MBBS Medicine with a Gateway Year

Key details

MBBS MEDICINE WITH A GATEWAY YEAR

Start Year

2021

Attendance

Full Time

Award

Degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

UCAS course code

A104

Entry Requirements

BBB

Walk out into the world as a highly competent, empathic and confident doctor, with a course that gives you hands-on experience and rigorous training in modern practices from the very start.

Medicine at UEA is supportive and inclusive. We want everyone who has the passion and potential to succeed to have the chance to study here. As well as looking at your results we’ll look at the school you studied at, your family income, your area of residence, and whether you live in the East Anglian region.

About

The Gateway Year of this course will equip you with the academic skills and knowledge you will need to progress onto our five-year MB BS Medicine course. Complete it successfully and you’ll be well on your way to your career as a qualified doctor.

At Norwich Medical School we put patients at the heart of everything we do. With a curriculum approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) and developed in accordance with their standards, our MB BS degree in Medicine will see you embarking on placements almost immediately. So you’ll gain early exposure to the clinical practices essential to addressing the complex needs of patients in the 21st century. And you’ll graduate ready to use your skills and knowledge in your chosen field to improve the health of patients in your care.

Our rigorous training ensures we develop doctors who are knowledgeable scholars and scientists. And we pride ourselves on providing the highest possible quality of learning, in a supportive, nurturing and student-centred environment where you can reach your potential.

Highlights of Medicine at UEA

Learning with and from real patients, from the first month of your course
Exploring anatomy linked to clinical practice in our anatomy facility, including dissection
Access to a varied range of clinical placements on acute hospital wards, specialist units and in general practice
Linking theory with practice across the course, including during small-group teaching sessions and within primary care placements
Developing your clinical skills with access to the world-class and architecture-award winning Bob Champion Research and Education Building, with its state-of-the-art facilities and purpose-built clinical resource centre
Developing the art of communication through our excellent consultation skills programme, supported by dedicated tutors and role-players
A team of respected, highly experienced teaching and research academics, who’ll support your learning in our friendly, student-centred School
Strong networks for student support, including a dedicated and experienced team of senior advisers

Admissions Live Chat

Alumni Story

Read about Ethan's life as a UEA postgraduate research student in the field of antibiotic medicine.

READ IT HERE >

Alumni Story

Maddie undertook an intercalated degree before returning to complete her degree in Medicine at UEA.

READ IT HERE >

Ask a Student

This is your chance to ask UEA's students about UEA, university life, Norwich and anything else you would like an answer to.

JUST ASK >

UEA AWARD

Develop your skills, build a strong CV and focus your extra-curricular activities while studying with our employer-valued UEA award.

LEARN MORE >

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the courses listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the regular review of course programmes. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes, there will normally be prior consultation of students and others. Changes may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will inform students.

Assessment for Year 1

We’ll assess your progress on a regular basis throughout the course, to support your learning and development, and to keep you on track to become a qualified medical practitioner.

In your Gateway Year this will include written exams and practical write-ups of laboratory experiments. In your Medicine modules you’ll be assessed through reflective writing (portfolio), presentations to your fellow students and written examinations in both ‘short answer’ and ‘single best answer’ formats.

Assessments in later years of the programme will include Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) which are practical tests to assess your knowledge and clinical ability.

You’ll also have written examinations in both ‘short answer’ and ‘single best answer’ formats, research method assignments, and an audit project on the Student-Selected Study component of your course.

During your time with us you’ll build a working portfolio and write a short essay each year, reﬂecting on your own personal and professional development.

Structure

What to expect in your Foundation (Gateway) Year

During your Gateway Year you will gain the academic skills and knowledge you need to progress to our five-year medical degree, and you’ll feel like a medical student from day one. As well as focusing on science and study skills, you will start developing your medical and clinical skills with dedicated healthcare modules delivered by Norwich Medical School.

What to expect after the Gateway Year

Upon successful completion of the Gateway Year, you will continue onto our five-year MB BS Medicine degree programme, which is organised into modules based on body systems. We aim to produce fully rounded medical graduates, so you’ll study the underpinning biological, social and clinical sciences of medicine, and then put theory into practice while on placements in hospitals and general practices.

Working in small groups, you’ll use problem-based learning (PBL) techniques to apply your learning to virtual scenarios and real patients. And you’ll undertake dissections on specimens and models to truly understand the structure and function of the human body. This is a practical, hands-on way to hone your knowledge and approach to medicine, allowing you to develop the relevant practical and communication skills in both simulated and real healthcare environments.

Your learning will be supported by a weekly programme of lectures and seminars, and complemented by month-long attachments in secondary care hospitals, some of which may be residential.

Teaching and Learning

We’ve developed a wide range of teaching methods to support your learning throughout the six years and to ensure you graduate with the essential skills required to become a competent doctor. These include:

Keynote lectures, seminars and anatomy practical classes, delivered by expert academics and clinical educators
Small group working using PBL techniques and extending into general practice based teaching
Consultation skills tutorials with tutors and actors to cultivate excellent communication skills
Clinical skills training throughout the course, including practical skills and simulated scenarios to ensure you are well prepared for practice when you graduate
Clinical placements allowing you to integrate theory with practice, with patient contact on most weeks of your course from the start
Shadowing in your final year – you’ll spend five weeks each in both medicine and surgery, working one-to-one with a recently qualified junior doctor; this will give you the chance to integrate the knowledge and skills you’ve accumulated over the previous four years of degree study, and a real insight into what’s expected of you as a qualified doctor.
Developing professionalism – you’ll be given guidance throughout your primary and secondary care placements, to help you develop the values and behaviours that will enable you to become a safe, respected and trustworthy doctor

Admissions Live Chat

Virtual Open Day

Assessment for Year 1

We’ll assess your progress on a regular basis throughout the course, to support your learning and development, and to keep you on track to become a qualified medical practitioner.

Assessments in later years of the programme will include Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) which are practical tests to assess your knowledge and clinical ability.

During your time with us you’ll build a working portfolio and write a short essay each year, reﬂecting on your own personal and professional development.

Compulsory Modules

INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY

Code BIO-3002A

Credits 20

The topics covered on the module will give you a basic grounding in biological processes including the fundamental characteristics of living things; basic metabolic processes; an understanding of evolution and knowledge of the levels of biological organisation with some focus given to organ systems. This module also gives you the opportunity to develop key transferable skills which may include lab skills, report writing, assignment preparation, researching and evaluating evidence, giving and responding to presentations.

INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF HEALTH

Code MEDA3009A

Credits 20

The module looks at different aspects of psychosocial health. This means considering individual factors that may contribute to health and illness and how these may interact with the social environment around us to inform how we experience health, wellbeing and illness and how we may respond to diagnoses and treatments. Individual factors may include perceptions, thoughts, feelings, coping strategies and past experience. Specific topic areas will include the Biopsychosocial model, Coping, Social Prescribing, Health Psychology Models, Psychological interventions for psychological impacts of physical illness, Addiction, Individual Issues Affecting Health and Developmental psychology across the lifespan. Medical research and Ethics will be embedded within the module.

FURTHER BIOLOGY

Code BIO-3001B

Credits 20

The topics covered will give you a basic grounding in biological processes including the fundamental characteristics of living things; basic metabolic processes; an understanding of evolution and knowledge of the levels of biological organisation with some focus given to organ systems. This module also gives you the opportunity to develop key transferable skills such as lab skills, report writing, assignment preparation, researching and evaluating evidence, giving and responding to presentations.

INTRODUCTION TO CLINICAL MEDICINE

Code MEDB3010B

Credits 20

This module is one of the key introductory module in the Medicine with a Gateway programme, specifically designed to introduce our A104 students studying at the Norwich Medical School. This module will introduce our Foundation Year students to aspects of Clinical Skills and professional practice that are applicable to medicine. The course intends to give you an opportunity to interact with patients and to learn important clinical skills. It is also designed to provide a context for your theoretical learning so that you can see how your learning about medical and social sciences applies to the care of patients. Time spent in clinical placements will also help you to understand how to take a holistic approach to health care and to build your understanding of the skills need to be professional in your role as a medical student. As is the nature of clinical placements, and especially at this current time the exact learning experiences of each student may not be identical to their peers. However, all students will receive the same broad opportunities to allow them to achieve the learning outcomes of the module, and it is expected that students will take responsibility for making the most of the opportunities provided.

INTRODUCTION TO ISSUES IN HEALTHCARE

Code MED-3002Y

Credits 40

This module is part of a 1-year MB BS Gateway course designed to prepare students to join our MB BS 5-year course. The module takes place over the whole year and introduces the students to a range of health related issues that will be more fully explored in the 5-year MB BS course. The module uses a problem based learning approach (Norwich Medical School’s learning method) to explore a new clinical case scenario (e.g. diabetes, asthma, obesity) each week. Students explore these case scenarios in groups of 9-10 students. Importantly, students will learn how to work effectively within a team and develop communication skills. The course will also allow students to develop a broad and balanced foundation of scientific knowledge related to the practice of medicine but you will discover that there is a lot more to Medicine than just the science and you will gain an appreciation of the importance of behavioural and population sciences in healthcare. Students will develop a range of transferable skills but particularly those learning and study skills needed for successful completion of the MBBS programme. Clinical aspects There is no practical clinical aspect to this module, but this module will give you a taster of what being a doctor is all about.

FITNESS TO PRACTICE - YEAR 0

Code MED-3001Y

Credits 0

All MB BS Gateway students must be confirmed as 'Fit to Practise' by the end of year meeting of the School’s Professionalism Committee. Progression to Year 1 of the MB BS course can only occur once the Professionalism Committee has confirmed a student as being Fit to Practise. If the Professionalism Committee does not believe that a student is Fit to Practise, it will inform the Foundation Year Examination Board and recommend relevant remediation. Further details of Professionalism / Fitness to Practise are available within the 'Professionalism and Fitness to Practise (FtP)' section of the MB BS General Information Blackboard site.

Admissions Live Chat

Virtual Open Day

Important Information

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.

Compulsory Modules

MODULE 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICINE & THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM

Code MEDA4001Y

Credits 120

This year long Module combines study of the fundamental clinical sciences necessary as a foundation to study the 5-year MBBS course and is combined with study of musculoskeletal medicine, rheumatology and othopaedics. The sciences covered include clinical anatomy of the musculoskeletal system, biochemistry, physiology, diet and health, genetics, ethics, health economics, law, pathology, psychology, public health, and sociology. Communication skills are also covered.

INTEGRATIVE PERIOD - YEAR 1

Code MEDA4002B

Credits 30

To consolidate and integrate what has been learned in the first year of the MB BS degree programme.

FITNESS TO PRACTISE - YEAR 1

Code MEDA4002Y

Credits 0

All MB BS students must be confirmed as 'Fit to Practise' by the end of year meeting of the School’s Professionalism Committee. Progression to the next year, or graduation in Year 5, can only occur once the Professionalism Committee has confirmed a student as being Fit to Practise. If the Professionalism Committee does not believe that a student is Fit to Practise, it will inform the relevant Examination Board and recommend relevant remediation. Further details of Professionalism / Fitness to Practise are available within the 'Professionalism and Fitness to Practise (FtP)' section of the MB BS General Information Black Board site.

INTERPROFESSIONAL LEARNING - LEVEL 1

Code HSCI4001Y

Credits 0

Interprofessional collaboration & working is proven to improve outcomes in health & social care. In this module you’ll meet and work with others from across healthcare programmes at UEA in a 2 hour learning event. You will explore how teams can work in different scenarios where the focus is on cognitive impairment & communication difficulties across the lifespan. You’ll begin to reflect on your personal and professional development, and begin to explore how you will collaborate & work with other professions to provide integrated person-centred care. In the 2 hour session you will also have the opportunity to become a Dementia Friend. You will be able to follow up this session & learn more about other professional roles by accessing the Interprofessional Role Map on Blackboard. You’ll also have the option to complete a Reflective Workbook to guide your foundational learning on Dementia Awareness & Learning Disability Awareness. You will be assessed on this through a set of multiple choice questions.

Admissions Live Chat

Virtual Open Day

Important Information

Compulsory Modules

MODULE 2A: HAEMATOLOGY AND DERMATOLOGY

Code MEDB6005Y

Credits 30

This module encompasses Haematology and Dermatology, or more concisely “Blood and Skin”. This is one module covering two specialties. This is divided into weeks with lectures and seminars, during which GP and PBL also take place, with a secondary care placement in Haematology and Dermatology in between. At the end of each week of lectures and seminars there is a clinical relevance session to consolidate that week’s teaching. By the end of the module you should have an understanding of blood disorders, especially anaemia in all its forms. You should also be able to demonstrate knowledge of the most common skin complaints. Students will be able to take a history from a patient presenting with a blood or skin condition and examine the lymph nodes, abdomen and skin systematically.

MODULE 2B: THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Code MEDB6006Y

Credits 30

You will learn how to take a history and examine a patient with lung disease; to understand the pathophysiology, presentation; the management and psychosocial impact of common lung diseases, and gain experience of respiratory related clinical skills.

MODULE 2C: THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

Code MEDB6007Y

Credits 30

The Module will encompass Cardiovascular medicine. Teaching structure; Following the typical module outline of the MBBS at Norwich Medical school, students will learn in campus based teaching sessions utilising small group teaching, for example PBL and communications skills with interactive sessions and on line teaching. Students will also be placed in primary and secondary care in General practices in the region and in hospitals; e.g. Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, the James Paget Hospital The overall module learning outcomes are: 1) Explain the basic and social science relevant to diseases of the circulatory system and demonstrate how application of such knowledge can guide the practical management of patients. 2) Demonstrate competent use of consultation skills in dealing with patients presenting with circulatory disorders, particularly with regards to listening and eliciting the relevant history and providing appropriate information and advice. 3) Demonstrate competence in taking a history, performing a clinical examination, and carrying out appropriate investigations and management for the following groups of patients: a. Patient with chest pain, myocardial infarction or angina. b. Patient with shortness of breath, or heart failure. c. Patient with valvular heart disease (which may include valve replacement). d. Patient with a cardiac arrhythmia presenting as palpitations or blackout. e. Adult patient with congenital heart disease, to understand the potential problems f. Patients with shock, collapse or cardiac arrest. The proposed plan for campus based teaching is as follows: Week 1 Chest pain Week 2 Valvular heart disease Weeks 3 Arrhythmias Week 4 Cardiac failure Week 5 Collapse

MODULE 2D: THE VASCULAR SYSTEM & STROKE

Code MEDB6008Y

Credits 30

The Module will encompass vascular surgery and stroke medicine. Teaching structure Following the typical module outline of the MBBS at Norwich Medical school, students will learn in campus based teaching sessions utilising small group teaching, for example PBL and communications skills with interactive sessions and on line teaching. Students will also be placed in primary and secondary care in General practices in the region and in hospitals; e.g. Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, the James Paget Hospital and the rehabilitation centre at the Colman Hospital Topics Week 1 Hypertension and cardiovascular risk Week 2 Stroke TIA and rehabilitation Week 3 Acute and chronic limb ischaemia Week 4 Varicose veins and Leg ulcers Week 5 Aortic aneurysms Overall learning outcomes: Explain the basic and social science relevant to diseases of the circulatory system and demonstrate how application of such knowledge can guide the practical management of patients. Demonstrate competent use of consultation skills in dealing with patients presenting with circulatory disorders, particularly with regards to listening and eliciting the relevant history and providing appropriate information and advice. Demonstrate competence in taking a history, performing a clinical examination, and carrying out appropriate investigations and management for the following groups of patients: Students will learn about the following conditions: stroke, transient ischaemic attack, peripheral vascular disease, leg ulcers, varicose veins, abdominal aortic aneurysm and hypertension.

INTEGRATIVE PERIOD YEAR 2

Code MEDB6001B

Credits 30

The learning objectives are : to assimilate and integrate the learning outcomes from all prior units, to demonstrate an holistic approach in relation to presentations encountered to date.

FITNESS TO PRACTISE - YEAR 2

Code MEDB6009Y

Credits 0

Admissions Live Chat

Virtual Open Day

Important Information

Compulsory Modules

MODULE 3A: THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Code MEDC6001Y

Credits 30

You will learn about digestive diseases in all settings, over all ages. This encompasses both medical and surgical disease of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition improving nutrition in health and diseases will also be explored. During this module you will have opportunity to gain general surgical experience as well as developing your gastroenterological knowledge. You will also have the opportunity to learn about diagnostic and therapeutic investigation including radiological interventions.

MODULE 3B: THE RENAL & UROLOGICAL SYSTEM

Code MEDC6002Y

Credits 30

The renal system: Renal medicine covers the diagnosis and management of patients with acute and chronic renal disease. Students will need a good understanding of renal physiology, acid base balance, fluid balance and electrolyte regulation. In the UK in 2014 there were 2.6 million people (95% CI: 2.3–3.0) aged 16 years and older are living with CKD stage 3-5 (diagnosed and undiagnosed). This is equal to 6.1% (95% CI: 5.3-7.0%) of the population of this age group. Up to 20% of critically ill patients will experience an episode of acute kidney injury during the course of their illness so it is something students will need to be aware of and act to reduce. Of those admitted to critical care with acute kidney injury, roughly 5% will require renal replacement therapy (haemofiltration or dialysis). In the UK, the annual incidence of end stage renal disease doubled from 1995 -2005 mostly due to an ageing population and an increase in type 2 diabetes. By the end of the module, students will be able to describe the different presentations and causes of acute and chronic renal disease, the diagnostic investigations, management options and prognosis. The urological system: Urology is one of the most varied branches of surgery. It covers diseases of the kidney, bladder and prostate and covers both sexes and all ages. Urology accounts for up to 10% of all GP visits. Twenty percent of acute hospital surgical referrals involve patients with urological problems. Urology is divided in to endourology, oncology, functional urology, andrology, reconstruction and academic urology. By the end of the module, students will be able to list the common urological conditions both benign and malignant and describe common presentation, diagnostic investigations, management and prognosis of each. Benign conditions include lower urinary tract symptoms, urinary tract infections, renal stones, urinary retention, incontinence, erectile dysfunction and embryological anomalies. Malignant conditions include cancer of the kidney, bladder, ureter, urethra, testis and penis. A good working knowledge of embryology of the renal tract is required from the outset to enable students to understand further conditions.

MODULE 3C: THE NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEM & VISION

Code MEDC6003Y

Credits 30

Neurology Neurology deals with diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerve roots, peripheral nerve and muscle. Neurological symptoms and problems are common in primary and secondary care so a good understanding of neurology is important for most branches of medicine. Historically, neurology had a reputation for being one of the more difficult medical specialties, with comments like “rare,” “intimidating” and “there are no treatments.” We hope to dispel some of these myths during your time with us. During the module you will begin to master a number of skills required for neurology including being able to recognize when a patient has a neurological problem, evaluation of the common neurological presentations, performing a neurological examination and communicating the important aspects of the history and examination to other medical staff. You will also learn the principles of making a neurological diagnosis and how to recognize neurological emergencies and initiate treatment. The teaching will look at the common neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, as well as the underlying neuroanatomy and physiology. This will include the main motor and sensory pathways, the concept of upper and lower motor neurons and the function of the basal ganglia, cerebellum and cranial nerves, and the effects various conditions have on them. During the primary and secondary care attachments you will have the opportunity to see a range of patients with common, and less common, conditions through structured patient teaching, booked sessions, ward teaching and on call shifts. Please use this time to see as many patients as possible, and practice your history taking, examination and case presentation skills. Ophthalmology Ophthalmology is unique amongst medical specialties. The eye, its surrounding structures and the visual pathway may be affected by a variety of clinical conditions. One of the fundamental properties of the eye is that many of its components are transparent, enabling details of its structure and any abnormalities to be observed directly. Disorders of the eye and visual system commonly cause reduction in vision and one of the major rewards of the profession is to be able to restore or improve sight. There are around two million people in the UK with a sight problem with around one million of these registered, or eligible to be registered as blind or partially sighted. Some people are born with sight problems whilst others inherit an eye condition that deteriorates with age such as retinitis pigmentosa. Others lose their sight as the result of an accident or conditions elsewhere in the body such as diabetes. In the UK, some form of glaucoma affects about two percent of people over the age of 40, and five percent over the age of 75. With screening and regular eye tests the condition can be detected early allowing treatment to reduce further sight loss. Age related eye conditions are the most common cause of sight loss in the UK and eighty percent of people with sight problems are over 65. Their eyesight is affected by conditions such as macular degeneration or cataracts. In recent years, ophthalmology has rapidly incorporated new technologies; developments in optical instruments have improved the clarity and magnification with which the components of the eye can be observed and imaged, and the use of lasers allows procedures that used to require admission to hospital to be performed on an outpatient basis.

MODULE 3D: THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM & ENT

Code MEDC6004Y

Credits 30

The endocrine system Diabetes and Endocrinology itself includes wide variety of conditions. Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in parallel with increasing prevalence of obesity. In addition to their therapy of glycaemic control, focus should also include preventing and management of their cardiovascular risk and microvascular complication. From the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and Scottish Diabetes Survey (SDS) with estimates from the Diabetes Prevalence Model 2016 (Public Health England) and 2012 APHO Diabetes Prevalence Model, estimates that there are 4.6 million people with diabetes in the UK, of which 90% have Type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, it is believed that there were over 1 million people with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. As a result, diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK today and the 5th most common cause of death. Left untreated it can cause heart disease, stroke, blindness and renal failure. Almost 1 in 3 people with type 2 diabetes will develop kidney disease and it is the single most common cause of end stage renal failure. The cost of diabetes to the NHS is over £1.5m an hour or 10% of the NHS budget for England and Wales. In total, an estimated £14 billion pounds is spent a year (2016) on treating diabetes and its complications, with the cost of treating complications representing the much higher cost, so it is vital that we, as clinicians, understand this condition and act to prevent the development of diabetes and its devastating complications (Diabetes.org.uk). Endocrinology covers the concept of hormone homeostasis and the clinical management of patients with abnormal endocrine function. Please spend some time to understand physiology of each system, and how individual hormones are controlled and their feedback mechanism. Endocrinology integrates developmental events with proliferation growth, and differentiation within a living organism. physiology of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and hormones is essential to link together and understand module. By the end of the module, students will be able to understand and manage diabetes and its complication, understand the concept of hormone regulation on growth and metabolism, recognise the common presenting features of hormone overproduction and deficiency and describe specific diagnostic tests and management. ENT ENT deals with all aspects of disease relating to the ear, nose and throat. This specialty evolved due to the close interconnection between these areas in terms of anatomy, physiology and functions and the disease processes that can result. Though primarily a surgical specialty we are also physicians looking after this unique area of a patient. The specialty is subdivided into Otology, Rhinology, Laryngology/Head & Neck and Paediatric ENT. Otology includes hearing loss and balance disorders which are very common and involve a close liaison with Audiology. Rhinology includes nose and sinus problems which affect large numbers of the general population and are a common complaint in primary care. The senses of smell and taste also fall to ENT and disorders of smell, whilst very common, often go unrecognized. Laryngology/Head and Neck surgery covers voice disorders as well as benign and malignant tumours of the head and neck. There are also many paediatric cases which will give you an insight in to the care and management of children that you may not have experienced so far. Like other departments we rely on teamwork and ENT will begin to understand the role of audiologists, audiological scientists, physiotherapists, specialist nurses and speech and language therapists in the provision of care to our patients. The ears, nose and throat together with surrounding structures are frequently involved in both local and systemic disease. Our specialty works closely with the following departments: Maxillo-facial surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, oncology, haematology, respiratory medicine and paediatrics to name but a few. In the second year you will have covered some aspects of the specialty (nose and throat conditions) when doing respiration and this will be revisited during your time with us.

INTEGRATIVE PERIOD YEAR 3

Code MEDC6005B

Credits 30

The integrative period comprises 3 sections. Research protocol Portfolio report SSS (student selected Study) presentation Research protocol: during this part of the course you will write a research protocol aided by lectures and workshops. (This is separate from the clinical audit project in year 4) The assessment marking sheet is provided to students before they start their work to ensure they are aware of the standards of work expected. Portfolio report A portfolio is a journal or a private collection of thoughts and ideas based on personal experiences which you are encouraged to collect during this course. It is an important component of professional development forming the basis for self-directed learning and reflective practice. Developing skills in reflective practice during the course is an important part of a students professional development and will be useful to a future medical career since this is the model used both in the Foundation Programme (Year 1-2 after you have qualified) and the GMC’s Revalidation process. creating a written record of memorable experiences. These experiences may be derived from any part of the course but clinical placements provide a particularly rich source of appropriate material. Students should also write some commentary on the contents of their student held record of assessments and any other feedback received from various sources such as tutors, patients, actors and student colleagues. Student Selected Studies Compulsory Student Selected Studies (SSS) is the part of our course where students develop academic skills such as literature review and critical thinking; presenting and teaching; and developing a clinical or research question. In year 3, students will be asked to choose 4 SSS themes of interest and will be allocated one of the 4. It is our aim to offer the majority of students their first choice topic. They will then be introduced to the tutor for the year. The topics available for the year Anatomy Biochemistry Clinical Biochemistry (yr. 2 and 3), Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Colorectal Surgery, Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, Nutrition (Includes research option in years 2&3), Pathology, Physiology, Research in clinical, laboratory or population medicine, Epidemiology and Public Health (Includes research option in years 3), Ethics, Health Economics, Law, Medical Education, Psychology Health (Includes research option in years 3), Sociology Health (Includes research option in years 3), At the end of their third year, students of most themes will have to prepare an abstract and a conference-style poster for their SSS. On the assessment days, students will not be giving a formal 10 minute presentation, instead posters will be displayed and each student will give a short oral summary of their poster (for approximately 5 minutes) and will then discuss it with the assessors and the other students. Students studying ethics in year 3 the assessment will be in the form of a 2000 word essay.

FITNESS TO PRACTISE - YEAR 3

Code MEDC6005Y

Credits 0

Admissions Live Chat

Virtual Open Day

Important Information

Compulsory Modules

MODULE 4A: WOMEN'S HEALTH

Code MEDD6001Y

Credits 30

Your focus will be on reproduction and female health. Human reproduction is a fascinating subject; obstetrics is the branch of medicine and surgery concerned with childbirth and midwifery; gynaecology is the science of the physiological functions and diseases of women. It is essential you have a good grasp of knowledge in basic anatomy and physiology concerning human reproduction to understand childbirth and its complications and manage diseases in women at different stages of their life.

MODULE 4B: CHILD HEALTH

Code MEDD6002Y

Credits 30

All doctors will come across children and families in their work and it is essential that newly qualified doctors can competently interact with, assess and care for children and young people. In this module you will develop a broad understanding of child health and consider the wider issues of children’s place in our society, and the value society places on childhood. There will be a particular focus on the development and application of your clinical reasoning skills in the context of children and young people. This will include the recognition and management of common and important conditions which present in childhood and adolescence; communicating with children, young people and families; and integrating your understanding of basic sciences and pathology into the clinical context of child health.

MODULE 4C: THE MIND

Code MEDD6003Y

Credits 30

The Mind addresses biological and psycho-social aspects of mental health and illness. It aims to equip students’ with knowledge and clinical skills to recognise mental health problems and identify evidence-based methods for their management. The Mind Module places emphasis on transferable skills and professional attitudes, such as working within a multidisciplinary team, respecting patient individuality and reducing stigma, that are prominent in mental health care but also relate to all other areas of clinical practice.

MODULE 4D: CONTINUING, SUPPORTIVE AND CANCER CARE

Code MEDD6004Y

Credits 30

An introduction to the specialties of Older People’s Medicine, Oncology and Palliative Medicine. Alongside this, the primary care attachment will be used to give the students experience of following and caring for patients over a longer period while based in primary care, providing an authentic experience of general practice. The aim is to gain a more holistic view of patient centred care for chronic long term conditions in the community, for cancer care, health and illness in older people and in end of life care. Consultation Skills and Sociology will be integrated to give the students more insight into the impacts of chronic and endstage diseases and how to manage these as a doctor. This longer module also gives more scope to gain a better understanding of all the different approaches to managing cancer with modern techniques. The students will have a campus-based introductory week, followed by 3 weeks in General Practice and a week in each of Older People’s Medicine, Oncology and Palliative Care. There will be a week’s reflection / review at the end.

MODULE 4E: EXTERNAL ELECTIVE

Code MEDD6001B

Credits 10

The main objective of this elective is to provide an additional and more autonomous opportunity for the student to undertake a placement that fits with their own interests and professional development; to do something different; and to take responsibility for the planning and delivery of this experience. During this period, you are expected to engage in self- directed learning, reflect on your professional development, and experience medical practice in a context that is different from that provided by the Norwich Medical School and its teaching hospitals. It can be undertaken anywhere in the world as long as your choice does not incur excessive risk – assessing this is part of the learning process, and the tutors will help you with this aspect. There will be lectures and seminars on how to prepare for an elective, how to stay healthy during the placement, and related topics of global public health and mental resilience. Many students use the elective as a chance to experience medicine in a different setting, often overseas, with all the new cultural and clinical challenges that this involves. Others use it to deepen their understanding of a particular area of knowledge, or to develop new academic and technical skills. The main domains that students can consider are: Clinical – a new speciality, or further in-depth experience of a known speciality but in a different service, geographical or cultural context Research – a placement in an environment with an academic focus – for example, undertaking a community project, an epidemiological survey, or a lab-based study Service development and delivery – an internship or similar attachment to a unit offering management input, educational, strategic or technical development to the health system. Involvement with publishing, community projects, and exchanges can also be considered under this heading. The generic aims are that the elective will assist the student to:- • develop greater ownership of the learning process • challenge and improve your organisational skills, including risk appraisal • facilitate further development of attitudes appropriate to the practice of medicine • broaden your minds and refresh you as you approach the final year of MBBS.

INTEGRATIVE PERIOD YEAR 4

Code MEDD6028B

Credits 20

The learning objectives are: to assimilate and integrate the learning outcomes from all prior modules and to demonstrate a holistic approach in relation to presentations encountered to date.

FITNESS TO PRACTISE - YEAR 4

Code MEDD6005Y

Credits 0

Admissions Live Chat

Virtual Open Day

Important Information

Compulsory Modules

MODULE 5A: EMERGENCY CARE

Code MED-7001Y

Credits 30

How do we deal with seriously ill patients that need emergency medical care? What are the fundamental ways of managing airways, giving anaesthetics, and delivering critical care? Module 5A is an opportunity for you to apply skills and knowledge developed over the previous 4 years and build upon them in an emergency setting. Though different from the apprenticeship module, you will be taking on some responsibility in helping the team assess and treat patients in a hands-on manner. During placement you will get to experience a variety of environments where emergency medicine is used. From primary care and the A&E department to the intensive care unit and theatres, you will have opportunities to learn from a variety of specialists. The Module will equip you to manage with patients who are seriously ill, and to recognize who and when to seek help from. It will enable you to perform practical procedures and gain other skills that are relevant to the role of a foundation doctor.

MODULE 5B: STUDENT ASSISTANTSHIP

Code MED-7002Y

Credits 30

This is your opportunity to “learn on the job” the FY1/FY2 role. The Module is often called the “apprenticeship” module. It is an important basis for becoming a doctor, and is a chance to start honing your skills for the Finals examinations. The Module is ten weeks in total split into blocks in surgery and medicine. The Module blocks take place either at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, the James Paget Hospital or the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Over those 5 weeks you will be attached to a FY1/FY2 and their team. You will be an integral member of that team, helping with all the duties of a Foundation Year doctor. One of the consultants in the team will be nominated as your supervisor and will be expected to write a short report on your 5 week placement. You will therefore end the Module with two tutor reports: one from medicine and one from surgery. You are not expected to spend all your time with the supervising consultant; in fact that would be counterproductive. The report will be made by the supervising consultant having discussed your aptitude and attendance with the team. Whilst in your placements you will also be attached to a generic Module 5B tutor at your hospital (NNUH, QEH or JPH) who will arrange to meet with you in groups in a classroom setting, to discuss topics covered by the module. There are normally four of these tutorials but more sessions can be arranged locally. These tutorials are compulsory, and your team and supervising consultant realise that you have to attend them. The medicine and surgery attachments are in most specialities, and requests for certain specialities can be made. However, the speciality is of secondary importance to the purpose of the Module, which is to learn the trade of the Foundation Year doctor. We will try to match your placement to your request of speciality and hospital, but for logistic reasons these cannot always be guaranteed.

MODULE 5C: CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLACEMENT

Code MED-7001B

Credits 20

Module 5C has been developed to give students the opportunity to explore or further develop an aspect of their future medical career. This may place them in a better position to succeed during their FY1 post or when applying for specialty training. It is six weeks long and will predominantly consist of clinical experience. Students may also spend 50 % of their time in one of the following: • research • management • patient safety and effectiveness. For students needing to resit finals, M5C will consist of a placement at the NNUH/JPUH hospitals together with revision tutorials organised by MED. These students will need to inform their intended placement supervisor that their planned elective will no longer be taking place.

FINAL INTEGRATIVE PERIOD

Code MED-7154B

Credits 40

M13 is emergency medicine, M14 is student assistantship M15 an internal (home elective)

FITNESS TO PRACTISE - YEAR 5

Code MED-7003Y

Credits 0

Admissions Live Chat

Virtual Open Day

Important Information

Entry Requirements

A Levels

BBB or ABC in any subjects, excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking. All science A levels must include a pass in the practical element.

BTEC

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF): DDM in any subject, excluding BTEC Public Services, BTEC Uniformed Services and BTEC Business Administration.

Scottish highers advanced

CCC

Access course

Not accepted

International Baccalaureate

32 overall including 3 subjects at Higher level 5 in any subject

GCSE offer

Six GCSEs at grade B/6 or above, including English Language, Mathematics and either a single science subject (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) or double science. Applicants who do not meet the GCSE requirement MUST be resitting GCSE’s and predicted to achieve the required grade. This should be evident from their UCAS application.

International Baccalaureate (UK based only): IB Middle Years (in lieu of GCSEs) with 6 passes at 6 including English Language, Mathematics and two science subjects.

Additional entry requirements

APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED FOR 2021 ENTRY - PLEASE NOTE WE WILL NOT ACCEPT LATE APPLICATIONS NOR RE-OPEN APPLICATIONS FOR MEDICINE IN CLEARING

This course is a ‘Widening Access’ programme for students who are in the 13th year of education or left school no more than three years prior to the course start date. Applicants must have completed their GCSE and Level 3 qualifications in the UK. It is designed for students whose circumstances or educational opportunities have prevented them from realising their academic potential.

All applicants must meet the academic criteria and the following contextual criteria:

Your secondary school (GCSE education) achieved an Attainment 8 score of 50 or less, in the year you sat your GCSEs, according to the Department for Education data (www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/) AND one of the following:

You live in an area with low progression to higher education with Polar Data 1 or 2 from Polar 4.

In receipt of the UCAT Bursary.
Your combined household income is under £35,000 per year, excluding Government benefits. We use the same criteria as the UCAT Bursary eligibility. We are unable to accept payslips or P60’s.
You currently live locally to UEA (Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex or Lincolnshire). Evidence taken from UCAS application.

OR meet the academic criteria and ONE of the following contextual criteria:

Successfully complete the UEA Medical Aspirations Programme
You have been in Local Authority care. Examples of evidence accepted: Letter from Social Worker/Local Council.

Further information

A Level Resits are not considered.

Not accepted: General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies, GCSE short courses, BTEC Level 2, OCR Level 2, Functional Skills.

Applicants who have started or completed study post A level (degree study or equivalent) will not be considered.

Applicants predicted to meet the MB BS Medicine (A100) academic requirements are unlikely to benefit from this course and should apply directly to A100.

Applicants who meet the minimum academic requirements and are attending the UEA Medical Aspirations Programme will be guaranteed an interview.

Autumn Exam Series

Applicants who meet the following criteria are able to apply through UCAS for September 2021 entry, and will be made a conditional offer without the need to be interviewed or take the UCAT test:

A UEA conditional offer was held for Medicine in 2020 on 12 August 2020 (as shown on UCAS Track)
UEA’s offer was accepted as Firm Choice on UCAS Track as at 12 August 2020 (as shown on UCAS Track)
The Calculated or Centre Assessment grades received did not meet the offer set by UEA and you were not accepted by UEA.
You are eligible for and must sit the Autumn (to be sat in October 2020 with results awarded in December 2020) or Summer A-level Exam Series in England.
The offer made will be our typical A-level offer for 2021 entry (as listed on our website).
Your 2021 UCAS application must be submitted by the 15 October UCAS deadline for Medicine courses.

Only those that meet or exceed their conditional offer from the Autumn or Summer exam series will be accepted.

Other students sitting the autumn exam series, including students that selected UEA as their insurance choice in 2020, will be required to take the UCAT and if successful, an interview would be required.

Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT)

ALL applicants are required to take the UCAT in the year of application, prior to applying. UEA does not have a cut off score. A high score is advantageous, however a low score does not disqualify an applicant from consideration. Further information is available at www.ucat.ac.uk.

· UCAT scores may be used to rank the applicants for selection for interview.

· The overall (cognitive) score is used alongside the interview score to rank and select applicants to whom an offer is made.

· The SJT component score is included within the interview.

Applicants in receipt of the UCAT Bursary who meet the minimum entry requirements will be invited to interview.

UCAT Exemptions

Applicants to Medicine who are granted a UCAT Exemption resulting in them being unable to take the UCAT will be considered on a case by case basis. Please contact the Admissions Service with evidence of your exemption and the reasons this was granted before you apply to us. If we can consider an application please note that you will be awarded the average UCAT score achieved by the UEA’s cohort for 2021 entry. This will be calculated for the Overseas cohort if you are applying as an international applicant and the Home cohort if you are applying as a UK student.

How do you use the UCAT?

We do not set a minimum cut-off score for the UCAT however we may use scores to rank the applicants for selection for interview. The overall (cognitive) score is used alongside the interview score to rank and select applicants to whom an offer is made. The SJT component score is included within the interview score

Whilst a high UCAT score may be advantageous, a low score in an otherwise strong application, will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration.

Due to the current situation with COVID19, UCAT tests have been delayed. Tests are expected to take place with results being reported to universities in November. Further information can be found here.

Important Information For All Applicants

All successful applicants will be required to complete a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Police check and a satisfactory occupational health check. As part of the selection process, all applicants who accept an offer of a place at Norwich Medical School are checked against the Medical Schools Council (MSC) excluded student database. Details of these requirements will be provided to the applicants at interview and if they are successful in receiving an offer. Further information regarding requirements for medical students in relation to blood born infectious diseases, and information on Medical Students Fitness Standards is available. Any offer holder with a current or past history of health conditions (physical or mental health) should tell occupational health about any health conditions they have, and may be subject to an early occupational health check, for the following reasons:

Medical schools have a duty to support their students, but students have to help the school to do this by being open and honest about their health.
Being open and trustworthy is an important part of being a doctor – patients and the GMC expect this of practising doctors. Failure by a doctor on the medical register to disclose a health matter that could potentially impact on patient safety is a breach of this duty.
A student should understand that their ill health could put their ability to study at risk. Where a student has this understanding – and shows this by getting help and support – their health condition rarely prevents them from completing the course. One way to demonstrate understanding from the start is for a student to declare whether they will need additional support when they begin their course.
Read more on Essential Information for Medicine Applicants
Norwich Medical School will consider all requests for adjustments in line with the UK Equality Act 2010. Any student can graduate as long as: they are well enough to complete the course; they have no student fitness to practice concerns (having a health condition or disability alone is not a fitness to practice concern); they have met all the Outcomes for graduates, with adjustments to the mode of assessment as needed.
Further guidance and advice specific to undergraduate medicine courses, including clinical exams, can be obtained via med.senioradviser@uea.ac.uk . Further information regarding accessibility, written exam concessions and confidential advice and guidance on health and disability can be obtained via: https://portal.uea.ac.uk/student-support-service.

After the Course

Click here for information from the General Medical Council (GMC) about Postgraduate Foundation training and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How will you process my application?

Briefly, all on-time applications proceed to primary screening, where checks are made to see that applicants meet, or are predicted to meet, our minimum academic entry criteria, have a satisfactory personal statement and reference and have taken the UCAT test in the summer prior to submitting the application. Applicants are then invited to interview (from late November/December onwards).

If the number of applications received exceed the number of interview places available those meeting primary screening requirements will also undergo secondary screening, where the UCAT scores will be ranked against the applicant cohort, with the strongest applicants invited to interview.

Following the completion of interviews, interviewed applicants are ranked (by interview – which includes the UCAT SJT subsection score - and UCAT overall scores) within the applicant cohort. The top ranking applicants will receive offers.

What if there is a mistake on my application?
Following the closing date, any errors or omissions should be notified to the Admissions Service immediately for consideration, and verified by an official letter from your school. However, if notification is made after 15 October, we reserve the right not to consider the application further.

What if my predicted grades change?
Your application will be processed using the information provided on your UCAS form. Any changes in predicted grades will not be considered once processing has commenced following the UCAS deadline.

Can I send in additional supporting documents?

Only information submitted on the UCAS form will be considered, unless supplementary information is requested by the Admissions Team. Factual errors on the form should be notified to the Admissions Service as soon as possible but additional information provided or errors highlighted after submission of the UCAS form cannot be considered. Please note that we are unable to accept any unsolicited additional references or CVs.

How do I report extenuating circumstances?

These should be indicated on the UCAS application. Supporting evidence may be requested. Please note: adverse events potentially impacting on performance at A level (or equivalent) or degree classification, should be notified to the relevant examination board.

Should I gain some voluntary or paid experience in the Healthcare professions?

If possible, but this is not a specific requirement. However, it is important that, prior to committing to 6 years intensive study, that you find out as much as you can about being a doctor. Any experience that gives you an insight into your suitability to the profession is valuable. Such experience may include work experience in a health care organisation (e.g. a hospital, hospice, or primary care setting), a regular commitment as a volunteer in a care-related setting, or paid employment as a health care assistant or similar. Please see current guidance from the Medical School Council regarding work experience during a pandemic. This list is not exhaustive, but at interview, you will be expected to draw on your personal experiences to demonstrate your suitability to be a doctor. If invited to interview, you are required to bring with you our work experience form.

If I am unsuccessful, can I reapply?

Applicants to Medicine at UEA will only be considered for two consecutive years. All applicants must have achieved successful academic study within the past 3 years. Please note that entry requirements may change each year and we would advise you to check our website before submitting an application. You will be required to retake the UCAT test as this is only valid in the year of application.

Interviews

Interviews will take place virtually for this cycle. Please note that we do not disclose interview questions.

Typically we look for applicants to demonstrate at interview;

An acceptable approach to decision making when given incomplete or conflicting information
The ability to learn and work effectively in partnership
A caring and supportive attitude
An empathetic and caring approach
Insight in to Medicine as a career and personal suitability for the profession
Honesty, integrity, and personal effectiveness.

We will individually email invitations to applicants who are selected for interview.

Work Experience

If you are invited to interview you are required to complete a Work Experience Form. We understand that it might be difficult to gain experience in a pandemic but the first thing to remember is that all applicants to medicine will be in the same situation. The second thing to remember is that clinical work experience is not generally a requirement for applying to medical school in any year. We are aware that the opportunities open to you have been affected and will take this into account when considering applications for cohorts that have been impacted.

The Medical Schools Council has published some very useful guidance for gaining relevant experience during the pandemic and we will follow their guidance.

Gap year

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year, believing that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.

Intakes

This course is open to UK applicants only. The school's annual intake is September. 40 places for 2021 entry.

Admissions Live Chat

Alumni Story

Read about Ethan's life as a UEA postgraduate research student in the field of antibiotic medicine.

READ IT HERE >

Alumni Story

Maddie undertook an intercalated degree before returning to complete her degree in Medicine at UEA.

READ IT HERE >

Ask a Student

This is your chance to ask UEA's students about UEA, university life, Norwich and anything else you would like an answer to.

JUST ASK >

UEA AWARD

Develop your skills, build a strong CV and focus your extra-curricular activities while studying with our employer-valued UEA award.

LEARN MORE >

Course Reference Number: 1545045

MBBS MEDICINE WITH A GATEWAY YEAR