Medicine

You will attend teaching and gain clinical experience in a variety of clinical environments throughout the West of Scotland, including the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. This is among Europe’s largest acute hospitals, and includes a purpose-built learning and teaching facility, teaching laboratories and a state-of-the-art clinical skills suite.

Our innovative and forward-thinking curriculum is delivered through a range of teaching styles which include small-group teaching, problem-based learning, lectures, Vocational and Clinical Studies, labs and e-learning. You will gain experience of a clinical environment from year 1. The MBChB follows a ‘spiral curriculum’ where subject material is revisited at different stages of the curriculum with increasing depth and clinical focus.

You will undertake two periods of elective study, and can select from over 20 intercalated degree options, allowing flexibility to study areas of personal interest in more depth. Our award-winning Wolfson Medical School Building offers you 24-hour access to library facilities, and a first-class clinical skills suite.

We have strong links with the Postgraduate Deanery, ensuring a smooth transition from undergraduate study to postgraduate training, and produce highly trained, competent graduates who are equipped for the Foundation Training programme, for higher training, and the challenges of medicine in the 21st century.

Phase 1 occupies the first half of year 1. It is an overview of basic biomedical sciences, providing you with the
knowledge required to engage in the rest of the undergraduate programme. You will undertake sessions in Vocational and Professional Studies, have your first Clinical Skills sessions and undertake a clinical visit to an A&E ward or General Practice.

Phase 2 occupies the second part of year 1 and the whole of year 2. It is a system-by-system programme that covers the anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry (and related biomedical sciences) of the major clinical systems. It also includes sessions of Vocational and Professional Studies, Communication Skills and Clinical Skills.

Phase 3 occupies the first half of year 3 and is a system-by-system cycle through clinical systems with the focus on pathophysiology, building on knowledge acquired in Phases 1 & 2. There are major contributions from pathology, microbiology, haematology, clinical biochemistry and clinical pharmacology, and the small-group teaching is focused on clinical cases, using case-based learning (CBL), with a clinical tutor. Students also have one day per week in hospital or general practice. Students also receive clinical procedural skills teaching.

Phase 4 occupies the second half of year 3, all of year 4 and the first half of year 5. It is based in hospitals and in general practice, with dedicated academic days. Teaching is structured around 5-10 week clinical attachments, and students rotate through general medicine and surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, child health, general practice, psychiatry, and a variety of hospital sub-specialties.

Preparation for Practice follows the final examinations and involves shadowing foundation-year doctors in hospital, usually attached to the hospital units in which you will work. A lecture programme is also included in this attachment. Successful completion of Preparation for Practice is a prerequisite to graduate.

Glasgow students have early contact with patients through hospital visits, clinical training and Communication Skills, starting in year 1.

The MBChB at Glasgow begins Clinical Skills training in year 1. The early years focus on clinical assessment, including normal clinical history and examination and clinical procedural skills; with the focus in the later years being on pathological findings and diagnosis.

You will be able to choose a variety of student-selected components (SSCs) that allow you to personalise your learning experience. SSCs are five week-long blocks selected by students from a range of available options and are undertaken in years 2, 3 and 4 of the curriculum. Projects cover topics from the core curriculum as well as topics outside medicine including humanities and languages. Self-proposed SSCs can be carried out in hospitals or research laboratories in the UK or overseas.

The MBChB at Glasgow is unique in having two electives, each for four weeks, during the vacations at the end of years 3 and 4. Electives are experiential in nature, obtaining personal, professional and clinical experiences in any recognised clinical specialty, including general practice and public health. Well-planned research electives are also possible. Over 50% of electives are taken in the UK, especially at the end of year 3, but many are also taken overseas.

The School of Medicine offers a one-year intercalated BSc degree, with over 20 options, and also a two-year BSc (Hons). These are taken between years 3 and 4 of the MBChB and involve an intensive period of study and training in a scientific discipline.

We have a global outlook, with strong links to medical schools abroad. Our students benefit from opportunities to experience medicine in other cultures and from undergraduate life in a University which promotes internationalisation.