Clinical MD in General Internal Medicine, programme outline

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Detailed theory teaching and clinical training is given in all sub-specialities of General Internal Medicine with emphasis on clinically relevant, state-of-the-art and topical issues. The following medical sub-specialities will be comprehensively covered in a structured way over 2 or 3 years for the University of Buckingham Clinical MD programmes:

Cardiology
Respiratory Medicine
Gastroenterology
Infectious Diseases
Emergency Medicine
Diabetes and Endocrinology
Critical Care including ITU
Nephrology
Radiology
Neurology
Dermatology
Haematology & Oncology
Medical Opthalmology
Rheumatology
Medical Statistics
Ethics and Law in Medicine
Audit and Dissertation (module taught at Buckingham)

The entire curriculum will be taught over 8 terms (for the 2-year MD) or 12 terms (for the 3-year MD) of 10 weeks duration each, with one module per term and 4 terms each year. Students taking the combined Research cum Clinical MD programme will take the MSc in Medical Research in the Clore Laboratory in their first year and then follow the 2-year MD programme.

Advanced Life Support (ALS)

Included in the MD courses, as an integral part of the Emergency Medicine module, is a comprehensive programme of training in theoretical and practical aspects of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. All MD fellows are enrolled on a Resuscitation Council approved, 2-day, Advanced Life Support course. This internal course takes place at Ealing Hospital and when successfully completed leads to the award of an internationally recognised ALS provider certificate for all MD fellows. The costs of this course are included in the overall tuition fees for the MD programme.

Speciality Conferences

During the course of all MD programmes, the teaching plans of individual specialities include attendance at a number of internationally recognised speciality medical conferences within the UK. This affords the MD fellows the opportunity to hear lectures and debates and attend workshops involving internationally renowned speakers on matters of contemporary interest, and to experience the controversies of cutting-edge research in the medical specialities concerned. The registration costs of the conferences are included in the overall tuition fees for all programmes.

Grand Rounds (Ealing Hospital)

At lunch-time each Thursday a Grand Round presentation takes place at Ealing Hospital Postgraduate Centre, in the tradition of all prestigious British postgraduate medical teaching establishments. Consultant staff from medical specialities lead presentations of interesting and unusual clinical cases, followed by a lively session of questions and debate on medical issues raised. Some of the sessions are provided by invited medical speakers of international reputation. Recent advances in medical practice and a wide range of controversial and topical medical issues are discussed with the benefit of authoritative input from senior medical colleagues. This extremely valuable educational resource is part of the routine weekly schedule for all MD fellows.

The answers to the most commonly asked questions can be found here. Alternatively, contact the Admissions Office for more information.

Full time:	Yes
Part time:	No
Award:	Clinical MD in General Internal Medicine
Entry points (2-year Clinical MD): (Term dates)	January, May & September This is an 8-term programme, which takes 2 years to complete.
Entry points (3-year Clinical MD): (Term dates)	January, May & September This is a 12-term programme, which takes 3 years to complete.
Entry points (1-year MSc + 2-year Clinical MD): (Term dates)	January, May & September This is a 12-term programme, which takes 3 years to complete.

2-year Clinical MD

The total unit value of the University of Buckingham 2-year Clinical MD is 360 units, 180 units in each year.

The whole programme is administered as 4 terms (modules) each of 10 weeks duration, each year for 2 years. Total number of terms (modules): 8.

Each unit is equivalent to 10 hours of teaching / study. The unit value of each of the 8 modules in the programme is 45 units (450 hours).

For all modules except for the Buckingham module, the breakdown is as follows:

Total Contact Hours: 450
Theory Lectures: 65 hours
Tutorials (Clinical): 200 hours
Problem Based Learning (Clinical): 135 hours
Private Study: 50 hours

For the Buckingham module, the breakdown is as follows:

Total Contact Hours: 450
Theory Lectures: 150 hours
Dissertation: 200 hours
Audit: 50 hours
Private Study: 50 hours

The Buckingham module is not administered as a discrete package but is taught as one full day every week throughout the MD programme.

3-year Clinical MD (new)

The total unit value of the University of Buckingham 3-year Clinical MD is 360 units, 120 units in each year. Please note that the programme is subject to full validation and approval by the University's Learning & Teaching Committee and Senate.

The whole programme is administered as 4 terms (modules) each of 10 week duration, each year for 3 years. Total number of terms (modules): 12.

Each unit is equivalent to 10 hours of teaching / study. The unit value of each of the 12 modules in the programme is 30 units (300 hours).

For all modules except for the Buckingham module, the breakdown is as follows:

Total Contact Hours: 300
Theory Lectures: 40 hours
Tutorials (Clinical): 140 hours
Problem Based Learning (Clinical): 90 hours
Private Study: 30 hours.

For the Buckingham module, the breakdown is as follows:

Total Contact Hours: 300
Theory Lectures: 100 hours
Dissertation: 130 hours
Audit: 35 hours
Private Study: 35 hours

The Buckingham module is not administered as a discrete package but is taught as one full day every week throughout the MD programme.

1-year MSc + 2-year Clinical MD

The total unit value of the University of Buckingham 1-year Medical Research plus 2-year Clinical MD is 360 units, 180 units in each of the final 2 years. The research year has no unit value. The first year is entirely laboratory based. This is followed by Clinical MD with the whole programme administered as 4 terms (modules) each of 10 weeks duration, each year for the 2nd and 3rd year. Total number of terms (modules): 8.

For all modules except for the Buckingham module, the breakdown is as follows:

Total Contact Hours: 450
Theory Lectures: 65 hours
Tutorials (Clinical): 200 hours
Problem Based Learning (Clinical): 135 hours
Private Study: 50 hours

For the Buckingham module, the breakdown is as follows:

Total Contact Hours: 450
Theory Lectures: 150 hours
Dissertation: 200 hours
Audit: 50 hours
Private Study: 50 hours

The Buckingham module is not administered as a discrete package but is taught as one full day every week throughout the MD programme.

Please note that the exact breakdown for any module is meant to be flexible and is subject to change in order to enhance the programme.

All candidates in any MD programme must achieve the above-mentioned 360 units to be eligible for the award of the MD degree in General Internal Medicine; the University requires nothing more, nothing less. In reality, the candidates may want to obtain even more clinical experience and training over and above that stipulated by the University for the award of the MD degree. We welcome candidates to work in the hospital during weekends, evenings and nights and in between official term times for this. However, this is strictly optional and is entirely up to the candidate's wishes.