Medicine with a Foundation Year

Program Overview

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The Medicine with a Foundation Year BMBS at the University of Nottingham provides a pathway into medical study, combining scientific knowledge with practical experience. Students gain clinical skills through early patient interactions and placements in Lincolnshire's leading hospitals. Upon successful completion, graduates earn their BMBS degree, enabling them to progress to further medical training and a career as a doctor.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

The Medicine with a Foundation Year BMBS is a one-year foundation course designed to widen access to medicine study. On successful completion, students will automatically progress to the BMBS Medicine course. Students can now apply to study the University of Nottingham's Medicine BMBS degree or Medicine BMBS with Foundation Year based in Lincoln, taught by academic staff from both universities. Students will be registered with the University of Nottingham and upon successful completion will receive a University of Nottingham degree award. Nottingham medicine courses are some of the most popular in the country, offering innovative teaching and early interaction with patients. The course offers a varied placement experience, providing the opportunity to gain hands-on clinical experience through excellent links with local Lincolnshire NHS trusts.

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Outline:

The course is split into two phases: the early years, where students can learn the skills and knowledge required to become a doctor and complete a research project leading to a BMedSci; and the later years, called the Clinical Phase, where students put their learning into practice on placements at hospitals and GP surgeries.

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Year 1:

• Students study all the important elements of biology and chemistry required for their studies throughout the rest of the course.
• Students are introduced to key topics in professionalism and communication.
• Students undertake learning in fundamental subjects including anatomy, microanatomy, and microbiology.

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Year 2:

• Students develop an understanding of the scientific and professional basics of medicine.
• They are taught subjects on themes based on overarching clinical problems: specifically respiratory and cardiovascular medicine, the musculoskeletal system, and cancer.
• There is also the opportunity to reinforce learning through hospital and general practice visits.
• In the spring term, students usually have the chance to study an optional module, looking into specific topics in more depth.

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Year 3:

• Continues the theme-based teaching, looking into a variety of other clinical problems.
• In each term, students will usually be able to take an optional module which interests them most.

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Year 4:

• Begins with a supervised research project in an area of each student's choice and an accompanying Research Methods module to help with the project.
• Students are also able to take two optional advanced medical science modules which may or may not be related to their project.
• Successful completion will lead to the award of BMedSci.
• Students will also spend a compulsory week in primary care developing skills to assess patients in a general practice environment and participate in a therapeutics module, that aims to develop prescribing skills before they move into the clinical phases of the programme.

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Years 5 & 6 (Clinical Phase):

• Students rotate through a series of six-week placements at major teaching hospitals and within primary care across the region.
• These years are designed to provide the professional knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours to succeed through direct experience.
• During both years, there will be the option of student-selected modules which can be at home or abroad and will end with a six-week placement of choice and a medical assistantship to prepare students for the UK Foundation Programme.

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Teaching Contact Hours:

• Year 1: Around 12 hours of teaching contact with 25 hours of independent study per week.
• Years 2, 3, & 4: Approximately 16 to 18 hours of teaching contact time with around 20 hours of independent study per week, and will spend around five days on placement each term.
• Clinical Phase: Between 35 to 40 hours across five days every week studying and on placements.
They will spend around two to three days on ward, clinic, or GP placement visits per week with one day of independent study and one to two days of teaching contact time. This will include some time on call and some out of hours work.

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Assessment:

Assessment methods on this course may vary depending on the module being studied. Assessment methods may include case studies, clinical exams, coursework, a dissertation, examinations, formative assessments, logbooks, objective structured clinical exams, poster presentations, practical exams, presentations, short projects, verbal exams, and workplace-based assessments.

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Teaching:

• The course is taught by academic staff from both the University of Lincoln and the University of Nottingham.
• The course uses a case-based learning approach, which makes use of real patient scenarios and focuses on their key clinical points.

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Careers:

At the end of this course, successful students will receive their BMBS degree, which is a primary medical qualification (PMQ). Graduates are required to undergo a further two years of foundation doctor training. Full registration is granted by the GMC at the end of the first year of this training.

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Other:

• Students can benefit from established links with the NHS and healthcare providers including Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust sites across Lincolnshire.
• Students have the opportunity to interact with patients from the first year, through regular visits to general practices and hospitals.
• Students will also have the opportunity to ask scientists and qualified doctors details of clinical outcomes, and hear more about their working environment.
• Currently, placements include the following hospitals:
• Lincoln County Hospital, Lincoln
• Grantham and District Hospital, Grantham
• Pilgrim Hospital, Boston
• The brand new purpose-built Ross Lucas Medical Sciences Building comprises lecture theatres, laboratories, a clinical skills suite with consultation rooms, a prosection anatomy suite, and a bio-medical and health sciences library.
It is the most sustainable building on the University Estate and features both solar panels and a living wall.