The University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine (Clinical School) was formally established in January 1975 when it subsumed the School of Clinical Research and Postgraduate Teaching that had existed since 1946; the first entry of 50 Clinical Students was admitted in October 1976. For the last few years, and up to and including 2016 entry, the annual intake to the Standard Clinical Course was around 160 students. From September 2017, all preclinical students will stay in Cambridge for the clinical component of the course, subject to satisfactory progression. This will increase the annual intake to around 260 students. Around 10 of those students are offered places on the MBPhD programme; in addition, 20 students are admitted to the Cambridge Graduate-entry Course (CGC) (this will rise to 40 students from 2018-19).

 

The Cambridge Graduate Course in medicine (CGC) is open to arts, humanities and science graduates who meet admissions requirements.  It operates in conjunction with the West Suffolk Hospital, general practices in the West Suffolk area and four graduate Colleges: Hughes Hall, Lucy Cavendish, St Edmund’s (which will be taking students form 2018-19), and Wolfson.  The Colleges provide academic and pastoral support as well as contributing to the selection process.  The base for learning core medical science is the School of Biological Sciences; the main clinical base is the West Suffolk Hospital and, each year, students are attached to a local General Practice where they have the opportunity to become part of the practice team, learn medicine in the community context and experience the long-term relationships that GPs and their practice staff have with their patients.  Students also spend time at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and, during Year  3 specialty placements, gain experience in Regional Partner NHS Trust hospitals and in general practices throughout the East of England.