Medicine in Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen has over 500 years of medical tradition and is now home to a thriving medical school. The school is co-located on the Foresterhill Site with the main teaching hospitals that serve North East Scotland and the islands of Orkney and Shetland. This site is one of the largest clinical campuses in Europe and has superb teaching and extensive research facilities. Our new state-of-the-art Teaching and Learning Centre opened in 2009 and further enhances the delivery of teaching and training for our students.
Teaching is delivered in an environment in which research is highly valued and acclaimed. Research at Aberdeen includes internationally recognised expertise in immunity and infection, microbiology, bone and musculoskeletal medicine, neuroscience and health services research. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was developed as a result of a crucial innovation by Aberdeen scientists and highly acclaimed research that makes use of advanced imaging technologies is ongoing.
The curriculum is thoroughly modern, entirely systems-based, fully integrated and case-based. This means that knowledge and skills for any particular system (e.g. the Respiratory or Cardiovascular System) are acquired together, so students understand the science that underpins disease, clinical method, diagnosis and treatment.
Students are encouraged to explore concepts for themselves, to utilise the excellent facilities available to them and to exercise choice in many areas of study. Student feedback is encouraged and is extremely important in informing future course developments.
There is an exciting range of clinical attachments on offer across the whole of the North East of Scotland and across the Highlands and Islands. There are additional clinical campuses at Dr Gray's Hospital, Elgin and Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, and all students undertake hospital-based clinical placements outside Aberdeen. This variety of placements allows our students to experience not only inner-city medicine, but also gives a unique opportunity to see how health care is delivered in areas far removed from large teaching centres.
Our new Remote and Rural Option has been developed to be undertaken in Year 4 and Year 5 for students with a special interest in careers in a Remote and Rural setting. These students undertake their clinical attachments within more distant locations. The Remote and Rural option is based at Raigmore Hospital where our students are able to utilise the splendid facilities of the new clinical skills centre and library.
Our extensive network of teaching general practices around Scotland also gives students opportunities to experience patient care in a community setting.
The Medical school is relatively small, enabling us to offer superb care and support for our "medical apprentices". In addition, the course has been highly rated by outside bodies. The GMC have been impressed by the "enthusiasm and commitment of the staff", "enthusiasm and loyalty to the school of the students" and by the excellent student support offered.