Oxford – Medicine

The Oxford Medicine course offers theoretical as well as practical training. There is a focus on the scientific research that has developed the practice of medicine. The first three years are spent gaining a BA Honours degree. During this time, known as the ‘pre-clinical stage’, students will look at anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, pathology, as well as many other areas of research. There are also ‘patient and doctor’ courses, to be passed with a satisfactory practical record. As part of the BA, there is also an experimental research project to be completed on an area of medicine of your choice. It’s a relatively large course with an intake of almost 160 each year. It’s also one of the 5 most competitive courses at Oxford with an average of 11 applicants per place over the last 3 years.

Over the initial five terms, medicine students spend half their week on lectures and practicals, and the remainder on self-study and tutorial work. Lectures are reduced during the final four terms of the pre-clinical stage, to allow more time to be spent on the research project and individual work.

More academic than many other medicine degrees, the Oxford course allows students to gain important knowledge of their subject and fully understand the theory behind the practice. This knowledge, when transferred to clinical practice, proves exceptionally useful.

After the BA, students progress to the ‘clinical’ part of the course. Students undertake their clinical training at the Oxford Clinical School.

An A Level (or equivalent) in Chemistry is mandatory, along with either Physics, Biology, Maths or Further Maths.