Medical Sciences

See Student Profile of  James Wight

The course
Cambridge is one of the major pre-clinical training grounds in Britain, offering over 300 places each year. The philosophy of the Cambridge course differs from that in most medical schools and is described in detail on the website of the faculty of Biology (see below). The pre-clinical subjects are taught as basic sciences during the first two years. The third year, required for completion of the BA degree, offers an excellent opportunity for students to increase their breadth of knowledge and understanding, with a wide choice of subjects available. During each of these years, Cambridge medical students also take part in a course entitled 'Preparing for Patients'. It does not involve a heavy commitment of time but provides useful insights into medicine during the parts of the course that are focused on science. The great advantage of the Cambridge course is that it allows medical students to interact with students from all disciplines (history, modern languages etc) and so gain a wider perspective on society. Rather than providing a narrow vocationally orientated course that integrates pre-clinical subjects with clinical medicine, Cambridge offers a scientific training and a science degree in the context of society as a whole. With this background, Cambridge students entering clinical school should have developed a detailed understanding and critical approach to many of the increasingly complex scientific issues that underpin modern medicine.

Further information about the medical course at Cambridge can be found in the Undergraduate Prospectus and at the Faculty of Biology and School of clinical Medicine.

Studying Medical Sciences at Clare
Clare has always taken a great interest in its medical students and has an excellent range of supervisors in the main medical subjects and biology (see below). It also has supervisors in subjects that are likely to be chosen by students in their third year. The College-based supervision system is an important aspect of Cambridge Medicine and Clare takes particular pride in offering a very high standard of education in this field.

Whilst at Clare, students read for parts IA and IB of the Medical and Veterinary Science Tripos which includes Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology in the first year and Neurobiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, and Reproductive Biology in the second (see Faculty of Biology website, above). (The names of these subjects have been updated but, to avoid confusion, the old terminology is used here). To gain hospital admission, students need to pass the second MB examination in each of these subjects and in Medical Sociology. For all but Medical Sociology, second MB examinations are included in the Tripos papers so that, if all goes well, the candidates are scarcely aware that they are taking them. An additional attempt is allowed in the following September for those who do not reach the accepted standard in the Tripos examination. A series of optional courses completes the first two years.

Choice of subjects in the third year is wide and includes areas outside Medicine. Most students however choose either Part II of the Medical and Veterinary Science Tripos or a Part II in the Natural Science Tripos (see Admissions Prospectus). These provide the opportunity to pursue a subject in greater depth, some courses offering project work with the chance to do scientific research under supervision. If students intend to apply to the Cambridge Clinical School for their clinical training (see next paragraph) they must, in their third year, read a course approved by the General Medical Council that counts as a year of scientific study. But even then the choice is broad, including papers in Law, Social Sciences, the History and Philosophy of Science and Anthropology.

Clare helps students when they apply to Clinical School. Most will apply to Cambridge, Oxford or London, but a few choose other Medical Schools where it is possible for Cambridge pre-clinical students to slot into the courses. The number of students admitted to Cambridge and other universities is matched by an equivalent number of funded places at clinical schools. However, admission is competitive and there is no guarantee that a student will be accepted at their school of first choice, although most are. Choice of clinical school is supported with an evening spent discussing options and the application process. All students are offered personal support to develop application forms and write CVs. Interview preparation is also offered. This support continues for those medical students remaining at Cambridge for their clinical training through Dr Duff.

For those wishing to stay in Cambridge, the Cambridge Clinical School has about 130 places per year. Support for those students remaining at Cambridge for their clinical training is provided by Dr Duff. For the more research orientated, it is possible to apply for the MB-PhD programme, which integrates clinical training with three years of original research, to obtain the higher degree of PhD as well as the normal Medical Degree. Clare also has specific links with the laboratory of a former Clare research Fellow, Professor Mark Poznansky PhD FRCP, who is a Consultant in Infectious Disease Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Dr Poznansky’s laboratory is based at the AIDS Research Center and each year a Clare student has the opportunity to gain experience of basic medical laboratory research in the area of Infectious Diseases in a premier institution in the States.

In addition to the major Medical Society of the University, Clare has its own active Medical Society with an elected President. This association itself helps and cares for medical undergraduates by giving practical assistance in obtaining books and equipment, by providing a safety net for students with personal difficulties, and by fostering an excellent social life for medics within the College. The Clare medics and vets, totalling around 45 across the three undergraduate years, form a close knit, happy and supportive group. There are regular social events each term, including medic/vet ‘formals’ (dining in), curry evenings and club visits. There is an annual dinner with an external speaker, usually a practising clinician, often with former links with Clare.

Admissions: Interviews
The College admits around 12 students each year. Most candidates are interviewed in December, when they have two interview sessions, lasting approx 20 minutes each.

Biomedical Admissions Test
All candidates are required to sit the 2-hour Biomedical Admissions Test (the BMAT) in the November before coming to interview. For pre-A-level candidates this is normally taken within your school/college, and individual arrangements are made for post A-level candidates.

Admission Requirements
We usually ask for AAA at A2-level, including at least two science subjects. Candidates offering only two science A2s will normally be expected to have an A-grade in a third science at AS-level. Please note that one of your A2 or AS-levels must be Chemistry. You must also satisfy the University pre-medical requirements.

NB: The University requires all medical students who have been made an offer to provide proof that they have completed satisfactorily a full course of immunisation against the Hepatitis B virus or, in the case of those who fail to respond to the vaccine, that they are not infectious carriers of the virus.

All offers of a place on this course (for UK students) will be subject to a satisfactory standard disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau. You will be sent the relevant forms to complete if you are offered a place.

Guide to Subjects

Overall Directors of Studies in Medical Science:

Dr Philip Jones, Group Leader, MRC Cancer Cell Unit, & Hon Consultant in Medical Oncology, Addenbrooke's Hospital.

Dr Robert Semple, Fellow in pre-clinical Biological Sciences

Fellows in pre-clinical Biological Sciences
Dr Nicky Clayton, Director of Studies in Experimental Psychology, Reader in Comparative Cognition
Dr Paul Edwards, Director of Studies in Pathology, Senior Lecturer in Pathology
Dr John Gibson, Director of Studies in Physiology, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Science (Physiology)
Prof Bill Harris, Director of Studies in Neuroscience, Professor of Anatomy
Dr Babak Javid, Clinical Director

Dr Celia Duff, (Clinical), Deputy Regional Director of Public Health (East of England) and Training Programme Director for higher specialist training in public health.
Prof Loraine Tyler, Research Professor of Experimental Psychology
Dr Anna Philpott, Overall Director of Studies for Biological Natural Sciences Part IB, Director of Studies in Biology of Cells, Biochemistry, Cell and Development Biology, Lecturer in Oncology
Dr Rik Van Veen, Director of Studies in Pharmacology, Lecturer in Pharmacology
Prof P Leadlay, Professor of Biochemistry

Fellows in other Biological Sciences
Dr William Foster, Director of Studies in Animal Biology and Zoology, Senior Lecturer in Zoology

Dr Nicola Holdstock, Director of Studies in Clinical Veterinary Medicine
Dr Mike Majerus, Overall Director of Studies for Biological Natural Sciences (Part IA), Director of Studies in Evolution and Behaviour, Ecology and Genetics, Reader in Genetics
Dr Andrea Manica, Lecturer in Zoology
Prof Howard Griffiths, Director of Studies in Plant Sciences, Professor of Plant Ecology