This Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) Medicine BM5 degree offers you the chance to study medicine at Southampton General Hospital, a top UK teaching hospital. You'll also benefit from our purpose-built Life Sciences facilities on campus.
You'll start gaining clinical experience in the first few weeks of the course and apply your core learning in hospitals and primary care settings. You’ll become part of an integrated team of healthcare professionals who understand medicine in context – social, emotional, and physical.
Your year 3 placement will take place in partner trusts including Portsmouth, Winchester and Southampton. In the final 2 years of the course, your placement could be in a range of settings across the Wessex region. These include hospital trusts, GP surgeries, urgent care centres, the ambulance service and other third sector organisations in the community.
Research is embedded within our degrees. You'll learn from academics whose research has impacted patient care, from pandemic response to cancer therapies. You'll gain the essential research skills you'll need as a doctor. We also work with students as valued partners in the development of our courses.
As part of your medicine degree you'll:
Between year 3 and year 4, you can apply to study for a Master of Medical Science or MSc at Southampton, or for an iBSc or MSc at another university (known as intercalation)
If you already have a degree, you may be able to apply for our 4-year medicine course instead.
We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.
Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).
Studying medicine and co-founding a online health service lend themselves very nicely to one another. As I learn more in one, the knowledge is directly applicable to the other.
Southampton felt so collaborative and a place where students and staff helped each other, which is exactly what I wanted
This course is based at Highfield, University Hospital Southampton and City Centre.
This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.
The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.
Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
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
This 5-year course is split into 4 phases:
You'll gain clinical experience throughout. This may involve some weekend and evening working.
You must pass all the course modules to progress to the next stage and graduate. Although there are no optional modules, you still have a choice of study topics in a number of modules.
Year 1 is part of the 'the fundamentals of medicine' phase of your degree. You'll study core modules in applied knowledge, encouraging you to integrate scientific knowledge, from multiple disciplines. This approach will help you to understand the basic principles underlying clinical presentations, diagnoses and management.
Your learning will be based around clinical topics including:
You'll also begin to develop your research skills and focus on your personal and professional development.
Clinical topics for your applied learning to complete phase 1 include:
This year, you'll undertake phase 2, 'progression into clinical practice'. You'll undertake three 8-week placements in:
You also have the option to study for a Master of Medical Science or MSc at Southampton, or for an iBSc or MSc at another university (known as intercalation). You can undertake this at the end of year 3.
Phase 3, 'developing clinical practice', 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 year 4, your studies and clinical practice will include the following topics:
There will also be speciality weeks in neurosciences, dermatology, head and neck, and ophthalmology.
You'll continue with phase 3 which includes a 24-week placement leading up to finals. You'll have clinical placements in medicine, surgery and primary care. For your student selected unit you can choose from:
After finals you'll move into phase 4, 'preparing for independent practice'.
You'll complete an assistantship module where you'll 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 modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Find out why, when and how we might make changes.
You must study the following modules in year 1:
The Applied Knowledge 1 (AK1) module is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical concepts and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks. Thi...
The Applied Knowledge 2 (AK2) module is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical concepts and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks. Thi...
The Applied Knowledge 3 (AK3) module is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical concepts and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks. Thi...
The Applied Knowledge 4 (AK4) module is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical concepts and professional practice applicable to medicine are learned through clinical topic weeks. Thi...
The module gives you an opportunity to meet patients and to learn important clinical skills from your first weeks within the Faculty of Medicine. There are three components to this longitudinal module: practice-based experiences, campus-based facilitation...
This module consists of student selected components in public health. These aim to offer student choice and to develop students' professional knowledge, skills, and values and behaviour through reflective practice. Further details will be provided on Blac...
The Personal and Professional (PPD1) module runs throughout year 1 and is the first of three related modules with PPD 2 and 3 running through year 2 and Final year respectively. The personal and professional development highlighted in these modules is ba...
The Research as Applied to Medicine 1 (RAM1) module will introduce the core concept of how research evidence influences clinical practice. You will learn the key skills of critical appraisal and statistical analysis in order to effectively interpret publi...
You must study the following modules in year 2:
As part of our programme review, we are updating this module. The Applied Knowledge 5 (AK5) module is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical concepts and professional practice app...
As part of our programme review, we are updating this module. The Applied Knowledge 6 (AK6) module is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical concepts and professional practice app...
As part of our programme review, we are updating this module. The Applied Knowledge 7 (AK7) module is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical concepts and professional practice app...
As part of our programme review, we are updating this module. The Applied Knowledge 8 (AK8) module is a highly contextualised and integrated course in which the application of knowledge and understanding, clinical concepts and professional practice app...
This module gives students the opportunity to meet patients and to learn important clinical skills throughout the year, building on learning from Clinical Practice 1. There are four components to this longitudinal module: practice-based experiences, campu...
Medical Humanities is an interdisciplinary field that explores the intersection of medicine, healthcare practices, and the human experience through the lens of the arts, humanities, and social sciences. It promotes a more holistic approach to patient care...
The Personal and professional Development 2 (PPD2) module runs throughout year 2 and is the second of three related modules with PPD1 in year 1 and PPD3 in Final year. The personal and professional development highlighted in these modules is based upon t...
The Research as Applied to Medicine 2 (RAM2) module will build on the knowledge and skills acquired in the Research as Applied to Medicine 1 (RAM1) module. You will further develop your critical appraisal skills, learn how to design a relevant research s...
You must study the following modules in year 3:
The purpose of this module is to ensure students can apply and integrate knowledge and understanding to common clinical conditions and scenarios and professional practice. The third year of the programme in which this module is embedded is considered to b...
The purpose of this module is to ensure students can develop and apply clinical and Professional skills (including relevant practical procedural skills) to professional practice, using common clinical conditions and scenarios. It is also preparation for t...
Within this module, interactive symposia delivered to the whole cohort will complement teaching and learning obtained in years 1&2 as well as from clinical placement. They will help students consolidate and contextualise their knowledge but also identif...
This module provides the students with the opportunities to gain clinical experience in General internal and Geriatric Medicine within the ward and outpatient clinic environment. This module builds on earlier learning in the programme. This module foc...
This integrated module focuses on the application and practice of the knowledge and skills relevant to mental health in clinical practice. It builds on knowledge and skills from years 1 and 2 and focuses on their application to clinical practice in the co...
The Population and Planetary Health (PPH) module brings together key concepts within the fields of public health, global health and planetary health, integrating these in a manner that is relevant to future practice as a junior doctor. This knowledge will...
This module provides the students with the opportunity to gain experience of history taking and clinical examination in the primary community care environment. This module builds on earlier learning in the programme. This module focuses on the knowled...
This module focuses on the general surgical and elective orthopaedic basic knowledge and understanding, practitioner and professional skills required of a newly qualified doctor and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. This module...
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...
This module will run throughout the year with a variety of activities occurring during the placements of other clinical modules in year 4. Teaching will take place within the clinical module placement hours. This module focuses on developing the critical ...
This module focuses on the Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Genitourinary Medicine ( for BM(EU) also Urology) knowledge, understanding and professional skills required of an F1 doctor, and the assessments within this module will focus on these areas. 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, neurosciences, 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 p...
You must study the following modules in year 5:
The Student Assistantship is a six 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 6 ...
This module provides the students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes which are necessary to practice in Medicine as a newly qualified doctor. This module builds on earlier learning throughout the programme. This module...
The module provides students with the opportunity to translate the GMC’s Good Medical Practice principles into day to day clinical practice in a variety of settings. This module focuses on the practitioner and professional skills, knowledge, understand...
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 integrated programme...
This module is an opportunity for you to gain experience of your choice outside the core programme. This may be in the UK or overseas, and may include an elective, local clinical placement, or a research or education project. Students can also explore a ...
This module provides the students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes which are necessary to practice in Surgery as a newly qualified doctor. This module builds on earlier Surgical attachments and the Acute Care and Ethics ...
The learning activities for this course include the following:
How you'll spend your course time:
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:
Year 1:
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 2:
Year 2:
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 3:
Year 3:
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 4:
Year 4:
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 5:
Year 5:
You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.
Deborah Rose is the course leader.
The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.
Download skills overview
Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:
NHS,
Private healthcare establishments,
HE Institutions,
Pharmaceutical companies,
Medical Research Laboratories,
Clinical trial organisations,
Residential nursing homes,
Air ambulance services,
Overseas aid agencies,
The armed Forces,
Prisons.
*Example graduate job titles and job prospect statistics taken from The Graduate Outcomes Survey, which gathers information about the activities and perspectives of graduates 15 months after finishing their course.
Choosing to do work experience is a great way to enhance your employability, build valuable networks, and evidence your potential. Learn about the different work and industry experience options at Southampton.
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Your career ideas and graduate job opportunities may change while you're at university. So it is important to take time to regularly reflect on your goals, speak to people in industry and seek advice and up-to-date information from Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise professionals at the University.
Fees for a year's study:
If you're an EU or international student, please note that fees for your clinical years - years 3, 4 and 5 - are £59,400 per year.
Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and all examinations.
Find out how to:
You'll be responsible for paying certain costs not covered by the tuition fee. These include:
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.
Explore:
If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £36,200 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.
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.
The Student Hub 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.
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
We’ll assess your application on the strength of your:
Please note: your reference is not used as part of the selection process, but you must provide it as part of your application.
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:
If you’re invited to attend, we’ll email you full event details beforehand.
Home applicants will be invited to attend 2 to 3 weeks before the selection day. International applicants will be invited 5 to 6 weeks in advance.
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.
The 2026 selection day dates will be available in October. You must attend your interview in person.
We aim to respond to you by the end of March with a decision about your application.
Offers are made based on selection day performance. Where selection day scores are tied we may use UCAT as a determining factor between candidates.
Download our full selection policy for 2025 entry (ODT, 84KB)
Inside Uni Medicine is a free resource. It's supported by the Medical Schools Council and NHS England and delivered in partnership with Inside Uni; a community of students sharing advice on applying to university.
It gives advice from current students sharing their tips for applicants on applying to university including students from underrepresented backgrounds.
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.
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
Medicine BM5 (BMBS) is a course in the Medicine subject area. Here are some other courses within this subject area:
