admissions route.
You must be studying A level Biology and at least 1 other science subject. You must also meet at least 2 of the following eligibility criteria:
- be a first generation applicant to higher education
- you, your parents or your guardian, must be in receipt of a means-tested benefit
- be looked after by a local authority
- live in an area with a postcode which falls within the lowest 20% of the IMD (1) (Index of Multiple Deprivation), or a member of a travelling family
- receive free school meals any time during Years 10 to 13 (normally for a minimum period of at least 1 school term or 2 months)
- be a young carer
What to expect
Day 1
The on-campus taster day at Highfield Campus, where you'll:
- practise clinical skills
- experience interview activities
- take part in workshops with medical students and staff
We will provide food and drink during the day. We cannot provide accommodation but we do offer support to cover your travel costs.
Day 2
Online sessions to learn about:
- medical ethics
- different medical specialities
- look at the admissions process
You will also take part in speed networking with doctors and activities with medical students and staff.
Day 3
A one-day live virtual work experience with University Hospital Southampton to:
- observe outpatient clinics
- watch live surgery
- attend talks from a range of clinicians and medical students
Online workshops on days 2 and 3 will take place over Microsoft Teams.
If you are applying for a contextual admission place, this course counts as an outreach activity.
You will receive a certificate when you complete the programme.
How to apply
Applications open on Tuesday 1 September until Tuesday 1 December 2026.
Please make sure you are available for all scheduled sessions before applying.
Before you apply, you must have an agreed reference from a teacher. Your teacher must also confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria and they are happy to be contacted
As part of your application, you need to:
- explain why you want to attend the Widening Access to Medicine taster days
- describe what you hope to learn from the experience
Your response must be no more than 250 words.
Hear from our students
It was an unforgettable event, and I am really thankful for this experience as a whole.
Valerie, Y12 student
I just wanted to genuinely thank you and your team personally for all the work that was put into this programme to help us. I have learnt so much about medicine and even myself from this programme. Everyone I came across was so kind and helpful and taught me that medicine, though a tough course is full of people who are enthusiastic about what they do.
Albisha, Y12 student
I really enjoyed every single aspect of this event. Thank you so much, I really appreciate and am very grateful for the help and insight you have given in terms of applying to medical school, how it feels to be a student, and then the different specialities and pathways that we could go down.
Zoe, Y12 student
I would just like to say thank you for everything you have done for all of us. I thoroughly enjoyed the work experience and the entire program, and I have truly fallen in love with Southampton University. I hope to apply soon. Thank you for the insight.
Sanam, Y12 student