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Special Features
Remote and Rural Option
Students entering Phase III have the option to follow a Remote and Rural track, which involves spending all of Phase III based at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, with experience of rural clinics and a rural GP attachment if possible. There are a series of extra-curricular tutorials and informal meetings with staff who deliver rural healthcare. In final year (Phase IV) students have the opportunity to undertake two of their three 8 week clinical attachments in one of the rural or island hospitals (Fort William, Stornoway, Orkney, Shetland and Wick) or with a rural GP almost anywhere in Scotland.
There is evidence from studies in Australia and Canada that doctors who spend time training in a Remote and Rural environment are more likely to work there during their professional career. The first cohort of remote and rural students in Aberdeen started Phase III in 2006 and we are monitoring the future destinations of all students who undertake this option.
Student Selected Components
These modules give students the opportunity to study an area of interest, sometimes individually and sometimes as a collaborative group project. In first and second year there are 4 week long, small group projects on the general scientific themes (Year 1) and Molecular Mechanisms of Disease (Year 2).
The third year Medical Humanities block is one of the distinctive features of the Aberdeen curriculum. This is a 6 week block just before the Christmas break when students have the chance to study a range of non medical subjects which provide insights into people and society, patients and disease. Subjects include Spirituality, History of Art, Literature and Medicine and Modern Languages. Many modules are based on the King's College campus and for a brief period, students have the chance to experience life outside the world of medicine in the College of Arts and Social Sciences. For many students this is a revelation and an extremely enjoyable part of the programme.
Phase III begins with another 4 week group project on "Clinical Effectiveness", which provides a view of health and healthcare interventions at a population level. Finally, the 8 week Clinical Elective in final year provides the opportunity to carry out a project on a subject of the student's own choosing and in a location of the student's own choosing. Many students travel to exotic locations and the most successful projects often result in publications or conference presentations.
Intercalated degree options
Students have the option of taking an additional intercalated Honours degree, either between years 3 and 4 or between years 4 and 5. There are various options for this year:
The BSc (Med Sci) is offered by the School of Medicine and Dentistry. This consists of introductory taught courses in the Autumn Term, followed by a 20 week project which can be clinical or laboratory based. An unusual feature of the Aberdeen programme is the option of a customized programme for a BSc in Medical Humanities, studying subjects from a range of courses offered by the College of Arts and Social Sciences.
In addition to the above, students have the option of joining the Honours' year in the School of Medical Sciences, obtaining a BSc in a range of science subjects such as physiology, sports science and anatomy.
To hear what past students think about undertaking this degree, click on this link:
Dr Sue Tracey
Director of Teaching (Inverness)
Tel: +44 (0) 1463 255083
Email: sue.tracey@abdn.ac.uk
SSC Co-ordinator
Tel: +44 (0) 1224
Professor Helen Galley
BSc (Medical Sciences) Co-ordinator
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 552775
Email: h.f.galley@abdn.ac.uk