Regulation C5

1. SCOPE

Regulation C5 is the primary regulation for all medical bachelor students on a programme leading to the award of MBChB. The regulation encompasses the General Medical Council's requirement for all medical students to complete the National Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) commencing 2023/24. In addition to this University regulation, it is the student’s responsibility to adhere to current General Medical Council guidance. 

2. ADMISSION

2.1.  By accepting a place at the University, you confirm that you will abide by the University’s rules, regulations and policies set out in the Keele Academic Regulations and Policies.

2.2.  Admission and eligibility to become and/or remain a medical student to the programme is governed by the School of Medicine Undergraduate Medicine (MBChB) Admissions Process, which is available online via the policy zone: School of Medicine Undergraduate (MBChB) Admissions Process.

2.3.  You will not be able to register/be offered a place for the MBChB programme if you have been excluded from other Schools of Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy on grounds of being unfit to practise.

2.4.  This programme is subject to the Fitness to Practise process set out in Regulation B5.

3. STUDENT HEALTH AND WELL BEING

3.1.  You must be in an adequate state of physical and mental health to engage with your studies (Regulation B4)

3.2.  You are required to notify the School of any circumstances, of which you are aware, that may affect your ability to study. Where such circumstances may affect performance in assessments, these must be notified to the School before, or within five working days of, the relevant assessment.

3.3.  If you have, or develop, a health condition that in the opinion of the Keele Occupational Health service may impact on patient safety, or prevent you from discharging the professional duties of a doctor, you will be referred to the School of Medicine Health and Conduct Committee to assess your ability to continue on the programme.

4. PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOUR AND FITNESS TO PRACTISE

4.1.  The School of Medicine has an obligation to monitor and assess the professional, as well as academic, development of students in accordance with GMC guidance. For this reason you are required to sign an annual declaration of awareness of your professional responsibilities.

4.2.  During placements you are expected to conform to the policies and procedures laid down by the organisation that provides the practice placement, as well as to School policies. If you demonstrate unprofessional/dangerous/unsafe behaviour in the clinical environment you will be withdrawn from placement immediately and your conduct will be subject to an investigation by the School, the outcomes of which will be considered by the School of Medicine Health and Conduct Committee. Behaviour that is in breach of this regulation may result in your studies on the programme being terminated.

Where the School becomes aware that a student has displayed unprofessional behaviour, a decision will be taken whether this will be referred to the School of Medicine Health and Conduct Committee (part of the Fitness to Practise pathway), which may ultimately result in your studies on the programme being terminated.

4.3.  Any referral to the School of Medicine Health and Conduct Committee and a possible subsequent consideration by the University Fitness to Practise Committee will be done under the process set out in Regulation B5 Fitness to Practise

4.4.  It is your responsibility to disclose a criminal conviction or caution, failure to do so will result in you being referred to the School of Medicine Health and Conduct Committee to consider the appropriate course of action on the grounds of a professional misdemeanour.

4.5.  If you are excluded from the MBChB programme on grounds of being unfit to practise, your details will be added to the National Excluded Student Database, and you may be barred from registering for any other Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy programme within the UK.

5. PROGRAMMES OF STUDY

5.1.  The 5 year MBChB programme is a non-modular programme and comprises:

Year 1:   Level 4 (120 credits)

Year 2:   Level 5 (120 credits)

Year 3:   Level 6 (120 credits)

Year 4:   Level 6 (120 credits)

Year 5:   Level 6 (120 credits)

5.2 You must enrol or re-register for your programme of study before each coming academic year by the deadline, which will be notified to you by the University.

You cannot normally include in your Keele programme of study modules from another higher education institution in the UK or abroad and the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning does not apply to this programme.

5.3 Only modules defined as part of the MBChB are recognised as contributing to the degree award.

6. INTERCALATION

6.1 You may apply to suspend your medical degree for a maximum period of 12 months to intercalate to study either a Bachelor’s degree, normally after year 2, or a Master’s degree after year 4.

6.2 To undertake such an intercalated degree, you must be given permission by the School of Medicine, as well as being offered a place on your chosen programme following an application. The SOM Intercalation application and appeal process can be found here: SOM Intercalation Application and Appeal Process.

6.3 You may appeal the School's decision regarding your intercalation application.

7. MAXIMUM PERIOD OF REGISTRATION

7.1 The maximum period of registration to complete your programme of study is stated in Regulation C1.

8. MODULE ASSESSMENT AND REASSESSMENT

8.1 The general rules describing the assessment and reassessment of modules for the University are provided in Regulation D1.

8.1.1 Regulation D1 applies to the MBChB with the following exceptions:

8.1.1.1 Clause D1: 9.3: all years of study shall be assessed in accordance with specific MBChB assessment criteria

8.1.1.2 Clause D1: 9.3: the minimum mark for a pass shall be determined for each assessment according to the processes set out in the Assessments Practice Document (which is available to students enrolled on the programme via the KLE) which is approved from time to time by the MBChB Programme Board and School Education Committee.

8.1.1.3 Clause D1.13.1: If you are late submitting assessed work at the first attempt (or for reassessment at the first attempt), but the work is received within 24 hours of the submission deadline without valid exceptional circumstances, the maximum you will be awarded will be the assessment pass mark.

8.1.1.4 Clause D1.13.2: If you are late submitting assessed work after 24 hours of the submission deadline without valid exceptional circumstances, your mark will be capped at 0.

8.2 The School will calculate a ranking score regarding your performance in relation to your cohort. Your ranking score will be based on the marks achieved in the first attempt of relevant assessments.

9. PROGRESSION TO NEXT LEVEL OF STUDY

9.1 Where you have passed every assessment for the year and met attendance and engagement requirements, you will have passed the year and be awarded the appropriate credits at the specified level.

9.2 Where you have failed to meet the requirements in 9.1, in certain circumstances, and subject to the approval of the Progression and Award Board you may be allowed to repeat a year with full time attendance as detailed in 9.2.1 below providing you have not previously taken a repeat year of study. In this case the repeat level of study will be counted as a first attempt, with no penalty for repeating the year. You may also have another repeat year opportunity in either year four or five of the programme if you fail the reassessments linked to the MLA in these years (following the exceptional circumstances process).

9.2.1 In making decisions, the Progression and Award Board will offer repeat options based on the prospect of the student progressing or completing the failed assessments. Students with approved exceptional circumstances will be granted repeat options, subject to the caveat noted in 9.2.2 below. For students without approved exceptional circumstances, Progression and Award Boards will take the following into account when making decisions: students must have achieved an assessment mark on failed assessments within 10% of the assessment pass mark and demonstrated engagement with their studies through an attendance record of at least 80% (not including reported absences) to be eligible for a repeat year option. If it is identified that additional support is required, students will be guided towards the Support to Study process.

9.2.2 Where a repeat option requires a clinical placement, this option may be deferred depending on placement capacity and students may be required by the Progression and Award Board to take a leave of absence until such time that the placements can be undertaken.

9.3 Full attendance is required on the MBChB programme and this is a progression and professionalism requirement. If you do not maintain full attendance you may be referred into the University Support to Study process and may receive warnings under the University Attendance and Engagement policy. This may ultimately lead to a referral to the School of Medicine Health and Conduct Committee. If your attendance does not improve you may ultimately be withdrawn from your studies by the University. See 11.2.1.

10. AWARD CLASSIFICATION RULES

10.1 To qualify for the award of MBChB Honours, you must have satisfactorily completed a full-time programme of study and have passed all five years including all components of the MLA.

10.2 Award of MBChB with Distinction:

10.2.1 You will be awarded an MBChB with Distinction on graduation from the C2007 MBChB programme if you have accrued a minimum of 4 distinction points, one of which must be obtained in the examinations in either Year 4 or Year 5. Distinction points are awarded at the discretion of the School Examination Board. The final number of distinction points is confirmed by the Examination Board in Year 5.

10.2.2 You will be awarded an MBChB with Distinction on graduation from the C2018 MBChB programme if you are ranked in the top 9.9% of students based on an overall ranking mark calculated from the marks gained in the three Phases of the course using the following weighting: Phase 1 (Years 1 & 2): 25%, Phase 2 (years 3 & 4): 50%, Phase 3 (Year 5): 25%.

10.3 The award of the MBChB or MBChB with Distinction, and successful completion of such other assessments as defined by the General Medical Council, confers the right for you to apply for registration by the GMC.

10.4 The following Intermediate awards are available at appropriate exit points. These intermediate awards imply no eligibility for professional recognition or registration, or fitness to practise. Unless otherwise agreed by Senate, no student may receive more than one award for study on this programme:

10.5 BSc Honours Degree in Applied Medical Sciences:

The University Honours Degree BSc in Applied Medical Sciences is an intermediate award awarded to students who have completed at least 120 credits at Level 4, at least 120 credits at Level 5 and at least 120 credits at Level 6 or higher. This exit degree will be classified using the Bachelor’s Degrees algorithm as described in Regulation D2 1.3.3.

10.6 Diploma of Higher Education in Applied Medical Sciences:

The Diploma of Higher Education in Applied Medical Sciences is an intermediate award awarded to students who have completed at least 120 credits at Level 4 and at least 120 credits at Level 5 or higher. Diplomas of Higher Education are not classified.

10.7 Certificate of Higher Education in Applied Medical Sciences:

The Certificate of Higher Education in Applied Medical Sciences is an intermediate award awarded to students who have completed at least 120 credits at Level 4 or higher as set out in the relevant programme specification. Certificates of Higher Education are not classified.

11. TERMINATION OF STUDIES

11.1 Regulation B8 describes the circumstances where your studies at the University could be terminated.

11.2 Regulation B8 applies to the MBChB with the following exceptions:

11.2.1 Clause B1.2 Academic Failure. In the case of academic failure you will be referred into the Support to Study process, which is a supportive process. However, following this supportive process, if you are unable to meet the minimum threshold for success this may ultimately result in your studies on the programme being terminated.

11.2.2 Clause B8.7 Disciplinary Reasons. In the case of disciplinary offences the School will follow Regulation B1: Student Discipline. This may then lead to referral to Health and Conduct or Fitness to Practise Committee. Referral to Fitness to Practise may result in your studies on the programme being terminated (Regulation B5).

11.2.3 Clause B8.5 Fitness to Study. In the case of any Fitness to Study concerns you will be referred to the School of Medicine Health and Conduct Committee. This may result in your studies on the programme being terminated.