Program Overview

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Medicine and Surgery MB BS

The Medicine and Surgery MB BS programme at Newcastle University is a highly regarded medical programme that prepares students for a career as compassionate and skilled practitioners. The programme is designed to provide students with a sound knowledge of health, disease, and society, and to equip them with the skills and professional behavior necessary to practice medicine safely and effectively.

Programme Structure

The programme is divided into three phases:

• Years 1 and 2: Students study key subject areas, including medical sciences, clinical skills, ethics, and professionalism. They are based primarily on campus in Newcastle, with frequent visits to hospitals and general practices around the regional medical school.
• Years 3 to 5: Students gain clinical experience through placements in clinical base units across the region. They undergo a series of rotations, clerkships, assistantships, and placements that cover all relevant areas of medicine and surgery.
• Elective placement: At the end of Year 4, students undertake an eight-week elective placement, which gives them the opportunity to study medicine, either at home or abroad, and gain hands-on experience of a different healthcare system.

Teaching Methods

The programme uses a modern and innovative integrated case-led teaching approach. Students learn through clinical cases, which help them make links between new knowledge and clinical practice. For example, a case of stroke can be used to learn and teach the nervous system, cardiovascular system, clinical skills, pharmacology, public health, and communication skills.

Skills and Experience

The programme is designed to provide students with a range of skills and experiences, including:

• Research skills: Students have the opportunity to spend time in research labs and facilities as part of short projects or as part of intercalation onto a master's degree.
• Professional skills: Students develop key skills, such as communication, information handling, reasoning, judgment, reflective practice, and decision-making.
• Clinical skills: Students meet patients and learn relevant clinical skills from the beginning of the programme.

Facilities and Environment

The programme is based in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, which is home to dentistry, biomedical sciences, psychology, and pharmacy. The faculty provides excellent clinical training opportunities, cutting-edge teaching facilities, and a diverse population and environment for students to develop into doctors of the future.

Support

The programme provides a range of support services, including:

• Peer-mentoring scheme: Students are partnered with a student from Year 2 to help support their transition to university life.
• Academic mentor: Students are allocated an academic mentor who supports them throughout the programme.

Entry Requirements

The programme has a range of entry requirements, including:

• A-Levels: AAA in any subject, excluding General Studies, Use of Mathematics, World Development, Communication and Culture, and Critical Thinking.
• International Baccalaureate: A minimum of 36 points, including a minimum of grade 5 in all subjects.
• Other qualifications: The programme accepts a range of other qualifications, including Scottish Qualifications, Irish Leaving Certificate, Access Qualifications, and Cambridge Pre-U.

Tuition Fees and Scholarships

The programme has a range of tuition fees and scholarships available, including:

• Home fees: The maximum fee that can be charged for home fee-paying students is £9,535 per year.
• International fees: The fee for international students is £47,000 per year.
• Scholarships: The university offers a range of scholarships, including Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships.

Quality and Ranking

The programme is highly regarded, with a range of quality and ranking indicators, including:

• 17th in the UK: The Complete University Guide 2026 (Medicine category)
• 14th in the UK: The Guardian University Guide 2025 (Medicine category)
• Global Top 140 University: QS World University Rankings 2026
• Top 95 for Medicine: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Opportunities

The programme provides a range of opportunities, including:

• Malaysia exchange: Students can spend a semester at the university's branch campus in Malaysia.
• Intercalated study: Students can take time out of their medical studies to pursue an intercalated degree.
• Research: Students can spend time in research labs and facilities as part of short projects or as part of intercalation onto a master's degree.

Your Future

The programme is designed to prepare students for a career as a doctor, with a range of career options available, including:

• Foundation Programme: Students can apply for a two-year Foundation Programme, which provides general clinical training.
• Specialty training: Students can pursue specialty training in a range of areas, including hospital medicine and general practice.
• Research: Students can pursue a career in research, with a range of opportunities available in the faculty.

Additional Information

The programme has a range of additional information, including:

• Medical Licensing Agreement: The programme is subject to the Medical Licensing Agreement, which sets a common threshold for safe practice.
• University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT): All applicants must take the UCAT as part of the application process.
• Age requirements: Students must be at least 18 years old by the end of their first semester.