FOI_26-005 Time spent at clinical placements MBBS Medicine
Date of response: 26 January 2026
We have now considered your request of 10 January 2026 for the following information:
My enquiry relates to your Medical Degree course
I would be very grateful if this information could be provided as accurately as is possible - in months, weeks or days depending on the length of time.
I would prefer if this information could be broken down as much as possible - so if, for example, you have a broadly titled 'Neurology, Ophthalmology and Psychiatry' rotation, please provide information broken down by specialty (e.g. Neurology - 1 month, Psychiatry – 1 month, Ophthalmology - 1 week.).
If your block does not explicitly explain what medical specialities is covered, please, provide this information and the amount of time spent on each speciality (e.g. A rotation titled ‘MSK’ could refer to any of: Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, Sports & Exercise Medicine, Orthotics etc.)
If your medical school runs both a graduate-entry and undergraduate-entry programme, and the length of time on placement differs between the two, I would greatly appreciate if you could separate out this information for me.
If you are unable to provide me with this information to the level of detail requested, I would appreciate it if you could give me the information with as much detail as is possible.
Question 1. How much time medical students spend on "clinical placement" in each of the medical specialties as part of their clinical education over the course of their full medical degree. This excludes lecture and classroom based teaching that is not in a clinical setting.
Our response:
MB BS Primary & Secondary Care timetable outlines
YEAR 0
Shadowing & HCA
2 days – GP shadowing
8 days Secondary Care shadowing
3 days HCA shifts
YEAR 1
Foundations of medicine & the musculoskeletal system
Primary length – 17 days (Thursdays)
Secondary length – 38 days across 4 blocks (not including timetabled anatomy/SSS)
All Wednesday afternoons are recreation/study
YEAR 2
Module 2A – The haematological system & the skin
Primary length – 5 days (Fridays)
Secondary length – 15 days, Runs Thurs-Wed, 1.5 weeks per speciality with changeover at the weekend
Haematology: 1.5 weeks
Dermatology: 1.5 weeks
Module 2B – The Respiratory System
Primary length – 5 day (Fridays)
Secondary length – 15 days, Runs Thurs-Wed
0.5 day out-of-hours session at NNUH during Primary Care/Campus period of module
Module 2C – The Cardiovascular System (Cardiology)
Primary length – 5 days (Fridays)
Secondary length – 15 days, Runs Thurs-Wed
0.5 day out-of-hours session at NNUH during Primary Care/Campus period of module
Module 2D – The Vascular System & Stroke
Primary length – 5 days (Fridays)
Secondary length – 15 days, Runs Thurs-Wed
Stroke Rehab: 1 week
Stroke: 1 week
Vascular: 1 week
YEAR 3
Module 3A – The Digestive System (Gastro)
Primary length – 5 days (Tuesdays)
Secondary length – 15 days, Runs Thurs-Wed
Module 3B – The Renal & Urological System
Primary length – 5 days (Tuesdays)
Secondary length – 15 days, Runs Thurs-Wed
Module 3C – The Neurological System & Vision
Primary length – 5 days (Tuesdays)
Secondary length – 15 days, Runs Thurs-Wed, 1.5 weeks per speciality with changeover at the weekend
Ophthalmology: 1.5 weeks
Neurology: 1.5 weeks
Module 3D – The Endocrine System & ENT
Primary length – 5 days (Tuesdays)
Secondary length – 15 days, Runs Thurs-Wed, 1.5 weeks per speciality with changeover at the weekend
ENT: 1.5 weeks
Diabetes/Endocrinology: 1.5 weeks
YEAR 4
Module 4A – Women’s Health (Obs & Gynae)
Primary length – 4 days (Mondays)
Secondary length – 20 days, Runs Wed-Tues
Module 4B – Child Health (Paediatrics)
Primary length – 4 days (Mondays)
Secondary length – 20 days, Runs Wed-Tues
0.6 day out-of-hours session at NNUH during Primary Care/Campus period of module
Module 4C – The Mind (Mental Health)
Primary length – 4 days (Mondays)
Secondary length – 20 days, Runs Wed-Tues
Module 4D – Continuing, Supportive and Cancer Care
Length – 30 days, Runs Wed-Tues
Rotating around 3 elements:
• Primary Care - 10 days (2 weeks Weds to Tues)
• Supplementary Learning fortnight (2 weeks): 3 days breast clinic, 1 day GP Front Door or Hospice placement.
• Secondary Care (2 weeks Weds to Tues):
•
Rotation around:
o Older People’s Medicine (OPM) – 3 days
o Oncology – 3 days at NNUH
o Palliative Care – 3 days at NNUH, with some sessions at NCHC or St. Elizabeth Hospice at Beccles Hospital
Final Tuesday of Secondary block is Clinical Skills
YEAR 5
ALERT & ALS 1 day courses also sit within Year 5.
Module 5A – Emergency Care
Includes:
• 2 weeks primary care, (total of 7 days either Wed-Fri or Tues to Fri)
• 6 weeks secondary emergency care Wed-Fri + weekend work (mixture of Early & Late shifts), variety of experience in one hospital base
N.B. THE REMAINDER OF YEAR 5 IS BELOW, (AFTER THE YEAR 4 ELECTIVE INFORMATION), AS REQUESTED.
Question 2. Please also provide any details regarding length of time spent on Assistantships (if this does not fall into categories as above) and any Student Selected Modules which are clinically based.
Our response:
MBBS Medicine
Module 4E – External elective
4 week elective (away) – students arrange an elective.
Electives abroad encouraged, otherwise home electives allowed but have to be different experience (not provided on course)
Module 5B – Student Assistantship
10 weeks in one hospital base (NNUH/QEH/JPUH)
Mon-Fri
Includes:
• 2 weeks primary care, (total of 7 days either Wed-Fri or Tues to Fri)
• 2 weeks Renal or Diabetes
• 2 weeks Haematology, Neurology, Stroke or Oncology
• 2 weeks Paediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, ENT, Thoracic Surgery, Orthopaedics, Urology, Vascular, Obs & Gynae, Lower GI or Upper GI
• 2 weeks OPM
Module 5C – Home elective
6 week home elective in the UK either at a partner trust or self-organised.