Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry ... · place very close to Queen Mary’s...

Barts and The London School of Medicine and DentistryUndergraduate Prospectus Entry 2013

smd.qmul.ac.uk

The

east LondonadvantageBarts and The London serves ahuge population of unrivalleddiversity in the east of London,but is also next door to the City ofLondon, one of the UK’s richestneighbourhoods. This means thatour medical and dental studentsencounter a huge range ofmedical conditions while buildingthe patient contact hours theyneed to become confident andcompetent professionals.

“East London and the widerThames Gateway offer ourmedical students the opportunityto observe a wide range ofdiseases – from diabetes,hypertension, heart disease,cancer, obesity, TB and evenmalnutrition. This is a uniquelearning environment for theirmedical training.”Cathy Baker, Head of GraduateEntry Programme in Medicine

2012 Olympics onour doorstepThe 2012 Olympics are taking

place very close to Queen Mary’sMile End campus, and ourWhitechapel and West Smithfieldcampuses are also not far away.Barts Hospital, the new RoyalLondon Hospital and ourassociated Trusts will providehealthcare for the Olympicathletes and the general publicduring the summer games. Thiswill be an exciting time to be inLondon.

Campus-basedBarts and The London is part ofQueen Mary, the only College ofthe University of London to offerextensive campus-based facilities.This promotes a sense ofcommunity and encourages anactive student life. All our firstyear medical and dental studentswho live a certain distance fromthe School are allocated places inresidences at the Whitechapel,Charterhouse Square and MileEnd campuses. East London alsooffers affordable privately-ownedaccommodation at a walkingdistance from our campuses. Seepage XX for more details aboutaccommodation.

State-of-the-artclinical facilitiesWe have modern state-of-the artbuildings alongside moretraditional teaching facilities suchas our fantastic library. The DentalSchool now contains a clinicalskills laboratory which closelysimulates the real clinical

Welcome to Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry

Thank you for considering Barts and TheLondon as a place you would like to study.Deciding where to study medicine or dentistry is a big deal, and we want to help you get itright. Please take the time to look through thisprospectus; we think you will like what you see.Then come and visit us and meet our staff andstudents. We are confident that you will pick up

on the pride that we all have in Barts and The London – and thewarmth of our welcome.

There is a genuine excitement about being part of this institution. A unique combination of contrasts andopportunities flows from our history. In the late 19th Century, Queen Mary, University of London grew out of the desire to bring education to the East End of London to people who had previously had limitedopportunities, either because of their social background or because there were so few opportunities available for women. In a relatively short period of time, the College has grown to achieve an extremely high international standing. Commenting on the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, the Times HigherEducation Supplement described us as “the biggest star among the research-intensive institutions”; and in the same process, we were ranked second in the UK in Dentistry and fourth in Medicine – and, in bothcases, top in London. Since then, we have been climbing all the externally validated league tables ofuniversities and medical and dental schools as well as the National Student Survey. In 2011, our graduateswere rated second in the UK in the applications for Foundation Year jobs.

Our history goes back much, much further. Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry bringstogether two venerable teaching institutions: St Bartholomew’s Hospital, which dates back to 1123, and The London Hospital Medical College, founded in 1785, the oldest medical school in England and Wales.The two hospitals lie in very different parts of London, the City and the East End, meaning that you will be exposed to a greater diversity of people and their problems than at almost any other medical school. This combination of the scientific excellence mentioned above, and the unmatched medical and dentalopportunities that flow from our location, means that we are in an unrivalled position to offer you the verybest experience as a student, shaping the sort of doctor or dentist you will become and the rest of your life.

Of course, it’s not all about studying. We are the only true campus-based medical and dental school inLondon and we offer fantastic social, sporting and cultural experiences for all our students. All this makesBarts and The London a great place to study. We hope you enjoy reading our prospectus and that you’llthink seriously about coming and joining the Barts and The London family. We’d love to welcome you!

Professor Anthony WarrensDean for Education, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry

Contents

Why study at Barts and The London? 02Essential facts about the School 06Curriculum andintercalated degrees 10Degree programmes – Medicine 14Degree programmes – Dentistry 20

Living in east London 26

Student life 28

Sport 32

Accommodation 34Living costs, tuition fees and bursaries 38

Student support 42

Entry requirements 46

Selection 54Further information and how to apply 62

Why study at Barts and The London?

Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry 3

Why study at Barts and The London?

The east Londonadvantage Our location in the east of Londonand elsewhere in the East LondonGateway will enhance yourexperience. Not only are we inone of the capital’s most vibrantareas to live, we also serve adiverse local community whereyou will develop your clinical skillsand knowledge.

Moreover, Barts and The Londonoffers you many excitingopportunities to develop anunderstanding of health and thetreatment of disease in a globaland international context. Manycurricular and extra-curriculardevelopments are underway tosupport learning in this area.

Campus-based Barts and The London is part ofQueen Mary, the only university incentral London to offer extensivecampus-based facilities. Thispromotes a sense of communityand encourages an active sociallife. If you are a single, full-time,first year undergraduate whoapplies during the normaladmissions cycle and has notlived in Queen Mary housingbefore, you may be eligible foraccommodation on campus.

Priority is given to those whoapply by the required deadlineand who live furthest away. EastLondon also offers affordableprivately-owned accommodationat a walking distance from ourcampuses. See page 34 for moredetails about accommodation.

State-of-the-artclinical facilities We have modern state-of-the-artbuildings alongside moretraditional facilities such as ourfantastic library. The DentalSchool now contains a clinicalskills laboratory, which closelysimulates the real clinicalexperience and is an invaluablelearning facility, helping newstudents prepare themselves wellfor patient care work in clinics.

A major part of the new RoyalLondon Hospital will be completedby 2016 and will include London’sleading trauma and emergencycare centre, one of Europe’slargest renal services and one of the UK’s biggest paediatricservices.

Excellence in researchThe 2008 Research AssessmentExercise results showed Barts andThe London School of Medicineand Dentistry joining Oxford,Cambridge, Imperial College andUniversity College London in thetop 5 medical and dental schoolsin England for quality of research.For more information, seewww.smd.qmul.ac.uk/research

Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry4

Why study at Bartsand The London?

Integrated curriculumand opportunityfor academicdevelopmentWe have completely eliminatedthe traditional divide between pre-clinical studies and clinical yearsand operate an integratedcurriculum, which means that youwill start seeing patients from thevery first term. Based on youracademic performance, you willalso have the opportunity to takean extra year of studies leading to an intercalated degree. Anadditional degree may give you a greater choice of careeropportunities.

InternationalstudentsWe have a long history ofwelcoming international studentsfrom many countries. We supportour international students in avariety of ways – each year, forexample, we visit Malaysia andSingapore to interview applicantsfrom around South East Asiahelping them to save on the cost of travelling to London for interview. For successfulapplicants, our internationalstudent welcome programme is designed to make you feel at home straight away. Theprogramme begins with collectionfrom the airport and an inductionthat includes practical adviceabout living and studying inLondon. You will also have the opportunity to meet otherinternational students.

Student support We have a highly developednetwork for pastoral andacademic support. At every stageof their studies our medical anddental students receive supportfrom staff who are experienced in helping and advising students.

FriendlyenvironmentWe pride ourselves on being afriendly School, with excellentstaff-student relationships.

Small dental school With around 80 students per year,we are still a relatively smalldental school. Our size andlocation mean that there is astrong sense of community andthat we are rarely short ofpatients. Dental students alsohave the opportunity to study at a variety of community and dentalclinics and also gain clinicalexperience through placementswith general dental practitioners.

‘‘‘‘I chose to study at Barts and TheLondon because I had heard verypositive comments about thequality of the teaching and thedown to earth atmosphere andattitudes of both staff and students.When compared to other medicalschools in London, Barts seemedlike the best place to be!” Latha Bonthala, MBBS

DID YOU KNOW?Barts and The London is part of Queen Mary, the only Collegeof the University of London tooffer extensive campus-basedfacilities.

Essential facts about the School



Barts and The London is part ofQueen Mary, University of London,one of the three largest colleges of the University of London. The College has around 17,000students enrolled on a wide rangeof programmes including sciences,arts, engineering, law and socialscience degrees. The onlyresidential campus-based Collegeof the University of London, Queen Mary provides a close-knitenvironment for studying.

The School of Medicine andDentistry was formed in 1995following the merger of TheMedical College of StBartholomew’s Hospital and TheLondon Hospital Medical College,both important training institutionswith long and distinguishedhistories.

The Royal London Hospitalopened its medical school in1785, making it the oldest inEngland and Wales, and the StBartholomew’s Hospital datesback to the twelfth century. TheDental School opened in 1911and celebrated its centenary in October 2011. Barts and TheLondon has a student body madeup of people from all over thecountry, from a range of differenteducational and socialbackgrounds. The School has2,351 undergraduate and 927postgraduate students, and is a major centre of medical anddental teaching and research inthe UK.

Our location in east London andthe wider Thames Gateway offersa great opportunity to developvaried clinical skills andknowledge. You will be living inone of the capital’s most vibrantareas and serve a diverse localcommunity.

As a student of Barts and The London, you will receive aUniversity of London degree whenyou graduate, and can also use allthe University of London’s facilitiesthroughout your course.

See www.lon.ac.uk for moreinformation.

What can I study at Barts and The London?We run three programmes inmedicine and one in dentistry:

• A five-year MBBS programme(A100)

• A shortened (four-year)Graduate-entry MBBSprogramme (A101)

• A shortened (three-year) Oraland Maxillofacial Surgery(OMFS)/Oral Medicineprogramme (A300)

• A five-year BDS programme(A200).

We also offer a range of taughtmedical and dental postgraduateprogrammes. For more information,see: www.smd.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate

‘‘‘‘There is a great social life with astrong community feel here whichwas evident from day one.Everyone looks out for each otherand is proud of being part of sucha prestigious institution. Faraaz de Belder, MBBS



Where will I be based?Teaching takes place on threecampuses: Mile End, WestSmithfield (site of St Bartholomew’sHospital) and Whitechapel (site ofthe Royal London Hospital), whichare based in east London and theCity of London.

Medical students: in the first twoyears (A100) or in your first year(A101) you will be taught at theWhitechapel, and sometimes atthe Mile End and West Smithfieldcampuses. From an early stage inthe medical programme you willgain experience in the localcommunity through attachmentswith general practices. Your third,fourth and fifth years (A100) oryour third and fourth years (A101)are mostly spent on the wards inone of the main hospitals used bythe School for teaching. Apartfrom the Royal London and Barts,students go to Homerton Hospital,Newham General and WhippsCross University Hospital, as wellas a number of other hospitals in Greater London and Essex.Students particularly value theirplacements in district generalhospitals, as they provideexcellent teaching resources witha good patient-to-student ratio.

Dental students: The BDSprogramme is based at Barts and The London Dental Schoolattached to the Royal LondonHospital in Whitechapel, but you will also undertake extendedoutreach periods in a number of

locations and placements withgeneral dental practitioners andlocal health centres. The DentalHospital provides a wide range ofservices and operates as a majorcentre for the local communityand for patients who needspecialist treatment. Experience ofdental practice outside the Schoolalso forms an important part ofyour learning. The dental school is currently due to move to a newlocation on the Whitechapelcampus sometime after 2016.

Teaching facilitiesand learning resourcesYou will be able to make use ofexcellent facilities and learningresources during your studies. We have listed a few of them below.

Hospital redevelopment programmeBarts and The London isundergoing a £1 billion hospitalredevelopment programme.Many of the hospital’s ageingbuildings are being replaced withstate-of-the-art healthcare facilitiesto rival the best in Europe. TheRoyal London Hospital will beBritain’s biggest new hospital,providing excellent general andspecialist services. The historicbuildings of Barts, Britain’s oldesthospital, will be refurbished,alongside a major new building to create a Cancer and CardiacCentre of Excellence. The wholedevelopment is due to becomplete by early 2016.

The Blizard Building At the heart of the Whitechapeldevelopment is the BlizardBuilding, which houses state-of-the-art facilities for studentsand staff: open-plan researchlaboratories, office space, a 400-seat lecture theatre and a cafe. The lecture theatre is fully equipped with audiovisualfacilities and an induction loopsystem.

There is also an interactivescience centre, Centre of the Cell,designed to inspire local schoolchildren to develop an interest inscience. The Centre is open tochildren, their parents andteachers. For more information,see www.centreofthecell.org

View of Helipad from thebottom of the new RoyalLondon Hospital building

DID YOU KNOW?The Royal London Hospital hasbeen the base of the LondonHelicopter Emergency MedicalService (HEMS) since 1990.


The Francis Bancroft Building This large modern building,located at Mile End, is used forpractical teaching during the firsttwo years (the first year for dentalstudents). It houses two lecturetheatres with IT facilities, andmulti-user laboratories equippedwith computers and closed-circuittelevision for practical classes.

Turnbull CentrePractical sessions on anatomy and physiology take place in theTurnbull Centre in the FrancisBancroft Building. Here tutors leaddemonstrations of anatomy usinganatomical specimens and models,clinical images, videos of surgicaland endoscopic procedures andspecialised computer imaging.Students also learn topographicalanatomy through cadavericdissections. The physiology labsuse state-of-the-art equipment andsoftware for practicals such as ECGanalysis and control of breathing.Online facilities are available for thepurpose of study, revision andassessment.

Garrod BuildingThe historic Medical Collegebuilding at Whitechapel hasteaching rooms for Problem-Based Learning (PBL) sessions(see page 11) as well as largerlecture theatres, computingfacilities and the Student Office.

Innovation CentreThe latest addition to theWhitechapel development is theInnovation Centre, which hasoffice space, a café and the A.E.Clark Kennedy, a 122-seat lecturetheatre which is fully equipped

with audiovisual facilities and aninduction loop system.

Clinical and CommunicationsSkills CentreAt West Smithfield, we have a purpose-built Clinical andCommunications Skills Centre,which is one of the mostadvanced of its kind and was thefirst to be developed in the UK.The Clinical Skills Centre isdesigned and equipped to allowmedical students to practiseclinical methods and practicalskills using mannequins andmodels. Communication skills are developed with the help ofspecially trained actors whosimulate patients and are able to give valuable feedback.

LibrariesDuring your studies you will haveaccess to a large collection ofbasic medical and dental texts inthe main library at Mile End. TheLibrary is open seven days a week.This resource is complemented bythe two large medical and dentalarchives based at the RoyalLondon and at Barts in older,architecturally distinguishedbuildings that are well worth a visit just to experience theiratmosphere.

All the libraries have computerfacilities and space where you canwork quietly on your own or withother students on group projects.You will also be able to use theextensive central facilities at theUniversity of London, including the library at Senate House whichcontains around 1.4 millionvolumes.

Computing facilities There are many computersavailable across Queen Mary’scampuses; the IT lab in theFrancis Bancroft Building, theLibrary at Mile End, and thecomputer centres at WestSmithfield and Whitechapelcampuses all have open-accesscomputers for you.

You will be given a personal emailaccount along with access to anextensive medical and dentalknowledge-base.

Curricula andintercalated degrees

Blizard Building interior, Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science


Curricula and intercalated degrees

Key benefits of ourinnovative curricula Early clinical experience An early introduction to clinicaltopics provides a context for yourlearning and makes studying moreenjoyable and relevant. In the firsttwo years, you will be able to startapplying your growing knowledge ina clinical context. Medical studentsaccompany GPs in consultations,discuss diagnoses, work withgeneral practice staff and, mostimportantly, meet patients. Dentalstudents have the opportunity ofstudying at a variety of communityand dental clinics. You will alsogain clinical experience duringplacements with general dentalpractitioners.

These experiences will help youappreciate the social factors thatinfluence health and healthcare.The diversity of the local populationwill give you a valuable insight intothe issues affecting different socialclasses and ethnic groups.

Wide-ranging experienceYou will develop your clinical skillsthrough a variety of clinicalattachments at the Royal London,Barts and Homerton Hospitals, as well as further afield athospitals in Greater London and Essex. Community generalpractice sessions are integratedinto these hospital attachmentscomplementing the clinical skillsteaching. This gives you a usefulpractical experience of a diverserange of healthcare settings.Dental students start outreach in their third year, working at

Barkantine, a new communitydental clinic on the Isle of Dogs.Here you will encounter acompletely different environmentand broaden your clinicalexperiences.

Excellent patient care Throughout our programmes weemphasise the development ofcommunication skills that areessential to building goodrelationships between doctor or dentist and their patients.Our curricula aim to enhanceunderstanding of ethical andmoral dilemmas relating tomedical and dental practice.

Greater choice Student Selected Components(SSCs) for medical studentsinclude fields such as HIVmedicine, diagnostic imaging,plastic surgery, intensive care and inner city general practice.For dental students the choicesinclude pathology, pharmacologyand social and psychologicalsciences.

Teamwork We encourage a team approachthroughout. In addition to workingwith fellow students on studyprojects, you will train alongsidenurses, physiotherapists and otherhealthcare professionals and, ifyou are a dental student, alongsidedental nurses, therapists andhygienists. These experiences willhelp you to appreciate better thedifferent roles involved in thedelivery of medical and dentalservices.

Learning and teaching We understand that the transitionfrom your school learningenvironment to university can bea challenge, and with supportfrom tutors, we encourage you todevelop an independent attitudeto learning. This approach isdesigned to prepare you well for life as a qualified doctor ordentist, when you will have to take responsibility for keepingyour knowledge up-to-datethrough continuing professionaldevelopment. Important featuresof teaching and learning are listedbelow:

• Problem-Based Learning (PBL):This is an element of themedical curriculum (A100 and A101). Here PBL involvesgroups of eight to ten studentsworking together to understandand explain the central issues ofa problem under the guidanceof a tutor. Effective teamwork is essential for PBL andundertaking independentresearch and presenting yourfindings to the group will helpyou retain the information, anddevelop your communicationskills. The early use of clinicalscenarios will help you applyyour knowledge. Please notethat even though PBL has aplace in the dental curriculum,it features to a far lesser extentthan for medicine.

• Practical sessions: Sessions take place in our laboratories, IT labs, clinical skills labs and


Curriculum and intercalated degrees

wards. The Dental School has arecently installed state-of-the-artclinical skills laboratory. Many ofthe courses taught in thislaboratory are part of extendedblocks of teaching allowing totalimmersion in the subject area.

• Seminars

• Lectures and symposia: In theDentistry course, symposia aimto integrate learning by focusingon all aspects of a particulartopic and making connections.

• Communication skills: You will have practical training ininterviewing techniques andspecial sessions devoted tocommunication between doctorsor dentists and their patients.

• Clinical Skills: In the early stages of the course thisinvolves working with GPs and community tutors.

• Care of dental patients: If youare a dental student, you willstart to experience the clinicalenvironment in your first yearand become involved in thecare of your own patients duringyour second year. You will takepart in examination, diagnosis,assessment and the preventionand management of disease,working alongside therapistsand hygienists also training atthe School.

• E-learning: You will have accessto a large amount of teachingmaterial via ‘Blackboard’ – anintranet-based facility whichenables you to revisit lecturesand masses of other teachingmaterial at any time you want.

Intercalated degree– a chance to gainan extra qualificationAt Barts and The London Schoolof Medicine and Dentistry, somestudents will have the opportunityto take an extra year of studyleading to a Bachelor of MedicalScience (BMedSci) or a Bachelorof Science (BSc). Normally takenat the end of either the third orfourth year, an intercalated degreeallows you to study in depth thebiomedical sciences that underpinyour course. This gives you agreater insight into your clinicalstudies and can also broadenyour career choices when yougraduate. The opportunity tointercalate depends on youracademic performance. Thestudy programmes aim toencourage you to experiment and undertake practical work and research projects in topicsthat form the theoretical basis ofmodern medicine and dentistry.You will benefit from tutors whohave personal researchexperience, lectures by outsidespeakers and workshops whereyou can talk about newdevelopments. ‘‘‘‘The School places a large focuson clinical teaching, and is set ina fascinating area of London, withlots of history and lots of stories,which all contribute to theexperience of studying here. Anthony Hopkins, MBBS


There are now 10 intercalateddegree programmes available:

• Bachelor of Science(Global Public Health and Primary Care)

• Bachelor of Medical Science(Molecular Medicine)

• Bachelor of Medical Science(Molecular Therapeutics)

• Bachelor of Science(Biomedical Engineering)

• Bachelor of Science(Clinical Materials)

• Bachelor of Science(Experimental Pathology)

• Bachelor of Science(Infection and Immunity)

• Bachelor of Science(Medical Education)

• Bachelor of Science(Neuroscience)

• Bachelor of Science(Sports and Exercise Medicine)

All students completingintercalated degrees after thefourth year are eligible to apply for an NHS means-tested bursaryand payment of tuition fees.

‘‘‘‘When choosing which medicalschool to attend, Barts and TheLondon really shone through ashaving a great social atmosphere,and great relations betweenstudents and the college/staff.When I came for my intervieweveryone was really open andfriendly in comparison to otherinterviews I’d had, and thisreinforced my first impression. Angela McGilloway, MBBS

For further information please see:www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students.aspTo find out more about ourintercalated degree programmes,see: www.smd.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/intercalated

DID YOU KNOW?Barts and The London were thefirst school of medicine anddentistry to offer an intercalatedBSc degree in MedicalEducation.

Degree programmes – Medicine

Clinical Skills Laboratory



Medical curriculumThe programme has beendesigned to provide students withthe medical knowledge, clinicalskills and professional attitudethat are required to become acompetent and safe FY1 Doctor.The curriculum closely follows the recommendations set out inTomorrow’s Doctors (GeneralMedical Council: September 2009).

The curriculum is taught in aseries of modules which arebased on BODY SYSTEMS which,in turn, encompass variousscientific and medical THEMES.Each system is visited a minimumof three times during theprogramme.

Phase 1 A100 (Years 1 and 2)Phase 1 is taught via a series of systems-based modules whichintroduce the basic biological sciences and address key topicsincluding normal biological structure and function of cells, organsand body systems; the effect of illness on people and their familiesand the impact of environmental and social factors on health. Students take five systems-based modules and three studentselected components (SSCs) each year. Students form an effectiveand mutually supportive community which encourages collaborativelearning through a programme of Problem Based Learning scenarios(PBLs), which involve groups of 8-10 students and a facilitatorworking together to tackle a problem presented as a clinicalscenario. In addition, learning is facilitated by a programme oflectures, workshops and other group activities. Regular patientcontact is a key feature of these early years.

Phase 1 A101 (Year 1)Students take eight modules – six systems-based plus HumanSciences and Public Health and Infection and Immunity. GraduateEntry Programme (GEP) students do not complete an SSCprogramme in their first year. Students form an effective and mutuallysupportive community, which encourages collaborative learningthrough a programme of Problem Based Learning scenarios (PBLs),see Phase 1 above for the five year MBBS. In addition, learning isfacilitated by a programme of lectures, workshops and other groupactivities. Regular patient contact is a key feature of these early years.All Year 1 students will practise dissection in the anatomy lab.



Student SelectedComponents (SSCs) There are 13 separate SSCsspread across the five years of theMBBS, comprising around 20 percent of the total programme.Some are carried out in blocks,lasting from two to five weeks,while others run throughout theyear. They are an integral part ofthe curriculum enabling studentsto demonstrate mandatorycompetences while allowing adegree of choice in studying anarea of particular interest to them.

• SSCs range from basic sciences(biochemistry, anatomy,physiology and pharmacology),to clinical specialities,community and public health,ethics and law as applied tomedicine and understanding theimportance of research in thedevelopment of medicine. Youare encouraged to pursue anyarea related to medicine ormedical sciences that hasparticularly interested you.Students are also encouraged to organise their own SSCs.

Phase 2 A100 (Years 3 and 4) and A101(Years 2 and 3)Students regularly return to the medical school for teaching weeksand assessments as well as being introduced to clinical medicinethrough a series of placements in our associate teaching hospitals.Their knowledge and clinical skills are enhanced by workingalongside clinical teams both in the hospital and also withincommunity placements. This enables them to expand and apply the knowledge and skills acquired during Phase 1.

Students may visit some or all of these hospitals during their clinicalyears: The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel • St Bartholomew’sHospital, West Smithfield, London • Whipps Cross University Hospital,Leytonstone, London • Newham University Hospital, Newham, London• Homerton University Hospital, Homerton, London • BroomfieldHospital, Chelmsford, Essex • Southend University Hospital, Southend,Essex • Colchester University Hospital, Colchester, Essex • ThePrincess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, Essex • Queens Hospital,Romford, Essex • King George Hospital, Romford, Essex

All students complete three SSCs a year, which are based aroundclinical scenarios, patient interviews and history taking andassociated issues surrounding their chosen patient.

Phase 3 A100 (Year 5) and A101 (Year 4)The final year of the programme provides students with clinical andcommunity placements, practical skills and first-hand experience ofthe working life of a first year Foundation Year (FY1) doctor.Students are placed in the hospital and firm where they will be basedfor their FY1 training. During this time, they shadow the current FY1doctor. Community placements include GP surgeries. Studentscomplete their SSC programme, which may include spending time in a specialty not previously experienced or may allow them to gain a deeper understanding in an area that already interests them.

Throughout the year, students return to the medical school for ateaching programme; in addition, there are individual sessions incommunication skills teaching and simulated patient scenarios.Students also complete their Intermediate Life Support qualification.

On successful completion of final examinations, students complete a four-week elective and this is followed by a further four-weekhospital placement shadowing the FY1 doctor they will be replacingfollowing graduation.

DID YOU KNOW?Barts and The London Schoolof Medicine and Dentistry wasthe first medical school in the country to offer a pre-hospital care programme:www.prehospitalcareprogramme.com


Elective One of the most interesting areas of the programme is the electiveperiod in your final year, in whichyou will spend time studying one ormore topics in the UK or abroad.This is a vital and challengingaspect of the programme enablingyou to gain experience invaluable to your future career and personaldevelopment.

Assessment The pattern of assessment is a combination of continuousassessment and regularexaminations throughout theprogramme, with final exams eachyear. A scheme of merits anddistinctions rewards excellent oroutstanding performance acrosseach sector of the curriculum.There is also a comprehensivescheme of prizes to recognisespecial ability both in the mainexaminations and in specialistsubjects.

Continuous assessmentContinuous assessment providesyou with regular opportunities toconsolidate your learning. You canmonitor your own progress andteaching staff can identify studentswho may need additional help withtheir studies. Continuousassessment takes many forms:short in-course examinations,written accounts of problems orcases studied, poster or clinical or other presentations, log-books,work-books, direct observation orclinical firm grades. This approachto the end-of-year examinations,results in less cramming andexamination stress for students.

End-of-year examinationsEnd-of-year examinationsmeasure progression through thecore curriculum and use a rangeof innovative assessmentmethods. Written papers testknowledge and its application toproblem solving with extendedmatching questions, short answerand modified essay questions,often used in conjunction withclinical scenarios. In addition,computer-based exams foranatomy, histology and datainterpretation are used in the firsttwo phases of the programme.

Student profile

‘‘

‘‘Latha Bonthala, MBBS Medicine(A100), third year

I chose to study at Barts and TheLondon because I had heard verypositive comments about thequality of the teaching and thedown-to-earth atmosphere andattitudes of both staff and students. When compared to othermedical schools in London, Barts seemed like the best place to be!

The Medicine in Society placements mean you are placed in thecommunity right from the start, which is both enjoyable andincredibly beneficial. Also, the regular in-course assessments werevery useful in consolidating all the information learnt during the year,particularly in the run-up to the end of year examinations.

One thing there is no shortage of in east London is a social life!There is always something to do, and always people ready tocelebrate successes in the recently renovated Griffin Students’Union building. The leisure and recreational facilities are great atQueen Mary’s Mile End campus. There is a good choice of places to unwind whichever way you want to, for example exercising in theQmotion Centre or relaxing with friends by the canal.




Objective Structured ClinicalExaminations (OSCEs)These are used from the first year of the programme to assess competence in clinical,communication and practicalskills. Students move through a series of stations, where theyhave five or ten minutes toperform a specified task with real or simulated patient or amannequin.

Formative assessment workshops Formative assessment workshops(where scores do not count) andinformal feedback in small groupteaching sessions help youdevelop your knowledge, personaland group skills throughout theprogramme.

Assessment of Student SelectedComponentsSSCs are assessed individually ona simple grading system, whichbuild into a portfolio coveringmany aspects of medicine. Theymust be successfully completedat the end of each year in order toprogress to the next year and canhelp inform the award of merit inother parts of the programme.

Student profile

‘‘

‘‘Faraaz de Belder, MBBS Medicine (A100),fourth year

I chose to study here because of the excellentquality of teaching and the exciting andprogressive campus environment. Also, there is a great social life with a strong communityfeel here which was evident from day one. Everyone looks out for each other and is proud of being at such aprestigious institution.

Barts and The London really places an emphasis on teaching you to become a clinician, rather than a scientist, which I think is veryimportant. By focusing on how to recognise and treat disease,coupled with early patient contact in the preclinical years, you reallybegin to think like a doctor. The spiral curriculum helps too, as youconstantly revisit topics throughout your time here.

During my second year, I had the privilege of operating as theassistant surgeon on a plastic surgery case. This started with visitingthe patient pre-op, and gowning and scrubbing before performingthe surgery with the surgeon guiding me. I then sutured the woundand followed the patient’s recovery and discharge over the next fewdays. Getting my name as the “assistant surgeon” on the operativerecord and being thanked by the patient sincerely…all at the age of19 and as a second year, preclinical medical student was awonderful experience. It could only have happened at Barts andThe London.

DID YOU KNOW?In 2005 Queen Mary, Universityof London and City Universitywere jointly awarded aprestigious Centre of Excellencefor Teaching and Learning(CETL) Award for clinical andcommunication skills, the onlyLondon medical school toreceive such an award.

19Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry

Student profile

‘‘‘‘Sanjay Shroff, MBBS Medicine (A101), second year

Barts and The London’s location in east Londonmeans that you are exposed to a unique varietyof medical conditions, with ailments affecting therich, the poor, and patients from variousethnicities and backgrounds. The courseencourages early clinical exposure helping you to understand howtheory fits into practice. Early on in my first year, for example, I wasable to observe an angiography of the coronary arteries – it mademe realise the great responsibility on the shoulders of doctors andhow lucky I am to be studying medicine. Since then I have alsoobserved a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG).

The University pay great attention to student feedback and alwayslisten to us and then try to implement changes. This ensures thatthe course meets the needs of the students. The hospital atWhitechapel is brand new, with an emergency helicopter serviceand one of the largest A&E departments in Europe – this makes it a very exciting and fast-paced place to be.

I’ve also benefitted from Queen Mary’s support for studententrepreneurs, winning a £1,500 award to help me develop an ideato simplify the process for issuing prescription medicine in pharmacies.

Degree programmes – Dentistry

Clinical Care at the Adult Polyclinic



Dental curriculum The five-year course leading toBachelor of Dental Surgery hasbeen completely redesigned in2012 to allow a moderncurriculum which provides aglobally aware, student-focused,integrated, multidisciplinaryapproach to acquisition and use of knowledge, which:

• Promotes oral health andprovides patient-centred,evidence-based care;

• Develops knowledge, skillsvalues, attributes and behavioursof a dental professional

• Recognises the need for lifelonglearning and professionaldevelopment

• Promotes the awareness of knowledge creation.

These provide the means to gainthe appropriate knowledge, skills,attitudes and understanding ofscientific and clinical principles so that you are able to apply themto the prevention, alleviation andtreatment of oral diseases. Great emphasis is placed on theacquisition of clinical skills andprofessional attributes by workingclosely with your teachers, peersand other members of the dentalteam. You will provide patient carein a range of settings, exposingyou to a diverse population groupand a variety of opportunities forprofessional development.

5 YR BDS (A200) Year 15 YR BDS (A200) Years 2-5

The new curriculum will have fivethemes running through all theyears, with some themes having a greater presence in the earlyyears. The themes will be:

• Scientific basis of clinicalpractice: more dominant inYears 1 and 2 but will runthroughout the programme

• Clinical practice: more dominantfrom Year 2 onwards

• Teamwork and professionalismand social responsibility: runs as a continuum throughout allyears

• Evidence-based dentistry, dentalpublic health, global health andresearch: all years

• Academic advising andgraduate attributes: overarchingsupport of individualdevelopment through feedback,monitoring and careerdevelopment throughout allyears.

(A200) SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF CLINICALPRACTICE/CLINICAL PRACTICE YEAR 1Stage 1OverviewThe first part of the programme aims to introduce you to basicbiological principles. You will develop the study skills necessarythroughout the programme to make the successful transition fromschool to university learning. Through lectures, seminars, practicalsand clinical sessions in the dental hospital and e-learning, you will be given a firm grounding in the scientific basis of clinical practice.

What will I be doing?You will be introduced to: the normal biological structure andfunction of cells, the body’s main organs and systems, oral biology,the effects of illness on people and their families, the impact ofenvironmental and social factors on health and clinical skills; dentalmaterials and their application; key early clinical skills and criticalthinking.



FINAL YEAR PREPARATION FOR INDEPENDENT PRACTICE Stage 3Overview The final part of the curriculum provides you with the opportunity to consolidate the knowledge and skillsyou have developed in preparation for professional dental practice. There will be a greater exposure ofcases and teaching normally seen as tertiary referral.

What will I be doing?As newly qualified dentists you will work for a year in an approved practice as part of your Dental FoundationTraining. This year is often called Vocational Training or DFY1. Your final year is designed to consolidate theknowledge and skills acquired in the earlier part of the course as well as assist you in obtaining the bestresults in readiness for application of your first job after qualification.

Teaching is delivered through symposia, small group teaching, elective modules and continuing clinical,including practice visits. As part of your preparation for graduation you will get a chance to hear theexperiences of graduates when they applied for jobs. You will also hear about different career routes fromdentists working in different fields.

During this period you will consolidate your own career pathway and recognise your distinctive graduateattributes. The Queen Mary careers team provide excellent support, including group workshops (eg interviewskills), careers diagnosis and one-to-one advice. They also provide a range of information on the Mind theGap website (www.mindthegap.qmul.ac.uk).

CLINICAL PRACTICE, SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF CLINICAL PRACTICE(A200) YEARS 2-4Stage 2Overview You will build on the knowledge gained in the first year and apply this to learn about the body systems in both health and disease, with topic areas geared towards the requirements of a dentist in training.Particular emphasis is placed on oral biology, including the study of normal structures and functions ofthe adjacent tissues. This leads to the consideration of abnormalities and diseases of the mouth and theunderstanding of how to care effectively for patients suffering from them. During the second year there isa greater emphasis on patient care, which increases throughout the subsequent years. All the normaldisciplines are covered, including adult and child restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, endodontics, oralsurgery and orthodontics. During Years 3 and 4 you will experience dental practice in our outreachcentres with a diverse group of patients in which you will devise strategies for prevention and treatment.

What will I be doing?A considerable proportion of time will be spent in clinical contact with patients, coupled withcomplementary educational activities, including seminars, laboratory class work, tutorials, e-learningprojects and library activity. You will also be encouraged to engage critically with knowledge and ultimatelybe able to adapt to new and unfamiliar settings while providing treatment for your patients.


Elective modulesElective modules are included inthe dental curriculum to provideopportunities for you to studyparticular areas of personalinterest in greater depth.Examples of SSCs currently on offer, include:

• Pathology

• Pharmacology

• Clinical and Communication Skills

• Dental Materials Science

• Prevention of Oral Diseases.

Clinical andcommunication skillsWe emphasise the development ofclinical and communication skills inoral healthcare, history-taking andpatient examination. You willpractise communication skills insmall groups using role-play witheach other and simulated patients.Clinical skills are taught in ourclinical skills laboratories and twoon-site polyclinics – one for adults,one for children and in twopurpose-built outreach centres atBarkantine in London Docklandsand at Southend-on-Sea in Essex.Further outreach locations arecurrently in development.

As well as developing your clinicalskills at the Dental School, you willalso spend time at the RoyalLondon and St Bartholomew’sHospitals. You will be givenresponsibility to manage your ownsupervised practise in the DentalInstitute.

Ethics and jurisprudence Through case-oriented groupdiscussions, you will gain aninsight into the salient aspects of ethics and jurisprudence (law),which relate to working in dentalpractice. Topics discussed willinclude informed consent, truthtelling, confidentiality, medicaland dental experimentation andresearch, rights of children, rightsof mentally ill people and thosewith a learning impairment andthe moral and legal obligations of the dental practitioner.

Elective period One of the most interesting areas of the programme is the electiveperiod at the end of Year 4, inwhich you will spend time studyingone or more topics in the UK orabroad. This is a vital andchallenging aspect of theprogramme enabling you to gainexperience invaluable to your futurecareer and personal development.

Student profile

‘‘‘‘Vikki Argent, BDS Dentistry (A200) fourthyear

I chose Barts and The London for a number of reasons: it always scores really well in the league tables, and is only two hours from home for me so I can go home for a weekend if I want. At the open day I wasreally impressed with the campus and the facilities, but more sowith how friendly and helpful all the people were!

It’s got a really nice intimate environment with only 80 students,(including those on the Graduate Entry Programme) so everyoneknows everyone and is really supportive of each other.

The clinical teaching staff are superb, you have a different tutorevery year so you get a wide range of help and experience.

The location is excellent, we have a local cinema, some bars and pubs and some good restaurants in Brick Lane as well asSpitalfields and Petticoat Lane markets. For everything else it’s a 20minute tube ride to central London or a 10 minute DLR journey tothe Docklands.

DID YOU KNOW?Barts and The London dentalstudents start working in ourclinics in Year 1 and seeingtheir own patients in Year 2.

AssessmentA range of innovative methods isused to assess your progress andacquisition of knowledge andskills. We are moving away fromthe ‘finals’ examination that wasonce the traditional climax of adental student’s programme. You accumulate a varyingproportion of your marks as you progress throughout theprogramme. All assessments arefocused on you demonstrating theintegration of knowledge and itsapplication in practice. Promptand effective feedback is alwaysprovided following suchassessment. You will receivedetails of all assessments in ahandbook given to students at the start of the programme and on the virtual learningenvironment (Blackboard) forinstant access.

There are four main types ofassessment:

Continuous assessmentThis measures your progressthroughout the programme andcomprises in-course summativeexaminations, project and electivemodules (using Blackboard,libraries, internet, laboratory orclinic as sources of information).A progress review is carried outtwice a year, informed by yourelectronic portfolio – essentially a diary. This helps you reflect on your daily experiences andachievements and, with the helpof personal tutors, devise personalaction plans and targets.

Annual assessmentsAnnual examinations using arange of assessment methodsallow you to demonstrate theknowledge, skills and attitudesyou have developed throughout

the programme. Theseassessments will also contribute to your final degree result.

Formative assessmentsThroughout the programme, you will also be given formativeassessments that are designed to help you appreciate theeffectiveness of your own learning.These do not count towards yourfinal marks or grading, but allowus to identify whether you needadditional help with your studies.

Objective Structured ClinicalExaminations (OSCEs)OSCEs are used to test yourabilities across a wide range ofareas by assessing your clinicaland communication skills. InOSCEs you move through a seriesof stations and will be assessedon your ability to interact withclinical simulations, effectivelyaccomplish tasks andcommunicate or interact with both real and simulated patients.




Student profile

‘‘‘‘Hiten Halai, BDS Dentistry (A200), fourth year

When I first visited Barts on an open day, I knewstraight away that it was for me. Alongside theworldwide reputation of the college, I felt thatstudying in London’s multicultural East End wouldallow me to see and study a wide range of oralconditions that I would not have seen otherwise.

Clinical exposure right from the onset is definitelyone of the most valued aspects of the course. Icouldn’t wait to see my first patient and feel thatone step closer to becoming a dentist. You learn so many invaluable clinical skills that just cannotbe taught using pen and paper.

Studying at Barts and The London is a trulyenjoyable experience. Lectures are taught by someof the UK’s pioneering scientists in oral biology, and clinics are taken by community dentists, which means you can be sure you’re getting anunparalleled level of education.

Living in London is one of the mostexhilaratingexperiences, the variety ofrecreational facilitiesis just as diverse asthe population of east London. From the newlyrefurbished Whitechapel Gallery to the famouscurry mile on Brick Lane and the stylish bars ofShoreditch, there’s always something nearby tokeep you occupied.

I’m a member of Queen Mary’s Hindu Society. The great thing about HinduSoc is meeting otherstudents who are not necessarily dentists ormedics. We get together once a week and havegreat time doing workshops and organising charityevents. There’s a great variety of extra-curricularactivities available to dental students.

Living in east London

A view of nearby Canary Wharf


Living in east London

East London is renowned for beingone of the most dynamic andvibrant areas of the capital. Duringyour time as a student at Bartsand The London, you will have theopportunity to sample the fullspectrum of East End life togetherwith that in our neighbouringborough, the City. Another greatbenefit of our location is that thecost of living is lower than manyother parts of London.

East London is home to a hugerange of cafes and restaurants,most famously the curry houseson Brick Lane. The nearbySpitalfields market has a host offantastic bars and restaurantscatering for all tastes and budgets,and may also offer some celebrityspotting opportunities!

There are also many traditionalpubs and cool bars close by. Allthree campuses are within walkingdistance of some of London’s bestloved bars and nightclubs. You arealso in the right place for bargainhunting, with several nearby streetmarkets – including Whitechapel,Brick Lane, Spitalfields, PetticoatLane and the Columbia RoadFlower Market.

The area has long been a favouritedestination with artists, many ofwhom live in the area. TheChisenhale, the Whitechapel andHoxton Square and White Cubegalleries are all nearby. TheMuseum of Childhood in BethnalGreen and the Geffrye Museum arelocal museums with exhibitions andcollections which draw nationalaudiences. The Truman Brewery,which hosts contemporaryexhibitions and lively bars is onnearby Brick Lane. Both theBarbican Centre with its concerthalls, galleries, theatre and cinema,and Tate Modern art gallery are ashort distance away. The renownedWilton’s Music Hall is also close by.

London is one of the greenest citiesin the world. Regent’s Canal andthe nearby Victoria Park arepleasant areas for relaxing walks or invigorating runs and bike rides.The Mile End campus is just besidethe Millennium Park with itsdistinctive ‘green bridge’, a roadbridge planted with grass andwildflowers.

Exploring the capital Both the Whitechapel and MileEnd campuses are well connectedto the rest of the capital by publictransport. From Mile End it is onlyfive minutes to the City and fifteenminutes to the West End byunderground. London’ssightseeing often costs little or nothing, with many renownedgalleries and museums offeringfree entry. You will love thefascinating mixture ofarchitecture, the atmosphere onthe busy streets and the amazingarray of shops. There is alwayssomething going on; for the mostup-to-date information check outthe latest listings magazines andwebsites: www.timeout.comwww.allinlondon.co.ukwww.studentbeans.com

Student life

Students’ Union in Whitechapel

Barts and The London studentsare in a unique and privilegedposition of having membership to three Students’ Unions: Bartsand The London Students’Association, Queen MaryStudents’ Union (QMSU), andthrough this, the University ofLondon Union (ULU). This meansthat as well as enjoying all thesocial activities available to you on campus, you can also benefitfrom the facilities and socialevents offered by the other twoorganisations.

Barts and The London Students’Association Medical and dental studentsspend a lot of their leisure timetogether on campus, taking partin the wealth of activities on offerthrough the Students’ Association.Run by a student committee withstrong support from teaching staff,the Association reflects the warm,friendly atmosphere of the wholeSchool. It offers a place to meet,relax and socialise and providescultural and sports facilities, andpersonal advice and support ifyou need it.

The Association has buildings atthe two main hospital sites – TheRoyal London and Barts. Betweenthem, they house a bookshop,café, common rooms and two


Student life

‘‘‘‘The typical Barts and The Londonstudent works hard, plays hard and is loyal to their School.Angela McGilloway, final year MBBS student popular bars. You also have the

use of a swimming pool at theBarts site. The Students’Association building inWhitechapel is the hub of studentactivity at Barts and The London,providing a great venue for socialactivities, with a bar, commonroom and café, bookshop, and aClubs’ Resource Room, as well asa 20-station computer room.

Clubs and societiesOver 40 clubs and societies runby the Association offer studentsthe chance to develop newinterests, meet people, play sportand have a good time.

Dental Society Student dentists have fullmembership of the LondonStudents’ Association and are alsomembers of the Dental Society,which is dedicated to their needs.The Society organises events to

complement the Association’sown, some of which are solely fordentists, such as cheese and wineevenings, salsa and jazz nights,and the annual Dental Dinner forstaff and students, one of the bestparties of the year!

Queen Mary Students’ Union (QMSU)As a student of Barts and TheLondon, you automaticallybecome a member of Queen MaryStudents’ Union (QMSU), whichrepresents students both withinthe College and at a national level.QMSU is one of the most activestudents’ unions in the country.

QMSU has over 100 differentclubs and societies, so whetheryou are interested in football,politics, martial arts ormountaineering, you should beable to find something to suit yourinterests. Plus, if there is not aclub or society for your favourite

SAMDA SAMDA, short for StudentAssisted Medical and DentalApplicants, is a pioneeringscheme run by our students,which encourages local schoolstudents to apply for medicineand dentistry. Undergraduatesfrom Barts and The London goout to local schools and mentorpotential applicants, giving theminformation and helping with theirUCAS applications and interviews.The scheme has been running foreleven years, and the percentageof applicants being accepted formedicine and dentistry fromschools in two local boroughs hasincreased significantly since itstarted, thanks to medical anddental students who give theirtime to help. More informationabout SAMDA can be found at:www.samda.org.uk

hobby, then you can always startup your own. You will also havethe opportunity to develop skillsthrough student community actionprojects or volunteeringopportunities run through an accredited volunteeringprogramme called PROVIDE. You will make friends for life andit will look great on your CV. Formore information on any of thesocieties, please contact the VicePresident, Student Activities byemail: [email protected]

As part of the redevelopment ofthe Union facilities, the DrapersBar has undergone a £650,000refurbishment programme makingit one of the best studententertainment venues in thecountry. For further details, see:www.qmsu.org

University of London Union (ULU) All students of Queen Mary aremembers of ULU, which is theStudents’ Union for all students at the University of London. Thelarge ULU building in Bloomsbury,central London, houses aninternational-sized swimming pool,sports courts, a health club, bars,a roof top restaurant and winebar. With its low prices, it is theideal central London venue forsocialising and meeting studentsfrom other colleges. It alsoprovides sports clubs coveringactivities such as korfball or polo.


Student life

The Medical Student-Staff LiaisonCommittee (SSLC) The Student-Staff Committee, or SSLC, is composed of MedicalSchool staff and studentrepresentatives who have beenelected by their peers to liaisewith the School on their behalf.The SSLC acts as an importantplatform for discussion onacademic issues relating to theMBBS and GEP courses at Bartsand The London School ofMedicine and Dentistry.

The Dental Staff Student AdvisoryCommittee (SSAC) This Committee has a similar roleto the Medical SSLC and operatesin a similar manner. The studentvoice is listened to very carefullyand the Committee provides aforum for a wide range ofimportant topics and helps toaddress problems as well askeeping all informed of currentdevelopments and plans.


Major social events You will find something to keepyou entertained on campusthroughout the year, but there aresome special annual events thatshould not be missed.

Freshers’ Fortnight These two weeks of social eventsare designed to introduce you toyour new environment and helpyou make friends. Last year’sfortnight included several themednights – from Mummies andDaddies Night (which wasattended by 700 students) to TogaNight. There are also comedy andgames nights. The Freshers’Fortnight culminates in theFreshers’ Ball. You will also havethe chance to find out about clubsand societies at the Freshers’Fayre and attend several sportsevents. There is also a Freshers’Revisited week in January afteryour first term. For pictures fromlast year’s Freshers’ Fayre, visit:www.bartslondon.com

RAG WeekBarts and The London School ofMedicine and Dentistry studentshave an outstanding record infundraising. During RAG Week(raise and give week) we cometogether to raise money forcharity, organising collections onthe streets of central London andevents such as racing hospitalbeds, sponsored hitch-hikes, aRAG race and a fashion show.

The whole week offers a greatopportunity to raise money whilehaving fun. The RAG Ball, with achampagne reception, four-coursemeal and music is another majorsocial event as well as a great wayto round off an exhausting weekof collecting and evening events.

Sport

QMotion Health and Fitness centre, Mile End campus


Sport

University is not just aboutspending long hours in the library.At Barts and The London we takeyour physical well-being veryseriously and we have some greatsports facilities. Queen Mary’sstate-of-the-art Health and FitnessCentre, Qmotion, houses acardiovascular zone, dedicatedstretching areas, free weightsarea, two studios, a ladies-onlygym, a squash court and sportshall. Qmotion is staffed by fullyqualified instructors and locatedon the Mile End campus. There isalso a huge range of sports clubs– everything from the traditionalteam sports like hockey, footballand rugby to the more unusual,such as cheerleading, ultimatefrisbee, kickboxing and aikido.

Training facilities The medical school owns twoadjacent sports grounds atChislehurst (south-east London),which are shared with QueenMary Students’ Union. Studentsusually travel in groups by car,coach or public transport to playhockey, rugby or cricket at thesegrounds.

A boathouse on the River Lea (in east London) provides aconvenient training facility for theBoat Club, which also has a baseon the Thames at Chiswick in westLondon. There is also a range oflocal astroturf pitches and tenniscourts which other sports clubsuse as training facilities.

Wednesdayafternoons Most sports teams compete onWednesday afternoons, which are generally kept free of lectures,tutorials and clinics. This alsoallows time for you to developother interests such as charitywork and taking part in drama or music activities. ‘‘‘‘Queen Mary has recently openedits new (quite amazing) gym withgreat student prices and longopening hours. It caters foreveryone – from hard core bodybuilders to a beginners taking adance class.Angela McGilloway, final year MBBS student

Accommodation

Sir Christopher France House, (Student Residences), Mile End campus


Accommodationwww.residences.qmul.ac.uk

Queen Mary has the largest self-contained residential campus incentral London with a total of over2,300 rooms across its threecampuses. Our accommodation isa mix of self-catered houses, flatsand halls.

Our students also have access to places in the fully cateredIntercollegiate Halls in centralLondon, which are ownedcentrally by the University ofLondon. There is also a range of alternative housing optionswithin walking distance or a shortcommute of all three campuses.

If you are a single, full-time, first-year undergraduate who appliesduring the normal admissionscycle and has not lived in ourhousing before, you may beeligible for accommodation oncampus. Priority is given to thoseapplying by the deadline of 30June of the year of entry, andthose who live furthest away. Thisoffer does not extend to students

who join through the clearingprocess or those holdinginsurance offers with us, althoughevery attempt is made toaccommodate them, subject toavailability.

If you live close enough to theCollege to commute, you willnormally be expected to live at home until rooms becomeavailable after term begins, onceall those students who cannotcommute are housed. Once youhave firmly accepted an offer of aplace on an academic course, youwill be sent information from theStudent Recruitment andAdmissions Office on how to applyfor housing online. The earlier youapply, the better your chances willbe to secure your first or secondchoice of housing, although thiscannot be guaranteed.

Some of the accommodationoptions available are listed below.Please note that the prices listedare based on prices for the 2011-12 academic year. A normal costof living increase is to be expectedfor each new academic year. Allnew applicants will be eligible toapply for Dawson Hall, FloyerHouse (and for students withdisabilities there is availability at the Mile End campus) or theIntercollegiate Halls of Residence.

Dawson Hall and Floyer HouseQueen Mary has two hallsexclusively dedicated to medicaland dental students: Dawson Hallon the Charterhouse Squarecampus, very close to StBartholomew’s Hospital; andFloyer House on the Whitechapelcampus. Both halls have sharedbathroom and kitchen/diningfacilities, and the majority ofrooms have washbasins. Rentscover a minimum period of 38weeks and range from£105–£125 per week, includinggas and electricity costs.

Student Village, Mile End campusAll rooms in the Student Villagehave en-suite facilities and arearranged in flats and maisonettessharing separate kitchen/diningfacilities. Rents cover a period of38 weeks and range from£102–£138 per week, includinggas and electricity costs. Mile Endcampus has 25 rooms specificallydesigned for wheelchair users and deaf-adapted rooms.


Accommodation

University Intercollegiate Halls of Residence About 150 Queen Mary studentslive in the University of London’sIntercollegiate Halls in centralLondon, alongside students ofother University of Londoncolleges. Fees for single roomsare from £170 per week andinclude breakfast, evening mealsand gas and electricity costs.

Privately rented accommodation Once settled in London, the vastmajority of students and evensome first year students prefer the independent lifestyle offeredby sharing flats or houses withfriends. Housing Services canprovide advice, comprehensiveguidance notes and an onlineproperty search facility of privatelyowned accommodation availablefor rent. Most are located in eastor north-east London, within easywalking or commuting distance.You will usually need to pay a(refundable) deposit in advance ofoccupation, which is normally theequivalent of one month’s rentplus one month’s rent in advance.

Types of accommodation include:

• Privately rented flats or houseswhere a group of students wishto live together as a singlehousehold and assume fullresponsibility for the property.Typical rents range from£100–£130 a week per person,plus energy bills.

• Self-catering rooms or bedsitswith shared kitchen andbathroom facilities. Prices rangefrom £100–£150 a week, plusenergy bills.

• Lodgings, usually a room in afamily home, with all or somemeals included in the rent.Often known as ‘homestay’, thistype of housing is particularlysuitable for internationalstudents new to London andaway from home for the firsttime. Prices range from£100–£150 a week.

Family accommodation If you have a family, you arestrongly advised not to bring yourpartner and children to live inLondon until you have securedsuitable affordable housing.There is limited university orhostel accommodation forstudents with families, andhousing in the private sector can be expensive.

Full details of the accommodationoptions can be found at:www.residences.qmul.ac.uk

ContactFor more information about theaccommodation options listedabove, please contact HousingServices: Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 5522 email: [email protected]


Griffin House The Griffin Community Trust is a pioneering project in which the School has brought togetherstudents and local elderlyresidents in an innovativeapproach to community care in Tower Hamlets.

Shaftesbury Lodge in Poplar(about 15 minutes' bicycle ridefrom the Whitechapel campus),provides sheltered housing for 32 elderly people. Griffin House,situated next to ShaftesburyLodge, provides high-qualityaccommodation for 23 medicaland dental students. Each Griffinstudent undertakes to visit one ofthe elderly residents for at least anhour a week to talk to them and toprovide company (but not todiscuss any medical problems). In addition, various outings areorganised by the students (andfunded by Griffin), which theelderly residents of ShaftesburyLodge are encouraged to attend.

The accommodation, whichopened in 1998, was fundedthrough the Griffin CommunityTrust, a charity founded bystudents and staff, with supportfrom local people. The project hasbeen a resounding success, andboth students and the olderresidents benefit from sharingtheir experiences and from thesocial events that are organised.First year students (and finalists)are normally not accepted intoGriffin House, but are encouragedto become involved in ourcommunity activities prior toapplying for their second year.

The current rent (2011-12) is £70 per week, and this includesinternet and TV access and allpower costs. Rent is subsidisedby the Griffin Community Trustand is subject to an inflationaryincrease each year.

To find out more about GriffinHouse, email: [email protected] or visit:www.griffincommunitytrust.org

Living costs, tuitionfees and bursaries

Library Square, Mile End campus


Living costs, tuition fees and bursaries

Tuition feesAt the time of going to pressinformation on the tuition feelevel for 2013 entry was notavailable. We recommend thatyou check www.qmul.ac.uk/tuitionfees before you apply. Forthe academic year 2012-13 thetuition fees for home (UK)students at Queen Mary were£9,000 per year. For tuition feesfor International students, see:www.qmul.ac.uk/international/feesfinance

Living and othercostsOn top of your tuition fees, youwill have several other majorexpenses to budget for. Thelargest and most essential ofthese costs is probably youraccommodation. On the plusside, our location in the east ofLondon means cheaper rentsthan elsewhere in London.

Other expenses to take intoconsideration are: travel, foodand drink, phone bills, socialactivities, course books andclothes. UCAS provides a usefulbudget calculator, see:www.ucas.com/students/studentfinance/budget_calculator

You can download a guide toplanning a personal budget,including a guide to living costs,at: www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/documents/leaflets/budgeting/5065.pdf

It is important for you to balanceyour income and expenditure inadvance. Depending on yourlifestyle, living in London for ayear will normally cost you onaverage £9,500 (excluding tuitionfees) at 2010-11 prices. Youshould allow at least an additional£1,500 for each dependant. Bearin mind that a full 52-week yearwill cost more.

International students can findmore detailed information on thecost of living in London and howto plan finances, at:www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/international/money/4690.html

Financial support for Home and EUstudentsStudents who are UK residentsshould apply as early as possibleto Student Finance England (orequivalent in Wales, Scotlandand Northern Ireland), who willdetermine your eligibility for a:

• tuition fee loan

• maintenance loan

• maintenance grant.

If you are a non-UK national ofthe European Union you canapply to the Student Finance EU Team for a loan to pay yourtuition fees. See: www.direct.gov.uk/en/educationandlearning/universityandhighereducation/studentfinance/studentsfromothereucountries

The loan for tuition fees is notavailable to undergraduatestudents from outside the EU.Some EU nationals are entitled to the full package of StudentFinance that is available to UKstudents, and which includesfunding for living costs inadditional to a tuition fee loan.For more information, see:www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/documents/leaflets/funding/39689.pdf

You start to pay your tuition feeloan back after completing yourdegree, once you are earningmore than £21,000 a year. You should apply forStudent Finance once you haveapplied to university – you do notneed to wait until you have anoffer or have decided where tostudy.

Entitlement to Student Finance issubject to residence, immigrationstatus and previous study criteria.Contact the Advice andCounselling Service at QueenMary for advice about youreligibility:www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk

For detailed information about allthe different elements of StudentFinance you can receive,additional sources of funding,information for graduates andinformation about NHS-fundedyears of study, see:www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/documents/leaflets/funding/39689.pdf

You may also find it helpful tovisit:www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance


Living costs, tuition fees and bursaries

Confidential adviceIf you would like individualconfidential advice about youreligibility for funding, planningyour budget or any other financialor practical issue, please contactthe Advice and CounsellingService at Queen Mary:www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk

You are welcome to use thisservice if you are consideringapplying to Queen Mary.

Queen MarybursariesQueen Mary offers studentbursaries to help with the costs of higher education. Thesebursaries are aimed at studentsfrom lower-income households.The amount of the bursary youreceive each year will depend onyour household income which isassessed during your applicationfor UK Government FinancialSupport. Please note that allinternational students and thoseEU nationals who are only eligiblefor a tuition fee loan will not beeligible for a Queen Mary bursary.To find out if you are eligible, see:www.qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/feesfinance/index.html

Queen Mary andWestfield Alumnistudent bursariesWe offer two annual studentbursaries worth £3,000 (£1,000 for each of the three years) toeligible students who havereceived their secondary

education in the LondonBoroughs of Tower Hamlets,Newham, Hackney or the City ofLondon. For further details andeligibility criteria, visit:www.qmandwalumni.org

Barts and TheLondon AlumniAssociation studentbursaryThe Geoffrey Flavell StudentBursary of £2,000 over threeyears is awarded annually to oneeligible student studying for anMBBS medical qualification. The award provides £1,000 inthe first year and two subsequentinstalments of £500 each.

Aldgate andAllhallowsfoundationscholarshipsThe Aldgate and Allhallowsfoundation provides scholarshipsover the duration of the course toundergraduate entrants who arepermanent residents of either the City of London or the LondonBorough of Tower Hamlets.Candidates must also meet otherspecific eligibility criteriaregarding age and means ofsupport.

The John Abernethy(Barts) ScholarshipTo encourage applications fromstudents in financial hardshipwho would benefit from theMBBS programme, the trusteesof St Bartholomew’s HospitalMedical College Trust are pleasedto offer these new scholarships totwo new medical students andone new dental student eachyear. The John Abernethy (Barts)Scholarships, named after thefounder of the Barts MedicalCollege, will be worth £3,500 foreach of the five years of thecourse – subject to the holders’satisfactory progress each year.

The scholarships have beendesigned to assist students who,despite exceptional academicability and their aptitude for amedical or dental career, mightnot be able to undertake thecourse for financial reasons. All students who enrol in theSchool of Medicine and Dentistryare considered for thescholarships, which are awardedon the basis of householdincome (which is reviewedannually) and the attainment ofat least three grade ‘A’ A-levelstaken in the same sitting.Students’ performance in theirFundamentals of Medicine /Dental Module (at the end oftheir first term) will also be amajor criterion.


You do not have to apply formallyto be considered for one of theseprestigious scholarships. Instead,the School of Medicine andDentistry will receive the relevantfinancial and academicinformation after you haveenrolled and, depending on theFundamentals of Medicine /Dental results, will recommendthe two best medical studentsand one best dental student who also meet the financialrequirements to the trustees fortheir approval. Additionally, theSchool will report annually to thetrustees on the scholarshipholders’ academic performance.

Access to LearningFund (ALF)Each year the government givesthe College money to helpstudents in financial hardship.To apply to the ALF you musthave taken out your maximummaintenance loan entitlement.You can apply to the ALF for helptowards the difference betweenyour income and basic expenses.You can also apply for help if youhave a sudden financialemergency or specialcircumstances or costs that otherstudents might not have. You donot normally have to repay apayment from the ALF. Theamounts available to studentsthrough the ALF are strictlylimited, and the Fund can in noway be regarded as a substitutefor other finance.

Hardship fundsThe Barts and The LondonAlumni Association BenevolentFunds also offer grants and loansto medical and dental students infinancial hardship, and bursariesto students undertaking final-yearelectives, on the recommendationof the appropriate committees of the School. Donations fromgenerations of former studentshave made it possible to offersuch assistance.

Part-time jobsEast London will provide you withplenty of opportunities to workand earn extra money duringyour studies. However, theSchool would not recommendthat you spend more than 15hours a week in paidemployment, so as not to have a detrimental impact on yourstudies. International studentsmay also be eligible to work inthe UK. If you are registered on a full-time course of six monthsor longer, then you will be eligibleto work for a maximum of 20hours per week during term time.

Queen Mary’s comprehensiveCareers team providesinformation, advice and guidanceon searching for part-time jobs.Many part-time jobs are paidclose to the minimum wage,which from October 2011 is£6.08 per hour if you are 21 orover, and £4.98 if you are aged18-20. Many employers pay

more than the minimum wage. Ifyou work 15 hours per week andare aged 18, this would generatean income of at least £74.70 perweek, which could cover foodand/or social activities (althoughthere will be deductions forincome tax if you work duringterm time). Do not forget, youalso have a summer break, aportion of which you could spendin full-time employment and giveyour Student Finance asignificant boost.

For information about part-timework, including income tax rulesfor students, see:www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/documents/leaflets/working/5002.pdf

For details of the minimum wage,see: www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw

Further adviceThe Advice and CounsellingService at Queen Mary offersdetailed advice and guidance on all the aspects of studentfinance, and more. It also offersadvice to international studentsabout all the financial, practicaland immigration related aspectsof studying at Queen Mary.Contact the Advice andCounselling Service on: Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 8717www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk

Student support

Problem Based Learning (PBL) group


Student support

We have a highly developednetwork for pastoral andacademic support. This network is a vital resource for medical anddental students, who take muchof the responsibility for their ownlearning during their challengingcourses. At every stage you willreceive support from staff who are experienced in helping andadvising students.

The Dean for Students OfficeThe Dean for Students isresponsible for student supportthroughout the undergraduateprogramme for both medical anddental students. The Dean plays a key role in student welfare,including the management ofphysical and mental illness,financial difficulties and therelationship of the School with the Students’ Association. At any time, students can makeappointments with the Dean, who is available to listen and give advice.

Medical School: the PersonalMentor schemeThe Barts and The LondonPersonal Mentor scheme plays a vital role in enhancing youracademic, professional andpersonal development as well ashelping you to make the most ofyour time at medical school.

All medical students are assigneda personal mentor who they meetthroughout the year to check howthey are getting on, discusspersonal development and, in thelater years, support them throughthe application processes for

Foundation School. In Year 3 youare assigned a clinician who isable to share their experiences of being a practising doctor orresearcher as you progress intothe more clinically intensivestages of the programme.

Personal mentors act as a guide,helping you to reflect on yourexperiences, both within andoutside the curriculum and to usethis reflection to plan your futuredevelopment. Where appropriate,mentors can also direct you toother sources of academic,pastoral and careers guidancewithin the School or College.

Mentors also provide personal andprofessional references to supportyou with job applications as wellas offering support and advice formore general activities.

You will meet your mentor on anannual basis for a review of yourachievements during the year andfor advice on personal developmentplanning. The reviews will beinformed by your portfolio andyour academic record.

Find more detailed information onthe Personal Mentor scheme at:www.smd.qmul.ac.uk/mentorscheme

Academic Year TutorsEach year of the programme hastwo Academic Year Tutors (AYTs)who are on hand to support anystudent who encounters academicdifficulties during their studies.The academic progress of allstudents is reviewed throughout

the year and any student who isidentified as struggling will beallocated to an AYT. The tutor will,in conjunction with the student,explore specific areas of difficultyand put together a plan to helpaddress these until the student is back on track. An AYT mayidentify issues of pastoral careaffecting academic performanceand make appropriate referrals toother support groups within theSchool or College.

Dental School: Senior Tutors and Personal TutorsAll dental students have a SeniorTutor who is responsible formonitoring their progressthroughout their studies. Inaddition to discussing concernsrelated to your academicperformance, your Senior Tutorwill help with general problemssuch as financial difficulties orillness, and provide advice oncareer opportunities.

Dental students are also assignedclinical and basic medical sciencePersonal Tutors. They support youthroughout your studies, and haveregular meetings with you todiscuss your progress and anyproblems that may arise. Anelectronic progress file (ePF) isused to monitor your progress and record reflective comments.

Dean’s Benevolence CommitteeThe Dean for Students chairs aBenevolence Committee, which


Student support

works with the College Advice andCounselling Service to allocatefunds specifically available to theSchool of Medicine and Dentistry.If you have serious financialdifficulties, the College and Schoolwill offer confidential andsympathetic advice and may be able to provide financialassistance.

Peer mentoringUnder the long-running andhighly successful ‘Mummies andDaddies’ scheme, older studentsare responsible for taking freshers(first-year students) under theirwing and giving them personaland academic support. You willfirst meet your new ‘parents’during Freshers’ Fortnight. They will help you to sort out anyimmediate problems or concernsand then continue supporting you throughout the year, bothacademically with the loan ofequipment or books and peertutoring before exams, and byhelping with emotional or personalproblems.

In addition to the academic andpersonal support which you willreceive within the School – fromsenior tutors and personalmentors – there are many othersupport and advisory services

based at the Mile End campus.Both the Students’ Union andStudents’ Association have welfareofficers whom you can approachwith problems, and the Presidentof the Students’ Association isanother source of help and advicefor medical and dental students.

Queen Mary Advice andCounselling ServiceThis College-based serviceprovides expert confidentialstudent support and guidance on a whole range of mattersincluding student finance, accessbursaries, housing rights, counciltax and immigration law, as wellas both individual and groupcounselling. The staff areparticularly skilled in the fields ofcounselling and financial mattersand work with the Dean’sBenevolence Committee.

‘‘‘‘At Barts and The London wepride ourselves on the supportsystems we have designed toassist all our students inmaximising their potential butalso to give that extra help tothose who find the going moredifficult. The General MedicalCouncil inspection report of2009 praised both our supportsystems and the enthusiasticstudent appreciation of theSchool’s efforts to help themsucceed. By working togetherwe have formed a dynamicteam that is continuouslystriving to improve the studentexperienceProfessor Michael RobertsDean for StudentsBarts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry


Queen Mary Disability and Dyslexia ServiceA wide range of students makeuse of disability and dyslexiasupport at the College. Studentswho do not necessarily considerthemselves disabled are alsooffered support and guidance, for example those with long-termmedical conditions, or dyslexia,which may have an impact onstudies. People with short-termdisabilities may also seek advicefrom the service. Sometimes, acondition which might not beconsidered a disability in daily life can become a substantialdifficulty when studying in highereducation. If strategies exist toovercome the effects of aparticular disability or learningdifficulty on studying, staff in theDisability and Dyslexia Service will help you to find them.

Career supportThe Careers team caters for the particular needs of medicalstudents as they progress throughtheir degree programme andbegin professional practice. Theyprovides numerous resources forstudents at Barts and The Londonfrom the date of registration untilgraduation. Access to suchspecialised careers assistanceenables students to develop theability to reflect upon theirstrengths and interests in theearly stages of their degree, whichis invaluable in ensuring that theyare able to evaluate their futurepossibilities and tailor their degreeto suit their individual skills.

For further information regardingthe specialised careersprogramme for students of the MBBS, visitwww.careers.qmul.ac.uk andwww.cxdx.qmul.ac.uk

Entryrequirements



Entry requirements

Medicine MBBSUCAS code: A100Institution code: Q50Study mode: Full timeDuration: Five yearsLocation: Whitechapel, Mile End and West Smithfield; affiliated NHS trustsNumber of offers made: 1 in 4 applications

Minimum entry requirementsA/AS-levelsAAAb

Compulsory subjects Chemistry and biology at AS-level, including at leastone at A-level. If both subjects are not taken to A-level, a second science A-level is required. If you areplanning to drop either chemistry or biology beforeA2, you must attain a B grade or above in thatsubject at AS-level.

GCSE requirements AAABBB or above, to include biology (or human biology), chemistry, English language and mathematics (or additional mathematics or statistics). The science double award may substitute all sciences at GCSE.

Other qualifications Details of other UK and International qualificationscan be found at www.smd.qmul.ac.uk

Graduate applicants • Only your first undergraduate degree will beconsidered for entry

• You may apply in the final year of your degree and must be predicted/have achieved at least anupper second class honours degree (or equivalent)in any subject

• There must have been a significant component ofbiology and chemistry in your degree programme,at least equivalent to AS-level.

Alternatively, you must have achieved grades BB or above in A-level biology and chemistry prior tostarting your degree, or you must be completing orhave completed AS-levels in chemistry and biologyand be predicted/have achieved B grades in both.Graduates with a non-UK degree should visitwww.smd.qmul.ac.uk for further information.

Aptitude testAll candidates applying to the five-year course musttake the UKCAT (www.ukcat.ac.uk) in the year ofapplication in order to be considered for interview.You are required to register with the UKCATassessment centres prior to the test. For moreinformation and key dates, visit www.ukcat.ac.uk

Professional requirements Satisfactory health and police clearance

Application deadline 15 October 2012


Entry requirements

Medicine Graduate Entry Programme (GEP) MBBSUCAS code: A101Institution code: Q50Study mode: Full timeDuration: Four yearsLocation:Whitechapel, Mile End and West Smithfield; affiliated NHS trustsNumber of offers made: 1 in 14 applications

Minimum entry requirementsAcademic entry requirements• Only your first undergraduate degree will beconsidered for entry

• You may apply in the final year of your degree and be predicted/have achieved at least an uppersecond class honours degree in a science/health-related subject. There must have been asignificant component of biology and chemistry inyour degree programme, at least equivalent to AS-level.

Alternatively, you must have achieved grades of atleast BB in A-level biology and chemistry prior tostarting your degree or you must be completing orhave completed AS-levels in chemistry and biologyand be predicted/achieved B grades in both. Forfurther details on entry requirements for graduateswith a non-UK degree and for a list of acceptabledegrees, see www.smd.qmul.ac.uk

Aptitude test All candidates applying to the four-year course musttake the UKCAT www.ukcat.ac.uk in the year ofapplication in order to be considered for interview. You are required to register with the UKCATassessment centres prior to the test. For key dates and additional information, visit www.ukcat.ac.uk




Dentistry BDSUCAS code: A200Institution code: Q50Study mode: Full timeDuration: Five yearsLocation:Whitechapel, Mile End and West Smithfield; affiliated NHS trustsNumber of offers made: 1 in 4 applications

Minimum entry requirementsA/AS-levelsAAAb

Compulsory subjects Chemistry and biology at AS-level, including at leastone at A-level. If both subjects are not taken to A-level, a second science A-level is required. If you areplanning to drop either chemistry or biology beforeA2, you must attain a B grade or above in thatsubject at AS-level.

GCSE requirements AAABBB or above, to include biology (or human biology), chemistry, English language and mathematics (or additional mathematics or statistics). The science double award may substitute all sciences at GCSE.

Other qualifications Details of other UK and International qualificationscan be found at www.smd.qmul.ac.uk

Graduate applicants • Only your first undergraduate degree will beconsidered for entry

• You may apply in the final year of your degree and must be predicted/have achieved at least anupper second class honours degree (or equivalent)in any subject

• There must have been a significant component ofbiology and chemistry in your degree programme,at least equivalent to AS-level.

Alternatively, you must have achieved grades of atleast BB in A-level biology and chemistry prior tostarting your degree or you must be completing orhave completed AS-levels in chemistry and biologyand be predicted/have achieved B grades in both.Graduates with a non-UK degree should visitwww.smd.qmul.ac.uk for further information.

Aptitude testAll candidates applying to the five-year course musttake the UKCAT (www.ukcat.ac.uk) in the year ofapplication in order to be considered for interview.You are required to register with the UKCATassessment centres prior to the test. For moreinformation and key dates, visit www.ukcat.ac.uk




Entry requirements – Alternative entry routes into Medicine

Newham Doc Scheme (6 years)The Newham Doc scheme is Barts and The London’s widening access to medicine programme forapplicants studying and/or living in the borough of Newham. Applicants must apply to Barts and TheLondon School of Medicine and Dentistry through UCAS in the normal way and take the UKCAT.

Only the students’ teachers are permitted to put them forward to this scheme based on their belief that the students are suited to a degree programme in medicine, but are not predicted the necessary grades to apply directly to A100. These students’ names are then forwarded to Barts and The London StudentRecruitment and Admissions Office for consideration.

The Newham Doc scheme runs for six years rather than the usual five, and the first year takes place atNewham University Hospital where students undergo placements in a variety of medical subjects as well as attending PBL sessions with current first year medical students at Barts and The London. Successfulcompletion of this first year guarantees students a place on the 5-year Medicine MBBS programme thefollowing year.

Minimum entry requirementsUCAS codeA100

A-levels CCC

Compulsory subjects Chemistry and biology at AS-level, with at least oneat A-level. If both subjects not taken to A-level, asecond science A-level is required. If you are planningto drop either chemistry or biology before A2, youmust attain a C grade in that subject at AS-level.

GCSE requirementsMathematics and English Language at grade C

Aptitude testAll candidates applying to the Newham Doc Schememust take the UKCAT (www.ukcat.ac.uk) in the yearof application in order to be considered for interview.

You are required to register with the UKCATassessment centres prior to the test. For key datesand additional information, see www.ukcat.ac.uk

Professional requirementsSatisfactory health and police clearance

Application deadline15 October 2012

DID YOU KNOW?The Newham Doc Scheme was awarded for The GuardianPublic Service Award 2010 inInnovation and Progress in thecategory of Diversity andEquality.

Applicants who study and/or live in the Borough of Newham MUST BE nominated by their schoolin order to be considered for this programme.

For further information on the Newham Doc scheme, please contact the Student Recruitment andAdmissions Office at [email protected] – please note that only teachers and careersadvisors should use this point of contact, not students themselves.


Entry requirements – Alternative entry routes into Medicine

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS)/Oral MedicineEntry on to Year 3 of the 5 year MBBS programme is designed specifically for qualified dentists who arefully registered with the General Dental Council and members of the British Association of Oral andMaxillofacial Surgeons (BAOMS) or the British Society for Oral Medicine (BSOM). There are five availableplaces each year, only open to UK/EU applicants.

Applicants applying for this course are not required to take the UKCAT.

Applications should be made directly to Barts and The London from October each year with an applicationdeadline in mid-February.

For additional queries about entry requirements or more information, email [email protected]

Oxford and Cambridge (Oxbridge) applicantsIf you are a current pre-clinical medicine Oxbridge student, you may apply to join Year 3 of the 5 yearMBBS programme at Barts and The London.

Applications should be made through the Common Application Scheme. A clinical open day specifically forOxbridge students is usually held in October/November. This is an opportunity for you to see the facilitiesand meet students and staff. All Oxbridge applicants are interviewed as part of the admissions process.

For additional queries about entry requirements or more information, email [email protected]

Charterhouse Square

Selection

Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry 55

Selection

We use a range of criteria toassess candidates:• Candidates must meet the minimum academicrequirements outlined in the section on entrancerequirements and have taken the UKCAT.

• For school leavers and gap year candidates, invitations tointerview will be based on youmeeting our minimum academiccriteria, and the strength of youracademic ability as compared toother applicants applying in thesame year.

UKCATAll candidates applying to the five-year course must take the UKCATin the year of application. You arerequired to register with theUKCAT assessment centres priorto the test. Visit the UKCATwebsite (www.ukcat.ac.uk) for keydates and additional information.

How we use the UKCAT:• For school leavers/gap yearstudents, your UKCAT score will

be considered in our selectionprocess. UKCAT scores will beused in conjunction with thestrength of your academic abilityas compared to other applicantswho apply in that same year.

• We are not able to give youadvice on the minimum scorewe require, since it varies fromyear to year; however, it isunlikely that you would beoffered an interview if youobtained a total UKCAT scorebelow 2400. Please note: thereis no guarantee that you will beoffered an interview if you scoreabove 2400.

• Graduates who apply for the 4- and 5-year MBBS and 5-yearBDS programmes will beassessed to ensure they meetour minimum academic criteria.Applicants who meet thesecriteria will then be rankedagainst the other graduateapplicants applying in that year according to theiroverall UKCAT score todetermine which applicants to short-list for interview.

The School of Medicine andDentistry has a comprehensiveadmissions policy. Whenapplications are received, they are assessed to make sure thatcandidates fulfil the minimumrequirements. Candidates must:

• have obtained or be predictedgrades in GCSE and A/AS-levels,International or EuropeanBaccalaureate, or otheracceptable qualifications thatsatisfy the School of Medicineand Dentistry’s academic criteria(see ‘Entry requirements’ section)

• sit the UKCAT examination inthe same year as you make your application

• apply by the deadline.

Candidates who do not fulfil the above requirements will be rejected without interview.

Interviews for the 5-year Medicineand Dentistry programmesMedicine and dentistry areintellectually demanding andstimulating professions. The swiftpace of scientific developmentmeans that doctors and dentistsneed to have a high level ofscientific literacy and the mentalagility to deal with ever morecomplex problems. We look forevidence of strong academicability in candidates, and willjudge this by reviewing yourperformance in publicexaminations at schools anduniversities (if you are a graduate)and in the UKCAT. The interviewwill also be helpful in this regard.

Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry56

Selection

If you are selected for aninterview, it will take place at theWhitechapel campus betweenDecember and February.Normally interview panels consistof two members of senioracademic or clinical staff andsometimes a lay selector andstudent. The interview is notintended to be an intimidatingexperience and staff will try to putyou at ease while evaluating your:

• Motivation and approach tomedicine/dentistry as a career

• Initiative, resilience and maturity

• Ability to work well as part of ateam

• Organisational skills andproblem-solving abilities

• Likely contribution to universitylife

• Ability to communicateeffectively in a wide range of situations.

After your interview, you will havea chance to take a tour of theWhitechapel campus organised by medical/dental students.

Interviews for the 4-year GEP Medicine programmeIf selected, you will be required to attend a selection centre whichlasts half a day and takes place inFebruary. Trained assessors willobserve you completing tasksincluding a group-based task,written exercise and structuredinterview, and score you on a setof predetermined criteria.

Applying to both Barts and TheLondon School of Medicine andWarwick UniversityIn keeping with the spirit of team-working and collaboration that isnecessary for success inmedicine, Barts and The LondonMedical School and WarwickMedical School operate a jointselection centre process.

Applicants who are short-listed by both institutions will only beinvited to a single selectioncentre. The scores the applicantachieves at the selection centrewill be shared by both institutions.Each institution then decidesindependently about whether to offer a university place.Consequently, an applicant may receive offers from bothinstitutions, or from either one, or may receive no offer at all.

There will be three possibleoutcomes from all the interviews:

• An offer – conditional uponobtaining relevant qualificationsand/or non-academic clearancechecks

• Rejection

• Waiting list – candidates whoare unplaced elsewhere may bereconsidered after the summerexamination results.

Decisions are made when all theinterviews have been completed.The formal notification of thedecision will be communicated to UCAS at the same time.

Candidates who are unsuccessfulcannot be reconsidered for entrywithin the same cycle but mayreapply the following year (if theyobtain the relevant qualificationsat the first attempt) withoutprejudice to the new application.

Personal statement and referenceYour personal statement andreference will have provided uswith evidence that you satisfy ourminimum entry requirements(such as predicted academicgrades, relevant work experience,etc).

In addition to your academicability, your interviewers willconsider your interests and talentsand the contribution you canmake to our School. They will alsobear in mind your suitability as afuture member of the medical ordental profession. Goodcommunication skills and theability to work as a part of a teamare essential strengths for adoctor or dentist. We look forapplicants who have participatedas fully as possible in school orcollege life, and who have alsocontributed in some way to theoutside community. So we willtake in to account all yourachievements, in both academicand other activities.


Work experienceMedicineSelectors strongly recommendthat candidates have exploredwhat a career in medicine entailsand this is reinforced by workexperience. The interview willexplore your understanding of therealities of a career in medicine.

DentistrySelectors will expect thatcandidates can demonstrate someknowledge about a career indentistry and have gained (some)work experience in a relevantsetting. However, while this maybe a useful indicator of motivation,it must be seen in the light ofopportunities available to theapplicant. Occasionally, potentiallygood applicants apply with little orinsufficient work experience.Exceptional applicants may beoffered a place conditional onthem completing relevant workexperience and producingevidence of this to the StudentRecruitment and AdmissionsOffice. Such work experience willbe assessed by the appropriateAcademic Lead before the offer isconfirmed. In general, all potentialapplicants are strongly advised todo sufficient work experiencebefore applying.

Equal opportunitiesThe School of Medicine andDentistry firmly and activelysupports an equal opportunitiespolicy in order to avoiddiscrimination against any personon the grounds of religion, race,age, gender or politics. In the

case of disability, we would assess any student meeting theappropriate academic criteria, inaccordance with the prescribedprofessional standards andDisability Discrimination Act partIV (also known as the SpecialNeeds and Disability Act).

UKCATThe UK Clinical Aptitude Test(UKCAT) helps universities tomake more informed choices from the many, highly-qualifiedapplicants who apply for theirmedical and dental degreeprogrammes. It is also intendedthat using the results of UKCATwill widen participation andincrease the diversity ofsuccessful applicants. The testcontains neither any curriculumnor science content, nor can it be revised for. It will focus onexploring the cognitive powers ofcandidates, and other attributesconsidered to be valuable forhealthcare professionals. TheUKCAT lasts two hours andconsists of five sub-sections:

• Verbal reasoning

• Quantitative reasoning

• Abstract reasoning

• Decision analysis test

• Non-cognitive.

Non-cognitive attributes thoughtdesirable in a doctor or dentist,such as integrity, empathy androbustness will be tested.

The test will be taken online inassessment centres between Juneand October. For further details,including registration and practicequestions, visit: www.ukcat.ac.uk

Registering for ULCATIn order to take the test you will need to register online atwww.ukcat.ac.uk Registrationopens on 1 May. You shouldensure that you registerpromptly – we cannot acceptapplications from candidates whowere unable to gain a test sitting.


Selection

Bursaries are available underwhich the UKCAT test fee iswaived. Candidates must proveeligibility and apply online for abursary before registering for theUKCAT. For further information on bursaries and the current test fee, visit: www.ukcat.ac.ukRegistering to take the UKCATdoes not constitute an applicationfor admission to any of theparticipating universities. Inaddition to registering to take theUKCAT, candidates must submitan application to UCAS in thenormal manner.

For further information, visit:www.smd.qmul.ac.uk/admissions

Non-academic entryrequirementsFitness to practiseTraining to be a doctor or dentist,and practising medicine ordentistry, requires more than justthe acquisition of knowledge andskills. As a medical or dentalstudent you will have certainresponsibilities that differ fromthose of other students.Consequently, we expect highstandards of professionalbehaviour from you.Graduates are entitled toprovisional registration with theGeneral Medical Council (GMC)and GDC (General Dental Council)with a licence to practise, subjectto demonstrating to the GMC/GDCthat their fitness to practise is notimpaired.

The School is responsible forensuring that students whograduate are fit to practise,according to principles laid downby the GMC and GDC. If theconduct of a medical or dentalstudent calls into question theirfitness to practise, they may berequired to appear before theFitness to Practise Committee and could be removed from thecourse.

Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)and Independent SafeguardingAuthority (ISA)All offers of a place on themedical or dental courses aremade subject to satisfactoryCriminal Records Bureau (CRB),Independent SafeguardingAuthority (ISA) and health checks.The School implements strictdeadlines for the submission ofthis information. These deadlinesare conditions of the offers wemake and students who fail tomeet them will be rejected even if they have fulfilled the academicconditions of their offer.

The Criminal Records Bureau,(CRB) check, will discloseconvictions, cautions andreprimands. In addition, you willbe required to register with theIndependent SafeguardingAuthority (ISA). The ISA requirespeople wishing to work withchildren or vulnerable adults to beregistered with them. You willapply for the CRB EnhancedDisclosure and ISA registration as part of the same process. Thecost of the checks and registrationprocess must be paid by you.

Once you have been offered aplace at Barts and The LondonSchool of Medicine and Dentistry,the Student Recruitment andAdmissions Office will send youfurther information on how toobtain criminal record clearance.

Where there is a delay in theprocessing of your policeclearance, you will be asked tosign a full declaration of any spentor unspent criminal record youhave received prior to fullenrolment. If you think you might have received a conviction,caution, reprimand or finalwarning from the police, you mustdeclare ‘Yes’ to criminal convictionon your UCAS application so thatwe can discuss with you whetherit may affect your ability topractise. Failure to inform theStudent Recruitment andAdmissions Office of matters thatsubsequently appear on a CRBcheck may well result in yourapplication being withdrawn.

Health checksThe School welcomes andaccommodates people with health conditions and disabilities.However, medical or dentalstudents must be fit to practiseand the safety of patients willalways be the primaryconsideration. We have a strongsystem of student support andanyone with a health condition or disability will be offered theappropriate adjustments andsupport to help them succeed.However, in some cases, animpairment or health conditionmay make it impossible for a


student to meet the outcomesrequired by the GMC/GDC at thepoint of graduation. Where allpossible options to help thestudent have been explored andare still unsuccessful, the studentmay have to leave the course orbe reviewed by the ProfessionalCapability Committee.

Once you have accepted an offeras your firm choice, you will beasked to complete a confidentialhealth questionnaire. Queen Maryis committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for students withimpairments and health conditions.It is our legal responsibility toensure that any barriers to ourcourses are removed; one way inwhich we achieve this is to find outabout you and your requirements.We also have to be assured that wecan help you practise safely intraining and employment. Bartsand The London School ofMedicine and Dentistry hasimplemented the guidance fromon health clearance for newhealthcare workers (Healthclearance for tuberculosis,hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV:New healthcare workers),Department of Health, 2007www.dh.gov.uk

Exposure proneproceduresDentistryAll students on the 5-year BDSprogramme perform exposureprone procedures as a routinepart of their course. Exposureprone procedures are thoseinvasive procedures where there

is a risk that injury to the workermay result in the exposure of thepatient’s open tissues to the bloodof the worker. Before admittance,you must be able to demonstratethat you are not chronicallyinfected with a blood borne virus– hepatitis B, hepatitis C andHuman Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV).

MedicineExperience of exposure proneprocedures is not a requirementof the 5-year and 4-year MBBSprogrammes. Applicants for theseprogrammes are not required todemonstrate that they are freefrom infection with blood borneviruses before admission. However,prospective students should readthe guidance document publishedby the Medical Schools Counciland others, for a discussion of thebenefits of obtaining clearance to undertake exposure proneprocedures as a student and lateras a doctor:www.medschools.ac.uk/AboutUs/Projects/Documents/BBVsGuidanceFeb2008.pdf

Hepatitis B statusand vaccinationImmunising medical and dentalstudents against hepatitis B andtesting their response protectsboth them and their patientsagainst the risk of contractinghepatitis B in the healthcaresetting.

DentistryFormal offers are only made tosuitable applicants for the dentalprogrammes on receipt of adoctor’s declaration that theapplicant has started anappropriate course of Hepatitis B vaccinations. This is vitallyimportant due to the early patientcontact on the dental programme.As a course of hepatitis Bvaccinations can take up to ninemonths to complete, we askapplicants to start appropriatevaccinations after interview andbefore being made a formal offer.Once we receive the signeddeclaration, conditional offers are made to suitable applicants.

MedicineWe strongly recommend that allmedical students are vaccinatedagainst hepatitis B before entry.

Carriers of blood-borne virusIf you are a known carrier of ablood-borne virus (BBV) youshould contact the OccupationalHealth Service (OHS) for furtheradvice. All medical students are offered BBV testing, and if appropriate hepatitis Bvaccination, on entry to medicalschool. Students declining testingor found to test positive for a BBVare not cleared to undertakeExposure Prone Procedures(EPPs) and will be required tofollow an EPP free curriculum.There may be additionalrequirements relating to otherblood-borne viruses as advice is continuously updated andpublished by advisory bodies.


Selection

Should you have any queriesabout the health requirements for either the medical or dentalprogrammes, please contact theCollege Occupational HealthService for advice on: Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 8700

Students withdisabilities andhealth problemsYou should read the followingparagraphs carefully with regardto personal circumstances thatmight make it difficult orimpossible for you to practise.

Students with disabilitiesThe Disability Discrimination Actdefines a disability as ‘a physicalor mental impairment which has asubstantial and long-term adverseeffect on ability to carry outnormal day-to-day activities’.

Barts and The London School ofMedicine and Dentistry welcomesapplications from disabledstudents. We do, however, have a duty to ensure that candidatesadmitted to our programmes willbe eligible for registration by theGMC and GDC on graduation. For this reason, students withdisabilities should seek advicefrom the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office before thedeadline for UCAS applications so that each case can be givenindividual attention andconsideration.

Applicants are also welcome tomake confidential enquiries toQueen Mary’s Disability andDyslexia Service about supportthat they may require if successfulin applying to Barts and TheLondon School of Medicine andDentistry.

Disability and Dyslexia ServiceThe Disability and DyslexiaService can offer advice, guidanceand practical support to studentswith specific learning difficulties,such as dyslexia. This supportmay include screening studentsfor dyslexia and organising formaleducational psychologist’sassessments, arranging individualtutorials from specialist dyslexiatutors, additional time in examsand assisting disabled anddyslexic students to apply for theDisabled Students’ Allowance.More details are available fromthe Disability and DyslexiaService. Students are encouragedto contact the Service beforestarting their programmes todiscuss any specific needs.

www.dds.qmul.ac.ukTel: +44 (0)20 7882 2756Fax: +44 (0)20 7882 5223

Further informationand how to apply



Further information and how to apply

For all full-time undergraduatehigher education courses atuniversities and colleges in theUK, you must make an onlineapplication via UCAS.

The UCAS code for Barts and TheLondon School of Medicine andDentistry, Queen Mary, Universityof London is Q50.

There are full instructions on theUCAS website to make it as easyas possible for you to fill in youronline application, plus help textwhere appropriate. UCAS also hasa comprehensive guide calledApplying Online, which can bedownloaded from their website.UCAS allows you to apply to up to five courses per year.

There are three types of applicant:1. Students at a school or college

registered with UCASAll UK schools and colleges (anda small number of internationalestablishments) are registeredwith UCAS to manage theirstudents' applications.

Advice is available from yourteacher or a careers adviser atyour school or college. You fill inan online application and submitit to a member of staff. Afterchecking your details, and havingadded the academic reference,your school or college submits thecompleted application online toUCAS. You pay online using acredit card or debit card. You mayalso be able to pay through yourschool or college.

2. Independent applicants in the UK

Other UK applicants who are notat school or college must applyonline independently. It is likelythat you cannot readily seekadvice from your teacher, but can instead consult with variouscareers organisations (such asConnexions). You are responsiblefor paying the correct applicationfee, for obtaining and attachingthe academic reference and forsubmitting the completedapplication online to UCAS.

3. International applicants outsidethe UK (EU and worldwide)

If your school or college isregistered with UCAS you will beable to apply the same way as UK students; otherwise individualsfrom the EU (excluding the UK)and worldwide will need to applyonline independently. Advice isnormally available from yourschool or college. You areresponsible for paying the correctapplication fee, for obtaining andattaching the academic referenceand for submitting the completedapplication online to UCAS.

ImportantApplicants for medicine anddentistry can make up to fourchoices for medical or dentalcourses on the UCAS form. Yourremaining choices can be usedfor alternative subjects withoutprejudice to the commitment tomedicine or dentistry. Applicantsintending to include non-medicaland non-dental choices areencouraged to consider othercourses available at Queen Mary.


Further information and how to apply

All applications which includechoices for medicine and dentistrymust be submitted by 15 Octoberfor entry in September thefollowing year.

Open daysThe best way to get a feel for theSchool and answer any remainingquestions you may have is tocome and visit us. There are open days for both medicine anddentistry where potential studentscan see our campuses, hearabout our programmes andteaching methods, and talk withcurrent students and staff.

Open days for medicine anddentistry are held each year in thesummer. You may reserve yourplace on one of these open daysonline at: www.smd.qmul.ac.uk/admissions

The School of Medicine andDentistry also participates in theQueen Mary main Open and VisitDays held in April and September.

Self-guided tours of theWhitechapel CampusThe Medical and Dental OpenDays are very popular and placesget booked up very quickly.Applicants who are not able tosecure a place on one of theOpen Days, can conduct a self-guided tour of the Whitechapelcampus. The tour guide and mapis available on our websitewww.smd.qmul.ac.uk/admissions

Useful websitesBarts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistrywww.smd.qmul.ac.uk

Queen Mary, University of Londonwww.qmul.ac.uk

Residences Officewww.qmul.ac.uk/residences

Advice and Counsellingwww.welfare.qmul.ac.ukLibrary facilitieswww.library.qmul.ac.uk

Visiting the campuswww.qmul.ac.uk/visitus

Virtual campus tour www.qmul.ac.uk/virtualtours

Students’ Unionwww.qmsu.org

Further informationStudent Recruitment and Admissions [email protected]: +44 (0)20 7882 8478Fax: +44 (0)20 7882 7284

The Student Recruitment and Admissions OfficeBarts and The London School of Medicine and DentistryTurner StreetLondon E1 2ADTel: +44 (0)20 7882 8478Fax: +44 (0)20 7882 7206email: [email protected]

All other postgraduate medical and dental courses email: [email protected]

This guide has been produced by thePublications and Web Office for Barts and The London School of

Medicine and Dentistry - Pub8938

The information given in this prospectus is correct at thetime of going to press. The College reserves the right to

modify or cancel any statement in it and accepts no responsibility for the consequences of any such

changes. This prospectus has been printed on environmentally friendly material from sustainable

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