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Building Confidence, Community, and Career Readiness from the early years of Medical School
Prepare for Academic Excellence
Develop study strategies, revision techniques, and time management skills to build strong academic foundations.
Navigate Clinical Placements with Confidence
Demystify placements, provide survival tips, and connect students with mentorship opportunities.
Build Wellbeing and Resilience
Promote sustainable self-care habits and peer support to help students manage stress.
Advance Professional and Networking Skills
Strengthen CVs, portfolios, and networks to support long-term career success.
About the programme
The MedSteps Programme is a four-month hybrid development initiative designed for second-year medical students of Black African and Caribbean heritage in the UK. It equips participants with the tools, confidence, and networks needed to excel in their academic studies, navigate clinical placements, maintain wellbeing, and build professional skills often overlooked in the medical curriculum.
Through a blend of virtual topical workshops, structured Action Learning Sets, supplementary resources, and a culminating in-person career development event, the programme fosters both personal growth and community connection. By combining practical skills training with peer support and group mentorship opportunities, MedSteps empowers students to thrive at this pivotal stage of their medical journey while laying strong foundations for their future careers.
APPLICATIONS OPEN: APPLY NOW!
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 5th October 2025
APPLICANTS SELECTED: 23rd October 2025
PROGRAMME COMMENCEMENT: 8th November 2025
What the programme includes
Virtual Topical Workshops – Interactive online sessions covering academic skills, clinical placement preparation, wellbeing, and professional development.
Action Learning Sets – Small peer groups built into each workshop, providing space to reflect, problem-solve, and learn from one another.
Supplementary Resources & Materials – Access to curated guides, tools, and follow-up materials to reinforce learning between sessions.
In-Person Workshop & Career Development Finale – A culminating event bringing students together to build networks, engage with doctors across specialties, and take part in hands-on professional development activities.
Join the programme
Eligibility:
2nd year Medical Students of Black African or Caribbean descent or students of mixed race heritage on a 5- or 6-year undergraduate medical course at a UK medical school (including graduate-entry students on an undergraduate programme and those who have completed a foundation year)
As a MedSteps participant, you will be required to do the following:
Commit to attending all virtual workshops
Attend the in-person career development event at the end of the programme
Engage with supplementary resources and contribute to peer group discussions
Complete pre- and post-programme surveys and short reflections to support programme evaluation
Applying to the MedSteps Programme does not guarantee you a place. Applications will be reviewed and assessed based on the quality of responses.
What participants say
This programme is important as Black heritage medical students continue to face disparities in attainment and representation in medicine. The early pre-clinical to clinical transition is a critical period where targeted support may help prevent widening of attainment gaps within undergraduate medical education and postgraduate medical training. There is also limited research into preventative, skills-based interventions for underrepresented student groups.
By combining skills training with wellbeing, peer support, and career development, MedSteps works to reduce barriers, improve confidence, and create a sense of belonging; ensuring participants are better prepared to thrive at medical school and beyond.
Become a mentor on the programme
We are always looking for session speakers.
Please email programmes@melaninmedics.org if interested.
