Xaverian College is celebrating another exceptional year for its Medics, Dentists and Vets (MDV) Programme, as 23 students have secured places at top universities to study Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science in 2025.
With 57 offers made to this year’s MDV cohort, students will now go on to study at some of the UK’s most prestigious institutions, including the University of Cambridge, Newcastle University, Queen’s University Belfast and University of Birmingham. Their success is the latest chapter in a growing legacy for the MDV Programme, which has now supported 124 students into competitive healthcare courses since launching in 2019.
MDV Co-ordinator Priyanka Nayar praised the students for their dedication and resilience: “We are delighted for our students. They have spent two years persevering and working exceptionally hard to gain, not only these sought-after places at university, but also fantastic grades in their A Levels. I am immensely proud of them and their achievements. This is the fifth year the MDV Programme has run and this year has seen the strongest set of results achieved so far.”
The MDV Programme offers students tailored support throughout the challenging medical application process, including UCAT and BMAT preparation, personal statement guidance, mock interviews and regular talks from professionals and alumni. But more than that, it offers students a community of like-minded peers who share the same ambitions.
For Eleni Smith, who is going on to study Medicine at Newcastle University, the experience was transformative: “The MDV Programme was exceptionally helpful all the way through my application, but the best part was getting to meet other students going through the same process. It really helped to have people to relate to.”
Alessia Goldthorpe, who will be studying Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast, agreed: “The MDV Programme gave me so much support. The community it created meant I never felt alone. Teachers and classmates were always there to help and share the journey.”
For Lila Maddock, the moment she received her offer from Cambridge to study Medicine was surreal: “I had the UCL and Newcastle clearing forms open on the next tab because I really thought I’d missed my offer. Seeing the message, ‘Congratulations, you’re going to Cambridge to study medicine’, felt like a mistake. But it wasn’t. It was real. I’m so grateful to the staff and my peers for helping me believe it was possible.”
She also highlighted the importance of the academic departments that helped her thrive: “The Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics departments were amazing in supporting my academic ambitions.”
Meanwhile, Tom Hancock, a former Xaverian student, returned to reapply after a gap year and was offered places from all four medical schools he applied to. He’ll now study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Birmingham. He said: “Going from all rejections the previous year to a full house of offers was quite the transformation. I was fortunate to have an extra year attached to Xaverian’s MDV Programme. The support, mentorship and the community it cultivates made a huge difference.”
Xaverian College continues to prove that with the right guidance, peer support and expert teaching, students can rise to the challenge of one of the most competitive application processes in the UK.
Tony Knowles, Principal, commented: “Congratulations to the entire MDV cohort! Your achievements reflect, not only your hard work and determination, but the strength of a programme built on ambition, collaboration and care.”
As one of the largest providers of post-16 education in the region, Xaverian College offers an extensive range of A Levels in addition to several Applied courses. Visit www.xaverian.ac.uk to find out more.