Birmingham

About The Course

Birmingham’s five-year Medicine programme allows students the opportunity to experience hands-on learning that teaches practical, communication and theoretical skills needed to become a doctor. From various illnesses to the diversity of our five million population, students will broaden their knowledge from researchers, clinicians and academics. Placements are available at the UK’s leading hospitals including Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Structure Of The Course

Year 1-2

Your first two years at Birmingham will largely consist of learning about the structure and function of the human body through lectures, anatomy prosection and small group sessions.

This will include how each system is controlled, its responses and effects of diseases and treatments. In small groups, anatomy is taught and will involve experience of presection. Students will also study psychology and sociology of illness and health of patients as individuals and as a collective.

You will also have clinical contact from the beginning of the course, which will be based in a GP surgery in years 1 and 2.

Year 3

From the third year, most teaching takes place in partner Teaching Hospital Trusts and involves an academy structure with junior doctors and senior clinicians. Students will receive training in each speciality whilst developing their clinical skills, including clinical history taking and learning how to deliver consultations—learning about common surgical and medical diseases and how to diagnose and manage them will also occur alongside theoretical work.

Clinical placements in hospital settings will become the focus in year 3. You will learn about history taking, examinations and communication skills while also developing your clinical medicine knowledge. In your third year you will be allocated a senior doctor as a personal tutor to support you in your learning.

Year 4-5

During the final two years, clinical attachments are undertaken in various specialities such as oncology, cardiology and neurology. These attachments prepare students for the problems they could face as a foundation doctor, and students will have the opportunity to arrange an elective placement for themselves.