MB ChB Medicine (A100)

2024 entry | view 2025 entry

Course summary

This course is the primary medical qualification awarded by the University of Bristol and is recognised by the General Medical Council.

On this course you will learn about the art, science and craft of medicine through:

  • early clinical exposure in hospital, community and primary care settings;
  • a blend of lectures, case-based learning and practical work;
  • state-of-the-art anatomy facilities including cadaveric prosections;
  • integration of basic science and clinical learning throughout the course;
  • inter-professional working on placement with allied health professional students;
  • broad experience in a variety of clinical academies;
  • a substantial student choice programme to explore personal interests in more detail, experience potential career options, and gain the opportunity for involvement in audits and research;
  • an exciting opportunity to study abroad as part of your final year elective;
  • a final year that is constructed explicitly to prepare you for your first job as a foundation doctor.

Health and conduct

Certain health conditions may be incompatible with some careers in medicine. Further information can be found with our pre-course information, within General Medical Council guidance "admission to medical school", or you can contact our Occupational Health team.

If you have a chronic health condition please contact the enquiries team for guidance on making an application.

We have excellent support services available including Disability Services, Students' Health Service and Student Counselling.

Medical students must complete a health questionnaire and undergo a medical examination. Non-immune students must be immunised against hepatitis B and tuberculosis.

In accordance with General Medical Council guidance, all medical students undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in line with other UK health-related courses.

Age Requirement

Students must be 18 years of age (or above) at the beginning of their year of entry to undertake the clinical experiential learning in our teaching general practices and clinical academies. This is to ensure that our students have the legal capacity to be bound by the rules of confidentiality of our NHS partners.

Interviews

Applicants must be available for interview from December to April immediately following submission of their application.

Accreditations

Our Medicine MB ChB is approved by major professional bodies in the UK (GMC) so as a a graduate you can gain exemptions from a number of their examinations or credits for prior learning.

Course structure

First year

This year will help you to explore health and wellbeing through case-based learning, to provide a foundation for your knowledge and skills, alongside clinical placements in primary and secondary care.

Second year

In this year you will explore disease processes and differential diagnoses for common symptoms through case-based learning, alongside clinical placements in primary and secondary care.

Third year

You will work in primary, community and secondary care settings in our clinical academies, where you will meet patients presenting for scheduled (elective) and unscheduled (emergency) care and learn about how common conditions are managed in the NHS.

Intercalation

Between years three and four, there is an opportunity to spend an additional year studying for an intercalated degree at Bachelors or Masters level in medical science or humanities subjects.

Fourth year

You will learn about the care of patients across the life course, from birth to old age in primary, community and secondary care in our clinical academies in preparation for your final knowledge-based and clinical examinations.

Fifth year

Following an elective study period, you will prepare for your Foundation Programme posts by working within clinical teams in the clinical academies, experiencing teamwork and decision-making in primary, community and secondary care.

Throughout your studies, you will be supported to deal with the challenges and uncertainties inherent in the practice of medicine to equip you to provide safe and effective care in all clinical settings.

Full details about the course structure and units for this course can be viewed in the programme catalogue.

Go to programme catalogue

Entry requirements

We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.

AAA including Chemistry and either Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics. Graduates are required to obtain a 2:1 in their degree plus ABB at A-level, including A in Chemistry and B in either Biology, Physics, Mathematics or Further Mathematics.
ABB including A in Chemistry and B in one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics

Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offer
DDD in Applied Science BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma, with Distinctions in five specified Chemistry units

Find out more about BTEC entry requirements
36 points overall with 18 at Higher Level, including 6, 6 at Higher Level in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations)
32 points overall with 16 at Higher Level, including 6 at Higher Level in Chemistry and 5 at Higher Level in one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics (either Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations)

Find out if you are eligible for a contextual offer
85% overall, with 8.5 in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics
Advanced Higher: AA in Chemistry and one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics, and Standard Higher: AAAAB
Access to HE Diploma in Science, Biomedical/Medical/Health Science or Psychology (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include at least 30 credits at Distinction and 15 at Merit or above; at least 12 credits at Distinction from Chemistry units; and at least 12 credits (with 9 at Distinction) from one of Biology, Physics or Mathematics.

More about Access to HE entry requirements
Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.
Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/M2 is B, and M3 is C.
The University of Bristol welcomes applications from international students, and we accept a wide range of qualifications for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

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