The 6 year course is for students from non-scientific backgrounds and begins with a pre-medical year which leads in to the 5 year MBChB programme.
A levels AAB in non-science A levels in one sitting. Students should have at least 6 A grades at GCSE. General Studies is excluded.
Scottish Highers AAAAB plus AB in Advanced Higher
International Baccalaureate 35 points overall to include 6s in Higher Level subjects and no less than 4 in Standard Level subjects.
All applications are screened to ensure they meet the required academic grades and predictions and scored accordingly. The personal statement is very important for Sheffield applications and assessors will score applications of the basis of evidence of the following personal qualities:
On the basis of the personal statement and the reference, the assessors will give an overall score for each applicant’s personal qualities.
The academic achievements and personal qualities scores are combined and added to the UKCAT score and the top-scoring candidates are offered an interview.
The interviews for Sheffield take place between mid-November and the end of March. There are three interviewers on the panel drawn from senior members of staff, biomedical scientists, junior hospital doctors, senior nurses, senior medical students and lay people. The questions are based on the following criteria:
The interviewers will have a copy of each candidate’s UCAS application and will ask questions from it, as well as testing understanding through questions on:
The interview lasts about 20 minutes and all attendees receive a pre-interview tour of the medical school by current students. The interview panel will then give each applicant a score based on their performance which is combined with the academic achievements, personal qualities and UKCAT scores. Applicants will usually hear whether they are to be offered a place within three weeks of interview. No offers are made without interview.
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Sheffield is a thriving city with a student population of over 20,000. Sheffield medical school was founded in 1828 and is known for numerous discoveries including Sir Hans Krebs (Professor of Biochemistry) who discovered the way in which cells release their energy – the Krebs Cycle.
The medical school is based at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield where most of the lectures take place. Student accommodation is close by and nothing is more than a 20 minute walk away. Many placements will be at the Royal Hallamshire or at the Northern General. Some placements are at peripheral hospitals like Doncaster, Rotherham, Scunthorpe and Grimsby.
The Sheffield pre-medical year is a modified Access to Science course based at Sheffield College and designed to prepare students with a non-scientific background for entry into the 5 year MBChB programme. Students will also spend time visiting local hospitals to gain an understanding of the clinical relevance of the science they are studying. The course has an emphasis on medical applications and techniques.
Delivered over two semesters, students are assessed through formal exams and coursework
Upon successful completion of the Pre-Medical year, students progress to the 5 year MBChB programme.
Sheffield medical school undergraduate course is 5 years duration and consists of the following:
Phase 1 covers the first 18 months and are predominantly lecture-based with some basic clinical skills such as taking blood pressure and CPR. Students also participate in an Intensive Clinical Experience or ICE where they spend three weeks on a medicine and nursing placement in a hospital.
Topics covered in Year 1 – Phase 1a (September – June):
Topics covered in Year 2 – Phase 1b (September – May):
During phase 1a, there are 4 SSC assignments: 1. The history of medicine – where students write a 2,500 word report on a topic from a choice of about 250 which demonstrates an interest in medical history and literature review skills. 2. Community attachment – where students are assigned a patient with a chronic illness or pregnant woman to follow over a period of time. A 2,500 essay must be submitted. 3. Critical analysis – where students prepare a 15 minute presentation critiquing one of 12 drug advertisement posters. 4. Communicating health information – where students produce a poster about a public health topic.
In phase 1b there is one 6 week SSC which is a research attachment where students are involved in collecting data, analysing it and presenting it.
At the end of each phase there are 3 exams which comprise an EMQ paper, multiple essay type questions paper (short answer) and a practical exam.
The clinical attachments begin in Year 3 and this phase concentrates on general medicine and basic history and examination skills.
Topics covered in Year 3 – Phase 2 (June – December):
At the end of this phase there is an EMQ paper and an OSCE exam.
In this phase, students will rotate through all the different areas of medicine.
Topics covered in Years 4 & 5 – Phase 3a (January – December):
Topics covered in Phase 3 b (January – December):
There is a 6 week SSC in phase 3a, which is an opportunity for students to study a non-medical topic, such as learning a language or sign language.
At the end of phase 3a students will have an OSCE, an EMQ paper and a multiple essay (short answer) paper. At the end of phase 3b there is an EMQ paper and a multiple essay (short answer) question paper.
The final part of the course is about 5 months long (January – July) and students have the opportunity to complete their clinical attachments as well as spend time shadowing an F1 doctor.
At the end of phase 4, students will have a multiple essay (short answer) paper and an EMQ paper. The final OSCE is in June.
Anatomy teaching at Sheffield is done in the traditional way using cadaveric dissection. A cadaver is shared between a group of 8 students who will spend 2-3 hours a week studying in the dissection room. In Year 1 the thorax, abdomen and head are dissected. In Year 2, dissection moves to the limbs, brain and other organs.
The dissection room is open daily for students to view prosections. The anatomy teaching at Sheffield is considered to be amongst the best and often cited as one of the main reasons why students choose to study medicine here.
The medical degree programme is taught largely through lectures and small group teaching, with some PBL called Integrated Learning Activities (ILAs), which consist of the introduction to a condition via a patient encounter such as a chest pain, or shortness of breath. Clinical teaching takes place on the wards in hospital and in general practice. Personal development is supported by personal academic tutors.
Students take a 7 week elective in their 4th Year in phase 3b. Students may choose where they want to take their elective and there is no restriction on location.
Upon successful completion of Phase 2, students have the opportunity to apply for an intercalated BMedSci degree. They may also take this after phase 3 or 4. There are a broad range of subjects available including:
The information on this page is correct as of August 2010
