1. Medical Science Dr Linda Lefievre
-Welcome to Birmingham and our Med School
-I’m LL, admission tutor for entry, lecturer and researcher, 3rd year undergraduate project in my lab
-Will present overview of Med Sci course to enable you to make an informed choice
Medical Science
Dr Linda Lefievre

2. Medical Science How the human body functions in health and disease
A science degree programme
Involvement in high profile research
Excellent teaching resources
-Medical Science similar to other Biomedical sciences programme, 3 year course with but not yet accreditation and it is taught in Medical school NOT a Science college
-Sums up programme: Med Sci is about how the human body works and what could go wrong in disease. Focus on major body systems down to cellular and molecular level
--Although taught in Medical School this is course focus is of the science behind medicine
-Our aim is to train future scientist that will make discoveries that can be translated into clinical practice by doctors/clinicians – so called translational science
- Bham research intensive university - staff teaching (researcher)on the Med Sci course are experts in their own field (internationally recognised). Their expertise feeds into and strengthen this course
-UoB is committed to excellence in teaching and has made recent investments including refurbishment in the Med School including Library and new Learning Hub, teaching/research labs facilities, invested in Learning Technologies (well equipped lecture theatre, recording, projector, visualiser), SGT room, prosectorium.

3. The Medical School College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Focus - integrate basic science with clinical expertise
-Medical science taught in Med school which is part of The CMDS and is a major international centre for research and education in medicine, medical sciences, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy.
-converts to research income of 60M/year
-This integration from bench to bedside is possible due to the ideal location of Med School...

4. The Medical School Medical School Birmingham Women’s Hospital
Institute of
Biomedical Research
New Queen Elizabeth
Hospital
Cancer Sciences
-if look at aerial view of the Medical School is at 5 min walking distance, at the centre of all these research/clinical facilities
-This is truly an ideal setting for our medical science course

5. Medical Science Course Structure Common course in year 1
Breadth and depth of knowledge
Core modules and choices in year 2
Early specialisation
End of year 2
-Year out in Industry
-Summer vacation project – funds available
Extensive and informed choice in year 3
Research focussed
We have modified the structure of our course
Y1: provides core knowledge of all major disciplines of medical science
Y2: provides you with deeper learning across selected disciplines
Y3: provides specialisation in scientific areas linked to our College research activities
Assessment:
25 % in-course work;
75 % exam
Y1 (120 cr) pass
Y2 (120 cr) 25% of final mark
Y3 (120 cr) 75% of final mark (research project worth 50cr)
Total of 360 cr degree
Projects: 10 week term, 8 weeks in summer
Industry: Glaxo Smith Kline, Astra-Zeneca, Lilly, Pfizer.

6. Medical Science Course Structure – Final Year
First semester – Choose 2 from a range of modules
Infection: Bacterial Threats and Defence
Viruses: Threats & Defence
Cardiovascular Science (Integrative Mechanisms)
Molecular and Integrative Pharmacology
Cell Toxicity and Carcinogenesis
Stem Cells, Differentiation and Disease
Liver Cell Biology and Function in Health and Disease
Molecular Medicine
Neuropharmacology +
Cellular Pathology
Cancer Pathogenesis and Treatment
New Targets and Drugs in Cancer Therapy
Medical and Molecular Genetics
-3rd year offers students a wide range of subjects (about 20 choices) from which to choose reflecting Y2 pathways and our research themes
-All taken to a high level, and taught by experts of these fields
-Choose one 5-week course from left in 1st ½ of term, + one from right
Neurobiology of the Brain
Cardiovascular Science (Cell Biology)
Cellular Control by Hormones and Neurotransmitters
Reproduction and Development
Neuroscience
Biology of Ageing

7. Medical Science Course Structure – Final Year
Second Semester:
Research Project – 10 weeks
Choice of >100 laboratory-based projects,
Novel piece of research – publishable in scientific journals
Full-time – allows complete engagement
Well funded £1100
One-to-one supervision
Enhance problem-solving and analytical skills
-aim is to develop independent thought and scientific reasoning,
-opportunities to learn how to construct and test hypotheses, design experiments, analyse and interpret data and draw meaningful conclusions.
-no library projects all wet projects

8. Medical Science Employability
-Employment prospects?
-snapshot - 6 month post graduation
-We are doing on average better than nationally and you could notice that although last year there was a drop the number are going up with is promising
-Programme therefore continues to provide strong grounding for employment in jobs that relate to the subject area taught
-as we equip student with important and valuable transferable skills
-group work
-problem solving
-independent learning
-Presentation skills
Note
- It is possible that in general employment may reflect decline in availability of jobs nationally and as well graduate jobs -
(number in graduate employment or further study ÷ total) × 100
(number in employment or further study ÷ total) × 100
From Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey result, which provides a “snapshot” at 6 months after graduation (excludes graduates taking time out or not available for employment)

9. Medical Science Career Destinations
-Survey of >600 of our graduates since Snap shot of 1 year post graduation
-Very low rate of unemployment
Further qualifications
PhD correspond to about 23% (1/4) cohort
Medicine/Dentistry/GEC correspond to aobut 10% (1/10) cohort
- about 50% go onto study PhD many Bham
-1/6 (17%) Master’s
-1/4 (23%) Medicine/Dentistry, some fast tract graduate entry course (GEC)
-8% teacher training
Degree related
-21% hospital labs
-16% pharmaceutical companies
-23% technician University
-management
-science journalism
-clinical trials
General
-finance related (19%) -business (18%)
-IT (4%) other (59%)

10. BMedSc Career Destinations
- Very high overall employment rate

11. Further Qualifications
Approx. ½ of these students go on to study PhD, many at Birmingham
College of Medicine supports us in attracting our best medical science students by providing funded studentships
Many take Masters qualifications (approx. 1/6) - top up for careers which require additional training, e.g. environmental health.
~1/4 undertake a vocational programme , many opting for fast track (graduate-entry) route rather than the conventional 5 year route. However, this is still very competitive
Our Head of College, previously Head of Cancer Sciences Institute, now a ProVC, said best PhD student he ever had was from this course.

12. Degree-related employment
~1/5 - ¼ of our graduates in work related to Med Sci
Laboratory, admin/sales and clinical trials/data-analysis linked as theme “Biotech companies”.
- reflects the range of careers options in companies such as Glaxo Smith Kline.
~¼ of our graduates in university labs as part of research teams, ~1/5 in hospital labs.
May need some additional top-up training to work in areas such as Diagnostic labs. (probably just worth mentioning that we are not an accredited programme)
Some students enter science journalism and others enter the NHS hospital management training scheme.

13. General Employment
About 1/5 of our graduates work in careers not related to medical science
“Other” includes some interesting alternatives – Law, Journalism, even 2 airline pilots!

14. Medical Science Admission Criteria Typical offer: AAB/ABB
Alternative offer A2B/ROP: BBB
Three A2 subjects (two sciences)
Biology is advised at least to AS level
Motivation to study Medical Science
Invited to a ‘Medical Science’ Applicant Visit Day
-Offers made would be officially AAB but we will offer ABB depending on subjects
-Math, Biol, Chem, Physics
-Typically on result day 90% (85 places) meet offer which leaves about 5-10% discretionary (overall application, look personal statement, previous marks and show interest in science)
-If you have not studied Biology, not a requirement but will need to catch up using A-level textbook, steeper learning curve
Personal statement
-General interest in science
-Explain motivation and knowledge of the course
-Looking for a well rounded candidate, not just academic but demonstrate other interests (part time job, duke of Edinburgh, music, sport, tutoring etc)
-Relevant work experience not require
-Some of you may also apply for medicine/dentistry and use us as insurance so personal statement related to medicine/dentistry are acceptable, if could add again general interest in science even better…

15. Medical Science Summary
Why study Medical Science at University of Birmingham?
Focus on science behind human health and disease
Very well funded and full time final year project
Strong support for teaching and research
Good employment prospects
Personal tutoring to monitor academic progress
Many opportunities for sport, music, drama, etc
Student Wellbeing Service
Financial aid package
Medical Science lectures, tutorials and practicals are all given in one building we also have a own computer cluster containing 250 computers and medical library one of the biggest –access free online scientific journals and textbooks.
– this all in one building is an advantage to many other universities

16. Medical Science UCAS code: B900 Admissions tutors: Dr Linda Lefievre
Dr Kevin Whitehead
Telephone enquiries:
/3660
Web Site:
-Here are our details for the course and name and address to contact admission tutor.
-You can find this information on website if you go to course/Med Sci
-I would be happy to answer a few questions but I would invite you to come and visit the Medical Science admission team in Ground floor of Wolfson common room by pop up stand or if you are leaving please do us if you have any queries.
Thank you!