About this course
You will study medicine over 4 years and draw on your existing knowledge and experience as train to be a doctor. You'll be part of a small group of graduates embarking on this intensive but rewarding programme. You'll get clinical experience from the first weeks of your course, meeting patients in hospital and primary care settings.
This graduate entry medicine degree is designed to support graduates to achieve excellent learning outcomes over 4 years instead of the usual 5. You can apply with any 2:1 degree or equivalent qualification, including arts and humanities degrees.
We offer a number of places to this BM4 programme for graduates from the University of Southampton. Applicants must meet both the non-academic and academic criteria for this programme.
As part of your course, you can take your final-year elective placement anywhere in the UK or abroad. You can also get involved in research and entrepreneurship. We work on life-changing treatments and therapies in partnership with industry and with experts in the physical sciences, computing, engineering and mathematics.
You'll meet patients in clinical settings and will learn from volunteer patients, simulated environments and prepared patient cases.
In years 1 and 2, students will be placed in partner trusts including Winchester as well as Southampton. In the final 2 years of the programme, students are placed across the Wessex region. Learn more about placements.
Accreditations
Course location
This course is based at Highfield.
Awarding body
This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.
Download the programme specification
The programme specification sets out the learning outcomes of this course and details how the course is taught and assessed.
Entry requirements
For Academic year 202223
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be 18 or over at the start of the course.
Only Home students eligible.
Degree
BM4 are required to achieve an upper second-class honours degree in any subject, in their first degree. Degree must be equivalent to a UK honours degree. Please note we do not have any A Level requirements for graduate entry.
Other requirements
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold 4 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English language, mathematics and either biology and chemistry, combined science, or science and additional science.
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:
IELTS score requirements
- overall score
- 7.0
- reading
- 7.0
- writing
- 7.0
- speaking
- 7.0
- listening
- 7.0
We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.
You might meet our criteria in other ways. Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Non-academic entry requirements
UCAT All applicants must take the University clinical aptitude test (UCAT). Applicants are ranked by UCAT score and the top number invited to interview. Please see the ''How to apply'' tab for further interview details. Non- academic Entry requirements. In addition to academic entry requirements, the selectors will look for evidence of non- academic criteria during the selection process. Applicants must be able to show they; • Are self -motivated and resilient • Have reflected on and learnt from life experiences (this may include work experience, paid employment and personal experiences both in and outside health and social care settings) • Can communicate effectively • Are able to interact successfully with others • Can demonstrate an understanding of the values of the NHS Constitution
For Academic year 202122
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be 18 or over at the start of the course.
Only Home students eligible.
Degree
BM4 are required to achieve an upper second-class honours degree in any subject, in their first degree. Degree must be equivalent to a UK honours degree.
Other requirements
GCSE requirements
Applicants must hold 4 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including English language, mathematics and either biology and chemistry, combined science, or science and additional science.
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:
IELTS score requirements
- overall score
- 7.0
- reading
- 7.0
- writing
- 7.0
- speaking
- 7.0
- listening
- 7.0
We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.
You might meet our criteria in other ways. Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
Non-academic entry requirements
All applicants must take the University clinical aptitude test (UCAT)
Non- academic Entry requirements.
In addition to academic entry requirements, the selectors will look for evidence of non- academic criteria during the selection process.
Applicants must be able to show they;
• Are self -motivated and resilient
• Have reflected on and learnt from life experiences (this may include work experience, paid employment and personal experiences both in and outside health and social care settings)
• Can communicate effectively
• Are able to interact successfully with others
• Can demonstrate an understanding of the values of the NHS Constitution
Got a question?
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Course structure
COVID-19: we've made some changes to the structure of the course for this academic year. Download the programme specification addendum in 'About this course' to learn more.
The 4 years of the programme are described as years 1, 2, 4 and 5. This is because BM4 students undertake a four-year programme. Years 1 and 2 are taught independently of the BM5 and BM6 programmes and the final 2 years are taught alongside years 4 and 5 of BM5 and BM6.
Over the first 2 years, your learning will be focused on a series of clinical topics. You'll work in graduate groups to apply problem-solving skills, with the help of a facilitator. From year 4 onwards, you'll study the same curriculum as students taking the 5-year degree.
You'll get clinical experience from the first weeks of your course. This may involve some weekend and evening working.
You must pass all the course modules to progress to the next stage and graduate.
Year 1 overview
BM4 phase 1
The first 18 months of the course are made up of 4 university semesters. You'll develop your understanding of the role of a doctor as a practitioner and a professional. From the beginning, you'll meet patients and learn in the context of primary medical care and hospital-based medicine.
You'll cover a series of clinical topics, taking placements, lectures and practical sessions. Your understanding of clinical practice will integrate:
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biomedical science, including anatomy, molecular biology and pharmacology
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health science
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psychology
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social, legal and ethical aspects of clinical practice
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your own knowledge and life experience
Full-time clinical attachments start after Christmas in year 2, when you'll undertake placements in medicine, surgery and primary care.
Year 2 overview
You'll complete BM4 phase 1.
Year 3 overview
This course has no year 3.
Year 4 overview
Phase 3: Developing Clinical Practice
This phase takes place through year 4 over 37 weeks. It continues through the first half of year 5 and ends with the year 5 exams. During this phase your studies and clinical practice will include the following modules:
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acute care
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child health
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clinical ethics and law
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speciality weeks (neurology, dermatology, head and neck and ophthalmology)
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obstetrics and gynaecology and genitourinary medicine
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psychiatry
In year 5, in the 24 week placement leading up to finals, you will have clinical placements in medicine, surgery and primary care. You can also choose to complete a fourth student selected unit.
Year 5 overview
You'll continue with phase 3: Developing Clinical Practice, and move into phase 4.
Phase 4: Preparing for Independent Practice
After finals you will undertake an elective: an 8-week placement abroad or in the UK. You will also complete an assistantship module where you will shadow a Foundation doctor for 2 weeks each in Medicine and Surgery. This will prepare you for entering the Foundation programme as a newly qualified doctor in August.
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
Modules
For entry in Academic Year 2021-22
Year 1 modules
You must study the following modules in year 1:
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks in which st...
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks in which st...
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learnt through clinical topic weeks, in which st...
Year 2 modules
You must study the following modules in year 2:
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks in which st...
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks in which st...
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learnt through clinical topic weeks, in which st...
The BM4 course in years 1 and 2 is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical skills and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks in the firs...
Year 4 modules
You must study the following modules in year 4:
This module focuses on the Acute Care knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of an F1 doctor, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. The BM programmes are however highly contextualised and ...
This module focuses on the Child Health knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of an F1 doctor, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. The BM programmes are however highly contextualised an...
The module will run throughout the year with a variety of activities occurring during the 8 and 4 week placements of the other clinical modules. Teaching will take place within the clinical module placement hours. This module focuses on developing cri...
This module focuses on the Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Genitourinary Medicine ( for BM(EU) also Urology) knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of an F1 doctor, and the assessments within this module will focus on the...
This module focuses on the Psychiatry knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of an F1 doctor, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. The BM programmes are however highly contextualised and...
This module focuses on the dermatology, neurology, ophthalmology and head & neck knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of an F1 doctor, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. The BM progr...
This is a synoptic assessment module that comprises the Written Papers at the end of the year along with revision sessions that help prepare students for this assessment. The BM programmes are highly contextualised and integrated programmes in which t...
Year 5 modules
You must study the following modules in year 5:
The Student Assistantship is a four week clinical placement undertaken in the last six months of Final Year. It is a transitional bridge to prepare students for practicing as competent Foundation Doctors. The module will normally take the format of a 4...
This module provides the students with the opportunity to gain experience in different health, social or community care settings which can be abroad or in the UK. The module will normally take the format of an 8 week placement in one or more care sett...
This module focuses on the knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of a newly qualified doctor in general internal medicine, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. This module builds on earlier...
The module is ‘nested’, running alongside two eight-week clinical attachments in Medicine and Surgery, a four-week clinical attachment in Primary Medical Care and SSU4. It provides students with the opportunity to translate the Duties of a Doctor into day...
This module focuses on the knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of a newly qualified doctor in Primary Care, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. The BM programmes are however highly c...
The Selected Unit allow students to develop skills and experience in any clinical postgraduate speciality provided within the final year training centres. The module will normally take the format of a 3 week placement in a clinical setting. The timing ...
This module focuses on the knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of a newly qualified doctor in Surgery, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. This module builds on earlier Surgical attachme...
This module is a synoptic assessment module incorporating all previous modules in the programme and constitutes the Applied Knowledge Assessment component of ‘Finals’. This module comprises the Applied Knowledge Assessment (currently MCQ format) asses...
This module is a synoptic assessment module incorporating all previous modules in the programme and together with the other 3 assessment modules constitutes ‘Finals’. This module comprises the clinical procedural skills assessment (CPSA) component of...
This module is a synoptic assessment module incorporating all previous modules in the programme and together with the other 3 assessment modules constitutes ‘Finals’. This module comprises the data interpretation and summarisation component of ‘Finals’...
This module is a synoptic assessment module incorporating all previous modules in the programme and together with the other 3 assessment modules constitutes ‘Finals’. This module comprises Workplace Based Assessment ( WpBA) component of Finals. This i...
Learning and assessment
The learning activities for this course include the following:
- lectures
- classes and tutorials
- coursework
- independent learning (studying on your own)
Course time
How you'll spend your course time:
Year 1
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:
How we'll assess you
- oral presentations
- portfolios
- written and practical exams
- placement assessment
Your assessment breakdown
Year 1:
Year 2
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 2:
How we'll assess you
- oral presentations
- portfolios
- written and practical exams
- placement assessment
Your assessment breakdown
Year 2:
Year 4
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 4:
How we'll assess you
- oral presentations
- portfolios
- written and practical exams
- placement assessment
Your assessment breakdown
Year 4:
Year 5
Study time
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 5:
How we'll assess you
- oral presentations
- portfolios
- written and practical exams
- placement assessment
Your assessment breakdown
Year 5:
Academic support
You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.
Course leader
Benjamin Chadwick is the course leader.
Careers
With a medical degree from Southampton, you'll have excellent career prospects. All of our students are in work or further study within 6 months of completing their degree.
At the end of the course you will be qualified to register with the GMC and apply for a Foundation Year 1 post. Most of our graduates do this. Learn more about the Foundation scheme and what happens after graduation.
At the end of the undergraduate course you will have the following qualifications: a Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSc) and a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) degree, which is a primary medical qualification (PMQ). Holding a PMQ means you can apply to work in the NHS.
Our graduates go on to work in a wide range of medical careers including:
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accident and emergency
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anaesthetics
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armed forces medicine
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general practitioner (GP)
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gynaecology
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hospital medicine specialties
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medical research
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obstetrics
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orthopaedics
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paediatrics
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pathology
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primary care
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psychiatry
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public health
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radiology
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surgery
You'll be supported by your personal academic tutor who can advise you on your career path throughout your course.
Careers services at Southampton
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:
work experience schemes
CV and interview skills and workshops
networking events
careers fairs attended by top employers
a wealth of volunteering opportunities
study abroad and summer school opportunities
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Fees, costs and funding
Tuition fees
Fees for a year's study:
- UK students pay £9,250.
- This course is not available to EU and international students.
What your fees pay for
Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.
Find out how to:
You will be responsible for paying certain costs not covered by the tuition fee. These include:
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vaccinations and immunisation
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£100 per year towards travel costs associated with clinical placements
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medical insurance if you choose to do an elective in another country
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:
Bursaries, scholarships and other funding
If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £25,000 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.
If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.
Get in touch for advice about student money matters.
Scholarships and grants
You may be able to get a scholarship or grant that's linked to your chosen subject area.
We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Support during your course
The Student Services Centre offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.
How to apply
When you apply use:
- UCAS course code: A101
- UCAS institution code: S27
What happens after you apply?
We’ll assess your application on the strength of your:
- predicted or actual grades
- University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) scores
- selection day performance (which we use for offer making)
We rank applicants by UCAT score and invite the top candidates to interview.
Selection days
Personal statements are used at the Selection day. During a selection day you must show how you meet our non-academic criteria by demonstrating that you:
- are self-motivated and resilient
- have reflected on relevant life experiences
- can communicate effectively
- can interact successfully with others
- understand the values of the NHS constitution
The selection process includes an interview and group task. If you’re invited to attend we’ll email you full event details 2 weeks beforehand. For 2021 entry, the selection day will be held online. Visit our selection day page for more details.
We aim to respond to you by the end of March with a decision about your application. Download our full selection policy for 2021 entry (PDF, 190KB).
Please note:
- your reference is not used as part of the selection process but you must provide it as part of your application
Equality and diversity
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.
Got a question?
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
