Medicine with a Foundation Year BMedSci and BMBS

This module considers the particulars of cell and tissue biology. You will explore a number of topics including: prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure and function, organelles, biological membranes, cell division, transport across membranes, and tissue types. For this module you will have a blended mix of taught classes, laboratory practicals, independent study exercises and e-learning.

This module considers the particulars of organic chemistry. You will consider the role of carbon in living things. You will consider the structure of carbon compounds such as alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, arenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids.  For this module you will have a combination of taught classes, laboratory practicals, completion of workbooks, e-learning and self-directed learning, totalling 21 hours in the autumn semester.

This module is concerned with biological molecules. The content covered in this module includes: water, carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, protein, nucleic acids, vitamins, and minerals. For this module you will have a mix of taught classes, laboratory practicals, completion of workbooks, e-learning and self-directed learning.

This module considers aspects of medical genetics. You will consider many issues in genetics including genetic variation, inheritance, mutation, human karyotyping, dominance and co-dominance, cloning and gene therapy. You will consider human inherited conditions such as cystic fibrosis, colour blindness, sickle-cell disease and others. For this module you’ll have a combination of taught classes, completion of workbooks and e-learning.

In this module you will consider the particulars in relation to inorganic chemistry. You will consider atomic structure, the periodic table and periodicity, acids, bases and salts, solutions and suspensions, chemical reactions, enthalpy of reactions and oxidation and reduction. For this module you will have a mix of taught classes, laboratory practicals, completion of workbooks, e-learning and self-directed learning, with contact time totalling 78 hours over the course of the year.

This course will provide an introduction to basic microbiology. It will cover fundamental aspects of the structure, growth, replication and significance of major groups of microbes with emphasis on bacteria and viruses. Nutritional and physical requirements for growth, propagation and measurement of growth as well as procedures for killing microbes will be dealt with. Students will also be introduced to the topics of infectious disease and the significance of microbiology to industry. In practical sessions students will learn aseptic technique, routine light microscopy, basic skills in handling, growing, isolating and identifying bacteria, and general safe laboratory techniques.

This module begins to introduce the process of personal and professional development of future doctors by requiring regular reflection, action planning and documentation of their progress through the Foundation Year. It also comprises an introduction to the areas of basic communication and clinical skills and professionalism through exploring lifestyle factors and their influence on health, the NHS and topical medical and ethical issues, health psychology and health promotion. The module develops research and study skills, academic writing, building resilience, communication and counselling skills, clinical skills, record keeping and information governance.

This module relates to the practical skills needed to help you with your studies and in your future career. This module will cover skills including: information gathering, recording information, data analysis, time management, effective scientific writing and laboratory reports, referencing, computer skills, and examination success. For this module you will have a mix of taught classes, workbooks, e-learning and self-directed learning, with contact time totalling 21 hours of contact time over the course of the year.

This module is related to the particulars of health, behaviour and society. The content covered in this module includes: health psychology, health promotion, and coping with illness. This module also considers lifestyle factors and their influence on health including exercise, diet, tobacco, alcohol and stress. For this module you will have a blended mix of taught classes, completion of workbooks, and self-directed learning totalling 21 hours of contact time over the course of the year. 

This module is concerned with biochemical processes. For this module you will consider proteins including primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure and function, enzyme structure, enzyme function and activity, DNA replication, protein synthesis, and cellular respiration. For this module you will have a combination of taught classes, laboratory practicals, completion of workbooks and e-learning. 

This module is concerned with body structure. You will be introduced to anatomy, organs and organ systems including alimentary canal, blood vessels, brain and spinal cord, heart including changes that occur at birth, kidney, liver, and lungs. You’ll also be taught about the peripheral nerves, reproductive organs, and the skeleton and muscles. For this module you will have a blended mix of taught classes, completion of workbooks, e-learning and self-directed learning.

This module is concerned with body processes. You will cover topics including: absorption, filtration and reabsorption in the body, chemical digestion, gaseous exchange, immune response such as the innate and acquired immunity, muscle contraction, and nerve impulses and how they are transmitted and their coordination. In this module you will have a combination of taught classes, laboratory practicals, completion of workbooks and e-learning.

This module contributes to developing an understanding of the scientific basis of clinical practice. In particular the module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of fundamental biochemical, physiological and anatomical concepts and their relation to disease processes. This is delivered by lectures, popular topics sessions, directed reading, private study, workshops and practical classes. The theme-based content will include: Cells, Biochemical Basics, Tissues of the Body, Muscle, Nerves, Pharmacology, Blood and Infection, Reproduction, Inflammation and Metabolism.

This module contributes to developing an understanding of the doctor as a professional. Students will be taught the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes required for the assessment and management of patients. Students will be introduced to the concept of the patient as a whole person. They will be asked to consider challenging ethical scenarios. The module will provide students with some basic clinical skills and introduce them to theoretical and statistical approaches to understanding health.

This module provides an introduction to the basic anatomy and physiology of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems together with fundamentals in haematology, in terms of physiological control mechanisms, the pathophysiology and pharmacological approaches to treating common disease states. This is delivered by lectures, popular topics sessions, directed reading, private study, workshops, practical classes and hospital and general practice clinical visits.

The module develops a working knowledge of the normal structure and function of the musculoskeletal system. In addition to looking at normal structure and function, there is an opportunity to study the basic pathophysiology of disease development, related clinical skills, some potential treatments and the basic principles of drug therapy in some common diseases. In clinical visits, students will focus on musculoskeletal examination, developing clinical skills of assessing a patient with a potential fracture and examination of the musculoskeletal system.

Students will receive an introduction to sports medicine and physiotherapy and explore the factors that lead to errors in diagnosis and treatment, including appreciation of human fallibility and performance influencers. Students will also learn more about evidence-based medicine. The module is taught through lectures, workshops, practicals and dissection classes as well as hospital and general practice clinical visits. There is also a requirement for private study to attain the knowledge and understanding outcomes specified in the module description.

This module contributes to developing an understanding of the scientific basis of clinical practice. In particular the module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of disease processes associated with cancer; the anatomy of the neck shoulder and upper limbs; clinical skills associated with examination of the cardiovascular system. This is delivered by lectures, case studies, directed reading, private study, workshops, anatomical examination and clinical skills training sessions. 

The theme-based content will include:

• Anatomy – triangles of the neck; axilla and shoulder; mammary gland; lymphatics; nerve plexuses
• Molecular medicine – molecular basis of the control of cell cycle and cell growth; the biology, pathology and genetics of cancer; respiratory failure
• Pharmacology – Biologics as novel therapeutics
• Physiology – Nutrition and cancer
• Professional development – Health beliefs and culture; examination of the cardiovascular system; communicating with distressed people
• Public health – interpreting and communicating risks; screening and diagnostic testing

Students will be introduced to the concept of randomized controlled trials and will reinforce their learning during further general practice clinical visits.

• Clinical Toxicology
• Narratives & Health
• History of Anatomy & Medicine
• Cancer staging and grading
• Risky Business (preventing medical error)
• A closer view of the eye
• Introduction to psychiatry
• Molecular medicine
• Medical microbiology
• Creative clinical communication
• Translational neuro-oncology

This module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of fundamental biochemical, physiological, pharmacological and anatomical concepts and their relation to gastrointestinal disease processes. The module will provide an introduction to the alimentary system, and important aspects of nutrition and metabolism. This is to be delivered by lectures, practicals, workshops and private study. The theme-based context will include topics related to malnutrition, luminal gastroenterology and liver disease. The students will be continuing their general practice clinical visits, with a special focus on patients with gastrointestinal conditions. They will also be taught the skills of history taking and examination for patients with abdominal/ alimentary conditions. Students will also revisit the concept of safety, considering foresight, hazard awareness and risk. Students will also be introduced to measures of disease frequency and its relevance in clinical medicine.

This module provides an introduction to the renal system, a key system involved in whole body homeostasis. The introduction to the renal system covers basic physiology, pharmacology, anatomy and histology. It includes descriptions of the intrarenal circulation and its relation to tubular elements, the processes located to the proximal tubule, loop of Henlé, distal tubule and collecting duct, and the integration of these systems in the control of extracellular fluid volume and osmolality (including hormonal mechanisms) and in acid-base balance. The module is delivered by lectures, workshops, practical classes, case studies, directed reading, private study, and clinical visits to general practice. Problem solving classes examine the use of diuretics and disorders of acid-base balance. Two plenary clinical sessions deal with the consequences of renal failure. Students will continue their general practice visits. They will also explore the role of non-technical skills in healthcare with a focus on teamwork, communication, decision making and situation monitoring. 

This introduction to the endocrine system will cover basic physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, histology and outline clinical features. This will provide the knowledge base for management of disease. This module will include the non-reproductive endocrine system with particular attention on pituitary, adrenal, thyroid and pancreatic function. As the endocrine system is a key system involved in whole body homeostasis, principles of control and integration of metabolism will be re-visited. This introduction to the reproductive system will cover basic physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, histology and outline clinical features. This will provide the knowledge base for management of disease. This module will include the male and female reproductive system and pregnancy with particular attention on function of the ovary and testes, endometrial, cervical epithelial and prostate gland changes, placental physiology, problems in pregnancy and hormonal control of the reproductive system.

The students will be continuing their general practice clinical visits, with a special focus on patients with an endocrine condition and will be taught diversity in sexuality and how to challenge attitudes of prejudice. Students will examine eyes and ears using an otoscope and ophthalmoscope respectively. They will also be introduced to the concepts of systems and basic quality improvement approaches in healthcare. Further epidemiological analysis and the basis of evidence-based medicine will be introduced. Having previously considered why errors occur they will explore the steps and role of incident analysis in healthcare, including Duty of Candour.  

This module provides an introduction to the basic anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and psychology of the central nervous system. The module aims to develop knowledge of these fundamental principles within the context of relevant weekly themes. The theme-based content will begin with a focus on depression and anxiety.

Students will be provided with a general introduction to the relevant brain anatomy followed by an in depth examination of the system physiology and pharmacology. The depression and anxiety theme will include individual sessions on the limbic system, emotion and mood, and treatment strategies. Ultimately, this will provide the basis for understanding theme based functions and the production of behaviours. Subsequent weekly themes include: pain (including sessions on neuropsychology of pain, the use of anaesthetics, and pain management), movement disorders (including sessions on the anatomy and pharmacology of movement, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and executive function), dementia (including sessions on Alzheimer’s disease, neuropsychological assessment, and memory), sensory disorders (including sessions on the visual and auditory systems and epilepsy), and finally serious mental illness (including sessions on neurotransmission, attention, language, and schizophrenia).

This module gives students an opportunity to undertake problem-based learning. Working in small groups, students will evaluate cases centred around the life cycle to include children, young adults, middle age and the older patient. Each week culminates in a plenary session where scientists and clinicians will discuss each case based upon student direction.

• Sport and exercise medicine
• Advanced anatomical sciences
• Physics of the body
• Lymphatic organs and antigen presentation
• Molecular immunology and autoimmunity
• Molecular medicine
• Creative medicine
• Drugs of abuse
• No research about me, without me
• Pre-clinical drug screening

• Pain
• Exploring bones
• Defects in development
• Cranial nerves revisited
• Molecular diagnostics
• Complementary and alternative medicines
• Neuron connectivity
• Hearing healthcare
• Introduction to sensory neuroscience
• Introduction to R*
• Improving your chances of publication

In this module some topics will be taught centrally to all third year students and others within the homebase where your research project is located. The module includes the following topics: literature retrieval and creation and management of a bibliography; scientific writing including the presentation of research data; study methods and study design including formulating and testing hypotheses; evidence-based medicine; human and animal research ethics; critical analysis of a scientific paper; statistical analysis of research data. 

In your chosen area for your research, you’ll spend year three working on your Honours Year project in which you will carry out your project to test the hypothesis formulated in the research methods module. The form of the project can vary and may be based on laboratory work, audit, patient studies or an extended literature review with proof of critical engagement. A submission of around 10,000 words is expected as your project write-up. A range of optional modules related to Research Project are shown below. 

In this module you’ll build on previous learning to acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes of direct clinical relevance for the management of infection, particularly in a hospital setting. The module is divided into three parts; the general properties of antimicrobial agents, the general principles of the management of infection and antimicrobial chemotherapy in practice. You’ll have around nine hours per week of lectures, the majority of which are delivered by consultant microbiologists, or an antimicrobial pharmacist, from a local partner hospital. 

This module will focus on antibiotics that target two essential cell processes in bacteria: DNA replication and gene transcription. Lectures will cover the fundamental principles of these processes, and the origins, structures and functions of antibiotics developed against them. You’ll then assess how bacteria gain resistance to these antibiotics through mutation and selection, and the known mechanisms of how resistance spreads through microbial communities.

This module focuses on how cancer therapies have developed in recent years, and how the long-term cardiovascular effects of these treatments in cancer survivors should be considered.

Six lectures will cover: an introduction to cancer therapy, the role of VEGF in tumour angiogenesis, anti-VEGF cancer therapies, cardiovascular consequences of anti-cancer treatment, the role of alternative splicing and molecular targeting in cancer and future strategies for cancer therapy.

This module provides a clinical overview of cancer including: the molecular biology of cancer, cancer angiogenesis, pre-clinical modelling of cancer, clinical trials and adjuvant treatments in cancer, and breast cancer: biology and treatment and new biological treatments for cancer. You’ll have nine hours of direct teaching with further home-based reading assignments and self-directed learning.

This module will explore microbiology in the clinical environment, in particular: medical virology in the context of cancer, pathogenesis, the clinical consequences infections and their management, and prevention and management and control of hospital-acquired infections. You’ll have seven 1-hour taught sessions although the module is largely self-directed learning.

In this module you’ll cover key topics including a revision of functional neuroanatomy and understanding functional connectivity between brain regions, focussing specifically on brain circuits underlying cognitive function and an introduction to imaging methods (EEG,MRI, fMRI). You’ll build your knowledge and understanding of major neuropsychiatric disorders and current research in these fields including schizophrenia, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, depression and, autism and disorders of social cognition. 

This module will provide you with a conceptual framework relevant to embryonic, foetal, neonatal, childhood and adolescent growth and development. You’ll be introduced to the pervasive concept of human development as a programmed evolution in structure and function of the brain. You’ll explore the need for development in human neuroscience with reference to brain embryology; pre-term birth, brain tumours; and epilepsies, and other current clinical research areas, from new-borns to teenagers. You’ll have six hours of direct contact time.

This phase provides students with the opportunity to acquire and develop professional knowledge, skills, values and behaviours through experiential learning in primary care settings, outpatient clinics, operating theatres, the emergency room and patients’ homes. This is combined with seminars and simulation-based learning.

This phase will comprise of an introductory week followed by five sets of six-week placements in medicine, surgery, specialty skills, mental health and community-based medicine.

Placements are integrated to allow students to maximise their learning in each setting. After two placements there will be a formative assessment week, and at the end of the five placements students will have summative assessments. Students will progress to a 12-week block involving a two-week junior assistantship and 10 weeks of two or four-week Student Selected Modules (SSMs). Students will choose from a wide variety of SSMs from across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.

This final phase of the course is intended to prepare students for the transition to working as a Foundation doctor and enable appropriate preparation for the GMC Medical Licensing Assessment.

Advanced Practice will consist of an introductory week followed by a series of clinical placements including a formative assessment mid-way through. Topics covered will include: Health Care of Later Life; Leadership and Management training; Intermediate Medicine including Rheumatology; Cancer and Palliative Care; Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology; Advanced Primary Care; Critical Illness; Advanced Medicine and Surgery. Upon completion of these clinical placements, a revision week will be held followed by the final summative examinations.

The Transition to Practice programme is embedded in within the Advanced Practice phase. This is completed with a final 12-week period incorporating a six-week elective and a six-week senior medical assistantship.

The elective period is an opportunity for you to gain insight into medical practice in a different setting within the UK or anywhere in the world. The elective holds an exciting opportunity that will provide you with a chance to expand your skill set and overcome new challenges.

During the medical assistantship you will apply previous learning to the practical assessment and management of patients by workplace based learning. You will be expected to attain the level of practice of an FY1 doctor at the start of their employment being assessed by portfolio and logbook review. It will include shadowing a Foundation Year 1 doctor, and provides an excellent preparation for your own Foundation Year training.