Graduate entrants should have a at least a 2.1 Honours degree in a science or health related discipline. Applicants must have a significant component of Chemistry and Biology in their degree programme, at least equivalent to AS-level. Otherwise, applicants must have achieved grades of BB in AS/A-level Chemistry and Biology before starting their degree, or be completing AS/A levels in Chemistry and Biology and achieve BB grades at the time of application.
Applications will, in the first instance, be ranked according to their UKCAT score, with those achieving the appropriate score considered for interview. This score will be determined depending on the performance of candidates each year and there is no predetermined cut-off score, although obviously the higher the score, the more chance a candidate has of being offered an interview.
The selection panel will also put a great emphasis on the personal statement for evidence of commitment to and realistic understanding of the academic, physical and emotional demands of studying medicine and a career and medicine. They will also be looking for evidence of good communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team, as well as applicants who participate fully in school or college life and who contribute in some way to the outside community. Relevant work experience is essential and applicants without any work experience may be rejected without interview. The personal statement is an area on which candidates will be closely questioned at interview and so must be an honest reflection of their strengths and interests.
No offers are given for Barts without an interview. Interviews take place in February and take the form of a half day assessment centre. Candidates are given a series of observed tasks to complete which Barts consider indicate the qualities important to a successful career in medicine. Tasks include a written exercise, observing and commenting on a doctor-patient consultation, a teamwork exercise and questionnaire completion. Trained assessor will observe candidates undertaking the group-based exercise, written exercise and structured interview. Candidates are judged and scored on a set of predetermined criteria.
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Barts & The London School of Medicine formed when the Medical College of St Bartholomew’s Hospital and The London Hospital Medical College merged in 1995. Both schools are steeped in history and are proud of their reputation for educating some of the world’s best and most acclaimed doctors in the world.
Most of the teaching in the first two years takes place at Whitechapel, just behind the Royal London Hospital with the main Queen Mary campus in Mile End and St Bart’s Hospital in central London. Students at Barts & The London will experience the hustle and bustle of London and will appreciate the wide array of patients they will encounter from studying in such a cosmopolitan and diverse city.
A massive £1 billion redevelopment project is currently underway in Barts & The London trust, with the rebuilding of the Royal London set to turn it into western Europe’s biggest hospital when it opens at full capacity in 2015 – so an exciting time to be studying here.
Barts offers a problem-based learning (PBL) course, where basic lectures on topics and specialties are given and followed up by teaching on the wards in a patient-focussed manner. Students are expected to learn through curiosity, self-learning and motivation which can be a highly rewarding experience.
Barts & The London School of Medicine graduate entry course is 4 years duration and consists of the following:
Initially, students will be given an overview of the course and introduced to key topics such as:
Students will also examine the main organs and systems of the human body, as well as explore the clinical signs and symptoms in the change from normal functions which result from diseases and conditions affecting the main body systems, covering the following topics:
Graduate students will be studying alongside students from other accelerated programmes in other health-related disciplines relevant to the practice of medicine, which helps to build and foster mutual support, understanding and collaborative learning of holistic patient care.
Year 3 is entitled the 'Clinical Basis of Medicine' and students will learn to understand how the body functions as a whole and basic clinical skills in history-taking and undertaking patient examinations under supervising by GP tutors. Students will be attached to clinical teams working in both GP practices and a hospital setting.
The main focus for this year is on the cardiorespiratory and metabolic systems with further learning in locomotor, brain & behaviour and human development.
Year 4 is entitled the 'Preparation for Practise' and is focused on preparing students for clinical practice. Students will rotate through modules of general medicine, general surgery and general practice & primary care. Exams come quite early in March and are followed by an elective period. SSCs give students the opportunity to study areas of specific interest in greater depth.
Continuous assessment takes the form of short in-course examinations, written accounts of problems or case studies, poster, clinical or other presentations, log books, work books, direct observation or clinical firm grades. Continuous assessment contributes up to 40% of the end of year written exams.
Progress through the curriculum is also measure through end of year exams. Written papers test knowledge and its application to problem solving with EMQs, short answer questions and modified essay questions, often used in conjunction with clinical scenarios. OSCEs are used from the first year of the course and data interpretation and practical exams are also station-based. Students interpret images of material (normal and pathological), perform calculations, use equipment and interpret test results.
Dissection is not part of the main course structure but is available as an optional module. The first year focuses on limb dissections and the 2nd year covers other parts of the anatomy. Students are scheduled two hours a week to visit the anatomy lab and examine prosections. They will be given a booklet beforehand which allows them to read up and prepare in advance and once inside the lab they answer questions contained in the booklet. Demonstrators are available to answer questions. Anatomy is also covered in lectures to reinforce learning.
At Barts & The London School of Medicine, the emphasis is on developing an independent attitude to learning and teaching is structured around PBL in group work and in self-study. Groups of 8-10 students work together to understand and explain the central issues of a problem under the guidance of a PBL tutor. Students will learn and understand the importance of teamwork which is essential for PBL, and will develop effective research and communication skills.
Students take a 6-8 week elective towards the end of their 4th and final year. This can be taken anywhere in the world, but learning objectives must be set and agreed by the student’s elective tutor beforehand.
The information on this page is correct as of August 2010
