MB BS Medicine and Surgery (Accelerated Programme)

Clinical Placements:
From the beginning of the course, students undertake clinical placements across primary care, hospitals, and community health settings. These provide direct patient interaction and the opportunity to apply medical knowledge in real-life scenarios, progressively building clinical competence.

Research Opportunities:
Students may participate in ongoing research projects alongside their studies, gaining insight into medical research methods and contributing to scientific inquiry. The university also offers summer research placements, where students work with research groups to develop lab-based or clinical research experience.

Internships and Work Experience:
Newcastle’s Careers Service supports students in finding internships, clinical shadowing, and healthcare placements. These experiences help develop workplace skills, explore career options, and strengthen professional networks within the medical field.

Medical graduates in the UK follow a structured career progression pathway after completing their MBBS or equivalent degree. Upon graduation, they enter the Foundation Programme, a two-year paid training period (FY1 and FY2) where they rotate through various specialties to gain broad clinical experience. Successful completion of this leads to full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC).

After Foundation Training, doctors choose a specialty and apply for Core or Specialty Training. Core Training typically lasts 2–3 years and is followed by higher Specialty Training, while some fields (like General Practice or Surgery) offer run-through training from the start. Specialty training durations vary—General Practice takes around 3 years, while hospital specialties can take 5–8+ years, depending on the discipline. After completing training, doctors become Consultants in hospital specialties or General Practitioners (GPs).

In terms of further study, many graduates pursue postgraduate qualifications to enhance their expertise or academic profile. Options include:

• Master’s degrees (e.g., MSc in Public Health, Medical Education, Clinical Research, or Global Health)

• PhDs or MD(Res) for careers in academia or research

• Diplomas and Certificates in fields like Tropical Medicine, Radiology, or Dermatology

• Intercalated BSc or MBPhD programmes (during or after undergraduate studies for research-focused pathways)

This combination of structured clinical training and academic opportunities allows UK-trained doctors to build flexible, rewarding careers in medicine, academia, global health, and beyond.