Medical Sciences

Medical Sciences examines the science behind the clinical practice of medicine. It addresses key principles relating to human health and disease, such as:

• diagnosis
• treatment
• prevention
• education 

You will investigate the science and develop the skills you need to contribute to advances in medicine. The programme develops three important themes:

• The contribution of different disciplines to advancements in the understanding and application of healthcare-related science.
• The role of basic research in advancing healthcare practice.
• Social and ethical issues surrounding research and healthcare practice.

Why study Medical Sciences at Edinburgh?

• Edinburgh is ranked in the top 30 universities in the world for the overall subject area of life sciences and medicine and in the top 20 in the world for Anatomy and Physiology (QS World University Rankings by subject, 2024).   
• The University of Edinburgh is 4th in the UK based on the quality and breadth of its research - known as research power - and is Scotland’s top ranked institution, according to Times Higher Education's REF 2021 power ratings.  
• Medical Sciences academic staff bring a breadth and depth of research-based knowledge and expertise to their teaching and supervision, providing an outstanding student learning environment that fosters individual intellectual development. 
• The Deanery of Biomedical Sciences is home to research centres in Discovery Brain Sciences, the Developing Brain, Autism, Fragile X Syndrome and intellectual disabilities, and Infectious Diseases which, along with the wider strengths of clinical research centres in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, provides a vibrant, research-rich environment for your learning. 
• The Senior Honours year will place you at the cutting edge of modern medical research by including a compulsory major research project involving either original laboratory-based medical research, clinically-related research or literature-based research working alongside internationally recognised research scientists and clinicians.

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, laboratory and project work. You can view a sample timetable below. Please note times of lectures and tutorials may be subject to change.