University of Sussex

In the first two years, academic and clinical studies are based primarily on the University of Sussex’s campus at Falmer. Students gain direct experience of working with patients from the first term. Clinical experience is both in primary care and acute care settings. Students carry out two individual family studies. They also experience medical practice in hospital settings. On a parallel route, they develop clinical and communication skills and study the normal and abnormal functioning of the human body using a systems-based approach.

Systems modules cover the core material that every doctor must know, but also include student-selected components that allow exploration of medically related topics to an advanced level, informed by the latest research. The systems modules also include weekly clinical symposia, focused on specific medical problems or diseases, that emphasise the importance of contributions from different disciplines.

During years three to five, a balance between clinical and academic studies is maintained. While students gain progressively more experience in clinical contexts, the requirement to integrate clinical experience with understanding of the underlying clinical and social sciences and public health issues continues. Students maintain an individual patient portfolio to help them reflect on how their personal strengths are developing alongside clinical experience.

Year five is essentially an apprenticeship for Postgraduate Medicine Foundation Programme. During the year students undertake periods of regional attachment in which they experience a number of clinical placements in rotation, in both district general hospitals and community settings in Sussex and its adjoining counties. During this time, students also spend periods shadowing a Pre-Registration House Officer (PRHO).