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Subject: Medical Sciences

Why choose Medical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh?

Medical Sciences combines a flexible programme structure, access to academic staff, a wealth of teaching and research expertise and state-of-the-art facilities to provide an outstanding student learning experience.
You will be taught by staff who actively participate in some of the best biomedical research in the UK.
You will have the opportunity to undertake research project work with top-rated laboratory or clinical research groups.

Find out more

Contact: Recruitment & Admissions Officer, Medical Sciences

Email: medug@ed.ac.uk

Phone: + 44 (0)131 242 6407

Web: www.ed.ac.uk/medicine-vet-medicine

Introduction

The Medical Sciences degree is aimed at the growing number of students planning careers in healthcare and healthcare-related professions.

The flexible programme offers courses that explore the biological, physicochemical, clinical and social sciences that underlie contemporary healthcare.

A combination of compulsory and optional courses in all years provides flexibility to adapt the degree programme to best suit your chosen career path.

There is a strong research theme throughout the Medical Sciences programme and opportunities exist for you to undertake research within research groups or labs, recognised in the recent RAE as delivering internationally excellent and in some areas world-leading research.

What you'll study

Year 1

In your first year you will take six courses, including the three core courses: Medical Sciences 1, Medical Biology 1 and Molecules, Genes & Cells 1. Students without an A Grade in SQA Advanced Higher or GCE A Level Chemistry will normally be required to take two core courses in biological chemistry. You will choose other courses from a range of biomedical and non-biomedical courses.

Year 2

You will take four core courses: Anatomy & Pathology 2, Physiology 2, Microorganisms, Cells & Immunity 2 and Neuroscience with Pharmacology 2. You will also choose other courses – biomedical, biological or from other areas of the University.

Year 3

You will study three core courses: Health, Illness & Society 3, Clinical Biochemistry & Endocrinology 3 and Clinical Immunology & Haematology 3, and three optional courses.

Year 4

In Year 4 you will study the core course Medical Sciences 4 plus four optional courses that allow you to analyse high-profile, contemporary issues in Medical Sciences. With individual tutor support, you will complete a major research project that involves either original, laboratory-based medical research, clinically-related research, or library-based literature research.

Learning and assessment

You will be taught through a combination of tutorials, lectures, practical work, problem-based learning and computer-assisted learning. The Edinburgh Medical Sciences Electronic Curriculum (EMSEC) is a virtual learning facility that offers self-assessment tools, online course resources and student discussion forums, alongside a dedicated Medical Sciences ePortfolio.

You will be assessed through in-course assessment and exams in all years of the programme. Your degree classification will be based on your performance in Years 3 and 4.

Careers

The Medical Sciences degree prepares students for careers in a range of disciplines, including biomedical/clinical laboratory sciences, the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare/ medical teaching, medical writing, healthcare management and clinical trials management.

The strong research element of the programme is an ideal preparation for undergraduates considering careers in postgraduate research.

A Medical Sciences degree is not a qualification in medical practice, nevertheless, it may lead to careers in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy. Students entering these professions by this route would be required to undertake further study and training.

Students on the Medical Sciences degree programme will not normally be able to transfer to the MBChB programme. Up to five offers for entry into Year 2 of the Edinburgh MBChB degree programme will be made to final-year BSc (Hons) Medical Sciences undergraduates. Application for these places will be through UCAS. Medical Sciences undergraduates applying to the MBChB are required to have the appropriate academic qualifications. They will also have to sit the UKCAT and will be interviewed along with other graduate applicants.

Offers will be made before the end of the first semester of Year 4 of the Medical Sciences degree programme.

Our facilities

Teaching takes place at both the University’s central site and the King’s Buildings campus. In the final year some teaching takes place at the Chancellor’s Building, Little France, and the Western General Hospital. All sites offer modern lecture theatres and laboratory facilities. You will also have access to the University’s library and computer facilities.