- MBBS/BSc Medicine
UCAS: A100 | 6 years
Students learn by traditional and modern methods: cadaveric dissection, grand rounds and bedside teaching, as well as lectures by podcast, e-learning and the critical care simulator.
This programme is designed for those who do not yet have a first degree in a biological science subject, and leads to the award of both a BSc and an MBBS. The course is delivered through a combination of classroom-based study and practical clinical experience. Years one and two are spent focusing on three core elements of the course: the scientific basis of medicine; doctor and patient; and clinical experience. Year three consists of three 10-week clinical attachments. Year four is spent working towards the BSc by undertaking a series of modules and a supervised research project or a specialist course in an area of particular scientific or medical interest. Year five includes a dedicated pathology course followed by 10 clinical specialities. Year six includes a range of clinical attachments, professional work experience, courses and private study periods. Please note: graduates are entitled to provisional registration with the GMC with a licence to practise, subject to demonstrating to the GMC that their fitness to practise is not impaired.
Course structure
First and second years
During the first two weeks you will undertake an introduction and orientation to the undergraduate medical course and to the School of Medicine. This course includes study skills and information technology sessions, in addition to introductory sessions in the scientific basis of medicine and clinical practice.
Following the introductory sessions you will begin an integrated programme consisting of themes covering the three main elements of the core course: Scientific Basis of Medicine; Doctor and Patient; and Clinical Experience.
- Molecules, Cells and Disease includes molecular and cell biology, genetics, blood and blood-forming tissues, metabolism, infection, immunity, cell pathology, and cancer.
- Life Support Systems includes the skin, cardiovascular, respiratory, alimentary and urinary systems, and the anatomy of the thorax, abdomen, pelvis and perineum.
- Life Cycle And Regulatory Systems includes human life cycle, neuroscience and mental health, the endocrine and musculoskeletal systems, the anatomy of the head, neck, spine and limbs, as well as pharmacology and therapeutics.
- Foundations of Clinical Practice includes communication skills, sociology, ethics, epidemiology in practice, and information technology. The initial element of clinical experience (the Patient Contact course) is also managed as part of this theme.
- Science and the Patient includes modules on water and electrolyte balance, physiology of infection, exercise, drugs and the hospitalised patient, and nutrition together with the teaching of generic skills that will be particularly useful in your BSc, e.g. critical appraisal and data analysis.
Teaching comprises lectures, clinical demonstrations, tutorials, seminars, computer workshops, laboratory practical and clinical skills classes, and some problem-based learning.
Doctor and Patient
Doctor and Patient includes problem-based learning and personal and professional development and is taught in small groups throughout the first and second years.
Clinical Experience
Clinical experience in the first year is provided by the Patient Contact course. During the course students will pay a number of visits to a patient or a family in their home environment, and in a clinic setting, in order to explore the course topics: illness, health and disease; the experience of health and social care; and living with a long term condition. The patient visits are supplemented by small group work with practising GPs or hospital consultants.
This course is designed to enable you to understand health and illness from the perspective of patients, their families and carers, in a number of different settings.
In the second year you progress to your first hospital-based clinical attachment where you begin to apply your knowledge and skills to the care of patients.
Third year
This year consists of three 10-week clinical attachments, which may be at any of the hospitals associated with the School. The systems and topics component of the course, begun in the first and second years, continues to be delivered via a programme of live lectures and interactive online learning delivered alongside the clinical attachments. Problem-based learning cases are studied within attachments.
The emphasis throughout is on the acquisition of core skills and knowledge in general medicine (including cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, neurology, oncology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, haematology, rheumatology and medicine for the elderly), general surgery (including gastrointestinal, breast and vascular surgery, and urology), anaesthetics, and clinical pharmacology and therapeutics.
Core learning is based on:
- Medical or surgical takes
- GP teaching: basic clinical skills/methods in general practice
- Patient clerking: to clerk (take the history and examine) at least two patients each week and write up these case histories – students are assessed on two of these written clerkings during each attachment, separate from the case project
- Consultant teaching: key cases relating to the attachment – you will be expected to present patients during these sessions and this forms part of your assessment Problem-based learning
- Lecture course: a continuation of systems and topics teaching
- Other teaching: this will depend on the nature of the clinical programme of the attachment, but should include outpatient clinic teaching, theatre sessions, endoscopy sessions, and anaesthetics sessions
- Reading and electronic resources
- You will also undertake the three-week Background to Clinical Specialties course which acts as an introduction to many different clinical specialties.
Fourth year
BSc degree
You will spend this year working towards the BSc by undertaking a series of modules and a supervised research project or specialist course in an area of particular scientific/medical interest, leading to one of the degrees below.
BSc courses/title of award (BSc Honours)
Medical Sciences with one of:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Global Health
- Haematology
- Immunity and Infection
- Management
- Neurosciences and Mental Health
- Reproductive and Developmental Science
- Respiratory Science
- Surgery and Anaesthesia
The specialist courses currently on offer are:
- Medical Humanities
- History of Medicine
Intercalated BSc courses
If you are studying in another UK medical school, you may obtain your BSc at Imperial via a one-year course in Year 4 of the Imperial MBBS course. The main eligibility requirements for undertaking an intercalated BSc at Imperial are that you:
- 1. have completed at least two years of a medical course elsewhere;
- 2. have permission to intercalate at Imperial for your BSc from your home medical school; and
- 3. will be a ble to return to your home medical school and resume studies on your medical course there after completing the BSc at Imperial.
For further information please email us at: a.aleksiev@imperial.ac.uk
Fifth year
There is a dedicated Pathology course at the start of the fifth year which covers essential clinical pathology followed by 10 clinical specialties:
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Paediatrics
- Psychiatry
- Oncology
- General Practice and Primary Health Care
- Radiology
- Infectious Diseases/GUM/HIV
- Dermatology
- Rheumatology
- Orthopaedics
- Critical care
- Teaching skills
Final year
The final year consists of:
- Seven three-week clinical attachments in:
- Emergency Medicine
- General Practice Student Assistantship
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Ears, Nose and Throat
- Ophthalmology
- Renal Medicine
- Two professional work experience attachments (one in medicine and one in surgery)
- One specialty choice module
- An eight-week elective period which may be spent in the UK or overseas
- Five weeks of private study
- A practical medicine course
- An integrated course in Medicine, Surgery and CPT
Assessment
Your performance will be assessed in all years. This is done through a combination of formal written and clinical examinations and continuous assessment. Examinations on the core medical course are pass/fail. Progress to the next year of the course is conditional upon passing all examinations each year. In course assessments and examinations relating to the science modules in Year 4 also contribute to the final classification for honours for the BSc element of the MBBS/BSc degree.
Student agreement
All students will be asked to sign an agreement upon entry which sets out the responsibilities of both the College and the student. The agreement complements the College’s current policies and procedures and promotes a coherent understanding between students and the Faculty as to what is expected from each, so improving the student’s learning experience.
Scholarships
Image shows the tell-tale ‘plaques’ or holes caused by replication of influenza virus in cultures of cells grown in the laboratory of Professor Wendy Barclay.
Candidates will be invited to compete for a scholarship based on their performance at interview. There is a limited number of entrance scholarships available funded by College Endowments, St Mary’s Association, St Mary’s Development Trust and the New Victoria Medical Foundation. Please note that these scholarships are only open to home/EU students. Although some may be small in monetary terms, there is obvious prestige associated with receiving one. Application for a scholarship is normally in the form of an essay. Awards are restricted to students whose place at Imperial is confirmed and who enrol on the MBBS/BSc or the MBBS course.
Imperial also offers five Ash Music Scholarships a year. If you are considering applying for a music scholarship, please let the admissions officer know at the time of submitting your UCAS application. This will enable the School of Medicine to process your UCAS application before the scholarship closing date of 28 February 2011.
Two Cockburn Rugby Scholarships for leadership and commitment, each consisting of £1,000 per annum for three years, are open to all School of Medicine students. There is also the annual Ian Kenyon Award of £500 to the most unselfish player of the year.
There is one drama scholarship available, which supports the development of a student whilst at the School of Medicine as an actor or director. Funded by St Mary’s Association, an award of £300 per annum for three years is made to a student who shows talent and commitment to drama.
