Lancaster Medical School offers a five-year MBChB Medicine and Surgery programme designed to provide students with the knowledge, clinical skills, and professional values necessary for modern medical practice.
Programme Structure:
Year 1:
Students are primarily based at the university and engage in 11 two-week problem-based learning (PBL) modules covering biomedical and social sciences, with a focus on the normal structure and function of the human body. Anatomy, clinical skills, and communication training are introduced early.
Year 2:
Combines two days per week in hospital placements with campus-based learning and community activities. Fifteen PBL modules focus on disease mechanisms and management. Continued clinical and communication skills training is emphasized.
Year 3:
Includes five clinical rotations in specialties such as Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Long-Term Condition Management, Care of the Elderly with Neurology, and Community Mental Health. Learning is based on real clinical cases.
Year 4:
Divided into Acute Adult Care and Specialty Placements, including Psychiatry and Paediatrics. Students spend significant time in hospitals and receive weekly teaching in general practice settings.
Year 5:
Designed as an apprenticeship-style year, focusing on intensive clinical attachments across Emergency Medicine, Primary Care, and other specialisms, preparing students for the Foundation Programme.
Teaching Approach:
Lancaster uses Problem-Based Learning (PBL) as its core educational model. Students work in small groups on realistic clinical scenarios, developing independent learning, critical thinking, and collaboration skills essential for future doctors.
Clinical Placements:
Clinical placements begin early and are integrated throughout the course. Students rotate through hospitals such as the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General Hospital, and in community settings across North West England, gaining experience with diverse patient populations and healthcare environments.
Students may choose to intercalate between Years 4 and 5 to complete an additional qualification (BSc, MSc, MRes, or MPhil) in a specialist area or through a research-based project.
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.
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