Structure

Queen Mary University of London's Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry is one of the oldest medical schools in the UK. We draw on our history and heritage to provide you with the best medical education and training, in some of the best teaching facilities, and prepare you for life in medicine wherever you choose to practice.

Our core curriculum will equip you with foundational knowledge and skills, as well as the fundamentals of professional practice necessary for being a new doctor. The curriculum content is underpinned by our world-leading bench to bedside research, linking your learning to the work of the faculty, who pioneer the discovery and development of new drugs globally, through to design and deliver effective public health interventions for our local community.

We use evidence-based educational approaches whether for small or large group teaching, and focus on developing your self-regulated learning ability necessary for independent clinical practice. You’ll start seeing patients from your very first week, in community and hospital settings, across all years of the course.

Alongside the core curriculum, you can self-select modules where you have interest or passion, from the fundamental or clinical sciences through to the psychological or social sciences as well as any area of study you want pursue with our support in order to be the doctor you want to be.

More information about the course including full entry requirements and selection criteria.

Phase 1 (Years 1 and 2)

Campus-based teaching

You will take five systems-based modules and three student-selected components in each of the two years of Phase 1. 

You will be introduced to applied biological sciences and address key topics, including: 

• normal biological structure and function of cells, organs and body systems 
• the effect of illness on people and their families 
• the impact of environmental and social factors on health. 

Our evidence-based teaching methods in Phase 1 are carefully chosen to ensure you securely acquire the knowledge necessary for developing the skills and behaviours required for applying in clinical settings and mastering in Phase 2 and 3 of the course. We use small and large group methods such as lectures, practical (anatomy and physiology) teaching, and group work in problem-based, team-based learning, clinical and communication skills settings.

Student-selected components (SSCs)

SSCs are self-selected modules that allow you to broaden your knowledge, skills and professional behaviours in areas where you have passion or interest. SSC modules vary in length with some ranging from two to five weeks, and others spanning throughout an academic year.

Clinical placements

Clinical placements are an essential part of your professional identity development as a medical student to being a doctor. Our course ensures patient contact from the first of the course, and across every year of the programme ensuring knowledge and skills learnt in the classroom, are consolidated into professional values and behaviours learnt in clinical settings. 
Clinical placements for MBBS students at Queen Mary, University of London start in September of Year 1 with a group placement in a community-based setting, usually a general practice (GP) surgery. Students in groups of 8 work with a GP tutor on a fortnightly basis throughout the length of Year 1.  You will be introduced to the GP team at the surgery, the local area served by the practice  and most importantly the patients.  You will learn about the impact of ill health on the patient, their family and their community as well as all the factors that contribute to the experience of living with disease for the patient. 
In Year 2 you will experience innovative online teaching on the management of mental illness with Psychiatrists from our partner mental health Trusts – East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) and North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT).  You will also continue to have teaching in community settings from our GP tutors. 

Phase 2 (Years 3 and 4)

Clinical placements

Once you progress to Year 3 time spent in clinical placements is significantly increased. You will rotate through one of our partner Trusts for placements generally lasting 6 – 10 weeks in length.  You will also return at regular intervals to the University for campus-based teaching blocks to support and scaffold your learning in the clinical environment. 

Clinical placements will be in a variety of locations including those in inner city areas such as the Royal London Hospital, Homerton Hospital, Newham Hospital, Whipps Cross Hospital, King George Hospital and Queens Hospital.  Placements at these locations are classified as in-firms due to their proximity to the University, and with the expectation that you would commute there every day rather than stay there on site.  

You will also be placed at out-firms including Southend Hospital, Colchester Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital.  Most students will stay in hospital accommodation while on out-firms due to the distance away from the University. 

In Year 4 you will have placements in one of our mental health trusts alongside a series of primary care placements attached to GP surgeries. The variety of community and hospital-based experiences are designed to develop your clinical, communication consultation and reasoning skills so that by Year 5 you are able to be see patients independently under the supervision of your GP tutor.

Each placement site will offer a different experience, with different patient demographics and different specialist services. 

Student-selected components (SSCs)

You will again have the opportunity to explore clinical topics of particular interest or passion in your Phase 2 SSCs.   

Phase 3 (Year 5)

The final year of the programme provides you with emergency medicine, intensive care, surgical and anaesthetics placements and an eight-week GP apprenticeship where you will see patients independently under the supervision of your GP tutor. 

Throughout the year you’ll again return at regular intervals to the University for campus-based teaching blocks to support and scaffold your learning in the clinical environment.

You’ll complete your SSC programme, which may include spending time in a specialism not previously experienced or gaining a deeper understanding in an area that already interests you. 

You will also complete your Intermediate Life Support qualification. 

Elective 

After your final examinations, you’ll complete a six-week elective in the UK or outside the UK, depending on your choice and circumstances. For many students, this is one of the most eagerly anticipated and memorable experiences at medical school – an opportunity to explore medicine in an entirely new environment, both socially and culturally. 

Student assistantship 

Following your elective, you’ll spend three weeks shadowing a current Foundation Year (FY1) doctor in the hospital where you’ll be based for your own FY1 training.