GMC approval for Foundation Programme of BM(EU)
The final step in the accreditation of the BM(EU) programme has been completed with the Foundation year (FY1) in Kassel being approved by the General Medical Council (GMC).
The BM(EU) is a joint programme between the Faculty of Medicine and the Kassel School of Medicine at Gesundheit Nordhessen Holdings. Starting in 2013, the first students graduated last year.
To obtain full GMC registration graduates must successfully complete a one year foundation programme, which is undertaken in Kassel with the support of the Wessex Deanery and the University of Southampton.
The GMC recently attended Kassel School of Medicine to review the FY1 and praised how the organisations worked with each other and how the programme is valued.
Special mention was given to the way the year was delivered, in particular the protected teaching days, use of role play and the ‘circle meetings’ where feedback was obtained.
The year allows a smooth transition from study into full time clinical practice and is not normal practice in Germany.
Dr Clare Polack, BM(EU) Programme Leader said: “We are delighted that the final stages of the course’s implementation have been successfully completed. This is a fantastic achievement and a credit to the collaboration and hard work of all the people involved.
“We are very proud to provide this unique experience that includes clinical experience in both the UK and Germany. The agreement between the University of Southampton GNH was signed in October 2011, so to complete this final stage is very special.”
The Faculty, along with Kassel School of Medicine and the Wessex Deanery can now offer training from admission to full GMC registration between Southampton and Kassel.
The BM(EU) is closely based on the University's long-established five-year programme, BM5, and offers a European clinical experience within a UK curriculum. Students study alongside BM5 students in Southampton for the first two years before returning to Kassel in Germany for the majority of their final three years. Clinical examinations take place in Southampton.
The course is a year shorter than the traditional German medical programmes and is taught in both English and German. On graduation, students receive provisional registration from the GMC which entitles them to apply for a licence to work in Germany. They then complete a Foundation Year (FY1) in Kassel which is quality assured by the Wessex deanery. Successful completion of this FY1 year leads to full registration with the GMC which currently allows them to work anywhere in Europe.