Overview
Studying medicine at Cambridge means you will get the opportunity to combine practical skills and science.
The first 3 years of the course will focus on core pre-clinical sciences and be mostly delivered by the School of Biological Sciences.
Based in Cambridge, you will also spend a lot of time in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, which is an outstanding centre for:
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clinical practice
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medical education
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biomedical research
You will also learn in regional hospitals or GP practices around the Eastern region. You will do your medical and surgical specialties in one of seven partner NHS trusts::
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The Lister Hospital (Stevenage)
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Bedford Hospital
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Peterborough City Hospital - (North West Anglia NHS Trust)
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Hinchingbrooke Hospital (Huntingdon) - (North West Anglia NHS Trust)
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Queen Elizabeth Hospital
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Kings Lynn
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Ipswich Hospital
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West Suffolk Hospital (Bury St Edmunds)
You will also get experience at a range of community and mental health trusts in the region.
Your clinical experiences on placements (with associated local teaching) will help you to gain the competencies and outcomes in general medical and surgical practice, across primary and secondary healthcare.
You’ll meet patients from different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds and experience close supervision in small groups.
In the first 3 years, you will study the pre-clinical course where you will focus on the scientific principles that are fundamental to medicine. You will also get some clinical experience, and the scientific principles will be given some clinical context.
The last 3 years is where you spend most of your time learning in hospitals and GP surgeries.
Year 4: Core Clinical Practice
By the end of Year 4, you will be able to:
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communicate effectively in a range of clinical settings
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take a clinical history
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perform a physical examination
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document their findings appropriately
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show competence in basic practical skills
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prepare and discuss a differential diagnosis
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suggest appropriate investigations
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interpret the results of simple clinical investigations.
Introductory course
There is a two-week introductory course where you will take part in group lectures and smaller group rotational experiences.
You’ll learn core skills like:
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clinical communication
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clinical examination
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practical procedures
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resuscitation
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professional skills
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palliative care
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experiential learning
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basic history taking clinical examination (through peer-peer teaching)
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basic concepts of patient investigation and clinical reasoning.
You will also meet your undergraduate clinical supervisor and have some peer-peer teaching sessions with a more senior student (your Associate Clinical Supervisor) during this time.
Year 5: Specialist Clinical Practice
By the end of Year 5, you will:
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be competent in clinical, communication and practical skills
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have had an introduction to the specialist medical practice in the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
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understand the translational and clinical research underpinning major healthcare challenges
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be able to recognise different patterns of health and disease throughout life and in different communities
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have produced portfolio cases that reflect the presentation of disease throughout life
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be familiar with issues relating to physical and mental disability in patients of all ages
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have studied the diagnosis and management of a range of health problems by means of linked placements in primary and secondary care
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know about the public health aspects of medicine relating to screening, prevention and population health at different stages of life
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have had experience with clinical or translational research
Year 6: Applied Clinical Practice
By the end of Year 6, you will:
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have developed consultation, clinical management, diagnostic judgement and professional skills
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be able to recognise the severity of illness and give continuing care to patients
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be able to demonstrate their understanding of General Practice as a speciality
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have the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes required by the Clinical School and by the General Medical Council to practise as a doctor in the postgraduate Foundation programme
You will learn in a clinical setting that is supported by:
- small group seminars
- tutorials
- discussion groups
- large group activities (including clinic-pathological demonstrations and lectures)
- work with simulated patients and actors
You’ll play an active role in your clinical team and:
- follow-up a group of patients
- watch special investigations
- treat and present patients on ward rounds and in clinical and multi-disciplinary team meetings
Undergraduate Clinical Supervisions
Undergraduate Clinical Supervisions focus on improving your clinical examination skills, your clinical reasoning and your communication skills. They are delivered by trained junior doctors as near-peer teaching sessions. There may also be topic-based tutorials and discussions of ethical problems. These occur every week during Years 4 and 6 of the clinical course. These are either in Cambridge or in your regional placement hospitals, and whenever you are in Cambridge during Year 5.
Clinical placements
When you are on a clinical placement, there are generally no lectures. You’ll be given guidance on learning methods and are encouraged to learn on your own.
You’ll learn practical clinical skills when you are on a placement. You will be supported by an Undergraduate Clinical Supervisor and the teaching staff in regional hospitals and in Cambridge.
Review and integration weeks
You’ll come together with other students for a series of ‘Review and Integration’ weeks spread throughout your clinical course. These lectures:
- cover subjects that are best delivered in large groups
- allow you to interact with other students
Student Selected Components (SSC)
Student Selected Components give you an opportunity to study areas that complement the core curriculum. They aim to help you to develop:
- control over your learning
- self-directed learning skills, including critical thinking and reasoning to help create an approach to medicine that is questioning and self-critical
- confidence in your skills and abilities
- research skills, including creation of an abstract, presentation of work to a group, literature searching, and medical writing
- transferable skills
- your potential career path
Each of your SSCs will be assessed by a supervisor. Your SSC portfolio needs to be finished before you can complete your Final MB Part III examinations.
Library and IT Facilities
You will have access to:
- the Medical Library
- NHS OpenAthens
- resources for learning and practicing evidence-based medicine
- self-service networked printing, scanning and photocopying
- a 60 PC study room on the upper floor of the library
We use formative and summative assessment methods. Your assessments will be marked using standard-setting and marking techniques.
Formative assessments
Formative assessments are designed to give you:
- feedback that helps you identify gaps in your knowledge
- the opportunity to check that you are meeting targets
These assessments usually happen at the end of your placements.
Summative assessments
Summative assessments help you to understand your overall learning. They can include:
- class tests
- assignments
- exams
You need to achieve a minimum level to continue the course.
These assessments usually happen at the end of each academic year.
Types of assessment
You will be assessed at the end of each clinical placement. Your assessments might include:
- being observed by the multidisciplinary clinical team
- written tests
- objective structured clinical examinations
- Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercises
Placement Records and evaluation
At the end of your placements, a record is completed by the Specialty Director, regional hospital Undergraduate Specialty Tutor or responsible consultant.
You will be assessed on your:
- attendance
- overall Performance
Your overall performance will be given one of the following results:
- Outstanding
- Pass
- Borderline
- Fail
Year 4 assessments
In year 4, at the end of your Core Clinical Method module, you will have a Single Best Answer written examination and a formative Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). These will assess your developing competence, to guide your learning as you move into the rest of the course. It helps you to identify any problems where you might need additional teaching support.
You will complete your Final MB Part I summative assessments at the end of all your Year 4 attachments. This assessment consists of:
- a written test which covers all the major clinical specialties from Year 4, including how you use your applied biomedical sciences knowledge from the first three years, as part of your clinical reasoning process.
- successful completion of a case portfolio of three clinical writing and presentation tasks, assessed by your Undergraduate Clinical Supervisor, is a requirement for you to enter Final MB Part I
- the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) which is designed to assess your practical skills, clinical examination skills, and your communication skills
Year 5 assessments
By the end of year 5 you will be expected to be able to match the 32 GMC Outcomes for Doctors Practical Procedures. Your competence will be assessed using repeated observation and feedback.
You will complete your Final MB Part II. This consists of:
- two written examinations t that focuses on (but not limited to) the clinical specialties from Year 5, including your use of applied biomedical sciences in the context of clinical reasoning.
- the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) which is designed to in the clinical subjects studied in Year 5, with a focus on Paediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Year 6 Assessments
You’ll submit a report on your elective. This will:
- give a detailed record of the elective period
- show experience in presentation of considered written work
- contribute to a data bank of elective opportunities for new students
- be assessed for ‘best elective report’ award
You will also:
- have the opportunity for a mid-year review to identify any support you might need
- sit the national Prescribing Safety Assessment
- complete a portfolio and experience log
You will complete your Final MB Part II. This consists of:
- a written test that focuses on (but not limited to) the clinical specialties from Year 3, including Pathology
- an extended clinical cases paper
- the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) which has a focus on Paediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynaecology