Women’s Health
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The iBSc in Women’s Health offers a unique insight into Women’s Health across three taught
modules: maternal, fetal and neonatal health, reproductive health and gynaecological cancer, and
gives students the opportunity to study an area of their own choosing within an independent research
project. It aims to enable students to:
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develop knowledge of the scientific basis of maternal, fetal and neonatal health and principles
of early diagnosis, screening and management of clinical conditions
understand the scientific basis of reproductive health including pathophysiology of
reproductive health disorders and strategies designed to address current reproductive
healthcare needs of women.
gain an understanding of the scientific basis of prevention, early diagnosis, care and
survivorship in women’s cancer
understand the structure of service development and delivery in the NHS, especially
concerning health services for women and newborn babies.
acquire skills in the principles and practice of experimental design and analysis
With teaching and support from experts in their fields, the content of this iBSc will be distinct from but
complementary to the Women’s Health module occurring later in the MBBS programme, and will
enhance the student experience in terms of a wider understanding of issues affecting healthcare for
women and babies. We strongly recommend this course for students who may be considering a
career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the future, although many of the skills developed during the
course of the year would be applicable to any specialty.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
The programme consists of four compulsory course units, one of which is a research project in an
area of the student’s choice.
The course includes scientific and clinical opportunities across the breadth of facilities within the
Institute for Women’s Health, providing the opportunity to follow a patient pathway in one of the
module themes, together with the study of a number of cross-cutting themes relating to patient care.
These include ethics, global health, research methods, new technologies, service organisation and
delivery and patient and public engagement.
Teaching is delivered via an interactive lecture course with self-directed learning and small group
teaching embedded within a blended learning approach. Formal lectures and interactive tutorials will
be supported by clinical sessions within a hospital setting and laboratory visits. There will be an
emphasis upon analysis of research evidence using data from published papers.
Each taught module in the programme will be examined by a 1 hour long single best answer (SBA)
examination and a 4,000 word written assessment, each component accounting for 50% of the marks
for that module. The written assessments include:
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a written case report and reflective account of a patient pathway
a critical review of literature regarding new technologies
a report on global and ethical issues
Students can choose which module they do each written assessment in, to allow for flexibility of areas
of special interest to the student during the course of the programme. Each module will include a
formative oral presentation prior to the submission of the written assessment. During the research
project module, students will develop knowledge and skills by designing and carrying out an
independent project on a topic of their choice from a range of options offered at the beginning of the
academic year and will be assessed by means of an oral presentation and a written dissertation of
8,000-10,000 words.
Teaching will predominantly be carried out within the Institute for Women’s Health based at
Bloomsbury Campus, and at University College London Hospital.
COMPULSORY UNITS
MATERNAL, FETAL AND NEONATAL HEALTH MODULE
1.0 unit, Terms 1 and 2
Dr Sara Hillman, Dr Melissa Whitten
Assessment: Written assessment (50%), Exam (50%)
This module aims to introduce students to the core themes and issues pertaining to maternal, fetal
and neonatal health. The module will provide insight into current research priorities; offer
understanding of common disease processes in pregnancy along with methods of assessment and
investigation of significant maternal, fetal and neonatal conditions. A strong focus will be placed on
women’s health in the global context, along with the current social and ethical issues which are posed
in relation to some of the more complex obstetric and neonatal concerns and decisions.
The module will cover all aspects of maternal, fetal and neonatal health, including the physiology of
pregnancy, fetal growth, gestation, embryology of the normal and abnormal pregnancy, prenatal
diagnosis and screening, genetic testing of the fetus, psychological aspects of pregnancy care and
care of the newborn infant. Ethical and global issues will be discussed, including patient cases.
Students will be able to visit clinical sessions within the maternity and neonatal units.
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH MODULE
1.0 unit, Terms 1 and 2
Dr Helen O’Neill, Professor Joyce Harper
Assessment: Written assessment (50%), Exam (50%)
This module aims to provide a unique insight into Reproductive Health, comprising clinical and
laboratory opportunities across the breadth of facilities within the Institute for Women’s Health
together with the study of a number of cross-cutting themes relating to scientific innovation as well as
patient care within this area. The module content covers all aspects of male and female reproductive
health, building upon knowledge gained in Year 2. This will start with basic embryology of the
reproductive system, differences in males and females, anatomy, physiology and pathology, fertility,
infertility, female disorders, and the menopause. Ethical and global issues will be discussed,
including case reports. Students will be able to visit infertility clinics.
WOMEN’S CANCER MODULE
1.0 unit, Terms 1 and 2
Dr Aleksandra Gentry-Maharaj, Dr Tindie Kalsi, Dr Anne Lanceley
Assessment: Written assessment (50%), Exam (50%)
The primary focus of the module is the scientific basis of prevention, early diagnosis, care and
survivorship in women’s cancer. The module will cover all aspects of women’s cancer including
breast, ovarian/fallopian tube, endometrial, cervical and uterine cancers.
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the scientific basis of prevention, early diagnosis,
care and survivorship in women’s cancer. The module also examines how geographical and
socioeconomic context influences the ability to deliver optimum care, and the impact of geographical,
socioeconomic and lifestyle factors on outcomes in cancer. The course content will be delivered by
experts in the field who will outline the latest development in cancer screening, management,
psychological therapies, genetics, proteomics and epigenetic profiling and immunological aspects of
gynaecological cancers. The module will include a visit to the UCL Macmillan Cancer Centre.
INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROJECT IN WOMEN’S HEALTH
1.0 unit
Preparation from Term 1; project in Term 2
Dr Melissa Whitten, Professor Joyce Harper
Assessment: Oral examination and viva (20%), 8000-10,000 word dissertation (80%)
Students will develop knowledge and skills by designing and carrying out an independent project on a
topic chosen from a range offered at the beginning of the academic year (guided by the course tutors)
and will produce a dissertation of 8,000-10,000 words. They will gain independence and self-reliance
through the process of evaluating evidence, assembling ideas and analyzing data, and will become
confident in presenting work both orally and in a written form.
During Term 1, students identify an area for further research from an area of Women’s Health in
collaboration with supervisors. The project can be either laboratory-based or clinically-focused. The
supervisor will have obtained ethical approval for the work, but students will be expected to develop
and present a research proposal which includes identification of ethical and statistical issues. IT
training and workshops on writing a research proposal will be delivered.
Students will carry out their research principally during Term 2. They will give a formal presentation to
peers and assessors at the end of term 2 and write a dissertation to be handed in after the Easter
Holidays.
THE INSTITUTE:
The iBSc is run by the Institute for Women’s Health, based at the Bloomsbury Campus of UCL. The
Institute aims to bring together the expertise of clinicians and researchers from a diverse range of
disciplines so that they can deliver excellence and innovation in research, clinical practice, education
and training in order to make a real and sustainable difference to women's and babies’ health locally,
nationally and worldwide. The aim of the undergraduate department is to develop and promote
teaching relating to Women’s Health within the medical curriculum.
Course Directors:
Dr Melissa Whitten
melissawhitten@nhs.net
Professor Joyce Harper
joyce.harper@ucl.ac.uk
Teaching Fellow:
Dr Helen O’Neill
helen.oneill@ucl.ac.uk
Administrator:
Angela Poulter
a.poulter@ucl.ac.uk