Clinical Sciences BSc

At a glance

Course Details

Overview

Entry onto the Clinical Sciences course, either directly or via a foundation year, allows students a unique and exciting opportunity to study science and health studies, which underpin the medicine and healthcare professions. These collaborative courses offer routes to the University of Leeds’ School of Medicine MBChB programme or to qualifications in allied healthcare programmes.

Our focus is on providing high-quality, multidisciplinary courses that provide the skills required by ‘Tomorrow’s Doctors’ and other healthcare professionals. These courses will provide you with the essential knowledge and key skills to understand today’s multicultural health service. You will be encouraged to take responsibility for your own learning. Personal and Professional Development and Special Study modules will be a key feature throughout both courses. There will be opportunities on both courses for short periods of experiential training in a variety of healthcare settings.

Because clinical work will involve patients who may be vulnerable, such as children, the elderly and people with learning disabilities, offers may be subject to satisfactory background checks by the police.

Special Features

• Collaborative courses between the School of Life Sciences and School of Health Studies offering routes to the University of Leeds Medical MBChB programme
• Joint initiative between University of Bradford and Leeds School of Medicine to widen participation for students entering medical education and clinical sciences from under-represented backgrounds
• Training doctors and healthcare workers for the local community
• Professional development and special study modules will enable you to develop self-management skills, reflective practice and problem-solving skills that will help you to succeed in your chosen career
• You will be taught by a multidisciplinary team from the School of Life Sciences, School of Health Studies and by clinicians
• Opportunities to apply for graduate entry medicine

Aims

Year one of the Clinical Sciences course will mirror the first-year learning outcomes at Leeds Medical School. You will use an integrated systems-based approach to study physiological systems of the body and disease in addition to the underlying scientific principles. The course will also address multiprofessional healthcare issues so that you may progress via different routes, either towards medicine or other healthcare professions or continue with the degree in Clinical Sciences. There will be a strong tutorial support system for all students that will be channelled through the Personal and Professional Development modules.

Successful completion of the first year of the BSc (Hons) in Clinical Sciences will allow, subject to grades achieved and interview, up to 20 students to progress into year two at the Leeds Medical School. It is expected that students who do not transfer to Leeds Medical School will continue into year 2 of Clinical Sciences, although it may be possible to transfer to other biomedical courses at Bradford.

In years two and three of the Clinical Sciences course, you will continue with the themes of systems-based learning and mechanisms of disease. Emphasis will be placed on the development of effective communication, cultural awareness and team-working skills to provide you with the confidence and competence to embark on a career in allied health and science professions. You will be able to select modules from a range of health studies, clinical science, pharmacology and management modules, and Special Study modules will allow you to study a topic in depth and further develop your skills in critical analysis.

Clinical Sciences and the work on widening participation received a formal commendation by the General Medical Council when visited as part of a Formal Audit of the MBChB programme at Leeds (July 2005).

Career Outcome

Our first cohort of students graduated in July 2005, with the first graduates from Leeds Medical School in July 2007. Students have progressed onto postgraduate degrees and careers including NHS management, financial management, teaching and as Clinical Scientists, with many gaining places on graduate medicine programmes.

A major aim of the courses is to provide for the NHS needs of the local community. Following successful qualification from the Medical course at Leeds, you will commence a two-year foundation programme (registering with the General Medical Council after successful completion of the first year) and develop experience in a range of medical specialities before beginning specialist training in your chosen field of medicine.

Opportunities for graduates from the Bradford Clinical Sciences course include graduate-entry medicine and careers within the NHS that contribute directly to patient care, ranging from health service management, clinical psychology and primary care to clinical sciences. The highly successful pharmaceutical industry also offers a wide variety of careers where you will be able to use your knowledge and skills to improve healthcare in the UK or worldwide.

Entrance Requirements

Our typical offers are:

Foundation in Clinical Sciences/Medicine - 200 points

Including at least two subjects studied at GCE A level (or equivalent), which must be offered at grade C or above.

Clinical Sciences 300 points (e.g. B,B, B)

Including GCE A level (or equivalent) Biology and Chemistry grade B or above.

We will be selecting students, for both courses, on the basis of academic potential, relevant experiences, and interpersonal skills. Applicants who fulfil our screening criteria will be offered a structured interview, and preference will be given to students from West Yorkshire, if there is an excess of suitable applicants, and in particular from groups currently under-represented in the medical profession. We welcome applications from mature students. The course is not suitable for international students wishing to transfer to medicine or for science graduates, but graduates from other disciplines holding a minimum of a 2:1 degree classification are eligible to apply. For further and more detailed information, please contact the Admissions Tutors.

Candidates must also hold GCSE Mathematics, English and Science at a minimum of grade C.

A Criminal Records Bureau check will be made on all students in Year 1 Clinical Sciences.

Placements Available?

There will be opportunities on both courses for short periods of experiential training in a variety of healthcare settings.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to undertake an intercalated 12-month placement in the NHS or pharmaceutical industry between years 2 and 3 of the course.

Full-time Study

All applications, including Foundation Degrees, must be submitted via UCAS's (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) online facility.

Your school or college will be able to advise you about making your application. Alternatively, full instructions can be found at: www.ucas.com

UCAS also provides a comprehensive guide called Applying Online which can be downloaded from the same web address.

If you are not currently at school or college, or have difficulty obtaining relevant literature, UCAS can be contacted directly:

• Tel: 0871 468 0468
• Email: enquiries@ucas.ac.uk
• Website: www.ucas.com