This page gives guidance on completing the 'Qualifications' page of the ST3 application form.
This section of the form, as the heading suggests, allows you to add the various qualifications you have gained through your career so far.
These are divided into the categories of primary medical, undergraduate, and postgraduate qualifications.
Further areas are also included here for any additional achievements you wish to add, which do not necessarily fit into the other categories; as well as details of any parts of the MRCP(UK) diploma you have passed so far, and any training courses you have attended.
Scores & evidence
This section of the application is the first where scores will be awarded, hence you should review the scores available for each option and each sub-section.
Any qualification/achievement you include here which will see scores awarded to you will need to be backed up at interview by documentary evidence.
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Scoring
For reference, on each of the sections described below, we have marked the maximum number of marks available.
However, we advise visiting the scoring page of this website, and reviewing the scoring framework for the application form.
You will then be able to refer to this when considering the options available, and to be aware of the scores available for each option.
All qualifications to be supported by evidence
Please be aware that, should you go on to be invited to interview, you will need to provide evidence to support each item of information you add to this section of your application form.
So if you add a particular item to the postgraduate qualifications section, then you will need to show documentary evidence of this qualification (eg a certificate) when you attend interview.
Any instances of candidates found to be making claims on their application form which cannot substantiated will be taken extremely seriously.
For more details on providing such evidence at interview, please see the interview preparation page of this website.
Adding items to the qualifications page
Initially, for each sub-section of the page, there will be a series of empty fields which can be filled in as need be.
However, in some areas you may need to add extra items.
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Adding subsequent items
If you have further items to add, click the 'add new ' button, and a new drop-down menu will appear below the details you have just added.
Select the appropriate item from the list, enter the relevant details, and continue to repeat this process as many times as is necessary.
Removing items
To delete any item, click the 'delete ' box.
Editing items
To edit any item you have added, all you need do is just change the relevant field as necessary and click 'save' at the bottom of the page.
Please note that unlike removal of items, you can edit any of the items you have added - not just the most recent one.
Deciding on the appropriate section/option for a qualification
In some instances, the option - and in some cases, the particular section - under which you should choose to include a qualification may not be immediately obvious.
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Degree classifications
Where you have gained a degree/qualification which does not have a 'standard' classification (eg 1st, 2:1, etc.) then you should select the option which you deem to be most equivalent, ie closest to your qualification/degree.
It may be difficult to identify an exactly equivalent option, but recruiters/interviewers do appreciate that experience will not always fit neatly under one of the available options.
Undergraduate or postgraduate?
In some cases, a degree/qualification may overlap between undergraduate and postgraduate; eg the initial part of a course may be undergraduate, but then successful completion may lead on to an additional stage of the course which leads to it being classed as postgraduate.
In the event that you have gained a qualification which could be included under either the undergraduate or postgraduate degrees/qualifications section, you can include this under whichever of the two sections you feel is most appropriate.
However, you should only include this under one section or the other, not both.
Once you have decided which is the preferred section, you should again use your professional judgement to select the most appropriate option, and then give full details in the subsequently-arising fields.
Options
For details of the options available to you in each of the sections here, please visit the scoring (application form) page of this website.
Qualifications - sub-sections
Primary medical qualification
Firstly you are required to give details of your primary medical qualification, including the qualification, course dates, country, medical school and award date. These are mandatory fields.
Additional undergraduate degrees/qualifications [max 10 marks]
In this section, any undergraduate degrees you have achieved can be added to your form.
To do this, select the relevant qualification from the drop-down list - the form will then automatically bring up a free-text box where you can add the relevant details.
Postgraduate degrees/qualifications [max 10 marks]
The process of adding postgraduate degrees/qualifications is exactly the same as for undergraduate, above.
Please note - do not enter details of any MRCP(UK) examinations here; these come under the separate MRCP(UK) section.
Additional achievements [max 10 marks])
If you have any achievements you wish to add beyond those which you have added to under/postgraduate qualifications, please select an appropriate option from the 'Achievement' drop-down list, and proceed to add details as necessary.
Subsequent achievements can be added in the same manner as qualifications (see above).
MRCP(UK) details [max 14 marks]
You must give details here of any parts of the MRCP(UK) diploma (or alternative/equivalent qualifying examinations) you have passed.
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Each of the three diploma parts is listed here, with an accompanying 'yes'/'no' field - please state whether you have passed each of the exams.
Should you select 'yes' in any case, you will be asked to give the date of passing the exam. Should you select 'no' you will be asked if you have passed an alternative or equivalent examination:
Equivalent qualifications
Details of what is considered 'equivalent' to the MRCP(UK) can be found in the Am I eligible? section of the website.
If you are claiming equivalence to the MRCP(UK) based on your training under EEA regulations, whilst your application can be considered on this basis, short-listing points are not awarded. Candidates in this position should choose 'Not listed' from the options and use the free-text box to explain their equivalent training.
Alternative examinations
Some specialties allow candidates to enter other, non-medicine, training pathways. Where this is the case, it will be explicitly specified on the person specification (eg MRCPCH) - this can be input in the same manner as MRCP(UK), and will garner points in the same manner.
Please note that you must only list a qualification here if it is specifically detailed in the person specification relating to the specialty of that application. Qualifications gained that do not relate to the person specification can be detailed in other parts of the form.
Training courses attended [no marks]
The last part of this section requires you to give details of training courses you have attended.
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To begin with, click 'add training course', and then complete the details of course title, provider, duration and completion date as necessary - all items are mandatory.
Courses can be added, removed or edited in the same way as the achievements described above.
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