Medicine MBBS

St Mary's University School of Medicine program places a strong emphasis on experiential learning from the very beginning of the course. The curriculum is designed to be "human-centered" and provides early, hands-on clinical experience.

Here is a breakdown of the experiential learning components:

• Early Clinical Placements: You will have patient contact and clinical placements in various NHS and community settings starting in Year 1. This is designed to help you integrate the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom with real-world professional values and behaviors.

Integrated Skills and Simulation Centre: The program utilizes a new, state-of-the-art facility for practical learning. This includes:

• Simulation suites where you can follow patient journeys from home to the GP to the hospital.

• A teaching ward and assisted living teaching space.

• Use of cutting-edge technology and digital health tools.

Diverse Settings: You will be exposed to a variety of healthcare environments beyond the traditional hospital setting, including:

• Primary care and community health placements.

• Opportunities to work on social action projects with local community groups.

• In the later years, training in health coaching and patient advocacy roles.

Active Service Learning: The program is built on a "learn through active service" model, meaning you will gain experience by participating directly in patient care. This includes bespoke and innovative roles with patients in diverse settings.

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.