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Maternal & Child Health Sciences
Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY
Telephone:+44 (0) 1382 632179
Fax: +44 (0) 1382 632597
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Undergraduate Programme

The undergraduate medical curriculum in Dundee adopts a body-system-based approach with three phases. Phase 1 comprises year 1 and is an integrated system based course dealing with normal structure, function and behaviour. Clinical relevance is emphasised throughout and opportunities for early patient contact are achieved utilising primary care teaching.

Phase 2 comprises year 2 and 3 where students re-visit the systems introduced in year 1 considering abnormal structure, function and behaviour. The "practice of medicine" forms a major component of this phase.

Phase 3 comprises years 4 and 5 with year 4 consisting of modular clinical attachements and year 5 devoted to clinical or theme based special study modules and Pre-Registration House Officer (PHRO) apprenticeship attachments. The curriculum is outcome-based with educational strategies including elelments of task based and problem based learning. A wide range of assessment methods are adopted to reflect the assessment of the curriculum outcomes including written, Objective Structured Clincial Examinations (OSCE) and portfolio examinations.

Student Selected Components (SSC) are a key feature of the Dundee Medical Curriculum. They occupy approximately one thrid of each year and provided a valuable supplement to the essential central core factual material taught in the previous two- thirds of the year. The SSC programme in Dundee is more extensive and ambitious than in most medical schools.

Student Selected Components provide and opportunity for students:

  • To study in greater depth topics of their on choice
  • To take responsibility for their own learning
  • To develop a questioning an critical approach
  • To gain experience in information retrieval and analysis
  • To acquire or improve on various skills

Degree Programme Structure

Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Year 1
Year 2 & 3
Year 4& 5

Normal structure, function & behaviour
Abnormal structure, function & behaviour

Preparation for clinical practice

Reproductive system, growth
& development
Reproductive system, growth
& development
Modular clinical attachments in Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Child Health in Year 4
(4 week blocks)
Longitudinal SSC
(0.5 day/week, 24 weeks)
SSC 16 weeks
(4 x 4 weeks blocks)
Year 4 projects
Electives:offered to local students and to students from other Univeristies
Theme based SSC's (Year 5)
Clinical SSC's (Year 5)
Option of undertaking 1 year BMSc degree between phases 2 and 3 (see Intercalated Degrees for Medical and Dental Students above). Elective period between years 4 and 5

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Page last updated: Wednesday 23 April 2008 10:40 AM