Curriculum
All degree programmes at Birmingham are organised on a modular basis. Modules are short courses of study centred on topics involving a common theme.
Modules are given “credit” ratings which recognise the amount of effort involved. The BMedSc course uses 10, 20 and 30 credit modules. Typically a 10 credit module comprises approximately 20 hours of lectures, 20 hours of tutorials / small group teaching / practicals, and 60 hours self-directed learning, coursework and assessment.
During each year of the course you will be expected to complete 120 credits.
First and second years
The first two years of the course enable you to build a detailed understanding of how the human body functions, and what can go wrong in disease. Many of the modules are systems-based, and focus for example on the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine and reproductive systems. Other modules focus on pharmacology, the nature of infectious agents and the functioning of the immune system. You will learn about major pathologies such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and diabetes, and the genetic basis of inherited disorders. All modules are compulsory, providing you with the core knowledge to understand the importance of each of the major disciplines of medical science, and providing a strong foundation for specialisation in the third year. In addition to subject specific knowledge several modules are designed to develop core skills, such as data analysis and interpretation, and also allow you to explore the wider ethical and social issues surrounding medical science.
If you wish, you may take a year out at the end of your second year to gain work experience, by securing a placement in for example the pharmaceutical industry. Alternatively, you can gain valuable experience by undertaking a summer research project within the College, for which funding is available.
Third year
During the Autumn Term of your final year you can specialise by selecting two taught options from a wide range of subject areas, including Neuroscience, Cancer, Virology, Cardiovascular Science, Endocrinology, Stem Cell Biology, Ageing and Immunology. You will learn about the latest research findings, and be exposed to advanced research techniques, guided by experts in these fields. The taught options lead on to a substantial laboratory-based research project which you will undertake in one of the College research laboratories during the Spring Term. You will work independently, under close supervision, for ten weeks full-time on an original research project, acquiring and analysing data. The project develops and enhances not just your practical and analytical abilities, but also a range of other skills that will become a key to success in whatever career path you choose following graduation.
Teaching and assessment
In the majority of modules in the first two years, about half the teaching is in the form of lectures, and the remainder comprises practicals, tutorials / small group teaching and computer-based learning sessions, all of which are designed to develop your understanding of the information provided in lectures. During year 3 the proportion of lectures is significantly reduced, in favour of student-led activities such as practicals and tutorials. You are assessed by a combination of coursework (25%) and end-of-year examinations (75%). A wide variety of modes of assessment are used for in-course assessment, including essays, practical write-ups, posters and presentations. The project dissertation in the final year is a substantial piece of work and accounts for a significant proportion of the degree mark.
Graduate skills and employability
The course develops a wide range of skills and graduate attributes that employers are looking for. Practicals run in “state of the art” laboratories allow you to gain experience in a wide range of current techniques. The undergraduate laboratories are equipped for practicals in all subject areas taught, including for example the capture and analysis of physiological measurements in the areas of cardiovascular, respiratory and neuroscience, electrophoresis and PCR equipment for molecular biology, and microscopes and tissue culture for cell biology. A range of curriculum activities are specifically designed to build IT, communication, organisational, group, problem solving and analytical skills, to equip you for further study or employment in a wide range of careers.