UCL REGISTRY AND ACADEMIC
SERVICES
APPENDIX 32
SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR EXAMINATIONS LEADING TO THE DEGREES OF
BACHELOR OF MEDICINE AND BACHELOR OF SURGERY
AT London UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
INCLUDING STUDENTS FOLLOWING THE M.B. /PhD. PROGRAMME
(For M.B., B.S. students entering Phase 1 in and after September 2008 and for
students entering Phase 2 in and after July 2010)
1. General Information
1.1 The M.B., B.S. programme for students of University College London l is designed
as a six year course comprising Phase 1 (Medicine and Science), Phase 2 (Science
and Medical Practice), Phase 3 (Preparation for Practice) and an intercalated degree
after completion of Phase 1.
1.2 The Phase 1 programme is taken in the College Faculty of Life Sciences and
extends over two consecutive sessions with examinations in each year. Students who
successfully complete the programme and examinations will be eligible to proceed to
the intercalated degree programme and/or the Phase 2 programme followed by the
Phase 3 programme. The Phase 2 and 3 programmes are taken in the College Faculty
of Biomedical Sciences. Phase 2 extends over two sessions and Phase 3 over one
session. The intercalated degree falls under the appropriate degree regulations and
extends over one session. The intercalated degree is normally a compulsory part of
the M.B., B.S. programme unless specific exemption is granted for graduates in
appropriate subjects. Successful completion of the intercalated degree is normally
required before students may proceed, and only in exceptional cases may the M.B.,
B.S. degrees be awarded without successful completion of the intercalated degree.
1.3 These regulations are governed by the Ordinances and General Regulations of
University College London
1.4 The M.B./Ph.D. programme is designed as an 8 year programme, allowing for an
intercalated degree to be intercalated after completion of the first two years.
Graduates in appropriate subjects may omit the intercalated B.Sc. course and
complete the M.B./Ph.D. programme in 7 years. The course of study leading to the
Ph.D. degree is governed by the provisions of the regulations for the degrees of M.Phil.
and Ph.D. A candidate for the M.B.,B.S. and Ph.D. degrees must submit a thesis for
the Ph.D. and be examined orally as prescribed in the regulations for the degrees of
M.Phil. and Ph.D. A candidate will not be permitted to take the final examination for
the M.B., B.S. degrees before submitting a thesis for the Ph.D. examination without the
permission of the Dean of the Medical School, which will be granted only in exceptional
circumstances.
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1.4 The degrees shall be taught in accordance with curricula that meet the
requirements of the General Medical Council. The programme for the M.B., B.S. shall
involve not less than 56 months of full-time study, at least the final 33 months of which
shall have been undertaken while registered at UCL, unless exempted from part of the
programme of study under the provisions below. The combined M.B. /Ph.D.
programme shall be taught over not less than 93 months.
2. Conditions of Admission
2.1 The following additional entrance requirements are required at G.C.E. for this
degree.
(a) Passes at Advanced level in three subjects, not necessarily at the same occasion,
of which one must be Chemistry.
Candidates offering no mathematical or science subjects at Advanced level other than
Chemistry must obtain grades of A or B in the following Ordinary level or G.C.S.E.
subjects: Mathematics and either Biology or Human Biology as part of a single award
or double award Science. Candidates not offering Biology at O level or G.C.S.E. will
normally be expected to have obtained a minimum of grade B in Biology at Advanced
level or equivalent. Such students must also obtain grade A or B in English Language
at Ordinary level or G.S.C.E. and show good all-round academic ability.
Or
(b) Passes at Advanced level in two subjects and at Advanced Supplementary level in
two subjects, not necessarily at the same occasion, of which one must be Chemistry.
Candidates offering no mathematical or science subjects at Advanced level or
Advanced Supplementary level other than Chemistry must obtain grades of A or B in
the following Ordinary level or G.C.S.E. subjects: Mathematics and either Biology or
Human Biology as part of a single award or double award Science. Candidates not
offering Biology at O level or G.C.S.E. will normally be expected to have obtained a
minimum of grade B in Biology at Advanced level or Advanced Supplementary level or
equivalent. Such students must also obtain grade A or B in English Language at
Ordinary level or G.S.C.E. and show good all-round academic ability.
(c) Any further requirements prescribed by the Medical School.
2.2 Examinations equivalent to the General Certificate in Education may be
considered where candidates are at least as well qualified as those satisfying the
course requirements in the normal way.
2.3 All prospective students are required to provide a general medical report
satisfactory to the Medical School and documentary evidence that they have
completed all immunisation requirements specified by the Medical School before
admission.
3. Exemptions
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3.1 Graduates who have a degree from a UK university or institution of similar standing
may, at the discretion of the Faculty Tutor of Life Sciences (Medicine), be exempted
from the intercalated degree.
3.2 A student who has pursued in this or another university or institution of similar
standing in the UK a course of study in the following subjects and who has passed the
examinations thereon may be exempted from the course of study and examinations
under the rubric of Phase 1.
Anatomy
Biochemistry
General Pathology
Physiology
Pharmacology
Psychology as Applied to Medicine
Sociology as Applied to Medicine
The Principles of Biometry and Medical Statistics
Genetics
Neuroscience
Immunology
All applications will be considered individually on their merits.
3.3 No exemption may be granted from any part of the course or examination in
Phases 2 and 3 and there are no aegrotat provisions in Medicine.
4. Programmes of Study
4.1 The programme of study will consist of:
a) Phase 1: Science and Medicine
b) Intercalated degree programme approved by the Faculty Tutor of Life Sciences
(Medicine)
c) Phase 2: Science and Medical Practice
d) Phase 3: Preparation for Practice
4.2 The programme of study in Phase 1 will integrate the study of human structure,
function, development and behaviour with personal and professional development and
the acquisition of clinical skills. It will include sufficient study in life sciences to enable
students to understand disease and medical care. The course will comprise the
following components:
(a) Sequential integrated modules:
i. Foundations of Health and Disease
ii. Infection and Defence
iii. Circulation and Breathing
iv. Fluids, Nutrition and Metabolism
v. Movement and Muscular Skeletal Biology
vi. Neuroscience and Behaviour
vii. Endocrine Systems
viii. Reproduction, Genetics and Development
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ix. Cancer Biology
(b) Integrated vertical modules that span the complete 5 year programme:
i. Mechanisms of Drug Action and Use of Medicines
ii. Pathology
iii. Society and the Individual
iv. Professional Development Spine
In addition to this core curriculum, students will be required to take two student
selected modules in each year of Phase 1. These may be in biomedical sciences,
arts, languages, humanities, etc.
Phase 2: Science and Medical Practice and Phase 3: Preparation for Practice
4.3 Clinical Appointments for students following the M.B.,B.S. programme
(a) Not less than 104 weeks will be taken up in clinical attachments in hospital wards
and outpatient clinics and in the community. These attachments will involve both
teaching hospitals and district general hospitals. They will include appointments in
medicine, surgery, obstetrics & gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry (including
children) and general practice. Instruction and/or experience will be provided in
medical and surgical specialties including geriatrics, infectious diseases (including
genito-urinary and tropical medicine), cancer medicine/radiotherapy, neurology,
cardiothoracic medicine and surgery, orthopaedics and rheumatology, urology and
nephrology, plastic surgery, anaesthesia, resuscitation and intensive care,
otorhinolaryngology, ophthalmology and accident and emergency work. These
appointments will include "live in" experience of acute on-call work.
Teaching in medical ethics and relevant basic science, pathology, use of medicines
and public health and epidemiology will be provided, as will student selected
components which are a compulsory part of the study programme.
The elective period will be not less than 8 weeks and arrangements must be approved
by the Faculty Tutor (Biomedical Sciences).
(b) The balance of the experience provided will be such that teaching hospital
appointments will mostly be in years 3 and 4 and district general hospital attachments
mostly in the years 4 and 5 to give students a variety of experience in preparation for
Foundation School training. The emphasis will be on the principles and practice of
medicine, clinical skills and the use of appropriate ancillary investigations.
(c) Subject to the approval of the Faculty Tutor (Biomedical Sciences), a student may
devote a period pursuing a course of study in another hospital or medical school either
in the United Kingdom or overseas.
4.4 Clinical Appointments for M.B./Ph.D. students
(a) Not less than 80 weeks will be taken up in clinical attachments in hospital wards
and outpatient clinics and in the community. These attachments will involve both
teaching hospitals and district general hospitals. They will include appointments in
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medicine, surgery, obstetrics & gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry (including
children) and general practice. Instruction and/or experience will be provided in
medical and surgical specialties including geriatrics, infectious diseases (including
genito-urinary and tropical medicine), cancer medicine/radiotherapy, neurology,
cardiothoracic medicine and surgery, orthopaedics and rheumatology, urology and
nephrology, plastic surgery, anaesthesia, resuscitation and intensive care,
otorhinolaryngology, ophthalmology and accident and emergency work. These
appointments will include "live in" experience of acute on-call work.
Teaching in medical ethics and relevant basic science, pathology, use of medicines
and public health and epidemiology will be provided, as will student selected
components which are a compulsory part of the study programme. .
(b) The balance of the experience provided will be such that teaching hospital
appointments will mostly be at the beginning of clinical studies. District General
Hospitals will be used during specialty training and during the final year to enable
students to get a variety of experience in preparation for Foundation School training.
The emphasis will be on the principles and practice of medicine, clinical skills and the
use of appropriate ancillary investigations.
5. Phase 1 Examinations
5.1 In Phase 1 there will be examinations at the end of Year 1 and at the end of Year
2.
5.2 All examinations will be integrated across modules and disciplines.
5.3 The examinations will consist of written papers with a variety of formats and may
include objective structured practical examinations (O.S.P.E.) and oral examinations.
5.4 Students who have not attended and engaged in the course, and who have not
completed course work, in-course formative assessments and student selected
components will be considered incomplete. While they may enter for the examinations
they will not be awarded a mark and may not progress to the next year until course
work is completed and the examinations passed.
5.5 The student’s portfolio, including marks from course work, in-course formative
assessments and student selected modules, and the course work itself, may be used
by the Examiners to provide additional evidence of knowledge and ability. They may
also be used, at the discretion of the Examiners, to raise borderline students to a pass
mark at the end-of-year summative assessments at the first sitting only. Candidates
may be required to produce their original practical notebooks, course work and
material produced in student selected modules for inspection by the Examiners.
5.6 Assessments in Phase 1 will be criterion-referenced by a standard setting group
and the appropriate pass mark will be confirmed by the Phase 1 Panel of Examiners.
5.7 Year 1 and 2 marks count towards the BSc degree classification.
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5.8.a In Year 1, candidates are required to sit all sections of the examination in
May/June, unless extenuating circumstances approved by the Faculty Tutor prevent
this, in which case the candidate will be required to sit all sections in July. Candidates
who do not sit examinations in May/June without an acceptable reason, approved by
the Faculty Tutor, will be deemed to have made an attempt at the examination and will
be permitted to present themselves for re-examination on one occasion only.
Candidates who, for the first time, sit the examinations for Year 1 in July and are
unsuccessful, will be required to present themselves for re-examination in the following
May/June as a non-registered student unless the Faculty requires the student to
pursue a further course of study.
5.8.b Candidates who fail may normally present themselves for re-examination on only
one occasion. They will be required to take all four papers at the resit examination.
Candidates who fail at the first attempt may be required to pursue a course of study
prescribed by the Faculty Tutor before being permitted to re-enter the examination.
5.8.c Candidates will not normally be allowed to commence the second year of the
Phase 1 course until they have satisfactorily completed all the sections of the first year
examination.
5.9.a In Year 2, candidates are required to sit all sections of the examination in
May/June, unless extenuating circumstances approved by the Faculty Tutor prevent
this, in which case the candidate will be required to sit all sections in July. Candidates
who do not sit examinations in May/June without an acceptable reason, approved by
the Faculty Tutor, will be deemed to have made an attempt at the examination and will
be permitted to present themselves for re-examination on one occasion only.
Candidates who, for the first time, sit the examinations for Year 2 in July and are
unsuccessful, will be required to present themselves for re-examination in the following
May/June as a non-registered student unless the Faculty requires the student to
pursue a further course of study.
5.9.b Candidates who fail may normally present themselves for re-examination on only
one occasion. They will be required to take all four papers at the resit examination.
Candidates who fail at the first attempt may be required to pursue a course of study
prescribed by the Faculty Tutor before being permitted to re-enter the examination.
5.9.c Candidates will not normally be allowed to commence Phase 2 or an intercalated
degree until they have satisfactorily completed all sections of the Phase 1
examinations. Candidates who fail the Phase 1 examinations at the end of Year 2 and
pass on re-sit may be required interrupt for a year or to take their intercalated degree
before proceeding to Phase 2.
6. Phase 2 Examinations
6.1 In Phase 2 there will be examinations in Year 3 and Year 4.
6.2 During Year 3 the written examinations will consist of a series of integrated
summative assessments, with a variety of formats, covering each clinical
attachment and associated taught courses. At the end of Year 3 the overall
results will indicate a pass or fail designation for each candidate.
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6.3 At the end of Year 3 there will be an Objective Structured Clinical Examination
(OSCE). The results will indicate a pass or fail designation for each candidate.
6.4 Each clinical attachment will include an in-course assessment. At the end of Year
3 the cumulative results will indicate a pass or fail designation for each candidate.
6.5 All parts of each assessment will be criterion-referenced by a standard setting
group and the appropriate pass mark will be confirmed by the Year 3 Panel of
Examiners.
6.6 Candidates will be required to observe the instructions for conduct of
examinations in the Examination Programme Guide for Candidates.
6.7 Before entry to the examinations for Year 3, a student must have completed the
full prescribed course of study to the satisfaction of the Faculty Tutor of Biomedical
Sciences and must have satisfied the examiners in all preceding parts.
6.8 Candidates who fail the Year 3 assessments will be required to repeat Year 3 and
to pass the associated assessments before proceeding to Year 4. Candidates who
fail at the second attempt will be asked to leave the School.
6.9 Students following the M.B.Ph.D. programme will be required to complete a
separate year 3 formative assessment in Pathology, Use of Medicines and generic
aspects of Medicine based on the content of their separate clinical course.
6.10 In Year 4 the examinations will consist of a series of integrated summative
assessments including written questions with a variety of formats, and Objective
Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE). Year 4 Modules are:
i.
ii.
iii.
Child and Family Health
Clinical Neurosciences
Women’s Health and Communicable Diseases
6.11 All parts of each assessment will be criterion-referenced by a standard setting
group and the appropriate pass mark will be confirmed by the appropriate Panel
of Examiners.
6.12 The overall results for each attachment will indicate a pass or fail designation
for each candidate.
6.13 Firm reports and grades may be taken into account to provide additional
evidence of knowledge and ability to determine progression of borderline
candidates.
6.14 Candidates will be required to observe the instructions for conduct of
examinations in the Examination Programme Guide for Candidates.
6.15 Before entry to the examinations for Year 4, a student must have completed the
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full prescribed course of study to the satisfaction of the Faculty Tutor of
Biomedical Sciences and must have satisfied the examiners in all preceding
parts.
6.16 Candidates are required to sit together all sections of the examinations for Year
4 at the times designated by the Medical School. Candidates will be required to
repeat a further period of clinical study in each of the modules failed, and to
pass all 3 module assessments before proceeding to the examinations for
Phase 3. Candidates who fail after a repeat period of study will be required to
leave the School.
6.17 Candidates who have previously failed and repeated 2 of the preceding 3 years
of the course and who fail Year 4 will be required to leave the course if, under
the Year 4 mark scheme, their results require a further extension to their overall
course of study.
7. Phase 3 Examinations
The examinations in Phase 3 will consist of a series of integrated written assessments
and clinical examinations including:
i. Pathogenesis and Prevention of Disease including Basic and Systemic Pathology
ii. Basic Medical Science as applied to Clinical Practice
iii. Epidemiology and Public Health and Evaluation of Evidence
iv. Ethics and Law
v. Presentation of Disease, Diagnosis, Management and Care including the use of
appropriate drug treatment.
vi. Data Interpretation Exercises
vii. Objective Structured Clinical Examination (O.S.C.E.)
7.2 The examinations will consist of a series of integrated written and data
interpretation papers which may include extended matching questions, and/or single
best answer questions, and objective structured clinical examinations.
7.3 Candidates will be required to observe the instructions for conduct of examinations
in the Examination Programme Guide for Candidates.
7.4 Before entry to the examinations for Phase 3, a student must have completed the
full prescribed course of study to the satisfaction of the Faculty Tutor of Biomedical
Sciences and must have satisfied the examiners in all preceding parts.
7.5 Candidates are required to sit together all sections of the examinations for Phase 3
at the times designated by the Medical School. Candidates who fail may present
themselves for re-examination after completing a minimum period of 5 months’ clinical
study as determined by the Faculty Tutor. Candidates shall normally qualify within 12
months of completing the clinical course. In exceptional circumstances, however,
candidates may be permitted to make one further attempt at the discretion of the
Faculty Tutor of Biomedical Sciences. If permission is granted, candidates will normally
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be required to re-sit at the first occasion on which the examination is held after
permission has been granted.
8. Amendments to MBBS regulations
8.1 The M.B., B.S. programme and degrees are subject to the external requirements
of the Medical School’s licensing body, the General Medical Council. In order to
ensure that the programme remains compliant with GMC requirements for
provisional registration, and because of the 5/6 year duration of the course, the
MBBS regulations may be amended one year prior to the start date of each course
component providing the following criteria are satisfied:





Prior notice is given at the outset of the course of the possibility of change
Changes are made in consultation with student representatives
Changes are structural and reflect changes in the requirements of the General
Medical Council, changes in NHS service provision, greater integration of nonclinical/clinical teaching, or current good practice in medical education
Changes do not affect the overall curriculum requirements or academic
standards
Transitional arrangements are put in place, where necessary, to ensure that all
students are able to fulfil all course requirements within the normal duration of
the programme and that no student is disadvantaged
9. Award of the Degrees of M.B., B.S.
9.1 To be awarded the degrees of M.B.,B.S. a student must have satisfactorily
completed and passed all components of Phases 1, 2 and 3 and must normally
have completed an intercalated degree programme (unless exempted).
9.2 A student who has been deemed unfit to practise by the College Fitness to
Practice procedures may not be awarded the degrees of M.B.,B.S.
10. Notification of Results
After the Examiners' meeting at the end of each Part, unofficial results will be
communicated to students.
11. Pass Lists
11.1 The official Pass Lists for M.B., B.S. will be published as follows:
Not later than 14th July for the June examination
Not later than 31st December for the December examination
11.2 The date of the award of the degrees will be 15th July or 7th January.
11.3 The official Pass List for the whole M.B., B.S. examination shall show the names
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of successful candidates in alphabetical order, except that the names of
candidates who have been awarded distinction in one or more components shall
appear separately in alphabetical order at the head of the list.
12. Marks of Distinction
12.1 Marks of distinction may be awarded in Medical Sciences, in Clinical Science, and
in Clinical Practice.
12.2 Marks of distinction in Medical Sciences will be awarded on the basis of
examination performance in Phase 1 of the MBBS course.
12.3 Marks of distinction in Clinical Science will be awarded on the basis of
examination performance awarded in Year 3 and Year 4.
12.4 Marks of distinction in Clinical Practice will be awarded on the basis of
examination performance in Year 5 of the MBBS course.
12.5 Candidates who are re-sitting examinations are not eligible for the award of a
mark of distinction.
13. Registration with General Medical Council
13.1 A student (other than a fully registered medical practitioner) on whom University
College London Senate confers the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of
Surgery (M.B.,B.S.) will be entitled to provisional registration with the General Medical
Council.
14. Issue of Diploma for M.B.,B.S.
A diploma for the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, under the
seal of University College London, will be delivered to each successful candidate who
is awarded the degrees.
15. Syllabuses
15.1 PHASE 1: SCIENCE AND MEDICINE
The aims of Phase 1 are



To deliver an integrated core course in basic medical science in the context of its
application to clinical medicine organised according to physiological and functional
systems rather than by academic disciplines. Core material is defined as that which
is directly relevant to, and essential for an understanding of, the core curriculum for
clinical medicine in years 3-5, and such concepts as are essential for an
understanding of papers and reports in clinical journals.
To provide students with an early opportunity for contact with patients in the
community, and to develop an understanding of value of health education,
preventive medicine and the natural history of disease.
To provide the opportunity for studying a range of topics through Student
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
Selected Components.
To provide the opportunity for studying selected topics to a greater depth through
an intercalated BSc.
To ensure an appropriately varied mixture of teaching and learning methods to
permit students to achieve the specific learning objectives.
To permit students to develop the key skills required for: data collection and
analysis, information retrieval and use of electronic databases, problem-solving,
report writing and presentation of information and case reports.
To provide students with opportunities to appreciate the ethical, social and legal
dimensions of medicine.
In order to achieve these aims, the course is designed so that, running through the 5
year programme of study, there is a vertical spine of professional development which
includes clinical and communication skills, ethics and law, and evaluation of
evidence.
There are also four vertical modules which run throughout the 5 year core
programme:
 Society and the Individual, which encompasses sociology, psychology,
public health and epidemiology;
 Mechanisms of drug action and the use of medicines;
 Pathology;
 Community oriented medicine (which forms part of the professional
development spine in Phase 1).
These vertical modules and the Professional Development Spine are interwoven
with, and integrated into, the core curriculum, which in Phase 1 is arranged as a
series of consecutive integrated systems-based modules, each of which builds on
knowledge and skills from previous modules, and provides a basis of knowledge and
skills for later modules and Phases 2 and 3:
 Foundations of Health and Disease
 Infection and Defence
 Circulation and Breathing
 Fluids, Nutrition and Metabolism
 Movement and Musculoskeletal Biology
 Neuroscience and Behaviour
 Endocrine Systems and Regulation
 Reproduction, Genetics and Development
 Cancer Biology
All teaching and assessment / examinations will be integrated across disciplines,
spines and modules. The aims of the modules and spines are:
Foundations of Health and Disease
 To permit students to develop the key learning, communication, information
technology and problem-solving skills that they will require for the medical course
and subsequently for a life of medical practice.
 To ensure that students have an adequate and appropriate knowledge and
understanding of the principles of physical science, mathematics, statistics,
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
biology and chemistry that are essential for them to achieve the aims and
objectives of later vertically and horizontally integrated modules and spines.
To introduce the responsibilities, duties and privileges that are involved in being a
medical student and ultimately a doctor.
Infection and Defence
 To provide a basis of knowledge and understanding of the wide spectrum of
micro-organisms responsible for infection, and their pathogenic consequences.
 To provide a basis of knowledge and understanding of the different components
of the immune system and how they function to protect the body against infection.
 To introduce some of the clinical aspects of infectious diseases and the
mechanisms of defence.
Circulation and breathing
 To provide a basis of knowledge and understanding of the anatomy and
physiology of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
 To become acquainted with techniques of clinical assessment of the
cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Fluids, nutrition and metabolism
 To provide a basis of knowledge and understanding of the anatomy, physiology
and biochemistry of nutrition, metabolism and fluid balance.
 To become acquainted with techniques for imaging internal organs, and
assessment of nutritional status, and to apply the knowledge acquired to the
analysis of clinical problems.
Movement and musculo-skeletal biology
 To provide a basis of knowledge and understanding of the structure, growth and
function of the locomotor system and musculoskeletal biology, with reference to
both clinical and social aspects.
Neuroscience & behaviour
 To provide a basis of knowledge and understanding of the nervous system
needed to be an effective clinician.
 To provide insights into likely future breakthroughs in treatment of diseases of the
nervous system.
Endocrine systems and regulation
 To provide a basis of knowledge and understanding of the principles of hormonal
control of metabolism and fluid homeostasis by consideration the major
endocrine systems and axes.
Reproduction, genetics and development
 To provide a basis of knowledge and understanding of the development of
reproductive activity, male and female reproductive biology, pregnancy and the
menopause.
 To provide a basis of knowledge and understanding of the molecular basis of
inheritance and mutation, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in
the development of the embryo.
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Cancer biology
 To provide a basis of knowledge and understanding of the principles underlying
the biological, psychological, diagnostic aspects of cancer and its clinical
management.
Mechanism of drug action
 To develop the integration of knowledge of drug action with that of the workings of
the human body with major emphasis on the intact organism rather than on an
individual system. This vertical module begins in year 2 and continues through
Phases 2 and 3 as Use of Medicines
Society and the individual
 To develop an understanding of public health, epidemiology and the impact of
social and environmental factors on health and illness. It will cover the theory and
practice of health promotion, preventive medicine and the role of health education.
Pathology
 To develop an understanding of pathological processes alongside the developing
understanding of normal structure and function; to develop an understanding of
the technologies and expertise available in pathology and how these assist in the
management of patients.
Professional development
Clinical skills
 To introduce students to history taking, patient examination and presentation of
patients in the early years of the course.
 To introduce students to simple practical procedures and physical examination
from the beginning of the course and to develop these into observation and
practise of more complex procedures as the course proceeds.
Communication skills
 To develop a sound understanding of the processes involved in communication
and the impact of communication in medical contexts.
 To develop students’ ability to demonstrate practical competence in a given range
of situations involving medical communication.
 To develop students’ ability to monitor and accurately evaluate their own
performance and build their confidence in skills that they have acquired.
Ethics and Law
 To develop a working knowledge of current ethical guidelines, professional codes
of practice and the law relating to medicine.
 To understand how ethical guidelines and law relate to medical research by
preparing a clinical research proposal.
Community oriented medicine
 To become aware of the diverse range of people that make up a community and
to show respect and sensitivity toward all people regardless of social and cultural
background.
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 To understand the importance of health and the impact of illness on the individual
and their social networks.
 To become aware of the wide range of health care available within a community
and appreciate the strengths of multi-disciplinary working and to develop team
working skills.
Evaluation of evidence
 To develop critical thinking and critical appraisal skills recognising that medical
practice is likely to change rapidly.
 To learn to accumulate evidence by entering constructive dialogue, reviewing
literature or undertaking research.
 To develop the knowledge of medical statistics required for clinical practice and
research.
15.2 PHASE 2: SCIENCE IN MEDICAL PRACTICE
The aims for phase 2 are to enable students at an appropriate level:
 to integrate knowledge of the basic sciences into clinical practice in medicine and
surgery and a range of specialities, e.g. the care of women and children, patients
with neurological and psychiatric disorders and patients with infective diseases.
 to develop basic professional skills necessary for patient care, in particular
communication skills, clinical skills including skills in history taking, physical
examination and assessment of the mental state. Specialised areas and patient
groups will include children and their families, reproductive and related aspects of
women’s health, and the neurologically ill and psychiatrically disturbed.
 to diagnose and manage under supervision common clinical problems.
 to develop an understanding of the basic ethical and legal issues related to their
clinical experiences, including reproductive medicine, paediatric and psychiatric
care and to determine how an understanding of these will affect clinical care and
attitudes.
 to develop the applications of public health, epidemiology and social aspects of
disease into disease prevention, health promotion and care in the community.
 to consider how knowledge of disease pathology is applied in care and prevention,
including communicable diseases.
 to develop the attitudes appropriate to being a good doctor and to demonstrate
these by their behaviour with patients, families and colleagues.
 to choose topics from a wide range of Student Selected Components
The learning programmes for years 3 & 4 have been developed to realise these
aims.
Year 3 will begin in early September and will include an introductory course, clinical
attachments, taught courses, student selected components and professional
development. The year will include mid-sessional assessments and end of year
assessments. There will be no attachments over Christmas and New Year or in
August.
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The aims for year 3 can only be achieved if students revise and develop their
knowledge and understanding of basic science systems modules from Phase 1.
Students must integrate this knowledge into clinical practice. This will be done using
a programme of taught courses in Pathology, Medicine, Surgery and Use of
Medicines integrated with the clinical attachments. The vertical modules and
Professional Development Spine will run through the course in half-day and firm
teaching.
Clinical attachments to firms will be chosen to be as broadly based as possible and
will cover both acute care and the care of more chronic conditions: Clinical
attachments will be organised in 4 modules:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
General Medicine including Medicine in the Community
General Medical Specialties including acute medicine
Care of the Older Person/Orthopaedics and Rheumatology
Surgery including Anaesthetics, ENT and Urology
Basic sciences will be integrated with the clinical work through core topics and
conditions chosen both for their clinical relevance and as a means to develop phase
1 systems modules, promoting vertical integration. Student presentations of caserelated basic sciences will provide vertical integration. Scientific knowledge and
interests acquired by students in their intercalated BSc courses will contribute to the
presentations and to the learning programme.
The four vertical modules and the spine of Professional Development will all continue
and develop in year 3:
 Professional skills learning will increase for communications, history taking and
physical examination. Firm consultants will teach and observe student
performance on physical examination. Year 3 assessments will assess these
skills using OSCEs. The ethics curriculum will be covered in the module halfdays. Practical procedures will be taught in the skills laboratory.
 Pathology and the use of medicines will be an important part of the teaching within
clinical attachments and in taught courses.
 Society and the individual will be represented particularly in the taught courses.
 Providing material for study and later discussion will foster student’s skills in
evaluation of evidence.
 Students will be required to complete a portfolio of achievement including records
of clinical activity, reflective practice exercises, drug assessment projects and
records of assessment
Year 4 will begin in early September and finish in August. There will be no
attachments over Christmas and the New Year.
Attachments will be organised as three modules. Each module will contain three
rotating clinical attachments, core teaching and Public health/epidemiology. Each
module may include student selected components.
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Child and Family Health with Dermatology
This module will consist of three rotating clinical attachments: i) Teaching Hospital
Paediatrics with Dermatology, ii) Core General Practice with Dermatology and iii)
District General Hospital Paediatrics. Core teaching will include teaching and
learning opportunities integrating basic science knowledge with clinical skills and
professional development, and opportunities for revision and development of the
knowledge acquired in relevant Phase 1 modules. Core teaching will also include
aspects of public health, genetics and ethics and law as related to child and family
health.
Clinical Neurosciences
This module will consist of three rotating clinical attachments: i) general adult
psychiatry in a main teaching hospital or District General Hospital with general
practice and community links, ii) psychiatry in a specialist unit and ophthalmology,
and iii) neurology. The module will include revision and development of the
knowledge acquired in Phase 1 and in Year 3.
Women’s Health and Communicable Diseases
This module will consists of three rotating clinical attachments: i) obstetrics and
gynaecology in a main teaching hospital with general practice and community links,
ii) obstetrics and gynaecology in a District General Hospital, and iii) communicable
diseases within the main teaching hospitals. Core teaching will include teaching
opportunities integrating basic sciences with clinical work including revision and
development of the knowledge acquired in relevant Phase 1 systems modules.
15.3 PHASE 3: PREPARATION FOR PRACTICE
The aims for phase 3 are:
 To enable students to reach the standard of competence required to discharge the
duties of a Foundation Year 1 trainee with confidence and enjoyment based on
effective training and preparation.
 To enable students to plan their own elective learning experience. Students’
reports on electives will be structured to reflect achievement of the objectives,
which they set themselves, the School objectives, as well as reflecting students’
other experiences.
 To provide student choice for study in depth based on student selected
components
 To develop students’ skills in evaluating evidence by a critical review of one or
more clinical subjects across a range of aspects of that subject including the
relevant basic science.
Attachments will be organised to meet the aims for the year and will include:
Clinical Competence
DGH experience primarily for medicine and surgery.
Skills-oriented A&E
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General Practice
Cancer medicine
Personal Development
Elective period
Student Selected Components
Preparation for and completion of the final MB examinations
June 2000, revised March 2001, July 2001, November 2001, February 2002,
September 2002, May 2003, July 2003, October 2004, December 2004 (Phase 2),
July 2005, Dec 2005, May 2006. December 2006, December 2007, February 2008
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