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In detail

The exact timings for some topics and attachments may vary, but the broad outline of the course is as follows (some of the shorter attachments are omitted, for clarity):

Year 1

(Teaching in this year includes both seminars and clinical teaching. Typically, seminar teaching takes place on four mornings each week, and one day per week is devoted to clinical study: both types of teaching follow the same curriculum as nearly as possible. The remaining time is available for self-directed study and for college tutorial teaching.)

Term 1 (10 weeks): Cellular and molecular biology; ethics; introduction to clinical history and examination skills

Term 2 (10 weeks): Systems physiology, anatomy, pharmacology; public health and preventative medicine; epidemiology; problem-solving skills; clinical history and examination skills

Term 3 (10 weeks): Integrative topics, including clinical applications; further history and examination skills

Assessment : Basic science, ethics, social medicine; elementary clinical skills (including history and examination technique); problem-solving skills; critical appraisal of primary literature

Year 2

Introductory firm (2 weeks): Basic clinical practice, in a residential clinical attachment to a DGH

Clinical science (4 weeks): Further clinical skills and science teaching; basic and clinical neuroscience

Laboratory medicine (9 weeks): Clinical pathology, haematology, biochemistry (assessed at the end of the block)

First clinical firm (6 weeks): Medicine or surgery, with more science teaching interleaved

Second clinical firm (6 weeks): Surgery or medicine, with more science teaching interleaved

District General Hospital firm (4 weeks): Surgery or medicine, in a second residential attachment to a DGH

Integration and Revision (4 weeks): Science and clinical teaching

Assessment : Clinical practice and skills, clinical science, public health, critical appraisal of primary clinical literature

Year 3

(Assessments are usually held towards the end of each block: the clinical course pages describe the rotations, and the assessments.)

Obstetrics and Gynaecology (8 weeks)

Paediatrics (8 weeks)

Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Emergency Medicine (8 weeks)

Psychiatry (8 weeks)

Neurology (8 weeks); includes neurosurgery, ophthalmology, ENT (otolaryngology)

Community Medicine (8 weeks); includes Clinical Geratology, Dermatology, Palliative Care, Primary Health Care and Public Health

Read more about year 3 of the course.

Year 4

Final medical firm (5 weeks) General medicine, Oxford or DGH

Final surgical firm (5 weeks) General surgery, Oxford or DGH; includes a certificated ALS course

Clinical finals: Final examinations in general medicine and surgery, February of final year

DGH firms (6 weeks): includes medicine and surgery

Elective (10 weeks): usually spent overseas

Special study modules (12 weeks) and elective firms; includes an optional GP attachment

Student Assistantship (2 weeks): working closely with a clinical team to develop practical and team-working skills

F1 Survival Course (2 weeks): essential practical skills and knowledge for junior doctors

Final qualification Final BM BCh, June or July of final year

Read more about year 4 of the course.