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The University of Bristol's MB ChB Medicine programme is a five-year course designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors required for a successful medical career.
Programme Structure:
Year 1: Focuses on health and wellbeing through case-based learning, complemented by clinical placements in primary and secondary care settings.
Year 2: Explores disease processes and differential diagnoses for common symptoms, continuing with case-based learning and clinical placements.
Year 3: Emphasizes practical experience in primary, community, and secondary care settings within clinical academies, allowing students to engage directly with patient care and understand NHS management of common conditions.
Year 4: Focuses on patient care across the life course, preparing students for final knowledge-based and clinical examinations.
Year 5: Includes an elective study period and preparation for Foundation Programme posts through active participation in clinical teams, emphasizing teamwork and decision-making in various care settings.
Bristol Medical School offers its students thorough clinical training through a structured system of Clinical Academies spread across the South West of England. These academies are partnerships between the university and local NHS trusts, ensuring students experience a wide variety of healthcare environments.
Clinical Academies and Teaching Hospitals
From Year 3 onwards, students are assigned to a Clinical Academy, where they complete the majority of their clinical placements. Each academy is associated with specific hospitals:
South Bristol Academy
Based at the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI). Also includes:
Bristol Heart Institute
Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre
Bristol Eye Hospital
St Michael’s Hospital
North Bristol Academy
Located at Southmead Hospital, a large acute hospital offering a comprehensive range of medical services.
North Somerset Academy
Based at Weston General Hospital, providing experience in a district general hospital setting.
Somerset Academy
Includes Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton and Yeovil District Hospital, offering a blend of acute care and community medicine.
Swindon Academy
Based at the Great Western Hospital, a modern facility with advanced diagnostic and treatment technology.
Gloucestershire Academy
Offers placements at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital, covering various specialties and services.
Bath Academy
Affiliated with the Royal United Hospital in Bath, providing a broad clinical training environment.
Intercalation Opportunity:
Between Years 3 and 4, students have the option to undertake an additional year to pursue an intercalated degree at the bachelor's or master's level in a range of subjects. This opportunity allows students to delve deeper into areas of personal interest, enhancing their research skills and academic breadth.
Throughout the programme, students are supported in developing resilience and adaptability to provide safe and effective care in diverse clinical 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.
AAA including Chemistry and either Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics. Advanced numeracy requirement (7 or A in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent) and Standard literacy requirement (4 or C in GCSE English or equivalent)IBDP - 36 points overall with 18 at Higher Level, including 6, 6 at Higher Level in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations)Indian - Typical offers for CBSE and CISCE range from 80% (equivalent to ABB at A-level) to 90% (equivalent to A*AA at A-level)18 Years by the first intake start date.The university requires the UCAT, followed by an MMI.PhysicianSurgeonFamily Medicine DoctorEmergency Medicine PhysicianMedical ResearcherClinical Trials CoordinatorEpidemiologistPublic Health AdministratorMedical EducatorHospital AdministratorMedical Science LiaisonHealthcare ConsultantTelehealth PhysicianHealth AdvocateForensic PathologistOccupational Health PhysicianSports PhysicianMedical WriterHealth Informatics Specialist
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University of Bristol
