As the first stage we are establishing a database on our prospective students which initially captures cross-sectional data on admission to the University but will subsequently, over-time, capture longitudinal data as they transition through their programme, to graduation and subsequent employment.
The collection of these data provides an epidemiologically robust platform to report both simple demographics and other characteristics (e.g. career aspirations, understanding of roles, why students chose to come to Birmingham? etc.). It will also be possible to compare and contrast across the seven programmes, and for such a dataset to act as a sampling frame for more analytic and/or interventional studies (e.g. qualitative enquiry or comparison of different ways of teaching students a practical technique).