University of Birmingham: Medical School Admission

Birmingham Medical School has been training doctors since 1900 and has continued to be a world-class medical school ever since. At Birmingham you have the opportunity to learn at some of the UK’s leading hospitals, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital which is situated just next door to the medical school campus. You’ll learn alongside students studying other healthcare disciplines, mirroring how these disciplines work together in real life to care for patients.

Birmingham place heavy weighting on both academic performance and UCAT score, with the SJT score used post interview in deciding which applicants will be made offers. This makes it an ideal choice for strong all-round candidates, as well as candidates with particularly high UCAT or GCSEs.

Key Points

• UCAT
• City Based
• Optional Intercalation
• Integrated Course

Insider’s Guide to Birmingham Medical School from Ishaan M, Birmingham Medical Student

What makes Birmingham unique to other medical schools?

Birmingham is in the close proximity of the QE Hospital, which provides an exciting teaching experience and a range of revolutionary procedures and treatments. Furthermore, the transport links from the university are great, having a train station on campus which is easily accessible to the entire West Midlands and placements. Our MedSoc has often been rated one of the best in the country, offering one of the widest sets of societies, meaning there are new opportunities to get involved in any new or existing interests, regardless of how familiar you are with them. In addition, many societies are centered around specialties, allowing students to take part and learn more about medical specialties they take interest in. This means students can hone their interests and explore career options early, and that we are more likely to know which specialties we’d like to place in during foundation years.

Course Structure at Birmingham Medical School

Year 1 at Birmingham Medical School

Semester 1: During this semester, the modules studied are:

• MTM (Molecules to Man) covering the musculoskeletal system and how cells build up structures from a macro- to a microscopic level. 
• CEP (Cellular Communication, Endocrinology and Pharmacology) covering many cell-to-cell communication processes such as signaling and hormone interaction. Endocrinology was one of my personal favourite modules as the biochemistry was well-taught and extremely interesting. Pharmacology is taught in a little detail as this is mostly covered in more detail much later on.
• NAS (Neurones and Synapses) covering neuronal anatomy and how lesions in neurones can cause problems. We touch on a range of different pathologies and nerve impairments within the body.
• PPP (People, Patients and Populations) is one of many sociology and ethics modules, one of which we have each semester. This aims to make us much better doctors by acknowledging the healthcare system from a patients’ point of view, discussing how treatment can affect patients in their personal life and how certain laws and beliefs may negatively affect patients as well.

Semester 2: During this semester we cover:

• MJM (Muscles, Joints and Movements) covering muscle anatomy of the limbs, abdomen and thorax, involving neurovascular supplies and issues associated with atrophy and hypertrophy.
• IRM (Intro to Respiratory Medicine) covering laws related to respiratory function (much of which is calculation and physics based), respiratory anatomy and respiratory pathology.
• DIG (Digestive System) covering anatomy, physiology and function of the entire digestive system from mouth to bowels.
• DPS (Doctors, Patients and Society) is a continuation of the sociology and ethics covered in PPP, and acts to further our knowledge of patient experience as medical professionals.

Alongside this we are placed in GP clinics during our CBM component, which aims to consolidate learning over the course of the year and develop clinical skills, and Regional Anatomy of the Abdomen and Limbs.

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Year 2 at Birmingham Medical School

Semester 1: During this semester, we cover:

IIH (Infection, Immunology and Haematology) covering the innate and immune system responses to pathogens from viruses to parasites. We study in detail how immune responses work, can be enhanced and how they can often cause autoimmune conditions if unregulated.

CVS (Cardiovascular System) covering laws related to heart physiology, cardiac anatomy, and different arrhythmias. Furthermore, we are first introduced to ECGs which we will hav

REN (Renal System) covering the kidneys, ureters and bladders. Notably, urine and filtrate production, physiology, urinary pathologies and treatments.

HES (Health Sciences) is a continuation of previous sociology components which aims to improve our care and promote awareness towards those with disabilities and those who struggle to use the services provided by the NHS.

Alongside this we are placed in GP clinics during our CBM component, which aims to consolidate learning over the course of the year and develop clinical skills, and Regional Anatomy of the Pelvis and Head and Neck.

Semester 2: During this semester we cover:

CAN (Cancer): this component aims to give the student an up to date understanding of the cellular events, hallmarks of cancer, that result in cancer progression and spread to other parts of the body. Risk factors that cause different cancers will be analyzed. We will compare behavior of cancerous and normal cells and look at how the differences in their behavior can be targeted to selectively kill oncogenic cells. 

BAB (Brain and Behaviour): This module will build on the fundamental principles of neuroscience studied in year 1 by extending these principles to the central nervous system.  A detailed survey of how the highly adapted special senses provide information input to the brain and how it then processes this information will be made. The various neural mechanisms that underlie the control of the motor output from the brain and their integration with sensory input will also be studied. The module will then cover aspects of higher brain function involved in the processes of, for example, language, memory and emotions. Consideration will also be given to the metabolic requirements of the brain and how they are normally met.

RED (Reproductive, Endocrinology and Development): This module delves into the anatomy, embryology, pharmacology and physiology of the make and female reproductive systems, with an emphasis on childbirth and disease pertaining to these systems.

Year 3 at Birmingham Medical School

From your third year onwards, most of the teaching takes place in partner Teaching Hospital Trusts. Teaching in hospitals and general practices takes place within a highly organised academy structure with senior clinicians and dedicated Clinical Teaching Fellows (junior doctors). This ensures that we receive excellent training in each speciality.

Through placements, you will have access to a diverse regional population of over five million, including one million children. This means you will see a vast range of illness in people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, genders, sexualities, socio-economic statuses, and ages, helping you to relate, empathise and identify with these people on a professional and personal level.

Year 4 & 5 at Birmingham Medical School

During your final two years on the course we undertake clinical attachments in a wide range of specialities such as cardiology, neurology, psychiatry, rheumatology, orthopaedic surgery, oncology, ear, nose and throat surgery and anaesthetics. Further attachments in obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and general practice as well as a composite attachment in emergency medicine, intensive care, general hospital medicine and surgery are essential for us understanding our roles as Junior Doctors.

During the fourth year, we spend one month full-time on an elective placement where we can choose what we study and where. This could involve undertaking our own clinical research either at our Medical School, another centre in the UK or abroad, in a clinical setting (primary or secondary care), other healthcare setting or in a laboratory. Many students choose to undertake their elective abroad to experience a healthcare system in a different cultural context.

Teaching Style at Birmingham Medical School

What is the general teaching style at Birmingham? E.g. is it PBL/Traditional? etc.

Integrated: One organ system is taught in detail per module, covering anatomy, physiology, pathology, biochemistry and treatments. This can be quite heavy, however it allows a manageable learning style which allows easy consolidation and separation between modules. It also means, come clinical years, we are at least fairly familiar with most pathologies we see. Furthermore, we learn how pathologies can affect each other and we can understand the interactions between drugs and diseases, allowing a more clear and holistic view of any patients we see.

Does Birmingham offer dissection?

While we do not directly dissect cadavers, we often undertake prosecution: identifying structures within a cadaver which has already been dissected.

Does Birmingham offer a BSc? If so, how is the BSc year?

Birmingham offers BSc and MSc qualifications during intercalations. Each of them are generally one year, with the option to do 2 year intercalations part-time.

What is the pre-clinical / clinical split like? Do you get early clinical exposure?

We are split with 2 pre-clinical years and 3 clinical years. We are not thrust into the unknown during clinical years, however, as we are placed at GP practices throughout the pre-clinical years, allowing us to sit within clinics and learn about holistic care from the patients’ point of view.

Social Life at Birmingham Medical School

What are the clubs and societies like? What is the social life like?

Nightlife is bustling in Birmingham, with a wide variety of clubs and bars both on campus and in town. The MedSoc regularly schedules medic only events and night outs, allowing networking and socialising with other medics on the course. There is also a huge variety of societies to cater to all interests.

FAQs