SEOUL-- October 04, 2023 -- Brooklyn International College (Brooklyn College), an international high school based in Toronto, Canada, is excited to announce the launch of its comprehensive preparation program for students aspiring to attend medical schools in the United Kingdom. The program aims to recruit prospective students who intend to apply for medical programs starting in September 2025. Students who have successfully completed grade 10 or have passed the Korean GED for high school graduation are eligible to join the program. Enrollments are open for program start dates in March, September, and December of each year.

The program comprises mandatory courses designed for grades 11 and 12, as well as extensive preparation for the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), extracurricular activities, and interview training. To be eligible for this program, students must have a minimum of a grade 10 completion with a GPA of 85% or higher and an IELTS academic score of 5.5 or above. Brooklyn College may also administer placement tests for mandatory subjects such as mathematics, biology, and chemistry.

Jennifer Wang, Director of Brooklyn College, emphasized the unique opportunities the UK offers to prospective medical students. “In contrast to Canada‘s graduate school system, students in the UK can enter medical programs immediately after obtaining the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). UK applicants with an OSSD will be exempted from A-level testing requirements, provided they achieve the UCAT and IELTS qualifications,” she noted. “We are committed to actively supporting students in achieving their academic aspirations, drawing on Brooklyn College’s wealth of experience in facilitating university admissions worldwide.”

Over the past two years, graduates of Brooklyn College have received more than 340 university admission offers from institutions in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong, all following their attainment of the OSSD. Notable British universities that Brooklyn College graduates have gained acceptance to include University College London, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Manchester, the University of Bristol, and the University of Glasgow.

In addition to preparing students for UK medical programs, Brooklyn College offers guidance and counseling services for students interested in universities around the world following their OSSD attainment in Canada. Prospective students can schedule a counseling meeting with Jennifer Wang by visiting the COEX Conference Room (#327) in Samseong-dong, Seoul, during October 7-8.

Introduction to Terminology

1) OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma)

OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma): The OSSD is a secondary school graduation certificate in Ontario, requiring 30 credits (18 mandatory and 12 optional credits) earned during grades 9-12, 40 community volunteer hours, and a pass in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) with a score of 300 or higher. OSSD holders enjoy advantages when applying to English-language universities in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA, and Singapore, in addition to Canada.

2) UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test)

The UCAT is an aptitude test for admission to medical and dental schools in England, comprising five sections conducted over approximately 2 hours: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, Decision Making, and Situational Judgement. Scores for sections 1-4 are aggregated to a maximum of 3,600, while section 5 is assessed on a relative scale from bands 1 to 4, with 1 being the highest score.

3) A-Level

A collective term for the preparatory course and examination for university entry following high school in the United Kingdom. The A-Level program spans two years, including the AS Level in the first year and A2 Level in the second year. Students typically study 4-5 subjects at AS Level, with 3-4 subjects taken at A2 Level, with a focus on subjects relevant to their intended university program. Upon completing the course, students sit for the A-Level exam and apply to British universities based on their scores.