Widening participation in medicine

The widening participation initiative seeks to give the opportunity to anyone who has the ability and desire, to enter into a medical career.
Location: UK
Audience: Medical students
Updated: Wednesday 20 December 2023
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What is widening participation?

Widening participation is an approach intended to increase access to higher education for underrepresented groups. In medicine, it refers to the efforts and initiatives designed to ensure that individuals from these groups are supported to pursue a career in medicine. These initiatives include the use of specific admissions policies, financial support, outreach and engagement, and mentorship and support.

The BMA Medical students committee has a dedicated widening participation portfolio, led by the deputy chairs, which works closely with medical schools and the Medical Schools Council to improve access to medicine for underrepresented groups. It has also developed criteria to help identify widening participation groups.

 

Widening participation criteria

Automatic WP status:

Applicants will automatically be classified as WP if they:

  • Are an asylum seeker or have refugee status, or
  • Have spent time in local authority care within the last five years during secondary education (or equivalent).
Eligibility for WP status (contextual assessment):

Applicants not meeting automatic criteria will be classified as WP if they meet at least two indicators, including at least one from the socio-economic/personal context (e.g. FSM, bursary, first-generation, young carer, parent in receipt of means tested benefits, or Gypsy/
Roma/Traveller background).

Attendance at a low-performing school or residence in a low income area alone will not confer WP status.

Educational context:

Attendance at a secondary school with below-average GCSE-level performance at the time qualifications were taken, using national benchmarks:

  • England: Progress 8 below national average
  • Northern Ireland: below-average % of pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*–C (including English and Mathematics)
  • Scotland: below-average Attainment for All average tariff score
  • Wales: below-average Capped 9 score
Socio-economic and personal context:
  • Eligibility for Free School Meals (FSM) during: Years 9–13 (England/Wales), Years 10–14 (Northern Ireland), S3–S6 (Scotland)
  • Residence in a low-participation or high-deprivation area (IMD, SIMD40, NIMDM, WIMD deciles 1–4)
  • Parent/guardian in receipt of a means-tested benefit (e.g. Universal Credit, Income Support, JSA)
  • Receipt of financial educational support (16–19 Bursary excluding meal-only, EMA, or equivalents)
  • Receipt of UCAT Bursary
  • First-generation applicant to higher education
  • Young carer (aged < 25) providing care due to illness, disability, mental health condition, or addiction, with supporting evidence
  • From a Gypsy, Roma, or Traveller background
Guidance:
  • Educational context + >1 socio-economic/personal indicator →
    qualifies as WP
  • Multiple socio-economic/personal indicators → qualifies as WP even without educational context (e.g. attending a grammar/selective school but meeting 2 or more socioeconomic/personal contexts would qualify as WP)
  • Multiple socio-economic/personal indicators → qualifies as WP even without educational context (e.g. attending a grammar/selective school but meeting 2 or more socioeconomic/personal contexts would qualify as WP)
  • Educational context or area-only indicators alone → does not qualify

Why widening participation matters

Widening participation extends beyond access to medical school - it requires sustained support throughout medical education. Students from underrepresented backgrounds often face disproportionate financial and wellbeing challenges, underscoring the need for effective advocacy and targeted support. Through campaigns such as Stop the Drop and our wider Welfare work, the BMA is committed to ensuring that widening participation continues from admission through to graduation.

Our aims

The BMA is committed to advancing widening participation by supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds throughout medical school and into their careers. Our work includes advocating for improved attendance policies, increased financial support, better access to research and competitive specialty training opportunities, and enhanced support for students with parental or caring responsibilities and those living with chronic health conditions. Our goal is to ensure that all medical students can access the support and opportunities they need to succeed.

Our resources

Our work is ongoing. We will continue working to improve access to medicine and ensure that
widening participation extends beyond admission to success throughout medical education.