Degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

RESOLUTION

The Degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery are governed by Resolutions of the University Court. The provisions of Resolution No. 582 supporting the Generic Undergraduate Regulations are set out with those Regulations. The provisions of Resolution No. 602, which came into effect on 1 November 2009, are as follows:

1.    The Degrees of Bachelor of Medicine (MB) and Bachelor of Surgery (ChB) may be awarded by the University of Glasgow in the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences (the College). The Degree of Bachelor of Medicine shall not be awarded otherwise than with the Degree of Bachelor of Surgery, and vice versa.

2.    The award of the Degrees shall be governed by the Generic Undergraduate Regulations which are governed by Resolution No. 582 of the University Court.

3.    The Senate may make supplementary regulations governing the award of the Degrees which are subject to the approval of the University Court - these shall be as stated under ‘Regulations’.

4.    The early exit award of the Degree of Bachelor of Medical Science (BMedSci) is included in the Regulation.

REGULATIONS

1.     Recognition of Prior Learning

Prior experiential learning cannot be counted for credit on this Degree.

2.     Maximum Period of Study

The programme for the Degree shall normally extend over no more than six academic sessions of full-time study.  The maximum duration of study is not inclusive of intercalating degrees and one repeat of Year 5.

3.     Progress

3.1   A candidate may not proceed to the next academic year of the curriculum until she or he has obtained a grade D or better in the summative assessments of the previous year.

3.2    Exclusion of Candidates

3.2.1    A candidate will be required to attend the School Progress Committee and will normally be excluded if he or she fails to achieve grade D3 (D in clinical examinations) or better after two attempts in any of the following:

a)  MB ChB I written examination or the MILE or any individual coursework components

b)  MB ChB II written examination or clinical examination or any individual coursework components

c)  MB ChB III written examination or clinical examination or coursework

d)  MB ChB IV written examination

One repeat of final year will be granted if a candidate fails to achieve grade D3 (D in clinical examinations) or better in the MB ChB V written examination or clinical examination.

In addition a candidate will normally be excluded:

e)  if he or she fails to complete the prescribed training and be assessed as competent in resuscitation normally after two attempts by the end of Year 5 (non-attendance which is not approved will count as a failure to demonstrate competence);

f)  if he or she fails to achieve a grade D3 (D for clinical examinations) or better in the Final Degree Examinations in Year 5, following one repeat year;

h)  if he or she fails to attend and satisfactorily complete the Preparation for Practice block in Year 5 and the portfolio booklet;

i)  If he or she fails to attend and satisfactorily complete all clinical placements;

j)  If he or she fails to complete and submit the prescribed number of portfolio cases.

3.2.2    A candidate will normally be excluded if he or she fails to achieve grade D3 or better in all Student Selected Components.

3.2.3    A candidate may be excluded if his or her conduct is such as to require a referral under the fitness to practise procedure (as identified in the Code of Professional Conduct for MB ChB Students - see §6.1).

3.3   The School Progress Committee will have the authority to set aside the regu­lations governing exclusion and to permit a candidate to repeat a year of the programme.

3.4    Repeat Year

A candidate who is permitted to repeat a year will not be allowed to carry forward any assessment grade from the relevant course, whether or not a pass grade has been attained. Such a candidate will be required to undertake all assessments and obtain a grade D3 (D in clinical examinations) or better and be permitted a resit in the repeat year if required. A candidate must attend all prescribed elements of the course during a repeat year.

3.5   A candidate with outstanding tuition fees from the previous session will not be permitted to register and attend classes in the following session until the outstanding fees are paid. In addition, a candidate who has not satisfactorily completed any of the following will not be permitted to register and attend classes in the following session until such time as they have been satisfactorily completed:

a)   criminal records check,

b)   health screening,

c)   Hep B immunization,

d)   Student Agreement.

3.6    Assessment

In addition to Generic Undergraduate Regulation §9 the following provisions apply:

a)   A candidate who has failed any part of a diet must present himself or herself for re-examination on the first occasion for which he or she is eligible.

b)   Since the Degree Examinations in the final academic year are a culmination of the integrated core, where a candidate has failed to comply with or not satisfied the requirements of the final year, and cannot remedy this by the end of the academic session, the outcome for that candidate shall be Credit Refused.

c)   For the purposes of all assessments and degree examinations §16.52 of the Code of Assessment for Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes does not apply. For the purpose of all assessments and degree examinations, 100% submission of all assessments is required.

4.     Courses Available to Candidates

The courses available to candidates are set out in the programme specification.

5.     Programme Requirements for the Award of the Degree

5.1   To be eligible for the award of the Degree a candidate must:

a)   meet the core outcomes set by the General Medical Council[1];

b)   have attained a grade D or better in all summative assessments of years 1-5;

c)   by the end of final year, have completed successfully all clinical attachments in Years 3-5: a portfolio of clinical cases, a number of which must be submitted to the Board of Examiners; the prescribed training and be assessed as competent in resuscitation; the Preparation for Practice block, including the portfolio booklet; and a junior elective and a senior elective. The candidate will normally be required to pass all Student Selected Components.

5.2    Distinction

A candidate may be awarded a pass with Distinction in any year, the criteria for each year are set out in the MBChB Handbook, The candidate’s first attempt at an examination will be counted.

5.3    Honours and Commendation

The award of MBChB with Honours or with Commendation is determined by a formula detailed in the MBChB Handbook, which incorporates written examinations and OSCEs. Results from all five years are taken into account, although the weighting has a bias towards performance in the finals. The candidate’s first attempt at an examination will be counted.

6.     Other Information on Awards

6.1    Fitness to Practise

All candidates must observe a standard of behaviour and professional conduct required of the medical practitioner. A candidate in breach of the Code of Professional Conduct for MB ChB Students will be subject to Fitness to Practise procedures, which may include referral to the School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing Fitness to Practise Committee[2]. (See ‘University Fees and General Information for Students’ Regulation 36 of the University Calendar).

Graduates are entitled to provisional registration with the GMC with a licence to practise, subject to demonstrating to the GMC that their fitness to practise is not impaired.

When applying for registration with GMC candidates are required to complete a declaration of fitness to practise, and the declaration must not be more than three months old. The GMC will consider any issues that call into question a candidate’s fitness to practise. This includes anything that happened before or during the candidate’s undergraduate years, and any decisions made by a Fitness to Practise Panel or University committee/body.

6.2    Attendance

A candidate is required to achieve 100% attendance in all elements of the programme, including instances where the candidate is permitted to repeat a year.

6.3    Absence

Permission for a candidate to have leave of absence for special circumstances must be obtained from the appropriate Course Director in advance. The Medical School Office should be contacted in the first instance.

Persistent absence will normally be a matter for consideration under Fitness to Practise rules and regulations.

Where a candidate is absent from a Degree examination owing to illness, a certificate signed by a doctor must be submitted to the Medical School office within seven days of the absence.

6.4    Disclaimer

Because of the needs of the Foundation Programme, a candidate will be required to sign a disclaimer to allow the School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing to pass on information to the Dean (Graduate Studies) at the time of graduation (see §6.5).

6.5    General Medical Council (GMC) Registration

Upon graduation a candidate will require provisional registration with the GMC, the conversion of which to full registration requires successful completion of the Foundation Programme. Since the Foundation Programme requires a candidate to work as a medical practitioner it may be necessary, in certain circumstances, for the School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing to pass on information to the Dean (Graduate Studies). Such information could relate to a candidate who is due to graduate but for whom some form of support in their initial postgraduate year might be necessary. The School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing may also pass on information to the GMC as part of the registration process in accordance with the UK provisional registration scheme.

6.6    Combined Courses

a)   Degree of BSc (MedSci)

At the end of the third year of the medical curriculum, a candidate may be permitted to undertake as an intercalated programme, the Degree of BSc (MedSci) Honours. Such a candidate will normally resume the medical curriculumin the session immediately following that in which he or she completed or terminated the programme leading to the Degree of BSc (MedSci).

b)   Degree of BSc

At the end of the third year of the medical curriculum, a candidate may be admitted at the discretion of the College to study for the two year Degree of BSc Honours. Such a candidate will be re-admitted to the medical curriculum provided he or she resumes study in the session immediately following that in which he or she completed or terminated the BSc programme.

6.7    Electives

The Junior and Senior Electives are intended to permit a candidate to undertake the study in some depth of any aspect of the practice of medicine in recognised clinical specialities including general practice, and public health, which has the approval of the Head of School. Electives may also include research experience in an appropriately supported setting.A candidate will be required to provide written evidence that his or her attendance and work during the periods of his or her approved electives have been satisfactory.

6.8    Exit Certificate/Diploma/Degree

6.8.1  Degree of Bachelor of Medical Science

a)   A candidate who has successfully completed the first three years of the programme of study leading to the Degrees of MB ChB or BDS may transfer to these regulations and graduate with the Degree of Bachelor of Medical Science.

b)   A candidate may be recommended for the award of the Degree of Bachelor of Medical Science:

i)    if he or she is unable or will be unable to complete the Final Professional Examination before the completion of his or her sixth session of study for the Degrees of MB ChB or BDS OR

ii)   has indicated in writing to the Head of College that he or she no longer wishes to pursue a curriculum leading to the Degrees of MB ChB or BDS.

c)   Such a candidate, if graduating with the Degree of Bachelor of Medical Science, may not be a candidate either for the Degrees of BSc (MedSci) or BSc (DentSci) or for the Degrees of MB ChB or BDS, of the University of Glasgow on a future occasion.

6.8.2  Diploma of Higher Education (Medical Science)

a)   A candidate who has successfully completed the first two years of the programme of study leading to the Degree of MB ChB may transfer to these regulations and be awarded the Diploma of Higher Education (Medical Science).

b)   A candidate may be recommended for the award of the Diploma of Higher Education (Medical Science):

i)    if he or she is unable or will be unable to complete the Final Professional Examination before the completion of his or her sixth session of study for the Degree of MB ChB OR

ii)   has indicated in writing to the Head of College that he or she no longer wishes to pursue a curriculum leading to the Degree of MB ChB.

c)   Such a candidate, if awarded with the Diploma of Higher Education (Medical Science), may not be a candidate for the Degree of BSc (MedSci), BSc (DentSci), MB ChB, or BDS of the University of Glasgow on a future occasion.

6.8.3  Certificate of Higher Education (Medical Science)

a)   A candidate who has successfully completed the first year of the programme of study leading to the Degree of MB ChB may transfer to these regulations and be awarded the Certificate of Higher Education (Medical Science).

b)   A candidate may be recommended for the award of the Certificate of Higher Education (Medical Science):

i)    if he or she is unable or will be unable to complete the Final Professional Examination before the completion of his or her sixth session of study for the Degree of MB ChB OR

ii)   has indicated in writing to the Head of College that he or she no longer wishes to pursue a curriculum leading to the Degree of MB ChB.

c)   Such a candidate, if awarded the Certificate of Higher Education (Medical Science), may not be a candidate for the Degree of BSc (MedSci), BSc (DentSci), MB ChB, or BDS of the University of Glasgow on a future occasion.