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    Medicine - MBChB

    Medicine at Keele delivers an innovative curriculum underpinned by the three core themes identified by the General Medical Council: Professional Values and Behaviours, Professional Skills, and Professional Knowledge (GMC, 2018). Ranked 2nd in England (Guardian University League Table, 2024). Studying Medicine MBChB at Keele you will develop the necessary knowledge and clinical skills to become a doctor who practises with competence and compassion.

    Year of entry

    Course type

    • Single Honours

    UCAS code

    • A100

    Duration of study

    • 5 years
    Enquire about this course Clearing vacancies and entry requirements 2024 Book an open day Chat to students

    Why study Medicine at Keele University?

    5th in England for Medicine (Guardian University Guide, 2025)
    Over 100 weeks spent on clinical placement in primary care and hospital settings across Staffordshire, Shropshire and other adjoining counties
    3rd in UK for F1 preparedness (GMC National Training Surveys, 2023)
    Benefit from diverse teaching methods including problem-based learning (PBL), other small- and large-group learning activities, and dissection
    Strong student engagement opportunities through our Student Voice Committee
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    Course overview

    Medicine at Keele adopts a modern, spiral, highly integrated curriculum that combines a range of learning strategies, including early clinical experience, integrated communication and clinical skills teaching, practical activities (including dissection), problem-based learning (PBL), lectures and seminars. Additionally, inter-professional learning with other health students, including nursing, midwifery, paramedic science, physiotherapy and radiography, is fostered throughout the programme..

    We are committed to listening to, responding to and supporting our students to become well-rounded, competent clinicians. Through forums such as our Medical Student Council, we recognise the value of our students' contribution to development and progression of our curriculum and the student experience.

    Key course content

    To ensure you graduate as a confident and competent clinician, you will study a range of topics including:

    • Professional and ethical responsibilities
    • Patient safety and quality improvement
    • Diagnosis and medical management
    • Prescribing medication safely
    • The health service and healthcare systems
    • Health promotion and illness prevention

    Course structure

    Our spiral curriculum means you will re-visit core topics, building on your knowledge as you progress through the degree.

    In Year 1, you will cover a range of units including: health and disease, the body's defence systems, emergencies, life-course, brain and mind, pregnancy, and lifestyle.

    Year 2 sees you re-visit many aspects of biomedical, behavioural and social science, with an increasing emphasis on complexity and pathology. You will learn through integrated units such as: mechanisms of disease, inputs and outputs, movement and trauma, circulation, breath of life and integrated systems.

    Years 3 and 4 enable you to build on the foundations of clinical knowledge and skills through immersion in clinical placements, while continuing to develop and apply biomedical, behavioural and social science knowledge. Within year 3 you will cover topics such as: medicine, surgery, elderly care, mental health and paediatrics, and complete a general practice clinical placement. You will revisit many of these topics in Year 4 but will also cover women's health, neurology and musculoskeletal systems.

    The final year of the MBChB prepares you for professional practice as a foundation year 1 doctor. You will undertake extensive student assistantships including: out of hours evening and weekend working, general practice, acute and critical care (including emergency medicine, intensive care and anaesthesia), medicine and surgery.

    Scholarship and student-selected components

    Scholarship activities and student selected components (SSCs) complement our MBChB course. These offer you opportunities to learn about how medical knowledge develops through research, and to focus on particular areas of interest in medical science, clinical medicine or public health in greater depth. You will select a component in several years of study which has clear objectives and will be assessed accordingly. For example in Year 1, you will produce a library-based mini-review of an academic topic under the supervision of a member of the teaching and/or research staff.

    Clinical placements

    You will have extensive experience of clinical placements in both primary and secondary care settings and in the non-NHS community sector ("third sector"). Clinical placements will take place across Staffordshire, Shropshire and other adjoining counties. We are committed to providing you with opportunities to build your awareness of the health and wellbeing of a variety of demographics to strengthen your appreciation of the wider determinants of health, such as socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions.

    Beginning in Year 1, you will be encouraged to think of community and social dimensions of illness and health throughout your academic studies and placements.

    You will have placements with community services and general practices in Years 1 and 2, and over 20% of teaching in Years 3, 4 and 5 takes place in general practice. Examples of other community services we use are schools, workplaces, residential homes and drop-in centres, to name but a few: all places that contribute to the health and care of people.

    Hospital placements will take place in multiple centres, providing opportunities to engage with major medical and surgical specialities that are delivered in different locations.

    Intercalation

    Further opportunities for exploration of special interests are available through intercalation. Options for intercalation to pursue an additional qualification include studying at bachelor’s level after the second year or master’s level after the fourth year.

    Intercalation is a year out of your undergraduate medical studies to study a subject area in greater depth before returning to complete the medical course. An intercalated degree provides you with an opportunity to gain an additional qualification in a medicine-related subject that interests you, acquire a better understanding of basic biomedical sciences, medical humanities or research methodologies, publish scientific papers and present at conferences.

    Students who are given permission to intercalate may do so either at Keele or at other universities.

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    A Keele medicine graduate at her workplace

    "The holistic nature of the Keele curriculum prepared me very well for life as a junior doctor, but also provided me with a great foundation in clinical research. Research can often be overlooked in the training of medics, given the importance of developing clinical skills required for hospital work. However, creating doctors that understand and can contribute to research is pivotal in the advancement of medical science. Keele allowed me to learn clinical and research skills symbiotically, which has had a tremendous impact on my pursuit of becoming a clinical scientist. "

    Fatemah, Medicine, Clinical Research Fellow

    A Keele medicine graduate working as a Junior Doctor.

    "Keele prepared me perfectly for life as a junior doctor. From day one we were encouraged to think critically as clinicians evaluating situations and responding accordingly. At Keele there is a strong emphasis on communication and the doctor-patient relationship, which is a key skill to develop as a trainee doctor and has helped me tremendously throughout my career. The early exposure to clinical medicine at Keele made the transition to doctor seamless. I was exposed to a wide range of specialities and was equipped with the mentorship and guidance to be in an excellent position to enter a highly competitive training job in cardiothoracic surgery at the first opportunity.""

    Nabil, Medicine, Cardiothoracic Surgery Registrar

    Teaching Excellence Framework GOLD

    Keele TEF Gold 2023

    Keele University has been awarded the highest rating of gold in the teaching excellence framework (TEF), 2023. The TEF assessment identifies excellence in the educational experience and outcomes of our students, focusing on all undergraduate courses and students.

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    Course structure

    Modules for Medicine

    The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are subject to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods, as well as student voice. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

    Compulsory modules

    Compulsory modules

    Credits

    Optional modules

    Credits

    Year 1 (Level 4)

    Med- 10008

    120

    0

    0

    Compulsory modules

    Compulsory modules

    Credits

    Optional modules

    Credits

    Year 2 (Level 5)

    Med- 20001

    120

    0

    0

    Compulsory modules

    Compulsory modules

    Credits

    Optional modules

    Credits

    Year 3 (Level 6)

    Med- 30001

    120

    0

    0

    Compulsory modules

    Compulsory modules

    Credits

    Optional modules

    Credits

    Year 4 (Level 6)

    Med- 30002

    120

    0

    0

    Compulsory modules

    Compulsory modules

    Credits

    Optional modules

    Credits

    Year 5 (Level 6)

    Med- 30003

    120

    0

    0
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    Image of Karen

    "I felt Keele prepared me well for life after graduation and really helped me to fit the knowledge, communication, and clinical skills required together and build on this each year. I found the balance of going through necessary placements but also allowing for some student selected components, including the final year elective, meant I was able to gain the knowledge needed but also explore areas of interest to help me later select a speciality (and gave me something to talk about later on at specialty interviews). Keele has smaller numbers of students than many other universities in each year group which meant it was often easier to connect with tutors and I didn’t feel lost in the crowd."

    Karen, Medicine, Locum Consultant Psychiatrist

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    Additional opportunities

    Foundation year Explore more

    There are a range of additional opportunities available when studying this course.
    Please note, undertaking one may impact upon the availability of another.

    Entry requirements

    Keele strives to be a place where learning, living and working is a positive experience for our entire community, and we're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of 'alternative offer' schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer. If you are looking for the 2023 schemes please see here.

    The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the likely offer or range of offers which would be made to candidates along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

    Students must be 18 years old by 1 October.

    If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

    Preparation programmes for international students

    International students who do not meet the direct entry requirements for this course have the opportunity to study an International Foundation Year programme.

    These courses are designed to prepare international students to enter into Keele University undergraduate degrees.

    Entry requirements

    The following section details our typical entry requirements for this course for a range of UK and international qualifications. If you don’t see your qualifications listed, please contact us to find out if we can accept your qualifications. If you don't think you'll meet the entry requirements specified, you may be able to gain entry to this course via a Foundation Year.

    Additional information

    Students must be 18 years old by 1 October.

    English language requirements

    All of our courses require an English language qualification or test. For most students, this requirement can be met with a 4 or C in GCSE English. Please see our English Language guidance pages for further details, including English language test information for international students. For those students who require an English language test, this course requires a test from .

    Alternative and contextual offers

    We're committed to ensuring equality of opportunity to all our applicants with the potential and motivation to succeed, regardless of background. That's why we operate a range of alternative offer schemes with clear eligibility criteria, including contextual offers, offers for those studying within the Keele region, and recognising a range of additional qualifications in your offer.

    General information

    The entry grades outlined in this section indicate the typical offer which would be made to candidates, along with any subject specific requirements. This is for general information only. Keele University reserves the right to vary offer conditions depending upon a candidate's application.

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    Fees and funding

    Tuition fees for 2025/26 academic year

    • UK: £9,250 for the 2024/25 academic year. The 2025/26 fee will be added once confirmed by the UK Government.
    • International:

      £46,700

    For continuing international students, fees will increase annually by RPI, with a maximum cap of 5% per year.

    For details of our international fee bands please see our Undergraduate tuition fees web page.

    Going to university can be a daunting as well as an exciting experience. It can be difficult to understand the true costs of being a student, as well as the financial support that is available to help you meet those costs.

    Our Student Financial Support team offers confidential advice and guidance to help you to manage your money, so that you can make the most of your time at Keele. We can help you to resolve issues with your Student Finance, create a budget, and help you to explore your options if you’re facing financial hardship. We are also able to ensure that you receive any funding for which you may be eligible, such as bursaries and scholarships.

    For more information visit our undergraduate fees and funding section.

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    Your future career

    95% of Keele students are in employment or further study within 15 months of finishing their studies (HESA Graduate Outcomes, 2019/20)

    Graduates of our undergraduate medical degree have gone on to pursue careers spanning a diverse range of specialities, from forensic pathologist to psychiatrist, GP to cardiothoracic surgeon. Our integrated curriculum and emphasis on the application of your learning means you are well-equipped to explore a career within a speciality aligned to your aspirations.

    The General Medical Council (GMC) approves your university’s degree as a primary medical qualification (PMQ). This is important because, provided there are no concerns about your fitness to practise, a PMQ entitles you to provisional registration with the GMC for a licence to practise medicine in the UK. For more details visit the UK Foundation Programme website.

    In order to practise medicine in the UK you will be required to pass the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA). The MLA is in two parts: the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT), which you will sit as your final knowledge exam in the Keele MBChB programme, and the Clinical & Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA), which you will sit as your final skills assessment. Successfully completing the degree will therefore mean you have also completed the MLA. You will also sit a national Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) in year 5. 

    Provisionally registered doctors can only practise in approved Foundation Year 1 posts, obtained through the national application process during the final year of the course.

    Successful completion of the programme is normally achieved within 12 months and awards a Certificate of Experience. You can then apply for full registration with the General Medical Council. You need this and a licence to practise unsupervised medical practice in the UK for both NHS and private practice. Medical students at UK medical schools who are from outside the UK and Ireland and do not have right of residence must check how the latest information on visa requirements affects their postgraduate training period.

    Enhance your employability

    Keele’s Careers and Employability team (Shortlisted for Best University Careers Employment Service - National Undergraduate Employability Awards, 2021), offers a variety of personal and career development opportunities to enhance your employability.

    Within the MBChB programme you will have opportunities to learn about the variety of medical speciality pathways and how to enhance your CV for your preferred speciality, as well as to experience particular specialities within SSCs. You will receive support with UK Foundation Programme applications and will build up a portfolio throughout the course to support subsequent medical job applications.

    Find out more about our careers and employability services, including career planning, alumni mentoring, jobs, internships, starting your own business and much more.

    insert-e start
    Image of Debbie

    "I particularly found PBL and case-based learning (CBL) sessions useful in helping develop my problem-solving, team work, and leadership skills. Keele also helped me to confidently use evidence-based research to do self-directed learning, which I still regularly use when keeping my medical knowledge and skills up-to-date. The introduction of hospital placements early on in the degree was also very beneficial in getting me familiar with the everyday running of the ward/emergency department. This helped me during my early days of working as a foundation doctor because I did not find the transition so daunting."

    Debbie, Medicine, GP and Product Designer

    insert-e end

    Teaching, learning and assessment

    We aim to make learning enjoyable through small class sizes, small group learning and early clinical experience, and will support you to develop into highly competent and self-aware medical professionals.

    In your programme you will sometimes be expected to role play and engage in simulated clinical scenarios with other students, such as the practice and observation of practical skills in physical contact with other students. For some specific practices, this may necessitate modification of dress - e.g., to shorts and t-shirt.  These activities will be conducted in a professional, safe,  respectful and culturally sensitive way, under the supervision of academic staff, according to a defined protocol.

    We offer students varied learning opportunities including:

    • Clinical placements
    • Problem-based and other small group learning
    • Lectures
    • Anatomy and laboratory practicals
    • Experiential learning
    • Simulation
    Problem-based learning

    Problem-based learning (PBL) is one major component of the Keele MBChB curriculum in Years 1 and 2. You will work in small groups to study written descriptions of clinical situations. Using a specific set of study skills, you will use scenarios to guide you towards relevant theoretical and practical learning. Normally, each scenario is the focus for learning for a week, with two tutorials devoted to it.

    From Year 3 onwards PBL develops into case-based and case-illustrated learning, where the written scenarios are augmented using discussions of patients encountered by students in their clinical placements.

    The PBL programme is supported by a variety of methods which include: plenary lectures, seminars, laboratory practical classes, and a wide variety of placement experiences in primary and secondary care. Placements begin in Year 1 and you will learn the skills needed to get the best out of placement opportunities prior to their occurrence. The emphasis throughout the course is firmly on student-led, self-directed and collaborative learning.

    Assessment

    We utilise a range of assessment modes appropriate to assess each of the intended learning objectives of the programme. In every year all domains will be summatively assessed using appropriate assessment methods.

    Assessment methods include:

    • Written knowledge examinations - Knowledge is examined in a range of formats designed to test students' ability to apply relevant scientific and medical knowledge to professional practice. Methods include single best answer (SBA) and short answer question (SAQ) exams. From Summer 2024, our written knowledge assessments will include the GMC's Applied Knowledge Test (AKT), sat at the end of Year 4 of the programme.
    • Practical examinations - These examinations are designed to enable you to demonstrate safe and effective clinical practice. These include objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) and a variety of workplace-based assessments (WBAs). From 2025, such examinations will included the GMCs Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA).
    • In-course assignments - These assignments test your ability to apply a range of professional attributes, including your reflective practice and presentation skills. Methods include written reviews and case reports, presentations and posters.
    insert-f start insert-f end

    Facilities

    Keele Anatomy Services

    Anatomy encompasses all levels of structural organisation: topographical, neuroanatomical, histological, cellular and developmental. Keele anatomy services provide anatomical teaching and resources for health and science education, both at Keele and across the North West of England.

    Undergraduate medical students will undertake regular learning sessions in the dissecting room and other parts of the anatomy suite. In Years 1 and 2 these will link closely with the body systems being studied in weekly PBL cases. Anatomy sessions will also continue as part of regular visits to the Keele campus in Year 3.

    Clinical Education Centre

    Located on the Royal Stoke University Hospital site, the Clinical Education Centre (CEC) is a purpose-built resource that houses state-of-the art teaching facilities, used to enhance and support the student learning experience. With clinical skills laboratories, simulation facilities and library, the centre provides the space and resources required for you to develop both your academic and clinical skills. This is where students undertake classroom-based learning in Year 3 and in either Year 4 or Year 5, depending on base site allocation.

    Health Library

    Located within the CEC, the health library is a joint NHS and higher education library service that supports healthcare staff and students. With access to a vast array of resources, including medical journals and databases, the health library provides the resources and environment for you to study away from the classroom.

    Shrewsbury Learning Centre and Health Library

    Students who are based in Shropshire for Year 4 or 5 will use clinical skills laboratories and library facilities in the Learning Centre at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, as well as a dedicated simulation suite.

    Foundation year

    Our Foundation Year provides an excellent alternative route to Keele, providing a unique opportunity to better prepare for your chosen degree, and with guaranteed entry onto your undergraduate course once you successfully complete your Foundation Year.

    This extra year of study can improve your academic skills, expand your subject knowledge, give you a better understanding of higher education and, perhaps most importantly of all, build your confidence.

    Keele University is consistently ranked among the top universities for student satisfaction, and we have over 70 years' experience of teaching a foundation year to students. On the Keele Foundation Year, you'll study on campus, joining our undergraduate community from the outset, with access to all the facilities and support that you'd get as an undergraduate student at Keele.

    The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

    Foundation year overview

    We are now offering an exciting gateway route into medicine for students from some under-represented groups. This course offers standard medical training with the addition of a foundation year (a total of six years).

    For more information about the medicine MBChB with Health Foundation Year course, including entry requirements and progression, please visit the Medicine with Health Foundation Year page.

    Foundation year course content

    The medicine MBChB with Health Foundation Year course will provide you with the requisite science knowledge, enhance your study skills and give you an introduction to the employability skills required by health professionals. The foundation year is a well established and successful programme that offers progression onto the full range of health degrees at Keele.

    The foundation year for medicine is a gateway route into medicine for students from some under-represented groups. Students entering the foundation year will undertake a range of modules to bring your academic level up to an equivalent standard to that of direct entrants to year 1 of the MBChB programme. Progression requirements are currently 40% (45 credits) in all semester 1 modules and 70% (75 credits) in semester 2.

    Students who gain entry to the health foundation year for medicine after interview, and complete the foundation year successfully, will automatically progress to Year 1 of the regular MBChB programme as long as they meet all occupational health and fitness-to-practise requirements. Progression to the MBChB programme from any of the other Keele foundation years is not possible.

    Essential criteria 

    Please note that alongside the academic entry requirements, applicants must also meet essential criteria indicating that they belong to particular under-represented groups. These criteria are specified on the Medicine with Health Foundation Year page.

    Extenuating circumstances

    All requests to consider extenuating circumstances should be sent to medicine@keele.ac.uk at the time of application submission and no later than 31 October 2024.

    Please note that if you wish extenuating circumstances to be considered, you must notify us in this way. We won't act on details of extenuating circumstances in the UCAS personal statement. We will take account of extenuating circumstances mentioned in the relevant section of the UCAS reference but we may need to request additional information and this should be done as early as possible in the cycle, so you should alert us to any need for extenuating circumstances to be considered by e-mailing before the 31 October deadline. We cannot take supplementary requests for consideration by your school/college, etc., into account unless you have submitted a request by the deadline.

    Module summary

    The module details given below are indicative, they are intended to provide you with an idea of the range of subjects that are taught to our current students. The modules that will be available for you to study in future years are prone to change as we regularly review our teaching to ensure that it is up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. The information presented is therefore not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules available in any given year.

    First semester

    FYO-00237 Foundations of Human Biology for Health 15 credits
    FYO-00241 Foundations of Chemistry - Health 15 credits
    FYO-00213 Foundations of Numerical and Quantitative Methods for Health Students 15 credits

    Second semester

    FYO-00239 Advancing Human Biology for Health 30 credits
    FYO-00243 Advancing Chemistry for Health 15 credits

    Year-long modules (across semester one and semester two)

    FYO-00181 Academic and Professional Development 30 credits

    How to apply for the Medicine MBChB with Health Foundation Year

    Applications must be made through UCAS by the deadline of 15 October.

    Medicine MBChB with Health Foundation Year UCAS course code: A104

    The information in this Foundation Year section is for UK/Home applicants. Where an international Foundation Year is available, please see the 'Information for international students' tab.

    We also offer a January start for some of our Foundation Year courses. Adopting a blended learning approach, the January start is particularly useful for students wishing to return to education following time out of studying, or who are seeking a flexible approach to their Foundation Year studies. Our January start is available across most of our Science, Humanities, Social Science, Health and Business courses.

    Whilst still being a full-time course, our blended delivery model combines live teaching sessions - both online and on-campus - with self-directed study, enabling you to predominantly study at a time that suits your lifestyle. You will benefit from weekly online taught sessions which encourage you to engage with your teachers and peers.

    In addition to online study there will be a series of full study days that you will be required to attend throughout each semester. These sessions may include lab-based activities, group work, review of course and assessment materials studied online. They will emphasise opportunities for you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of your chosen route.

    Please refer to the September start tab for more information about the entry requirements and what you will study. The modules that you will take on a January start Foundation Year will be similar to those for the September start, but on a compressed timescale and tailored to a blended learning approach (with the majority of learning taking place online).

    For more information, including fees, the UCAS code for this course, how to apply, and how you will be taught, please visit our January Start Foundation Year webpage.

    Our International Foundation Year is delivered on campus through Keele University International College (KUIC). Find out more about the International Foundation Year options on the KUIC website.
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