Learning and teaching

Our learning  and teaching are based around a patient-centred education and a culture that is sensitive to the needs of our students. A patient-centred education means that you’ll become the best clinically skilled graduate with a strong knowledge of contemporary science, an awareness of research and excellent professional behaviour. Learning in a culture that is sensitive to you means that you’ll benefit from structured small group learning and an intensively supported learning environment. You’ll be taught to challenge, stretch, reward and empower yourself.

On graduation you’ll be able to approach clinical problems holistically, have excellent communication skills, be empathetic and a good listener. You’ll be able to work well in multi-professional teams, be able to seek and appraise the best evidence to inform your practice and be capable of meeting the health care needs of society.

Most of your learning will take place in small groups which will prepare you for working in a multi-professional clinical team in the NHS. Time for independent study is built into the timetable, enabling you to take advantage of the wide array of resources available to support your learning. You will have access to excellent amenities. At the University and NHS sites there are extensive library and learning facilities.

In the early part of the programme you’ll study in a very well supported environment which includes expert tutor-facilitated sessions in the Life Sciences Resource Centre, which is on the St Luke’s Campus, and the Clinical Skills Resource Centre at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital site, community placements, case based small group tutorials, reflective/feedback small group sessions and workshops, all allowing for group interaction, discussion and feedback.

Our curriculum includes the whole health community not just hospitals. This recognises the community role in chronic illness and prevention and provides the social context, giving you a wider perspective and understanding. The community placements also provide experience of the multi-professional nature of medicine and the importance of the healthcare team.

State-of-the-art IT and e-learning resources are a key tool to help support your learning. You will also have a small number of large group plenary sessions (in which a year group is brought together for teaching sessions). In the later years of the programme your learning occurs within the clinical environment with extensive opportunities for learning from patients as you move through the pathways of the patient care programme.

Outcome of the programme

At the end of the undergraduate programme, which will be subject to GMC approval, you will receive your BMBS degree, which is a primary medical qualification (PMQ). Holding a PMQ entitles you to provisional registration with the General Medical Council. Provisionally registered doctors can only practise in approved Foundation Year 1 posts: the law does not allow provisionally registered doctors to undertake any other type of work.

To obtain a Foundation Year 1 post you will need to apply during the final year of your undergraduate degree through the UK Foundation Programme Office selection scheme, which allocates these posts to graduates on a competitive basis. So far, all suitably qualified UK graduates have found a place on the Foundation Year 1 programme, but this cannot be guaranteed, for instance if there were to be an excessive number of competitive applications from non-UK graduates.

Successful completion of the Foundation Year 1 programme is normally achieved within 12 months and is marked by the award of a Certificate of Experience. You will then be eligible to apply for full registration with the General Medical Council. You need full registration with a licence to practise for unsupervised medical practice in the NHS or private practice in the UK.