A level: 3 A Levels grade AAA. Chemistry is required plus at least one of Biology, Maths and Physics plus one other subject (General Studies excluded). Birmingham medical school will only usually accept candidates who have been successful in achieving these grades in their first sitting, although exceptional circumstances may be considered.
Scottish Highers: AAAAA in Highers including Chemistry, Biology, Maths and English. In addition, 3 advanced Highers including chemistry and Biology.
International Baccalaureate: Minimum 36 points, 18 at higher level. High level Chemistry with Biology, Maths or Physics. Grade 6s normally required. English and Biology must be offered at subsidiary level with Maths if not offered at higher level.
Selection is made on merit as well as academic achievement and is based on information provided in the UCAS application including the personal statement and reference. The interview process is largely used to drill down further into information provided in the personal statement, so it is essential that this is a descriptive and accurate reflection of your motivation and desire to study medicine. Other commonly asked questions include things like “why Birmingham?” and “why medicine?” and you can expect to be asked about your personal interests, hobbies and sports pursuits, which are some of the easier interview questions to prepare for and so Birmingham interviews have a reputation for not being the most challenging.
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Birmingham medical school is located in the West Midlands region which, with a population of 5 ½ million, is the country’s largest health region and students will be able to experience a wide range of specialist disciplines through the medical school's network of acute hospitals, including the liver unit, burns unit and neurosurgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, infectious diseases at Heartlands Hospital and The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital. Birmingham is one of the largest Universities in the country, with about 26,000 students. The modern campus is situated just outside the large, busy city centre, but with easy access to it as there's even a University train on the campus.
The MBChB at Birmingham is the largest faculty at Birmingham & Medical Science and is a modular systems-based programme, which allows students to study special interests and personal preferences. Students have patient contact from Year 1 with an attachment to general practice one day per fortnight. Teaching takes place in a variety of styles from lecture-based, seminars, tutorials, laboratory work, clinical practice and bedside demonstrations. There is also the opportunity to learn through role-plays and by video feedback on patient-doctor interactions. There is a small amount of PBL.
The University of Birmingham medical school undergraduate course is 5 years duration and consists of the following:
The first two years are spent largely concentrating on the structure and function of the body system with modules on the structure and function of the human body, broken down system by system. Students also cover the psychology and sociology of health and illness. Students undertake a period of community based medicine at this time with one day per fortnight attached to a GP surgery.
Topics covered in Year 1:
Student Selected Activities (SSAs) in Year 1 comprise a week in November to study a topic of the student’s choice and to write a brief report. A week in February gives students a choice of 20 projects which involves research. Then a further 2 weeks towards the end of the 3rd term.
Topics covered in Year 2: Immunology, cardiovascular and renal systems, public health, medical statistics, ethics and law, the brain, cancer and reproduction. SSAs in Year 2 comprise a presentation and a 3,000 word report on a subject of the student’s choice. Topic selection usually opens in September and students have until April to submit their project.
Examinations in pre-clinical years: In-course assessments account for 20%. MCQs and EMQs take place in January and make up 30% and a written paper which makes up the remaining 50%. Social science modules are assessed by a written exam. Students must attain a score of 50% or more to pass. If they are unsuccessful, they may re-sit the module(s) they failed in August.
Year 3 is when students will enter hospitals for the first time and most of their time will be spent there, with some time also in a GP surgery. This year will involve students developing their basic clinical skills by shadowing doctors, talking to and examining patients and taking a clinical history. Linked to this are communications skills required for effective patient-doctor relationships. Students will be taught about common diseases, how to diagnose and manage them. There will also be some theoretical work on pharmacology and pathology.
The 4th Year is pided into 8 blocks of 4 weeks with an elective period at the end of the year. In Years 4 and 5 students will have the opportunity for clinical attachments in modules in internal medicine and surgery in medical sub-specialties.
Topics covered in Year3: Combined medical and surgical hospital placements, epidemiology, public health, community medicine. SSAs involve taking a week during both the medical and surgical placements to research an area of interest to present to your lead consultant, plus a 2-week study module chosen from a list after 3rd Year exams. Year 3 also involves participation in a public health project in which students undertake research, an audit and a service evaluation.
Topics covered in Year 4: Respiratory medicine, anaesthetics, ITU, oncology, cardiology, renal & urology, general psychiatry, eldery, diabetes & eyes, musculo-skeletal. SSAs in Year 4 involve a 4-week clinical placement in a specialty of your interest. Students will be prepared to complete a clinical audit and prepare a poster presentation on their audit.
Topics covered in Year 5: Medicine, general practice, O&G, Paediatrics, Surgery, A&E, GUM, ENT, Neurology, Dermatology. SSAs in Year 5 comprise a 6-week period to complete a student study project of a particular condition. Students will be expected to research their chosen condition, complete a clinical audit and evaluation and prepare a poster presentation.
Examinations in clinical years: Examinations in the clinical years consist of:
As for examinations in Years 1 & 2, the pass mark is 50%.
Anatomy teaching at Birmingham Medical School doesn't enjoy the greatest repuation and is based on a limited amount of prosection sessions in Years 1 & 2, where cadavers are pre-dissected by trained anatomy demonstrators. Students will join small group tutorials and spend time with an anatomy tutor who shows them a variety of cadavers which have been dissected in different ways and tests students on points of anatomy. Students are expected to have pre prepared questions and answers on anatomy for each tutorial.
Electives take place in the spring of Year 4 with 2 months given to students to study an area of their choice, which may be taken overseas. A 6,000 word report must be submitted in Year 5, based on students’ elective project.
Students may intercalate after Years 2, 3 or 4 depending on the chosen discipline. There is a choice of one of three intercalated one-year BMedSc degree programmes:
BMedSc in Clinical Science
BMedSc in Biological Sciences with final degrees in:
BMedSc Population Sciences & Humantities with final degrees in:
The information on this page is correct as of August 2010
