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Introduction

Medicine is one of the most challenging but rewarding careers you can choose.

Medical science has expanded over the past few decades and there are now more than 50 areas of medicine ranging across, for example, clinical practice, research, psychiatry, surgery and general practice.

Medicine at the University of Edinburgh is based on a long tradition of teaching and offers a modern and innovative curriculum to prepare doctors to meet the challenges of practising medicine in the 21st century.

In addition to other areas, the Medicine degree programme focuses on four major areas: clinical skills, personal and professional development; public health; pharmacology and therapeutics; and the psychological aspects of medicine.

There are also many research opportunities through individual and group research projects.

What you'll study

Year 1

You will take courses that introduce the scientific, sociological and behavioural principles of medicine. You will also study the social and ethical aspects of practising medicine. You will prepare to work with patients and their families by taking Talking with Families and Health Needs of Older People. Working in small groups you will investigate a healthcare issue of your choice.

Year 2

You will develop your practical, research and clinical skills, including history-taking and examination. You will work in small groups, taking part in clinical projects and spending time in general practice.

Selected students may enter an honours programme after Year 2 to obtain an Intercalated Bachelor of Medical Sciences honours degree. You will study a science subject in greater depth and gain research experience. There are currently 18 honours programmes on offer.

Year 3

In Years 3 and 4 you will study all aspects of clinical medicine and healthcare delivery. Courses continue to cover biological and clinical science and you will develop your practical experience through placements in hospitals and general practice.

Year 4

In Year 4 you will complete a major individual research project in partnership with a clinical tutor.

Year 5

In your final year you will consolidate all your learning from Years 1 to 4 and start to prepare for the Graduate Foundation Programme. There is an emphasis on developing practical skills and knowledge of general and acute medicine, emergency medicine, general surgery, anaesthetics and intensive care. There will be a period of student assistantship when you will have the opportunity to assist a junior doctor and, under supervision, undertake some of the duties of a Foundation Year 1 doctor.

Learning and assessment

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, problem-based learning, laboratory work, practical placements and computer-assisted learning.

You will have access to the virtual learning facility, the Edinburgh Electronic Medical Curriculum, which offers self-assessment tools and online course resources. You will also be able to use hospital libraries where available.

You will be assessed by in-course assessment, exams, a portfolio of reports and case studies, and group projects. Assessments at medical school, in particular Online System for Clinical Assessment (OSCA) examinations, are increasingly computer based. Keyboard skills are therefore hugely important and you will find that having these skills can give you more confidence undertaking such assessments. By keyboard skills we mean the ability to type as quickly and accurately as you can write. This is not unduly difficult and will serve you well in many future endeavours, including in your career as a medical practitioner. We recommend that you try to brush up on your keyboard skills before you start the medical programme. The following free websites can test your competence and assist you to improve your skills:

• www.goodtyping.com
• www.sense-lang.org
• www.typeonline.co.uk
• www.typing-lessons.org

Careers

The University of Edinburgh participates in the Scottish Foundation Allocation Scheme, which places graduates in Foundation Doctor posts throughout Scotland. Graduates can also choose to pursue a career in research and many graduates from the University go on to work with distinguished national and international research groups.

Our facilities

The majority of teaching in Years 1 and 2 takes place in the University’s Central Area, around George Square. In your clinical years, most teaching takes place in hospitals, general practice and in the Chancellor’s Building, Little France, which is linked to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.