General Regulations

Examinations leading to the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine

• 1. A student following the standard 6-year Medicine course will complete the following examinations:

• Pre-clinical studies (Years 1-3)

  • Year 1: Part I of the First Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine Part I (First BM Part I)

  • Year 2: Part II of the First Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine Part I (First BM Part II)

  • Year 3: Honour School of Medical Sciences (FHS Medical Sciences) 

• Clinical studies (Years 4-6)

  • Year 4: Year 4 assessments of the Second Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine (Second BM)

  • Year 5: Year 5 assessments of the Second Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine (Second BM)

  • Year 6: Year 6 assessments of the Second Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine (Second BM)

• 2. A student following the accelerated 4-year (Graduate-entry) course will complete the following examinations:

• Year 1: Preliminary Examination in Graduate-entry Medicine

• Year 2: Year 2 Examination in Graduate-entry Medicine

• Year 3: Year 5 assessments of the Second Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine (Second BM)

• Year 4: Year 6 assessments of the Second Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine (Second BM)

Qualifications of Candidates for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine

• 1. A student who has been admitted to the Degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours may supplicate for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine, provided that they shall have passed the examinations hereinafter prescribed.

• 2. A candidate who has been admitted to the Second Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine by the Medical Sciences Board under the provisions of clause 1 of the special regulations for the Second Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine may supplicate for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine without having been admitted to the Degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours, provided that they shall have passed the Second Examination and shall have kept statutable residence for six terms.

• 3. A candidate for the Preliminary Examination in Graduate-entry Medicine or the Year 2 Examination in Graduate-entry Medicine or for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine who has been admitted under the provisions of clause 1 of the special regulations for the Second Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine and who is not a graduate of the University may wear the same gown as that worn by Students for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Degree of Bachelor of Surgery

Any person admitted to the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine shall ipso facto be admitted also to the Degree of Bachelor of Surgery.

Regulations relating to time on course 

1. Medical students may be granted permission by their College to suspend study for up to one year (three terms). Exceptionally, permission may be granted for further periods of suspension. In such cases, consultation with the relevant Director of Studies within the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences would be expected. 

2. Medical students may be granted permission by their College to repeat a period of study (typically after returning from a period of suspension). In such cases, consultation with the relevant Director of Studies within the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences would be expected.

3. Parts of the assessment in Year 5/Graduate-entry Year 3 and Year 6/Graduate-entry Year 4, as specified in the special regulations for the Second Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine, comprise the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) which is required by the General Medical Council (GMC) as part of its accreditation requirements. The MLA tests the core knowledge, skills and behaviours of doctors new to medical practice in the UK and must be completed within 49 months. The start point for calculating the 49 month completion period is 1 June of the year a student is due to take the Year 5 / Graduate-entry Year 3 integrated summative clinical examination (OSCE). 

4. Students may apply to take time away from the course between their Pre-clinical and Clinical Studies or during their Clinical Studies in order to pursue a postgraduate qualification or other activity. In the case of a student pursuing a doctorate, the student will not usually be allowed to return to the course if more than four years have elapsed since leaving the course. In the case of a student pursuing a Master’s degree, the student will not usually be allowed to return to the course if more than two years have elapsed since leaving the course. In all other cases, the student will not usually be allowed to return to the course if more than two years have elapsed since leaving the course.  

5. The length of time taken to complete the standard 6-year medical course should normally be no longer than ten years, including any periods of suspension, repeated study or postgraduate study (under clause 4). 

6. The length of time taken to complete the accelerated 4-year (Graduate-entry) medical course should normally be no longer than eight years, including any periods of suspension, repeated study or postgraduate study (under clause 4).