Medicine (Graduate course), MB and BChir course information

Course structure  

At the beginning of your course, you will spend 5 days in the West Suffolk Hospital. You’ll: 

• be introduced to the hospital environment
• learn about essential health and safety
• get experience of clinical situations in hospital and General Practice 

You will also spend a day at the Clinical School and be shown the learning facilities. You will meet your course tutor and General Practitioner tutor.  

Year 1: Core Clinical Practice and Core Medical Science 

By the end of Year 1, you will be able to: 

• communicate effectively in a range of clinical settings
• preform a physical exam
• show practical procedural skills (such as resuscitation)
• take a patient’s basic history
• understand palliative care
• know the basic concepts of patient investigation and clinical reasoning

Modules you'll study

Functional Architecture of the Body - Topographical anatomy of the human body by dissection and demonstration with strong emphasis on functional, living and surface anatomy. 

Introduction to the Scientific Basis of Medicine  - Three sets of lectures covering history and philosophy, principles of epidemiology, principles of medical statistics. 

Homeostasis - Physiological systems which underpin regulation of the body’s internal environment and its responses to external threats. 

Social Context of Health and Illness - Introduction to the broader cultural aspects of healthcare and the medical profession. 

Molecules in Medical Science  - Molecular basis of how cells and organisms work including:  

• structure
• function
• biosynthesis and control
• metabolic processes
• the ways in which the genetic information in DNA is organised, expressed and inherited
• core principles illustrated by examples relevant to medical science

Principles of Cell Biology (optional) - A short course introducing basic principles. 

Year 2: Core Clinical Practice and Core Medical Science 

By the end of  Year 2, you will: 

• be competent in basic clinical methods
• have met patients in hospital and in primary care with a wide range of acute and chronic general medical and surgical problems
• communicate effectively in a range of clinical settings 

You will also be able to: 

• take a clinical history
• perform a physical examination
• document your findings appropriately
• show competence in basic practical skills
• prepare and discuss a differential diagnosis
• suggest appropriate investigations
• interpret the results of simple clinical investigations

Modules you'll study

Biology of Disease  - The nature and mechanisms of disease processes, includes cellular pathology, immunology, microbiology, parasitology and virology. 

Mechanisms of Drug Action  - General principles of drug action and specific effects of some drugs; selective toxicity and effects on neuromuscular, endocrine, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. 

Neurobiology and Human Behaviour  - The brain and mind; structure and function of the sense organs and CNS, effects of drugs on brain function, physiological aspects including emotion and emotional disorders (especially depression, anxiety, schizophrenia) child development, intelligence, learning and memory. 

Head and Neck Anatomy - Structure and organisation of the human head and neck, with a focus on the relationship of structure to function, the anatomical basis for clinical examination, and the use of anatomical knowledge to understand common pathological conditions and interpret diagnostic images. 

Human Reproduction  - The biology of human reproduction, its clinical relevance, social context and influence on demographic trends, ethical and legal principles surrounding the practice of medicine in general and reproduction in particular. 

Library Based Project - Opportunity to research a topic of interest. 

Clinical skills 

During the course, you’ll learn different clinical skills. You’ll study: 

• Clinical Skills 1 (3 to 4 weeks) – Learning the framework of Clinical Method, with an introduction to examination of major systems.
• Clinical Skills 2 (4 weeks) – Reinforcement of Clinical Method.
• Clinical Skills 3 (10 weeks) – Further development of Clinical Method and clinical features of the systems in general practice and on the wards. You’ll develop a basic competence in “clinical clerking” and a working clinical knowledge of all the body systems. Exposure to patients with a wide range of general surgical and medical problems.
• Clinical Skills 4 (4 to 5 weeks) – Opportunity to spend the attachment shadowing a junior doctor at the West Suffolk Hospital.
• Clinical Skills 5 (3 to 4 weeks) – Review of the clinical aspects of all the systems and further clinical experience. 

Year 3: Specialist Clinical Practice (SCP) 

By the end of year 3, you will: 

• be competent in the clinical, communication and practical skills throughout all stages of life
• have had an introduction to the specialist medical practice
• understand the translational and clinical research behind major healthcare challenges
• be able to reflect on the research themes of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus including Neurosciences and Mental Health, Maternal and Child Health 

 You will also: 

• be able to recognise different patterns of health and disease throughout life and in different communities
• have produced portfolio cases that reflect the presentation of disease throughout life
• be familiar with issues relating to physical and mental disability in patients of all ages
• have studied the diagnosis and management of a range of health problems by means of linked placements in primary and secondary care
• know about the public health aspects of medicine relating to screening, prevention and population health at different stages of life
• have had experience and direct involvement with clinical or translational research 

 SCP Placements 

You’ll have 4 placements that last 6 weeks each. They are: 

• Maternal and Child Health
• Neurosciences and Mental Health
• Specialist Medicine (including Cardiology and Infectious Diseases)
• Specialist Surgery (including Oncology) 

Maternal and Child Health, and in Neurosciences and Mental Health are based at CUHT (Addenbrookes) or at a partner regional Trust. These placements include studying specialties in primary care and the community. They explore the realities of living with illness in the community including meeting with community-based carers and organisations. 

Specialist Medicine and Specialist Surgery Placements (SSP) are Student Selected Placements. This means you can choose a specialist clinical area of interest. These placements are mainly based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. There are also placements in Papworth Hospital and at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.  

You can also choose a SSP where you can explore some specialist and tertiary clinical care. This can include projects in clinical or translational research.  

Year 4: Applied Clinical Practice (ACP) 

By the end of Year 4, you will have developed skills in: 

• consultation
• clinical management
• diagnostic judgement 

You will have responsibility for patient care under close supervision in a variety of clinical environments. You will: 

• be able to recognise the severity of illness and give immediate and continuing care to patients of any age group who are acutely and seriously unwell
• be able to demonstrate your understanding of General Practice as a speciality
• have acquired the Intermediate Life Support Certificate
• be able to demonstrate the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes required to practise as a doctor in the postgraduate Foundation programme 

Elective 

Between Year 3 and 4 you can select an elective for 7 weeks. You can study at home or abroad, following a clinical or research area that interests you. 

ACP Clinical Placements 

You’ll have 4 placements that last 6 weeks each at West Suffolk Hospital (Bury St Edmunds or a regional General Practice. They are in: 

• Senior Surgery
• Senior Medicine
• Senior Emergency (Acute) Care/Perioperative Care
• Senior General Practice 

You will focus on ‘preparing for practice’ and will be expected to directly care and manage patients under close supervision.  

Senior Medicine and Senior Surgery and Peri-operative Care mean you will be working with medical and surgical teams.  You’ll be responsible for:  

• clerking and following up identified patients
• presenting the patients on rounds
• performing practical procedures
• escorting patients to investigation or therapy units
• attending discharge planning meetings 

You will also build on your sub-specialty skills in: 

• dermatology
• rheumatology
• orthopaedics
• ENT
• medicine for the elderly
• ophthalmology
• palliative care
• radiology 

In Senior Emergency (Acute) Care/Perioperative Care placements you’ll learn about the practicalities of assessing and managing patients with serious, acute and life-threatening illness across all specialties. Your time is divided between emergency departments, intensive care, and theatres. 

For Senior General Practice you will see patients on your own and make supported clinical decisions. You will be under the supervision of GP tutors. You will be introduced to a patient with terminal illness to give you experience of palliative and terminal care in the community. 

Practical Prescribing 

You’ll learn to use the British National Formulary (BNF). You will be able to: 

• make decisions about drug prescriptions
• apply BNF general prescribing advice and current legislation regarding prescribing controlled drugs
• record and report adverse drug reactions
• carry out a range of drug dosage calculations
• use Trust guidelines on good prescribing to identify and resolve inappropriate prescribing practice 

Apprenticeship block 

After your clinical final exams, there is a formal 6 week apprenticeship block.  You’ll work semi-independently under supervision of nominated consultants to deliver direct patient care in an in-patient environment.  

You will be mentored by both junior and senior doctors. It is an opportunity to:  

• develop further working knowledge of what it really means to be a Foundation doctor
• practice key skills
• experience night shifts
• hone the ward skills needed to be a successful junior doctor 

You will also spend a day in a hospice, where you will: 

• attend liaison psychiatry seminars
• build your communication skills and professional learning 

Foundation Programme 

To fully register with the General Medical Council, a doctor must complete a period of supervised service in an approved post. 

Learn more about eligibility requirements of the UK Foundation Programme. 

Teaching 

You will learn in a clinical setting that is supported by:  

• small group seminars 
• tutorials 
• discussion groups 
• large group activities (including clinic-pathological demonstrations and lectures) 

Clinical placements 

You will be taught in hospital wards, and in general and specialist outpatient clinics. You will get work in small groups and: 

• different hospital and GP environments
• learn about different patients in the community
• build relationships throughout the region 

You’ll be given guidance on learning methods and encouraged to learn on your own. 

Supervisions  

During your course you will have weekly supervisions. These are small groups with your clinical tutor or clinical supervisor.  Your tutor will be a practicing clinician and offer you academic support. 

You will: 

• discuss medical science in context
• learn about clinical methods
• discuss ethical problems
• have topic-based tutorials 

Review and integration lectures  

You’ll come together with other students for a series of ‘Review and Integration’ weeks spread throughout your clinical course.  

These lectures:  

• cover subjects that are best delivered in large groups 
• allow you to interact with other students  

Topics covered include: 

• Pharmacology/Practical Prescribing
• Improving Health
• Palliative Care
• Professional skills, including medical ethics and law 

There will also be Clinico-Pathological Conferences (CPCs). These relate to the subjects you’ll be studying. The CPCs focus on the application of core pathology and radiology learning.  

Library and IT Facilities   

You will have access to:  

• the Medical Library 
• NHS OpenAthens 
• resources for learning and practicing evidence-based medicine  
• self-service networked printing, scanning and photocopying  
• a computer study room on the upper floor of the library 

Assessment methods 

We use formative and summative assessment methods. Your assessments will be marked using standard-setting and marking techniques. 

Formative assessments  

Formative assessments are designed to give you:  

• feedback that helps you identify gaps in your knowledge 
• the opportunity to check that you are meeting targets  

These assessments usually happen at the end of your placements.   

Summative assessments   

Summative assessments help you to understand your overall learning. They can include:  

• class tests 
• assignments 
• exams  

You need to achieve a minimum level to continue the course.  These assessments usually happen at the end of each academic year.  

Clinical placement assessments 

You will be assessed at the end of each clinical placement. Your assessments might include:  

• being observed by the multidisciplinary clinical team 
• written tests 
• objective structured clinical examinations   
• mini-clinical evaluation exercises   

Student Selected Components (SSC) 

Student Selected Components give you an opportunity to study areas that complement the core curriculum.  They aim to help you to develop:  

• control over your learning
• self-directed learning skills, including critical thinking and reasoning to help create an approach to medicine that is questioning and self-critical
• confidence in your skills and abilities
• research skills, including creation of an abstract, presentation of work to a group, literature searching, and medical writing
• transferable skills
• your potential career path 

Placement Records and evaluation 

At the end of your placements, a record is completed by the Specialty Director, regional hospital Undergraduate Specialty Tutor or responsible consultant.  

You will be assessed on your:  

• attendance 
• overall performance 

Your overall performance will be given one of the following results: 

• Outstanding 
• Pass 
• Borderline
• Fail 

Year 1 assessments 

At the end of Year 1 you will have: 

• written 2nd MB exams to test pre-clinical knowledge  
• a single best answer paper 

Year 2 assessments  

At the end of year 2 you will complete 2nd MB exams to test pre-clinical knowledge and Final MB Part I. This consists of:   

• a written test which covers all the major clinical specialties you have studied, including Pathology 
• the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) which is designed to assess your practical skills, clinical examination skills, and your communication skills

Year 3 assessments 

By the end of Year 3 you will be expected to be able to match the General Medical Council outcomes for doctors practical skills and procedures. Your competence will be assessed using repeated observation and feedback.  

You will complete your Final MB Part II. This consists of:   

• a written test that focuses on (but not limited to) the clinical specialties from Year 3, including Pathology 
• an extended clinical cases paper
• the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) which has a focus on Paediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynaecology  

Year 4 assessments  

You’ll submit a report on your elective. This will:  

• give a detailed record of the elective period 
• show experience in presentation of considered written work 
• contribute to a data bank of elective opportunities for new students 
• be assessed for ‘best elective report’ award  

You will also sit the national Prescribing Safety Assessment . 

You will complete your Final MB Part III. This consists of:   

• 2 written single best answer examinations that cover clinical content from the entire course
• a short answer question paper covering Public Health and Medical Ethics and Law, and Professionalism 
• clinical assessments of a Simulated Clinical Encounter Examination and a Clinical Examination