BSMA Scholars Programme
A free 12-month programme for British Somali and other Black African and Caribbean students applying to UK medical schools. More than 30 Scholars have won places since it began.
Launched in the 2021/22 application cycle, the programme gives each Scholar the knowledge, practice and personal guidance to apply to medical school with confidence.
What Scholars get
- Monthly sessions. Intensive, interactive online sessions on every part of the UK medical school application, from the personal statement to interview preparation.
- A one-to-one mentor. Each Scholar is paired with an experienced Somali doctor or medical student who guides them through the year.
Applications
Applications open in the summer. Apply with this form when the cycle is open.
Where our Scholars got offers
Scholars from our 2023/24 and 2024/25 cohorts received 14 offers from eight UK medical schools.
- University of Birmingham3
- Cardiff University3
- Queen Mary University of London2
- UCL2
- Imperial College London1
- Kent and Medway Medical School1
- University of Leicester1
- University of Nottingham1
Offers to study medicine. A Scholar can hold more than one.
How the programme is working: our research at AMEE 2025Join the Scholars faculty
We are looking for mentors who want to help diverse students into medicine.
What mentors gain
- Mentoring experience with regular feedback and structured support, over a minimum of six months.
- A direct contribution to diversity in medicine, guiding under-represented students through the application.
- Recognition from the BSMA for supporting the next generation of health professionals.