MBPhD Clinical Programme
Handbook
2014/15
Copyright UCL Medical School
University College London
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CONTENTS
Page
Welcome from Prof Gordon Stewart
5
Key Contacts
6
Programme Timetable
7
Regulations
8
UCL Email
8
Portico – Student Information Service
8
Student Feedback
9
Personal Tutors
9
Research Student Log
10
Skills Development Programme
10
Events
10





Annual Symposium
Annual Dinner
Dean’s Research Prize
Cordwainers Prize
Journal Club
Astor Travel Fund
11
Clinical Teaching Programme
11
Useful UCL contacts/information
17
Appendix 1:
Academic Review & Monitoring for MBPhD Students
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Appendix 2:
Cordwainer’s Prize Regulations
16
Supplement 1:
For students straight from iBSc (not done clinical prior to PhD)
The handbook has been designed to help you by providing you with all the relevant information regarding the MBPhD
programme. If there is anything you feel isn't covered by the handbook, please contact the Programme Administrator - Ms
Susan Beesley. Please note that any rules and regulations outlined here exist in addition to UCL regulations - No information
over-rides any regulation set by UCL.
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WELCOME
Welcome to the UCL MBPhD Programme. As you are well aware, the aim of this programme is to get
you through both MBBS and a PhD in either six or seven years. Typically, you will first do one year of
Clinical, then 3 or 4 years of PhD, then the remaining two years of Clinical. You can do the PhD first, with
no clinical, but this is unusual.
The MBBS element is run by UCL Medical School; the PhD part is run by whichever Division and
supervisor that you choose. We in the MBPhD Office aim to coordinate the show. During the PhD, we
offer continuing clinical teaching which typically occurs in the evenings and sometimes at weekends.
We have some funding for this Programme, which covers mainly the PhD stage. We cover three years of
this and three years only. If you wish to take a fourth year in the PhD, the funding for that year is down
to you and your supervisor.
One of the most important decisions that you will make is in the selection of your supervisor. We will
help you with this. I recommend that you select a challenging project in as basic a lab as you can find,
with a good record of funding and publications. The lab needs to have a good record in getting previous
students through a PhD in a timely manner. A previous successful MBPhD student is especially
meritorious, in my view. You must have a conducive working relationship with the supervisor: you are
going to see a lot of each other. The ‘’tricky” supervisors are pretty well known.
You need to keep up your ePortfolio when you are in your PhD. This is a record of clinical learning. It
can be completed in a number of ways. Keeping it up will not interfere (much) with lab work.
YOU MUST HAND IN YOUR THESIS BEFORE YOU GO BACK TO CLINICAL. Perhaps I might repeat myself,
for emphasis: YOU MUST HAND IN YOUR THESIS BEFORE YOU GO BACK TO CLINICAL. Do I make myself
clear? It is impossible to write a thesis and work on the wards at the same time. You’ll be all over North
Thames at hospitals and clinics, the hours will be long, tiring, and irregular.
After you’ve got the bally thing handed in, you have to sit your viva exam and perhaps write up some
papers, but these tasks are trivial compared to writing the thesis. By and large the MBPhDs really enjoy
going back to clinical again. They are a bit older, but so much wiser.
Best of luck. GS
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KEY CONTACTS
Prof Gordon W Stewart,
Centre for Molecular Medicine
Rayne Building, 5 University Street,
WC1E 6JJ.
Tel: 07776 188438
Email: g.stewart@ucl.ac.uk
Prof Raymond MacAllister
Division of Medicine
Rayne Building, 5 University Street,
Email r.macallister@ucl.ac.uk
Dr Daniel Marks
Centre for Molecular Medicine
Rayne Building, 5 University Street
Email: d.marks@ucl.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7679 6170
Dr Mahdad Noursadeghi
Room 3.2.02
Infection & Immunity, Cruciform Building
Email: m.noursadeghi@ucl.ac.uk
Tel: 02031082128
Dr Chris Hasford
UCL Medical School
Email: c.hasford@ucl.ac.uk
MBPhD Administration:
Ms Susan Beesley
Room 238, 2nd Floor,
The Medical School Building,
74 Huntley Street, WC1E 6AU
Tel: 020 7679 0886
Email: s.beesley@ucl.ac.uk
www.ucl.ac.uk/mbphd
Student Representative:
Daniel Snell
Email: d.snell@ucl.ac.uk
Faculty Tutor
Dr Brenda Cross
Appointments booked via Student
Support Assistant
Medical Student Office (Years 4-6),
G42, Ground Floor, The Medical School
Building
Email: m.darrat@ucl.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7679 0859
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/medicalschool/staffstudents/welfare/#student-support
Divisional Tutor
Dr William Coppola
Email: w.coppola@ucl.ac.uk
MBBS Administration:
Miss Karen Picken
(MBBS Year 4)
Room G42, Ground Floor
The Medical School Building
74 Huntley Street
Tel: 020 3108 2207
Email : k.picken@ucl.ac.uk
Mr Neil McWhirter
(MBBS Year 5 & NHS
Bursaries)
Room G39, Ground Floor
The Medical School Building
74 Huntley Street
Tel: 020 7679 0843
Internal: 40843
Email: n.mcwhirter@ucl.ac.uk
MBPhD Teaching Leads:
Medical School:
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TIMETABLE
In the course, the PhD is normally intercalated between MBBS Year 4 and MBBS Year 5.
During the PhD, a regular clinical teaching programme keeps students’ clinical skills and
knowledge up-to-date. For students following Route C, intercalating the PhD between iBSc
and MBBS Year 4, additional information on clinical teaching can be found in Supplement 1.
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REGULATIONS
During the approved PhD period of study the student will be governed by the UCL Research
Degree Regulations. Upon their return to MBBS they are governed by the regulations for MBBS
degrees.
A candidate for the MBPhD degrees must submit a thesis for the PhD before returning to the
MBBS programme.
A return to the MBBS programme will be determined by an academic review at 24 months of
PhD registration (see Academic Review & Monitoring Regulations – Appendix 1).
If a student is unable to submit their thesis by the end of their approved period of registration
they may register as Completing Research Student Status (CRS) for 12 months while they write
up their theses. CRS status means that students do not pay fees but have access to UCL
facilities and can have one draft of their thesis read by their Supervisor (Graduate Research
Degrees - Code of Practice). Transfer to CRS status is only permitted with the approval of the
students’ supervisor and the Faculty Tutor and the student must have successfully upgraded
from MPhil to PhD.
In addition to the UCL regulation transfer from MPhil to PhD between 9 and 18 months of
registration, MBPhD students present to the MBPhD Review Panel at 12 months (see Academic
Review & Monitoring Regulations – Appendix 1).
UCL EMAIL
All students are issued with an email account when they register at UCL and it is UCL Policy
that all communications are sent to you at your @ucl.ac.uk email address.
Further details of how to manage your UCL email account and other IT matters (including
information about mobile devices, printing etc) can be found at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd
PORTICO: The UCL Student Information Service
UCL uses a Student System known as Portico: The UCL Student Information Service. As a
student, you can take ownership of your own personal data by logging on to PORTICO. You will
be expected to edit your own personal data - e.g. update your home and term addresses,
contact numbers and other elements of your personal details. Access to Portico is available to
students and staff of UCL via the web portal: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Portico.
You will need to logon using your UCL user id and password, which are issued to you once
you have enrolled. These will allow you to access UCL restricted web pages, UCL email and the
Windows Terminal Service (WTS). If you do not know your user id and password, you should
contact the IS Helpdesk as soon as possible (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/is/helpdesk). Please
remember that your password will automatically expire after 150 days, unless it has been
changed. Warnings are sent to your UCL email address during a 30 day period.
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It is vitally important that you ensure that your contact details are kept up to date at all times
during your time at UCL. Failure to do so may mean that you miss out on important information
which may be sent to you. It is your responsibility to ensure that you keep your record
updated.
STUDENT FEEDBACK
The Programme relies on student feedback as an essential element of its quality assurance
procedures.
Students are asked to complete an annual questionnaire circulated in
August/September. Analysis of the feedback is shared with the MBPhD Management
Committee and the Medical School.
A second year PhD student is nominated to the MBPhD Management Committee membership
and normally serves for 2 – 3 years. Any issues you would like to raise with the Management
Committee please do so via your student representative.
PERSONAL TUTOR SCHEME
UCL requires all students have access to their personal tutor throughout their study at UCL, and
MBPhD students have the opportunity to meet on a 1:1 basis on a minimum of 3 occasions
in each academic session. In view of the unique duration and scheduling of the MBPhD
programme and the location of teaching in the later years, arrangements have been put in place
to ensure the most appropriate personal tutor support at each stage. If you are unable to attend
any of the arranged sessions or require additional meetings, contact with your personal tutor
can be made via email or telephone.
MBPhD Personal Tutor 1:1 sessions will be scheduled in December, April and July. Professor
Gordon Stewart is the Personal Tutor for all MBPhD Students. Each session is open to all
MBPhD Students at any stage of the MBPhD programme, however, the timetable below shows
the minimum number of attendances required by UCL for each Year of the Programme. This
timetable should be read in conjunction with the complete MBBS arrangements available here...
Session
MBBS
Mid-December


Early April



Early July


Year 4
Year 5
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
Year 4
Year 5
PhD

Students that commenced PhD in
September

Students scheduled to return to MBBS in
September
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RESEARCH STUDENT LOG
A Research Student Log (https://researchlog.grad.ucl.ac.uk/) is provided by the Doctoral
School for all research students to record the development of their skills and research. The Log
is a mandatory component of all UCL research degree programmes. The Research Log
provides a framework for recording details related to your graduate research programme,
scheduled supervisory meetings and activities concerning the development of academic and
key skills.
Your Log will also help you to assess your progress and to plan and chart evidence of the
development of academic and discipline specific skills and key skills.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
All Research Council funded research students are required by their funding bodies to
participate in the Doctoral Skills Development Programme and/or appropriate departmental
courses to a degree equivalent to two weeks per year of their funded studentship (ie 3 years for
3-year MPhil/PhDs and 4 years for 4-year PhDs, EngDs etc).
Students should discuss with their Supervisor which courses from the Graduate School’s Skill’s
Development Programme and any Departmental/Faculty training courses they need to attend,
and then select a range of courses to be taken over the full period of their research degree
programme.
Further information regarding the Doctoral Skill’s Development Programme can be found here:
http://courses.grad.ucl.ac.uk/
EVENTS
Annual Dinner
As well as regular social events, the MBPhD Programme hosts in March an Annual Dinner of
alumni, current students, staff and honoured individuals. This event is a time to relax and
celebrate achievements
Annual Symposium
Students in their final PhD year are expected to present their research at the MBPhD Annual
Symposium in January. This event is a showcase symposium for the Programme. The
audience includes present and past students, prospective students, supervisors, funding bodies
and senior academics.
Dean’s Research Prize
The Faculty of Medical Sciences, Dean's Research Prize Event is a unique annual event for the
Faculty to celebrate students' success in research. The MBPhD Management Committee will
nominate one final year student to give a 15 minutes presentation at this event held in
November. A prize of £150.00 is awarded by the Dean to a postgraduate research student,
based on academic excellence and presentation skills.
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Cordwainers Prize (Appendix 2)
All students submitting a thesis in the current calendar year are eligible to apply for The
Worshipful Company of Cordwainers Prize for the Best MBPhD Thesis of the Year. The prize
value is £1000.
Journal Club
Develop your critical thinking and finesse your presentation skills over a free breakfast.
MB/PhD students benefit from fortnightly journal club supervised by UCH consultants Dr
Christian Hasford and Dr Mahdad Noursadeghi. The journal club meets every other Monday
morning in the second floor seminar room of the Rayne Building at 8am. One of current MBPhD
students presents a clinical research paper, ideally published in the preceding 2-4 weeks, from
a leading journal (e.g. NEJM, The Lancet, JAMA, etc.).
ASTOR TRAVEL FUND
The principal aim of the MBPhD Astor Travel Bursary is to encourage MBPhD students to
present their research at international conferences. Awards are for a maximum of £500 per
student during their programme of study and this can be split over two applications totaling a
maximum of £500.
In order to apply to this fund you must:
 be an MBPhD student registered:
 for an MPhil/PhD at UCL, or
 with Completing Research Student status, or
 on the MBBS for the 12 months subsequent to CRS
 have successfully upgraded at 12 months (see MBPhD Academic Review & Monitoring
Regulations).
 be Presenting a paper or poster, or taking some formal part in the proceedings.
Application forms and regulations are available from our website: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/mbphd/
or from the MBPhD Administrator
CLINICAL TEACHING PROGRAMME
Clinical teaching during the PhD takes place on Thursday evenings. Tutorials are delivered by
consultants or registrars, alternate between bedside teaching and seminars, and cover both
medical and surgical specialities. Students are informed of topics and venues by e-mail.
All MB PhD students are welcome to attend the Clinical Teaching Programme, regardless of
their phase of training. In those about to undertake medical school examinations, teaching is
often targeted to facilitate revision, and additional support is available to MB PhDs to ensure
clinical skills are up to scratch by the time of qualification.
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Additional clinical teaching opportunities that are open to MB PhD students include:
a) Morning report. 1230pm each Tuesday in the UCLH P02 seminar room.
b) Junior Clinicopathological Case presentation. 4pm each Tuesday during term time in the
Rayne 2nd floor seminar room.
c) Grand Round. 1245pm each Wednesday in the Rayne 2nd floor seminar room.
d) Clinical Pharmacology Case of the Week. 8am each Thursday in the small training room,
4th floor East, 250 Euston Road.
e) Shadowing the A&E Medical Registrar. Each weekend (10am-8pm Saturday, 10am-7pm
Sunday in A&E). 1-2 students/day maximum, to be agreed in advance within group and
with on-call registrar.
Expectations: Students and Teachers
We will expect you to:
a) complete a minimum of 4 Supervised Learning Events (SLEs) a month
b) participate fully in the clinical activities;
c) be punctual and demonstrate appropriate standards of dress and appearance (see Year
4 student guide);
d) be courteous and respectful towards patients and staff
You can expect that we will:
a) demonstrate a good understanding of the individual and collective educational needs of
students;
b) provide an appropriate educational programme including clinical teaching;
c) take our teaching commitments seriously and allocate them a high priority;
d) be punctual and courteous to students
e) take account of your feedback in relation to all aspects of the teaching programme.
Aims
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
To develop communication and clinical skills;
To diagnose and manage common clinical problems;
To integrate knowledge of the basic sciences into clinical practice;
To develop the attitudes appropriate to being a good doctor;
To develop an understanding of the ethical and legal issues involved;
To develop an understanding of relevant epidemiology and health promotion;
To develop reflective skills essential to lifelong practice
Attitudes
Students should:
a) gain an understanding of the impact of illness on peoples’ lives
b) show courtesy and thoughtfulness toward patients and colleagues alike. This includes
being punctual and sending apologies if you are unable to attend a session.
c) develop self-directed lifelong learning.
d) demonstrate a common sense attitude with patients and colleagues
Dress and Behaviour
In order to gain and maintain the trust and confidence of patients, there are certain rules of
behaviour that a doctor or medical student must observe. Obviously you must never appear in
front of a patient (or indeed in any other teaching situation in College) the worse for drink or
drugs, or even smelling of drink. Remember that abuse of drugs implies that you are not to be
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trusted with drugs and medicines, and a conviction for a drugs-related offence may mean that
we cannot certify you as fit to practise.
You should regard the clinical aspects of the course as an apprenticeship for your professional
career as a doctor. Certain standards of appearance are necessary, both in your own interests
and, most importantly, for the well-being of patients. Please remember that patients come from
all sections of society and that people who are ill or worried may more easily become anxious
about small details. Many of them will regard you in the same way they will a fully-trained
doctor. If your standards of dress and behaviour are professional and reasonably conservative
you will be unlikely to cause offence or anxiety to your patients, and you will find that your
relationships with them and with hospital staff will be easier.
Students should be smartly dressed in an appropriate and professional manner and in
compliance with NHS infection control policies whilst on hospitals wards, at GP surgeries, at
clinical skills sessions with patients or simulated patients and at OSCEs.
Full details of the dress code are given in the dress code policy:
(http://www.ucl.ac.uk/medicalschool/staff-students/general-information/a-z/#dress) If this code is
not adhered to by students they may be asked to leave that clinical session and asked to see
the Faculty Tutor.
Please note that local Trust policies take precedence, in particular regarding white coats and
ties.
SUPERVISED LEARNING EVENTS (SLEs) & ePORTFOLIO
The ePortfolio is a collection of documents providing evidence of learning, achievements and
personal and professional development. It is a place for you to reflect on and describe your
learning and to collect, in a structured way, evidence that will assist you in providing evidence of
achievements and competencies and your ability to reflect on practice.
MBPhD students are expected to complete 4 SLEs a month throughout their PhD registration.
The relevant tutor will sign-off “tickets” and the MBPhD administration will monitor recording of
activity. Dr Marks can sign off tickets for attendance at Morning Report or Grand Round.
Further information on the MBBS Portfolio can be found here:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/medicalschool/staff-students/course-information/portfolio
Possible Supervised Learning Events:
 Grand Rounds or any case discussion session – (Teaching Event Self form)
 Attending MBPhD clinical teaching session
 Attending ward round
 Attending outpatient clinic
 Attending Casualty or ward for observation or participation
 Journal Club
 Clinical assessment Exercises (CEX)
 Case Based Discussions (CBD)
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The Clinical assessment Exercise (CEX) is a snapshot of the student-patient interaction. The
observation may be of any interaction between a student and a patient, including taking a
history, examination, patient counseling etc, (depending upon the firm/ module) allowing
assessment of the clinical skills, attitudes and behaviours of students essential to a high quality
history and examination. The encounters should try to represent a range of clinical problems.
The Case Based Discussion should be used by a student to have a focused discussion
around a patient they have seen with a doctor who then assesses them on the basis of that
discussion. The patient is not normally present. The aim of the CBD is to enable an assessor to
provide systematic assessment and structured feedback.
The student should select a case record from patients they have seen and of whom they have
some knowledge. The discussion will start from and be centered on the student’s clerking and is
designed to assess clinical decision-making and the application or use of medical knowledge in
the care of the patient. It should enable the discussion of the ethical and legal framework of
practice, and it allows students to discuss the management and treatment plans for that patient.
The student chooses the timing, the cases and the assessor, but normally a consultant or GP
should be the assessor for at least one of these exercises in each module.
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Appendix 1
Academic Review and Monitoring Regulations
for MBPhD Students Registered for PhD
IN and AFTER January 2009
1. Quarterly review by PhD supervisors for ALL students:
Supervisors to review students quarterly and to return a report to the MBPhD Review Panel:
i) E
Excellent
ii) S
Satisfactory
iii) SC
Some concern
iv) U
Unsatisfactory
MBPhD Review Panel to review reports and follow up where appropriate
2. 2-weekly recording of SLE’s via completion of ePortfolio (minimum of 4 events/month).
3. Throughout the PhD registration period, completion of the Research Log
4. At 1 month of graduate research registration, students are required to submit a 4 page outline of their
research project and methods for review by the MBPhD Review Panel and for their eLogbook.
5. At 9 – 18 months of graduate research registration, students are examined for MPhil to PhD upgrade. The
upgrade will be a two part process involving: A) MBPhD Review Panel review at 12 months; and B)
Departmental upgrade at 9 – 18 months. Students are expected to successfully fulfil both parts A and B:
A) MBPhD Review Panel review
At 12 months of graduate research registration students are reviewed by the MBPhD Review Panel, currently:
i) oral presentation of 15 – 20 minute duration
B) Departmental Upgrade
At 9 – 18 months of graduate registration students are examined by their Departmental, currently:
i) 30-40 page written report comprising background (including a brief literature review, the importance of
the problem and aims & objectives), methods, results, discussion, future work, references and any
presentations or publications arising from the work
ii) oral presentation of 30-40 minutes duration
iii) supervisor’s report on the written report and oral presentation
iv) viva examination of 1-2 hours duration with an internal and external examiner.
Outcomes *:
i) Pass and transfer registration to PhD.
ii) Fail and retake upgrade within 6 months. Develop a work plan based on the examiners and supervisors
comments.
iii) Fail and withdraw from MBPhD programme. Return to MBBS Yr 4 (Integrated Clinical Care)/ Yr 5 (Life
Cycle to complete course requirements for the MBBS.
*Department to send copy of Upgrade Panel report to: MBPhD Programme Administrator
6. At 24 months of graduate research registration, progress to be reviewed by a member of MBPhD Review
Panel to determine return to MBBS programme subject to submission of thesis at 3 years and completion
of the MBPhD programme in 9 years. Or, Continuing Research Status for 12 months with submission of
thesis at 4 years and completion of the MBPhD programme in 10 years.
MBPhD Review Panel:
Sub Dean (MBPhD)
Head of Division of Medicine
Faculty Tutor
Faculty Graduate Tutor (Research) /
Vice Head Doctoral School (SLMS)
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Prof Gordon Stewart
Prof Raymond MacAllister
Dr Peter Raven
Dr Dave Spratt
Appendix 2
CORDWAINERS PRIZE
For The Best MBPhD Thesis of the Year
The Royal Free Hospital was founded in 1828 by William Marsden, at one
time the Master of the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers. The Company
has maintained a strong link with the hospital ever since and has now
generously donated an annual prize for the best PhD thesis presented by
an MBPhD student.

The prize will consist of a cheque for £1000.

The award is open only to MBPhD students at UCL.
 All students submitting a thesis in the current calendar year are eligible to apply.
 Applying students are expected to:
1. Submit one copy of the thesis.
2. Submit copies of papers and abstracts published, in press and submitted.
3. Submit a one page summary of the research work, outlining the scientific
contribution that has been made.
4. Present their thesis to the selection panel in January.

The theses will be examined by a distinguished clinical scientist panel, chosen by the
MBPhD management committee.

The thesis will be judged on the following grounds:
1. The timeliness of its submission
2. Its contribution to clinical science
3. The quality of its presentation.
 The award will be made in the autumn term. The winner will be required to attend the
Marsden Lecture (third Thursday in November) to receive the award. The Marsden
Lecture is held in recognition of the Royal Free Hospital’s founder, William Marsden and
is open to the public.
 The Committee will reserve the right to make no award.
Further details of the award are available on the MBPhD website.
The honours board of previous prize winners is on display in the Cruciform Building.
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USEFUL UCL CONTACTS/INFORMATION
PhD Submission
Mr Toby Whyte - Research Degrees Officer
UCL Student and Registry ServicesEmail: toby.whyte@ucl.ac.uk
UCL Doctoral School
http://www.grad.ucl.ac.uk/
MBBS Online Resources/Moodle Courses
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/medicalschool/staff-students/course-information/resources
UCL Fees Office
Room G19, ground floor, Registrar’s corridor, South Wing, Wilkins building
Email: fees@ucl.ac.uk
ucl.ac.uk/finance/secure/fin_docs/service_directory/finacc_studfees
Portico - UCL Student Information System
www.ucl.ac.uk/registry/portico
The Student Handbook
www.ucl.ac.uk/current-students/
Admissions Office (Enrolment)
UCL Registry
Student Centre, Ground Floor, Chadwick Building, UCL
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/registry/about/division/student_centre_about
UCLH TRUST ID
ID Office,
John Astor House,
Foley Street
Tel: 0845 155 5000 ext. 8116
(Opening Hours: Mon 10.00 - 11.00; Tue - Thurs 9.00 - 14.00; Fri 8.00 - 13.00)
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NOTES
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