2010/11
REGULATIONS FOR THE DEGREES OF BACHELOR OF MEDICINE AND BACHELOR OF
SURGERY
THE DEGREES OF BACHELOR OF MEDICINE AND BACHELOR OF SURGERY (M.B.,Ch.B. FIVE
YEAR)
1) Candidates for the degrees of M.B., Ch.B. (5 year) shall be required to follow the approved programme
of study for a period of 5 years. Students who are required to repeat a year or have to withdraw
temporarily from the course will normally be expected to complete the course in not more than seven
years from the date of first registration. The detailed criteria for satisfactory completion of elements of
the course are set out in the Leicester Medical School's (LMS) Codes of Practice of Assessment.
2) The course for the degrees is in two phases. Phase I is completed by the end of the third year and Phase II
by the end of the fifth year.
3) To pass Phase I and proceed to Phase II students must:
i) complete satisfactorily the core course in Medical Sciences and Clinical Skills in each of the first
three years of the course, or pass a qualifying examination held during any year(s) in which they
failed to complete the course satisfactorily;
ii) satisfy the examiners in each of two student selected components, one taken during the second
year (semester 2), the other during the third year (semester 1). Students who fail to satisfy the
examiners in either of the student selected components may be allowed to present themselves for
re-examination in that component on one subsequent occasion only;
iii) satisfy the examiners in the People & Disease student selected component taken over the first 2
years. Students who fail to satisfy the examiners in this component may be allowed to present
themselves for re-examination on one subsequent occasion only.
4) To pass Phase II and proceed to graduation for the degrees of M.B.,Ch.B. (5 year) students must:
i) complete satisfactorily twelve clinical attachments of each of seven weeks’ duration plus two
three-week Student Selected Components
ii) satisfy the examiners in the Intermediate Professional Examination normally undertaken after
completion of six clinical attachments. Students who fail to satisfy the examiners on the first
attempt at the Intermediate Professional Examination may be allowed to present themselves for
re-examination on one subsequent occasion only. Failure to satisfy the examiners in the re-
examination will normally lead to immediate termination of registration;
iii) satisfy the examiners in the Final Professional Examination normally held during the fifth year
following the satisfactory completion of twelve clinical attachments. Students who fail to satisfy
the examiners in the Final Professional Examination normally may be permitted to sit written and
Professional Examinations on one further occasion following a further period of clinical practice;
iv) complete satisfactorily a period of elective study of at least six weeks’ duration, and submit a
satisfactory report on that study
iv) complete satisfactorily a period of Additional Clinical Practice after the Final Professional
Examination in the fifth year.
5) Students who have successfully completed the requirements of the course for the degrees of M.B., Ch.B.
(5 year) will be awarded those degrees if they are deemed to be fit to practise medicine. Students may be
required to withdraw from the University or to transfer to another course if at any time during the M.B.,
Ch.B. (5 year) course it is concluded that there is sufficient reason to judge that they will be unfit to
practise; the procedures to be adopted in such cases are set out below in the regulations on progression
and fitness to practise.
6) To receive the degrees of M.B., Ch.B. (5 year), students who have successfully completed the
requirements of the course will be required to affirm the Declaration of Geneva at the degree ceremony
or at some other occasion the Dean of Medicine decides.
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PHASE I
FIRST YEAR COURSES
SEMESTER 1
Core Medical Sciences (basic and applied Medical Sciences including Social & Behavioural Medicine).
Clinical Skills
SEMESTER 2
Core Medical Sciences
Clinical Skills
First Year Assessment
Assessment by written or oral examination of specified elements of coursework in the core Medical Sciences
and Clinical Skills. Students who fail to maintain a satisfactory standard in the first-year assessments take a
qualifying examination during the following summer vacation. A student who fails the qualifying examination
may not proceed to the second year of the course.
SECOND YEAR COURSES
SEMESTER 1
Core Medical Sciences
Clinical Skills
SEMESTER 2
Core Medical Sciences
Clinical Skills
One Student Selected Component (selected from various options)
Second Year Assessment
Assessment by written or oral examination of specified elements of coursework in the core Medical Sciences
and Clinical Skills.
Assessment by written or oral examination of specified elements of coursework in the Student Selected
Component.
Students who fail to maintain a satisfactory standard in the second-year core Medical Sciences and Clinical
Skills assessments take a qualifying examination during the following summer vacation. A student who fails the
qualifying examination may not proceed to the third year of the course. Students who fail to satisfy the
examiners in the Student Selected Component may be allowed to resit that component on one occasion only.
THIRD YEAR COURSES
SEMESTER 1
Core Medical Sciences
Clinical Skills
One Student Selected Component (selected from various options)
SEMESTER 2
Clinical Attachments
Third Year Assessment
Assessment by written or oral examination of specified elements of coursework in the core Medical Sciences
and Clinical Skills modules.
Assessment of specified elements of coursework together with written and possibly oral examination in the
Student Selected Component.
Assessment of specified elements of coursework, and possibly oral or written examination in the ‘People and
Disease’ Student Selected Component
Students who fail to maintain a satisfactory standard in the third-year assessments in core Medical Sciences and
Clinical Skills/Attachments must take a qualifying examination. A student who fails the qualifying examination
may not proceed with Phase II of the course. Students who fail to satisfy the examiners in the Student Selected
Component may be allowed to resit that component on one occasion only.
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PHASE II
Phase II begins in January in the third year of the five-year course. It consists of two series of six seven-week
clinical attachments, an elective period and a period of additional clinical practice.
i) The Junior Clinical Rotation
Six seven-week attachments including one in Psychiatry and one in Clinical Method plus one three week
student Selected Component
ii) The Senior Clinical Rotation
Students who complete the junior rotation blocks satisfactorily and who satisfy the examiners in the
Intermediate Professional Examination will normally be allowed to proceed to the Senior Rotation. This
consists of six seven-week clinical attachments including one in Child Health and one in Obstetrics &
Gynaecology and one three week Student Selected Component.
iii) The elective period of at least six weeks
iv) Additional Clinical Practice
A period of additional clinical practice including normally a four-week period of Foundation School
preparation, undertaken after the elective period and the Final Professional Examination in the fifth year
THE DEGREES OF BACHELOR OF MEDICINE AND BACHELOR OF SURGERY M.B., Ch.B.
FOUR YEARS (HEALTH SCIENCES)
1) Candidates for the degrees of M.B., Ch.B. (4 years – Health Sciences) shall be required to follow the
approved programme of study for a period of four years. Students who are required to repeat a year or
have to withdraw temporarily from the course will normally be expected to complete the course in not
more than six years from the date of first registration. The detailed criteria for satisfactory completion of
elements of the course are set out in the Leicester Medical School's Codes of Practice for Assessment.
2) The course for the degrees is in two phases. Phase I is completed by the end of the second year and Phase
II by the end of the fourth year
3) To pass Phase I and proceed to Phase II students must:
i) complete satisfactorily the core course in Medical Sciences and Clinical Skills in each of years
one and two of the course, or pass a qualifying examination held during any year(s) in which they
fail to complete the modules satisfactorily;
ii) satisfy the examiners in the ‘Patient Centred clinical practice’ student selected component taken
over the first two years. Students who fail to satisfy the examiners in this component may be
allowed to present themselves for re-examination on one subsequent occasion only
4) To pass Phase II and proceed to graduation for the degrees of M.B., Ch.B. (4 year), students must:
i) Complete satisfactorily twelve clinical attachments of each of seven weeks’ duration plus two
three-week Student Selected Components;
ii) satisfy the examiners in the Intermediate Professional Examination normally undertaken after
completion of six clinical attachments. Students who fail to satisfy the examiners on the first
attempt at the Intermediate Professional Examination may be allowed to present themselves for
re-examination on one subsequent occasion only. Failure to satisfy the examiners in the re-
examination will normally lead to immediate termination of registration;
iii) satisfy the examiners in the Final Professional Examination normally held during the fifth year
following the satisfactory completion of twelve clinical attachments. Students who fail to satisfy
the examiners in the Final Professional Examination normally may be permitted to sit written and
Professional Examinations on one further occasion following a further period of clinical practice;
iv) complete satisfactorily a period of elective study of at least six weeks’ duration, and submit a
satisfactory report on that study
v) complete satisfactorily a period of Additional Clinical Practice after the Final Professional
Examination in the fifth year.
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5) Students who have successfully completed the requirements of the course for the degree of M.B., Ch.B.
will be awarded those degrees if they are deemed to be fit to practise medicine. Students may be required
to withdraw from the University or to transfer to another course if at any time during the M.B., Ch.B.
course it is concluded that there is sufficient reason to judge that they will be unfit to practise; the
procedures to be adopted in such cases are set out below in the regulations on progression and fitness to
practise.
6) To receive the degrees of M.B., Ch.B., students who have successfully completed the requirements of the
course will be required to affirm the Declaration of Geneva at the degree ceremony or at some other
occasion the Dean of Medicine decides.
PHASE I
FIRST YEAR COURSES
SEMESTER 1
Core Medical Sciences (basic and applied Medical Sciences including Social and Behavioural Medicine)
Clinical Skills
SEMESTER 2
Medical Sciences
Clinical Skills
FIRST YEAR ASSESSMENT
Assessment by written or oral examination of specified elements of coursework in core medical sciences and
clinical skills.
Students who fail to maintain a satisfactory standard in the first year assessment take a qualifying examination
during the following summer vacation. A student who fails the qualifying examination may not proceed to the
second year of the course.
SECOND YEAR COURSES
SEMESTER 1
Core Medical Sciences (basic and applied Medical Sciences including Social & Behavioural Medicine)
Clinical Skills
SECOND YEAR ASSESSMENT (END OF PHASE I)
Assessment by written or oral examination of specified elements of coursework in core medical sciences and
clinical skills.
Assessment of the ‘People & Disease’ student selected component by coursework and possibly written or oral
examination
Students who fail to maintain a satisfactory standard in the second year (end of Phase I) assessment in core
medical sciences and clinical skills must take a qualifying examination. A student who fails a qualifying
examination may not proceed with Phase II of the course. A student who fails to satisfy the examiners in the
'People & Disease' student selected component may be permitted to take one further assessment of that
component.
PHASE II
Phase II begins in January in the third year of the five-year course. It consists of two series of six seven-week
clinical attachments, an elective period and a period of additional clinical practice. 5
i) The Junior Clinical Rotation
Six seven-week attachments including one in Psychiatry and one in Clinical Method plus one
three week student Selected Component
ii) The Senior Clinical Rotation
Students who complete the junior rotation blocks satisfactorily and who satisfy the examiners in
the Intermediate Professional Examination will normally be allowed to proceed to the Senior
Rotation. This consists of six seven-week clinical attachments including one in Child Health and
one in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, plus one three week Student Selected Component
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iii) The elective period of at least six weeks
iv) Additional Clinical Practice
A period of additional clinical practice including normally a four-week period of Foundation
School preparation, undertaken after the elective period and the Final Professional Examination
in the fifth year
THE ORDINARY DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF MEDICAL SCIENCE -B.MED.SCI – (4 AND 5 YEAR
STREAMS)
1) With the approval of the Board of Examiners, students registered for the degrees of M.B., Ch.B. may on
completion of at least three years in the case of the five year stream, and two years in the case of the four
year stream of the course, and provided they have satisfied the examiners in Phase I of the course,
transfer to candidature of the degree of B.Med.Sci.
2) The B.Med.Sci. is an ordinary degree. Candidates who are permitted to transfer to the degree as provided
in paragraph (1) are eligible for award of the degree without further examination.
3) Students who are awarded the degree of B.Med.Sci. are normally excluded from re-admission to the
course for the degrees of M.B., Ch.B. (4 year and 5 year).
THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - B.Sc.
1) With the approval of the Dean of Medicine, students registered for the degrees of MBChB may
intercalate one year of additional study leading to the BSc degree. The additional year of study should
normally be taken after completion of the second or third year of the course for the MBChB, but
permission may be granted to take it after completion of the fourth year. Students who have not passed
the examinations for the parts of the MBChB course that they have taken will not be given permission to
take the BSc degree.
2) The course for the degree of B.Sc. will extend over forty weeks.
3) To be admitted to the degree of B.Sc. a student shall have either:
a) attended an approved course of instruction and have satisfied the examiners in the examination
prescribed for the course;
OR
b) undertaken supervised study and research in an approved field, and have satisfied the examiners
by means of a dissertation and an oral examination. The examiners shall take into account such
factors as the candidate’s originality, clarity of expression, analysis of data, and understanding of
the general implications of the study. (See below for detailed notes).
4) Examinations for the degree will be held at the end of the year of additional study. A student may
normally sit the examinations once only. There is no appeals procedure internal to the programme.
5) The intercalated B.Sc. degree may be awarded with honours or as a pass degree. The names of successful
candidates will be arranged in five divisions: first class honours; second class honours in two divisions;
third class honours; and pass.
PROGRESSION
1) The progression of students registered for the degrees of M.B., Ch.B. shall be monitored by an Academic
Progress Committee. The Committee shall be chaired by a person appointed by the Dean of Medicine.
2) Students may be reported to the Academic Progress Committee for serious neglect of their academic
obligations (including failure to attend prescribed classes or to submit prescribed coursework). In such
cases, the student shall be notified in writing of the alleged neglect, and will be invited to make a written
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presentation to the Committee. The Committee shall operate in accordance with published procedures
approved.
3) The Committee may decide:
a) to take no action; or
b) to warn the student that she/he will need to use his/her best efforts is she/he is to be successful in
his/her examinations; or
c) to recommend that a student’s period of registration be suspended for a prescribed period; or
d) to warn the student that they are in gross neglect of studies and that he/she may not be allowed to
resit any examinations that she/he may fail during the session; or
e) in the case of a student who fails to attend prescribed classes, to require the student to submit
assessed work or sit an examination, either of which may be additional papers specifically set for
the student concerned; or
f) to recommend to the Senate of the University that the student be transferred to another course of
study in the University; or
g) to recommend that the student’s registration be terminated (see regulation below on Termination
of Registration).
The decision of the Academic Progress Committee shall be communicated to the student in writing. Where the
fitness to practise of a student is also a concern, the Academic Progress Committee may refer the case to the
Fitness to Practise Committee for consideration.
FITNESS TO PRACTISE
Fitness to Practise Committee
1) These regulations apply to students registered for the degree of MB ChB, the DipHE in Operating
Department Practice and the MA in Social Work. In these regulations, ‘fitness to practise’ means fitness
to practise these professions.
2) Issues of a student’s fitness to practise shall be considered by a Fitness to Practise Committee of the
School of Medicine. The membership of the Committee and its Operating Procedures shall be
determined by the Academic Committee of the College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and
Psychology.
3) Students may be referred to the Fitness to Practise Committee where evidence emerges which brings into
question a student’s fitness to practise, including (but not limited to) issues of behaviour and attitudes,
dishonesty or criminal conduct, or illness likely to pose a risk to patients or to bring the profession into
disrepute, either as a student or after qualification. In such cases the student shall be notified in writing of
the issue of fitness to practise. The Committee shall carry out such enquiries as it thinks necessary in
accordance with its procedures, and the student shall be invited to make written representations to the
Committee. The Committee may decide to take no action; or it may take such action as it thinks fit in
order to ensure that no student graduates who is not fit the practise. In these circumstances the
Committee’s decisions will normally include one or more of the following:
a) to conclude that the student is suffering an illness sufficient to make him/her unfit to practise and
to recommend to that his/her registration be suspended until such time as a satisfactory medical
report is received;
b) to conclude that the student is suffering an illness sufficient to make him/her unfit to practise and
to recommend that, notwithstanding his/her academic progress, the award of the degrees be
withheld, or she/he be not permitted to graduate until such time as a satisfactory medical report is
received;
c) to require the student to make an undertaking as to their future conduct
d) to warn the student that his/her behaviour, attitude, or conduct is such that she/he is at significant
risk of having his/her registration terminated, not being awarded the degrees, or not being
permitted to graduate, on the basis she/he is unfit to practise;
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e) to recommend that the student’s behaviour, attitude, or conduct is such that that his/her
registration be suspended for a specified period until satisfactory reports are received;
f) to make such conditions as to work, monitoring, examination and further reports as the
Committee shall think appropriate to satisfy itself that the issues giving rise to concern have been
addressed;
g) to recommend that the student’s registration be terminated on grounds that she/he is unfit to
practise;
h) to recommend that, notwithstanding a student’s academic progress, she/he be not awarded the
degrees, or not be permitted to graduate on the basis she/he is unfit to practise.
4) Where the Fitness to Practise Committee, having reached its decision in respect of the fitness to practise
issues raised, believes that the academic progress of a student may be a cause of concern, the Committee
may refer those academic issues to the Academic Progress Committee for separate consideration under
its procedures.
5) Where the Committee concludes that no action in respect of a student’s fitness to practise is called for,
but issues of a general disciplinary nature have been identified, it may refer those issues for consideration
under the University’s Code of Student Discipline.
6) Students who are deemed unfit to practise may be considered for the award of the B.Med.Sci subject to
their academic progress.
7) The decision of the Fitness to Practise Committee shall be communicated to the student in writing. The
decision of the Committee shall, be final, except where the Committee’s decision is to terminate
registration, or not to award a degree, or not to permit graduation. In such cases the Secretary of the
Committee shall notify the student that he/she has the right to request a review by the Fitness to Practise
Appeals Committee.
Appeals Committee
8) The Fitness to Practise Appeals Committee shall be appointed by the Vice-Chancellor as the need arises,
and shall consist of a Pro-Vice-Chancellor and a senior practising clinician not on the salaried or
honorary staff of the University and not otherwise associated with the case. The Committee will review
all the relevant paperwork and will interview:
• the student, who may be accompanied by a member of the University of his/her choosing
• a representative of the Fitness to Practise Committee
• such other parties as the Committee feels is necessary
If the Appeals Committee upholds the Fitness to Practise Committee’s decision, that decision shall be regarded
as final, and the student will be sent a completion of procedures letter and details about the Office of the
Independent Adjudicator.
If the Appeals Committee concludes that there is a case for rescinding the decision of the Fitness to Practise
Committee, the case will be referred for re-examination by a panel of the Fitness to Practise Committee,
consisting of members not previously associated with the case. Their decision shall be final and the student will
be sent a completion of procedures letter and details about the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.
TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION
1) Where the Academic Progress Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee recommends that a
student’s registration be terminated, the student shall be notified in writing and shall be given the
opportunity to ask for a review of the recommendation.
2) Such a review, if requested, shall be conducted in accordance with University’s Termination of Course
Review Procedures in respect of termination for academic reasons; and in accordance with regulations
above in respect of termination on grounds of fitness to practise.
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ASSESSMENT
1) Responsibility for the assessment of students registered for the degrees of M.B., Ch.B. shall lie with the
Phase 1 and Phase 2 Board of Examiners.
2) Assessment and examination for the degrees of M.B., Ch.B. including: the appointment and duties of
external examiners, the criteria for satisfactory completion of elements of the course, the conduct of
examinations and examination offences (including plagiarism and cheating), shall be governed by
Leicester Medical School Codes of Practice on Assessment, approved on the recommendation of the
Curriculum Committee.
MB PhD PROGRAMME
1) Students registered for the degrees of MB ChB may intercalate additional years of study leading to the
award of PhD. Normally, students will intercalate two calendar years, but this may exceptionally
be extended to three.
2) To be admitted to the Intercalated PhD the student must have:
• Completed satisfactorily the core modules in medical sciences and clinical skills in Phase 1
• Completed Special Study modules and the People & Disease Module in Phase 1
• Either, have completed and been awarded an Intercalated BSc with at least upper second class
honours, or, have entered the MB ChB course with at least an upper second class honours degree
in an appropriate subject
3) During the PhD course the student is expected to complete satisfactorily 40 working days of clinical
studies each year
4) After the period of study, the student must normally return to the MB ChB course at the point when they
left, so that all clinical attachments are completed
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