Medicine, MB and BChir

Teaching

The first 3 years involve lectures, practical classes that include dissections, and small-group supervisions. There are typically 20 to 25 teaching hours each week.

The last 3 years focus on learning in clinical settings: at the patients’ bedside, in outpatient clinics and in GP doctor surgeries. Teaching is supported by seminars, tutorials and discussion groups.

Assessment

Your ongoing progress is reviewed each week and term by your College supervisors.

Formal assessment, which determines your ability to proceed with the course, includes written and practical examinations, coursework submission and clinical assessments.

Practical work is undertaken and assessed in all years of the degree programme.

You won't usually be able to resit any of your exams, except for professional qualifying exams.

Year 1, 2 and 3 – pre-clinical studies

Years 1 and 2

This is the pre-clinical part of the course where you study core medical science and clinical medicine.

We’ll provide you with the scientific basis that will allow you to develop your medical career to the full.

The main areas of learning are covered by courses in:

• Functional Architecture of the Body, where you examine and dissect the human body, and includes living anatomy, and the use of modern imaging techniques
• Homeostasis, which covers the physiological systems that underpin the body's regulation of its internal environment and its responses to external threats. You also have related practical classes in experimental physiology and histology (the microscopic structure of tissues)
• Molecules in Medical Science, which examines the chemical and molecular basis of how cells and organisms work
• Biology of Disease, dealing with the nature and mechanisms of disease processes
• Mechanisms of Drug Action, which provides an understanding of the basic mechanisms of drug action at the levels of both drug-receptor interactions and the effects on body systems
• Neurobiology and Human Behaviour, covering the structure and function of the sense organs and central nervous system, the effects of drugs on brain function, and various psychological aspects
• Human Reproduction, where you look at the biology of the human reproductive system, its social context, and its influence on demographic trends
• Head and Neck Anatomy, where you learn about the structure and organisation of the human head and neck. There is a focus on the relationship of structure to function

The clinical strand of Years 1 and 2 involves:

• Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice, covering epidemiology and how it is applied in medicine
• Social and Ethical Context of Health and Illness, which is an introduction to the broader cultural aspects of healthcare and the medical profession in Britain, working with patients and colleagues, both in hospital and in the community
• Preparing for Patients involves meeting patients in general practice in the first year, in a hospital setting in second year, and through visiting community-based health-related agencies in second and third year

Year 3

This is the pre-clinical part of the course where you specialise in one of a wide range of other subjects. You might see this referred to as intercalation, to qualify for the BA degree.

Options include:

• Year 3 Biological and Biomedical Sciences subject in Natural Sciences
• Year 3 Natural Sciences subject
• A subject less related to Medicine, such as Anthropology, Management Studies, History of Medicine or Philosophy

Preparing for Patients continues in your third year, regardless of the subject you choose to study. During this year, you visit community-based agencies.

For further information about the first 3 year of the course see the Faculty of Biology website.

Year 4, 5 and 6 – clinical studies

Your time on clinical placements will be shared between:

• Cambridge Biomedical Campus
• Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• other regional hospitals and GP practices throughout the East of England

Throughout your clinical studies, you will build on your biomedical science education and develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to practise clinical medicine.

Through all clinical years, the course is built around many major themes, including:

• communication skills, patient investigation and practical procedures
• therapeutics and patient management
• core clinical science, pathology and diagnostic reasoning
• evaluation and research
• professionalism and patient safety
• improving health

Following an introductory course, each of the three years has its own focus:

Year 4 is about core clinical practice.

Year 5 is about specialist clinical practice.

Year 6 is about applied clinical practice.

During clinical studies, you have weekly small-group clinical supervisions with junior doctors to develop and monitor your clinical skills.

For further information about this course see the School of Clinical Medicine website.

Changing course

It’s really important to think carefully about which course you want to study before you apply. 

In rare cases, it may be possible to change course once you’ve joined the University. You will usually have to get agreement from your College and the relevant departments. It’s not guaranteed that your course change will be approved.

You might also have to:

• take part in an interview
• complete an admissions test
• produce some written work
• achieve a particular grade in your current studies
• do some catch-up work
• start your new course from the beginning 

You can also apply to change to:

• Management Studies at the Judge Business School

You can't apply to this course until you're at Cambridge. You would usually apply when you have completed one year or more of your original Cambridge course.

You should contact your College’s Admissions Office if you’re thinking of changing your course. They will be able to give you advice and explain how changing courses works.