Graduate Entry Medicine (MB ChB)

Research Opportunities:

• Student-Selected Components (SSCs):
  Integrated throughout the program, SSCs allow students to explore medical topics of personal interest, often through structured research or audit projects that enhance analytical and investigative skills.

• Clinical Trials and Academic Research:
  Students have opportunities to get involved with active research programs within Warwick Medical School, including areas such as cancer, neuroscience, public health, and health systems research.

Clinical Placements:

• Clinical exposure begins early and continues throughout the course. Students rotate through a variety of settings:

  • University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire

  • Warwick Hospital

  • George Eliot Hospital

  • General practices

  • Community mental health and social care services

These placements provide broad, real-world experience in acute, chronic, and community-based care environments.

Elective Period:

• In the final year, students complete a six-week elective placement. This can be undertaken in the UK or internationally and allows students to explore specific interests, clinical specialties, or alternative healthcare systems.

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.