Medicine BM4 Graduate Entry (BMBS)

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

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:

• biomedical science, including anatomy, molecular biology and pharmacology

• health science

• psychology

• social, legal and ethical aspects of clinical practice

• 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:

• acute care

• child health

• clinical ethics and law

• speciality weeks (neurology, dermatology, head and neck and ophthalmology)

• obstetrics and gynaecology and genitourinary medicine

• 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.

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:

Course leader

Benjamin Chadwick is the course leader.

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:

• accident and emergency

• anaesthetics

• armed forces medicine

• general practitioner (GP)

• gynaecology

• hospital medicine specialties

• medical research

• obstetrics

• orthopaedics

• paediatrics

• pathology

• primary care

• psychiatry

• public health

• radiology

• 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 2022). 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.

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:

• pay your tuition fees

• calculate your student finances

You will be responsible for paying certain costs not covered by the tuition fee. These include:

• vaccinations and immunisation

• £100 per year towards travel costs associated with clinical placements

• 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:

• accommodation costs

• living costs

• budgeting advice

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 to help fund your studies.

We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented 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.

When you apply use:

• UCAS course code: A101
• UCAS institution code: S27

Apply for 2023 entry

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
• performance at a selection day

Please note: your reference is not used as part of the selection process, but you must provide it as part of your application.

Selection days

We rank applicants by UCAT score and invite the top candidates to one of our selection days.

The selection day process includes an interview and a group task. At the interview, we draw on the information you gave us in your application personal statement.

During the selection process 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

Selection day invitations

If you’re invited to attend, we’ll email you full event details beforehand.

Applicants will be invited to attend 2 to 3 weeks before the selection day.

We're unable to offer an alternative date to the one on your invitation. However, if another applicant cancels their place, we sometimes send invitations with a shorter notice period.

Selection day dates

Selection days take place in Southampton between January and March each year. You must attend your interview in person.

Application decision

We aim to respond to you by the end of March with a decision about your application.

Download our full selection policy for 2023 entry (PDF, 245KB).

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