Program Overview

Degree Apprenticeship Undergraduate: MBChB Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery Medical Doctor

Introduction

A unique opportunity to get into a career in medicine through the Medical Doctor Degree Apprenticeship (Level 7). Study for a MBChB while you work, with no tuition fees.

Course Highlights

• A pioneering new opportunity for aspiring medical doctors who may not have otherwise gone to medical school.
• Your apprenticeship will be fully funded by one of our supporting NHS Trust partners.
• On successful completion you’ll be awarded a MBChB, a GMC recognised qualification that will allow you entry to the UK foundation programme.

Key Facts

• AWARD: MBChB Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery
• LEVEL: Undergraduate
• STUDY OPTIONS: 5 years
• START DATES: September
• LOCATION: Chelmsford
• Accreditation: GMC recognised qualification
• FEES: Degree apprenticeships are fully funded by your employer and the Government

Delivery and Assessment

5 years

An apprenticeship is a job with training, combining practical experience with academic learning.

• 80% of your time will be spent working towards your MBChB at ARU and medical training at placements in primary and secondary care.
• The other 20% of your time will be in a non-clinical role at one of your employing Trust’s hospitals.

Assessment

This is an integrated degree apprenticeship. Successful completion of all assessments will result in the conferment of the award of the MBChB from ARU as well as completion of the apprenticeship.

• Exams will be in the form of Single Best Answers (SBA), Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and anatomy spot examinations.
• At the end of the course, you’ll be assessed by the national MLA (Medical Licensing Assessment).
• In addition, you’ll be required to undertake a Prescribing Safety Assessment.

Phase 1

Year 1

• Principles Block
• Student Selected Components
• Core Clinical Placements

Phase 2

Years 2-3

• Systems
• Student Selected Components
• Core Clinical Placements

Phase 3

Years 4-5

• Clinical Induction Block
• Year 3 and 4 Rotations
• Clinical Blocks
• Student Selected Components
• Foundation Assistantship

All Years

Phases 1-3

• Student Selected Components
• Longitudinal Themes
• Clinical Placements

Careers

The Medical Doctor Degree Apprenticeship is right for you if you want to pursue a career in medicine. After you successfully complete the apprenticeship, you can pursue various medical careers, for example, as a GP, in a hospital or specialise.

Entry Requirements

• Mandatory GCSE requirement:
  • 5 GCSEs - Grade 9-6 / A*-B (including English language, maths and 2 sciences)
• OR for students meeting the WAMS criteria:
  • 2 Science GCSEs - Grade 9-6 / A-B, 1 GCSE - Grade 9-6 / A-B, Maths and English GCSE - Grade 9-4 / A*-C (Functional skills level 2 acceptable)
• Following confirmation of GCSEs, applicants must hold one or more of the following qualifications (achieved 2019 and after):
  • A levels - A*AA (which include 2 sciences)
  • A levels - ABB (which include 2 sciences) + meets one or more of the WAMS criteria
  • Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) - minimum score of 30 Distinction & 15 Merit
  • T Level (Health or Healthcare Science) - Distinction - scoring minimum grade A in ‘core component’ & minimum Merit grade in ‘specialism’ OR Merit - scoring minimum grade B in ‘core component’ and minimum Merit in ‘specialism’ + meets one or more of the WAMS criteria
• Undergraduate degree applicants:
  • 2:1 (or above) undergraduate degree in a university approved Science or Allied Health degree (achieved 2019 and after)
  • 2:1 (or above) undergraduate degree in a non Science / Allied Health subject (achieved 2019 and after), with either one of the following:
    • A Level in either Biology, Chemistry or Physics (B grade or above) OR
    • Access to HE Diploma (Medicine) (30 Distinction & 15 Merit)

Widening Access to Medical School – WAMS criteria

• Total household income below £42,000 per year
• Lived in local authority care for a period of longer than three months within the past five years
• In receipt of free school meals, Pupil Premium funding and/or discretionary school/college payments, which are directly linked to financial hardship
• Applicant is under 18 years of age and is estranged from both parents
• Applicant is aged 21+ and currently in receipt of means-tested benefits
• Applicant is aged under 21 and parent(s)/guardian(s) are currently in receipt of means-tested benefits

Additionally, a weighted scoring will be awarded at pre-interview stage for applicants who fall under the following criteria:

• Locality upon application – Essex/Suffolk or the East of England (Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and the north-east London boroughs)
• Participant in the Next-Medic programme run collaboratively by your employing Trust and ARU

In addition, we must have evidence of:

• Employer support to undertake this course
• Confirmed eligibility to be funded as an apprentice as set out within the ESFA’s funding rules; eg you must be resident in the UK/EU for three years prior to the provider’s start of the apprenticeship and hold a visa that is valid for the duration of the apprenticeship period including end point assessment
• A completed Skills Scan and Initial Assessment to confirm your suitability for this apprenticeship
• An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and satisfactory Occupational Health check
• CASPER (Situational Judgement Test)
• Successful Multiple Mini Interview and employer panel interview

Teaching at ARU

Degree Apprenticeships are delivered via a blend of face-to-face campus teaching, work-based learning and online teaching supported by our established online learning systems to provide additional support for individual study and engagement. The mix of this blended approach varies between apprenticeships.