MEDICAL SCIENCES BSc Honours
Course summary
Our Medical Sciences BSc Honours is a standalone three-year Bachelor’s degree which also acts as a pre-clinical 'feeder' course offering graduates a transfer directly into the third year of the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery (MD) degree at our overseas partner, the University of Malta.
The University of Malta has a long history of medical education with their MD programme being recognised in the UK for over 100 years. All teaching at the University of Malta is in English and the university has a diverse, international student body with students from over 90 different countries.
Transfer to the MD programme at the University of Malta is conditional on the successful completion of the Medical Sciences BSc Honours with a minimum classification of lower second-class honours (2:2). Graduates wishing to progress must also have attended the anatomy and Medical Maltese Summer School and passed the Certificate in Medical Maltese Proficiency. Further details about Malta, the University of Malta and their MD programme can be found on the Studying Medicine at the University of Malta page.
The Medical Sciences BSc Honours comprises a detailed study of the human body in health and disease, with emphasis on the diagnosis and understanding of disease states and the mechanisms involved. It prepares you for a range of life science careers, but also fully equips you for transfer to the University of Malta MD programme. Teaching on the course is through a variety of methods and includes tutorials, lectures and seminars, practical laboratory work and group activities along with the use of learning technology and electronic resources. Assessment is through a combination of exams and coursework, including essays, practical work, group work, presentations and reports.
This course also offers, at additional cost (see the Fees and Funding section below), a Human Anatomy Summer School based at the University of Malta, and a Medical Maltese language programme, both of which are compulsory for students planning to progress to the MD degree on completion of the BSc. More details of these can be found on the Studying Medicine at the University of Malta page.
CAREERS
This course has been designed to prepare students for progression on to the MD programme at our overseas partner, the University of Malta, with the ultimate goal of a career in medicine and potential specialisation in one of the many medical disciplines. It is expected that the vast majority of students enrolling on the Medical Sciences BSc Honours will follow this career pathway.
Progression on to the MD qualification and a career in medicine
An MD qualification from the University of Malta entitles graduates to apply for Provisional Registration with Licence to Practice from the UK General Medical Council (GMC) without the requirement to take the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) test. Once graduates are registered with the GMC they are then eligible to apply for the UK Foundation Programme. They may also be able to apply for the Malta Foundation Programme which is regulated by the Malta Public Service Commission.
The Foundation Programme is the next phase of a doctor’s training after the completion of a medical degree at university and precedes specialist training in medicine or surgery. The Foundation Programme comprises a two year series of rotations in different specialities within hospitals or in the community and after successful completion of the first year, you will be able to apply for full registration with the GMC.
As a result of the accreditation of the Malta MD Degree by AMSE and ASIIN, University of Malta medical graduates have more opportunities for mobility and lifelong learning at an international level. For further information, see the Studying Medicine at the University of Malta page.
Alternative career paths
If you decide not to progress on to the MD programme at the end of your studies at the University of Westminster, there are a variety of other career paths open to Medical Sciences BSc (Hons) graduates including:
- Clinical trials
- Government departments
- Other institutions (eg Medical Research Council)
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Scientific/pharmaceutical/diagnostics sales
- Scientific research
- Scientific writing/publishing
- Technical support roles in scientific/pharmaceutical/diagnostics industry
- Teaching
- University laboratories (possibly as part of a PhD)
You may also choose to continue your studies to obtain a postgraduate qualification, eg an MSc, MRes or PhD.
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