Direct Entrants

The University of Aberdeen offers students the opportunity to study medicine in a thriving medical school that is co-located on one of the largest clinical sites in Europe with superb teaching and extensive research facilities.

Our medical programme aims to produce excellent doctors who will be able to assimilate and apply new knowledge throughout their careers and who will themselves contribute to the advancement of medicine.

Clinical experience is central to teaching and you will be able to undertake arguably the most widespread and diverse clinical placements in the UK. There are clinical campuses at Dr Gray's Hospital, Elgin and Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, and all students undertake hospital-based clinical placements outside Aberdeen. Exciting placements are now on offer across the Highlands and Islands in locations such as Fort William, Stornoway, Wick, Orkney and Shetland. This variety of placements allows our students to experience not only inner-city medicine, but also gives a unique opportunity to see how health care is delivered in areas far removed from large teaching centres.

Our remote and rural option is undertaken in Years 4 and 5 for students with a special interest in careers in the remote and/or rural setting. These students are based at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness but undertake their clinical attachments within more distant locations. 

Our extensive network of teaching general practices around Scotland also gives students opportunities to experience patient care in a community setting.

The course you will undertake forms part of our revised curriculum that utilises the resources available in the Suttie Centre, a purpose built Centre for Teaching and Learning. In addition to hosting timetabled teaching, this superb development allows students to access anatomy and clinical skills facilities throughout their undergraduate curriculum for their own revision.

Joining the Aberdeen MBChB

Bridging Course

You will be initially welcomed to the Medical School and complete the necessary documentation within the MBChB Office. You will need to be issued with University and Hospital ID badges and attend Occupational Health to ensure your health and immunisation details are known and registered.

You will be given an initial tour of the Foresterhill site and the Library where you will be logged on to the university network and shown how to set up your individual e-mail accounts.

You will be given an outline of the MBChB programme in general and Year 4 in particular, including our assessment methods (exam structure).

Thereafter, the Bridging Course includes the following activities:

• Update in communication and clinical skills and in CPR.
• Introduction to the Foundations of Primary Care.
• An orientation to Hospital ward teaching.

As we are keen to help our St Andrews students integrate into the Aberdeen curriculum as easily as possible, we will happily consider other topics for inclusion in the bridging course, should students feel their need.

MBChB Year 3

In Year 3, you will learn about the reproductive system, psychiatry, haematology and immunology, and begin to learn more about the application of Foundations of Clinical Method (FoCM) to specialty systems including paediatrics and care of the elderly. Year 3 FoCM teaching will cover a number of important areas. You will be expected to consolidate and integrate your existing skills on your clinical attachments.  You will also learn safe and effective methods for a number of new procedural skills throughout the year required for investigation and management of patients.

An exciting feature of Year 3 is the 6 week Medical Humanities SSC, a unique opportunity for full time study in an area that will help give students a different perspective on medicine. Students can chose from a variety of subjects which currently include:

• Global health and Humanities
• History of Medicine
• Modern Languages for Medical Students.

Your Clinical Years – MBChB Years 4 and 5

In year 4, your diagnostic and management skills are developed through clinical practice and contact with patients. You undertake nine five-week clinical blocks that will ultimately cover all the body systems and give you experience of all major medical specialties. These clinical opportunities are based in hospitals and the community, in and around Aberdeen and Inverness. Students undertake at least one clinical block in Inverness.

Year 5 (final year) is very much an apprentice year that prepares you for the competent, safe, effective and professional practice of medicine as a pre-registration foundation doctor. You will gain extensive clinical experience during three attachments in medicine, surgery and GP/psychiatry over the widest of locations. Worldwide locations are commonly sought during the project-based elective. Prior to qualification, professional skills will be enhanced by undertaking two Professional Practice Blocks and Student Assistantships in each block.

Student Electives  

In your final year, you may choose to travel virtually anywhere in the world to undertake an 8-week project-based elective. The organisation and planning of the elective commences in Year 4, when much advice is available for its development.  

Further Information

The Great Outdoors  

There is a wealth of world class facilities available that cater for most possible sporting and social activities around Aberdeen. There is also a very active Medical Student Wilderness Society which has in recent years organised summer trips to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and the Inca Trail in Peru, incorporating studies of altitude sickness. 

Timetable of Events

March: St Andrews Briefing for Departing Students

At this session, you should have been given forms from Aberdeen for completion that must be returned to the St Andrews School teaching office:

• Student Information Admissions form for Direct Entrants
• Financial Guarantee form
• PVG Disclosure form, photo ID and payment
• Occupational Health Form -to be completed online - http://gohealthservices.com/uastudents/screening 

These documents will be forwarded to Aberdeen on your behalf.

May: Selection of Topics for Humanities Block

• You will be contacted via email with details of the Humanities Block to be undertaken in November/December. This is a unique block that comprises course options that are chosen by the student. The aim of most options is to give students an opportunity to acquire an alternative ‘take’ upon medicine and/or health, sickness or disability, which is not provided by the mainstream medical curriculum.
• To allow you to view details of the Block and how to make your choices.
• Your choices must then be returned to Miss Simpson.

June: Documentation you will receive from Aberdeen

• We will send you a Certificate of Acceptance that contains your student ID number and MBChB start and finish dates
• Information about generating a university photo ID card will be sent.  These cards also serve as library cards and security swipe cards for out-of-hours access to the Medical School and will be issued at the start of term.
• You will receive information about online application for university accommodation (if this is what you choose) using your student ID number.
• Information about University accommodation can be found here.

June/July/August

• If you prefer to rent private accommodation, don’t leave this too late otherwise you will be competing with the Freshers.
• From 3^rd year, many students elect to share one of the many houses or self-catering flats available for rent near to the Foresterhill site. When students undertake clinical attachments outwith Aberdeen, they usually maintain a home base locally, but whenever possible, accommodation and travel is paid for during distant placements by University or NHS sources.
• For information about private accommodation, see: https://www.ausa.org.uk/ausaadvice/accommodation/
• Alternative web searches for private accommodation in Aberdeen could include the following property list of letting agencies at: http://www.citylets.co.uk/letting-agents/aberdeen/

August: Joining Pack

You will receive an Aberdeen University‘ Joining Pack’ that includes the following:

• Information about Online Registration.
• Timetable for Joining Activities in September

September: Commencement of Studies

Welcome, Introduction and Joining the MBChB Programme

You will be required to attend a week before the start of the Year 3 term to allow for all the necessary registration checks to be made. A timetable of activities will be undertaken including:

• A welcome to Aberdeen
• Information about the curriculum you will be joining
• Introduction to the members of staff with whom you will have close contact, including the St Andrews Students Clinical Tutor
• Information about learning in a clinical environment
• Details of the Bridging teaching
• Other activities will include:
  • Issue of both university ID and hospital ID cards
  • Information on the use of MyMBChB (a web-based intranet resource)
    including access to the Year 3 Learning guides. These are on-line comprehensive course booklets that support each individual System or block of teaching and also direct students towards the further researching of topics
  • Attendance at Occupational Health for blood tests (helpful to bring previous immunisation certificates)
  • Registration with a GP
  • Clinical orientation at Foresterhill

At the Beginning of Term

Registration for Year 3: You will already have registered during the previous week's joining activities.

University ID cards: Your university ID card also serves as a library card and security swipe card for access to the Medical School Buildings outwith the times of 8am to 6pm.

Hospital ID cards: Your Hospital ID card should be worn at all times within the confines of all the hospitals and clinical areas you attend, when you should also ensure that staff and patients are aware that you are a medical student.

Dress Code: The wearing of white coats is no longer a requirement when you visit the hospital wards, however students are expected to appear clean, tidy and wearing reasonably smart clothes. Jeans and trainers are not permitted. In addition, male students should not wear a tie and shirt sleeves should be short or rolled up.

Regent: You will be assigned a Regent and invited to come and meet him/her at an informal Regents' Event during Freshers Week.

Once you have your University accounts, you can retrieve useful information from the MyMBChB, including hospital maps, personal timetables and course materials. You should check your email accounts daily and keep them trimmed. Electronic contact is the means by which the MBChB office will make contact with you.

Why Aberdeen?

The University of Aberdeen has a long and distinguished history of producing excellent medical graduates, many of whom have subsequently travelled the world practising medicine or undertaking highly acclaimed research.

The Medical School is relatively small, enabling us to offer superb care and support for our “medical apprentices’, whilst remaining at the forefront in areas of medical research. The clinical facilities, both locally and across the Highlands and Islands are outstanding and available to all students.

The Aberdeen medical programme leads to the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB). Our aim is to produce excellent doctors who will be able to assimilate and apply new knowledge throughout their careers and who will themselves contribute to the advancement of medicine. We encourage a critical approach to the study of underlying principles and the development of independent thought. This is linked to practical training in the Clinical Skills Centre and in hospitals and the community. Our students develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that ensure they are well prepared for life as a junior doctor and that provide a firm basis for postgraduate training and lifelong education.

Find out more about:

• Our curriculum, special features and assessment can be found here
• University of Aberdeen support for all International Students

Joining the Aberdeen MBChB

Your First Year– MBChB Year 3

IMU students join existing Aberdeen students at the beginning of the third year of study.

The Bridging Course

Your curriculum at the IMU does mirror in general the one delivered in Aberdeen, but we recognise the issues involved in moving to a new country and medical school.  Accordingly, we run a 1-week bridging course to help you settle in to our city and medical school.  You will be given an outline of the MBChB programme in general and in Year 3 in particular, including our assessment methods (exam structure).

You will be initially welcomed to the Medical School and complete the necessary documentation within the MBChB Office. You will need to be issued with University and Hospital ID badges and attend Occupational Health to ensure your health and immunisation details are known and registered.

You will be given an initial tour of the Foresterhill site and the Library where you will be logged on to the university network and shown how to set up your individual e-mail accounts.

Thereafter, the Bridging Course includes the following activities:

• Update in communication and clinical skills and in CPR.
• Introduction to the Foundations of Primary Care.
• An orientation to Hospital ward teaching.

You will also have the opportunity to attend the Welcome to International students.

As we are keen to help our IMU students integrate into the Aberdeen curriculum as easily as possible, we will happily consider other topics for inclusion in the bridging course, should students feel their need.

MBChB Year 3

In Year 3, you will learn about the reproductive system, psychiatry, haematology and immunology and begin to learn more about the application of Foundations of Clinical Method (FoCM) to specialty systems including paediatrics and care of the elderly.  Year 3 FoCM teaching will cover a number of important areas.  You will be expected to consolidate and integrate your existing skills on your clinical attachments.  You will also learn safe and effective methods for a new number of new procedural skills throughout the year required for investigation and management of patients.

An exciting feature of Year 3 is the 6 week Medical Humanities SSC, a unique opportunity for full time study in an area that will help give students a different perspective on medicine. Students can chose from a variety of subjects which currently include:

• Global health and Humanities
• History of Medicine
• Modern Languages for Medical Students.

Your Clinical Years – MBChB Years 4 and 5

In year 4, your diagnostic and management skills are developed through clinical practice and contact with patients. You undertake nine five-week clinical blocks that will ultimately cover all the body systems and give you experience of all major medical specialties. These clinical opportunities are based in hospitals and the community, in and around Aberdeen and Inverness. Students undertake at least one clinical block in Inverness.

Year 5 (final year) is very much an apprentice year that prepares you for the competent, safe, effective and professional practice of medicine as a pre-registration foundation doctor. You will gain extensive clinical experience during three attachments in medicine, surgery and GP/psychiatry over the widest of locations. Worldwide locations are commonly sought during the project-based elective. Prior to qualification, professional skills will be enhanced by undertaking two Professional Practice Blocks and Student Assistantships in each block.

Student Electives

In your final year, you may choose to travel virtually anywhere in the world to undertake an 8-week project-based elective. The organisation and planning of the elective commences in year 4, when much advice is available for its development.

Selection Process

IMU students are matched to a partner medical school overseas by a computer-based process. Both students and the partner schools contribute to the information used in the process. The precise criteria this University uses to select IMU students are available to all IMU students locally at IMU (contact Student Affairs office).

Briefly, we take particular account of the students' academic record and progress at the IMU, but also the comments that the students themselves make in their personal statements and the comments we receive in a pro forma letter from the IMU Dean.

We are unable to consider IMU students who prefer to apply directly to Aberdeen in preference to accepting the clinical place allocated elsewhere by the above method of selection.

Entrance Requirements

As communication with patients such that BOTH parties understand one another is a vital skill in Medicine, our normal IELTS requirements for overseas applicants are to achieve a minimum of 7.0 Overall, with 7.0 in the Speaking section, prior to commencement of the course. These requirements must be achieved within two years of the commencement of studies.

IMU transfer students are required to have achieved a minimum of IELTS 7.0 overall and 7.0 in Speaking and may even need to retake the test to ensure their results are still valid for the curriculum start date.

Tuition Fees and Visa Information

• For information on International fees please see the tuition fees website.

• All International students should be aware of important changes that have been made to visa applications. Any international students planning to study full-time in the UK need to apply for their visa under Tier 4.

For further information, please visit the main SRAS University website, plus United Kingdom Visa and Immigration (UKVI) website.

Accommodation

What type of accommodation can students entering the third year of medicine look for?

Many universities nowadays only offer hostel privileges to the first year students, and students in the second year onwards have to search for their own private accommodation, however, students at the University of Aberdeen in any year are entitled to apply for university accommodation. The University Halls of Residence are all located close to the main campus at Kings in Old Aberdeen and further away from the Foresterhill Campus, where your teaching will take place. However, there is a regular free bus service from the University Halls of Residence to the Foresterhill Campus.

The student accommodation at Spring Gardens, Causeway View and Farmers Hall Lodge is much closer. Students who will start in September will have to commit to a full academic year accommodation contract.  IMU students will have to enter into a private agreement if they want to live there with Unite, and will be competing with students from other Universities and Colleges in Aberdeen so if you would like to stay here, you will have to contact them as soon as you can. More information can be found at the Unite website.

The other option is to look for privately rented accommodation and one of the best sites to do this is on the Student Association website https://www.ausa.org.uk/ausaadvice/accommodation/ or on public websites like Gumtree or ASPC.

Very often the seniors who are already here will be able to help the new students to find accommodation and it is worthwhile getting in touch with them.