Medicine and Surgery MBChB Graduate Entry Course: University of Birmingham

In addition to our five-year Medicine and Surgery MBChB programme, we have this four-year MBChB for graduates with a first degree in a life science.

Phase 1 – clinical orientation (two years)

This phase begins with a programme covering anatomy and behavioural science, since you will have covered little of these in comparison with your knowledge of other life science subjects.

In the first year you work on case studies as part of a group of about eight students, with a tutor for your group. Each of you covers all aspects of the case studies. The problems are grouped into four- to six-week themed blocks covering basic science, anatomy (including prosection), ethics, medicine in society and behavioural science, with all these aspects integrated into each of the case studies.

Over the year you work with different groups of students and with different tutors to prepare you for the way group working operates within the health service.

A typical week might involve:

• A period of self-directed learning
• Presentations to the group of the results from the previous week’s problem and discussing the problem for the next week
• Group work in anatomy, clinical skills and basic science
• Time for meeting experts and meeting your group tutor
• Lectures covering the context and concepts that underpin the themes of the blocks
• Time in primary care with direct patient contact to obtain the necessary communication and clinical skills

There are formative assessments each semester, together with feedback from your tutor to assist you in your learning. At the end of the year there is a summative assessment on your clinical skills, knowledge and interpretive aspects of your learning.

Your second year is based in the teaching Trusts that currently teach the third-year course for students on the five-year MBChB. You spend the first semester in one teaching Trust, and rotate to another in the second. This clinical experience and rotation between Trusts is the same as that for students on the five-year MBChB, but in addition you continue with case-based learning to further your basic and behavioural science training. In this year you join the students on the five-year programme in their clinical science lectures, and also in the teaching and special study module in public health and epidemiology.

A typical week might involve:

• Lectures
• Small-group clinical teaching sessions
• Clinic sessions
• One day in primary care
• Attendance with the on-call medical or surgical team
• A period of self-directed learning

Phase 2 – specialist rotations

After two years in Phase 1, you have the same knowledge and skills – having achieved the same learning objectives – as students who have completed the third year of the five-year MBChB programme. At this stage both programmes share an identical assessment.

The two groups then have essentially the same specialty and general practice experience and assessments for the remaining two years, thereby covering all aspects of clinical medicine. You will have clinical attachments in modules in internal medicine and surgery, followed by attachments in medical sub-specialty modules such as cardiology, neurology, bone and joint disease and oncology. In these years you also do further modules in obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry, paediatrics and general practice.

Career opportunities

On completion of the foundation years, you can then apply for posts in the field of specialisation of your choice. For most of our graduates these are hospital and primary care posts in the NHS, but there are also opportunities in laboratory-based disciplines such as pathology, or in research. Some doctors move into more commercial fields such as the pharmaceutical industry, politics, or medical journalism and the media. Whichever direction you choose to go in, your training here gives you a first-class springboard.

Professional accreditation

• Graduates have automatic provisional registration with the GMC (as with all UK medical graduates)

Entry requirements

• A first or upper second-class Honours degree in a life science discipline. A sound knowledge base in Chemistry is also required (equivalent to a grade C or better at A level), either from A levels or other pre-university examinations, or from the content of the degree programme.

See also general entry requirements .
Please note: this course is open to home/EU students only.

Additional information

1. These are the minimum requirements and most candidates exceed these – in fact, generally, we only accept candidates with first-class degrees.
2. Candidates who are undertaking higher degrees are expected to have submitted their dissertations or theses before starting the course.
3. A satisfactory health declaration, including evidence of appropriate immunisations, and a satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau check (enhanced level) are required from accepted candidates prior to registration for the programme. All students are required to sign the subject-specific Fitness to Practise Code of Conduct prior to entry, details of which will be forwarded with an offer letter.
4. It is thier policy to interview all candidates to whom an offer may be made.

Contact details

• Admissions Tutor: Professor Chris Lote
• Tel: +44 (0)121 414 6888
• Email: c.j.lote@bham.ac.uk

For general information about open days

• Tel: +44 (0)121 414 3374
• Website: http://www.undergraduate.bham.ac.uk/visitsopendays/

Main University Switchboard

• Postal address: The University of Birmingham
  Edgbaston
  Birmingham
  B15 2TT
  United Kingdom
• Tel: +44 (0)121 414 3344
• Fax: +44(0)121 414 3971

Admissions

• Email: admissions@bham.ac.uk
• Tel: +44 (0)121 415 8900
• Website: www.marketing.bham.ac.uk/admissions_recruitment

Student Recruitment

• Email: schools-liaison@bham.ac.uk
• Tel: +44 (0)121 414 3374
• Website: www.marketing.bham.ac.uk/recruitment

International Relations

• Email: international@bham.ac.uk
• Tel: +44 (0)121 414 2894
• Website: www.international.bham.ac.uk