King’s College London

Overview of the Medical School

• The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, created in 2014, encompasses both a School of Bioscience Education and a School of Medical Education (GKT). Together they deliver undergraduate health professions programmes (Medicine, Nutrition & Dietetics, Pharmacy and Physiotherapy) and a suite of related BSc programmes in Biomedical Sciences, through 18 Academic Divisions.

• King’s College London was founded in 1829 as a university college. When the University of London was established in 1836, King’s became one of its founding colleges and included a medical department from the beginning. The school of medicine was formed following a merger with the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals (GKT) on 1 August 1998.

• Among its alumni, the school is associated with 2 Nobel prizes: Sir Frederick Hopkins in 1929 for the discovery of vitamins and Max Theiler in 1951 for developing a vaccine against yellow fever. Also Patrick Steptoe, pioneer of IVF, missed out a Nobel Prize because he died before the awarding. Other remarkable alumni are: Russell Brock pioneer of modern open-heart surgery and Thomas Hodgkin discoverer of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Campus and Facilities

• Campus: 4 central London campuses
  • Guy’s Hospital Campus at London Bridge
  • St Thomas’ Hospital at Waterloo
  • Franklin Wilkins Building at Waterloo
  • King’s College Hospital in South London

• Teaching facilities:
  • Chantler Simulation & Interactive Learning Centre (Guy’s Campus): provides clinical classrooms, hospital and community care settings
  • Dissecting rooms: two dissecting rooms based at the Guy’s Campus
    • Upper dissecting room: 38 double-tables, housing 50 cadavers
    • Lower dissecting room: 14 double-tables, housing 12 cadavers
  • Gordon Museum of Pathology: largest medical museum in the UK containing over 8,000 pathology specimens. Its primary function is to help train medical professionals to diagnose disease.
  • Virtual Learning for students: provides online resources and support

National and International Rankings

• Complete University Guide ranking for medicine: rank 21 (2016)
• Guardian University ranking for medicine: rank 29 (2016)
• QS World ranking for medicine: rank 21 (2016)
• Times Higher Education for medicine: rank 8 (2016)

MBBS Programme Information

General overview

• The curriculum of this course provides early patient experience and has 3 stages: foundation of Biomedical Science, From Science to Clinical practice, Integrated Clinical practice. This, to achieve the value of “doctors in partnership with patients, to manage risk across a range of different care settings”.

• Although there are four entry routes into medicine at King’s, all students follow the MBBS curriculum:
  • Medicine: standard five-year programme
  • Medicine Graduate & Professional Entry: four-year fast track programme
  • Extended Medical Degree Programme: six-year widening access programme
  • MaxFax: four-year programme for qualified dentists

Number of students on this course:

Around 410 students each year in all 4 programmes

Course Structure and Length

• Year 1: Stage 1 – Foundations of Medicine
  • Focused on the basis of biomedical sciences, population sciences and quality improvement, and the skills to integrate them with clinical practice.

• Year 2 and 3: Stage 2 – Principles of Clinical Practice
  • Emphasis on clinical practice and uses the experience to integrate biomedical science, populations science and generic clinical skills
  • In year 3 students have projects and opportunities to combine practice and theory.

• Year 4 and 5: Stage 3 – Integrated Clinical Practice
  • Students develop their capabilities in different settings under direct supervision to take care of patients.
  • In year 4 students may take an intercalated year to include other studies in biomedical sciences, languages and humanities.
  • In year 5 students have a component of preparation for practices that helps for a smooth transition from studying to work.

• Variations of the standard 5-year programme:
  • Medicine Graduate/Professional Entry Programme (GPEP) MBBS (four-year fast track programme): they cover year 1-2 in an extended single year known as the ‘transition year’.
  • Extended Medical Degree Programme (six-year programme): allows that the 1^st  stage is studied at a slower pace for the first three years.
  • Medicine MaxFax Entry Programme (four-year programme for qualified dentists): After their introductory first year, students join the third year of the standard five-year MBBS programme.

Course Content:

• Year 1: Foundations of biomedical sciences and skills to begin to integrate with clinical practice:
  • Foundations of Biomedical Science: principles of anatomy and physiology of body systems, metabolism, communication within and between cells, molecular and cell biology, immunology and pharmacology.
  • Biomedical Science: deeper knowledge by practical work in anatomy (functional anatomy, biochemistry and physiology of systems).
  • Population Science and Quality Improvement: Introduces students to the structure of the Health Service in the UK and the role of organizations such as the GMC, BMA, medical Royal Colleges, NICE and MRC.
  • Genes, Behaviour and Environment: emphasis on learning about the complex interplay of genes, behaviours and the environment, and the opportunities to work with patient and the public to modify risk.
  • Introduction to Clinical Skills and Communication: basic skills of communication and clinical practice using simulated clinical environments and clinical skills. Students have to demonstrate that they can be trusted to work with patients in a supervised environment.
  • Doctor and Society: This covers the ethical and legal principles underpinning medical practice. It also includes preparatory workshops on student health, wellbeing and resilience.
  • Student Selected Components: areas of study for which students are able to select the subject and which give additional opportunities to explore areas of interest: modern languages, medical humanities and the Associateship of King’s College 

• Years 2: starts Stage 2 that provides greater emphasis on clinical practice and uses the experience to integrate biomedical sciences, population sciences and generic clinical skills:
  • Longitudinal placements: Students learn with a panel of patients or other service users in general practice, mental health or other care settings. The placements are designed to help students develop clinical, shared decision-making and patient advocacy capabilities.
  • Clinical Practice: Students are allocated to short clinical placements (typically 4 week blocks) organized around common patient care pathways. These opportunities to both develop generic clinical skills but also the ability to provide care for patients with common acute and long-term conditions.
  • Diagnostics, Pathology and Therapeutics: Students learn to identify appropriate investigations and develop the capabilities to develop safe, effective and economic management plans. The course also covers the imaging sciences, microbiology, immunology, genetics, bio-engineering, pathology and pharmacology.
  • Biomedical Sciences: deeper knowledge of biomedical sciences by practical work in anatomy and physiology relevant to their clinical placements.
  • Genes, Behaviour and Environment: relates genetics, behavioural sciences, microbiology, immunology, pathology, environmental sciences, population sciences to their clinical placements.
  • Population Science and Quality Improvement: students are expected to critically reflect on the factors that enhance patient experience, reduce the risk of error and improve outcomes.
  • Doctor and Society: Helps students grow in self-awareness, develop their reflective practice skills, apply ethical and legal principles in medical practice.

• Year 3: offers the same core components of year 2, plus:
  • Doctor as teacher: covering educational theory and practice to support students in developing their confidence and competence as educators.
  • Tasters: provides opportunities to explore possible career options
  • Projects: provides opportunities to develop teaching skills, quality improvement skills and a knowledge of global health

• Year 4: starts stage 3 of the programme
  • Clinical blocks: include placements in mental health, child health, women’s health, general practice, outpatients, elective care, emergency medicine and acute and critical care.
  • Diagnostics, Pathology and Therapeutics: Students are expected to develop focussed plans to confirm a diagnosis, contribute to the development of management plans that take account of co-morbidities.
  • Doctor and Society: Help students model professional attributes as they take increasing responsibility for patient care and their own learning
  • Population Science and Quality Improvement: focus on the improvement of patient care in a range of different settings and include a live quality improvement project.
  • Global Health: covers the global determinants of health and disease and variations in healthcare delivery and medical practice. It will assist students with the preparation for their elective.

• Year 5: the integrated clinical practice continued, and also offers:
  • Electives: opportunity to undertake an eight-week elective in the UK or abroad which will include a project.
  • Tasters: These are in a clinical setting and offer students the opportunity to explore possible career options.
  • Preparation for practice: This programme focuses on the generic roles and responsibilities of a F1 doctor to help facilitate a smooth transitional to work.

Teaching locations:

• GKT School of Medical School at King’s College London Medical School uses 3 out of 4 campuses (Waterloo is home for the Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery).

• Denmark Hill
• Guy’s Campus
• St Thomas Campus

Integrated BSc opportunities (courses on offer):

• King’s currently offers 19 intercalated BSc programmes open to medical, dental and veterinary medicine students from King’s and other universities.

• The MBBS programme considers that an intercalated year can be taken in year 4.

BSc programmes:

• Anatomy, Developmental and Human Biology
• Clinical Pharmacology and Translational Medicine
• Craniofacial and Stem Cell Biology
• Endocrinology: Clinical and Molecular
• Gerontology
• Global Health
• Health Care Management
• History of Medicine
• Human Nutrition and Metabolism
• Imaging Sciences
• Infectious Diseases and Immunobiology
• Medical Ethics and Law
• Medical Genetics
• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Philosophy
• Physiology
• Psychology
• Regenerative Medicine & Innovation Technology
• Women’s Health

Open day dates:

• 11 June 2016 (10:00-17:00) at Guy’s Campus
• 09 July 2016 (09:00-17:00) at Guy’s Campus

Term dates:

• Autumn Term: 19 Sep 2016 – 09 Dec 2016

• Spring Term: 09 Jan 2017 – 31 Mar 2017

• Summer Term: 01 May 2017 – 09 Jun 2017

MBBS Admissions:

Application process:

Entry requirements:

Medicine:

• AAA at A-level (including Chemistry and Biology) and a further B at AS-level.
• If only one of Chemistry or Biology is offered at A-level, the other must be offered at AS-level grade A.
• Are welcome applicants who offer non-science subjects
• Grade B in English Language and Mathematics if not offered at A or AS-level.
• For graduate applicants an upper second class undergraduate honors degree (any subject), plus grade B at A level in Chemistry and Biology
• Alternatively, a lower second class undergraduate honors degree with a postgraduate master’s degree with at least a merit.

Medicine Graduate & Professional Entry Graduate and undergraduate entry:

• Degree must be in a science subject
• At least an upper second class undergraduate honors, or a lower second class undergraduate honors degree combined with a postgraduate master’s degree with at least a merit.
• Health service professionals without an honors degree but with appropriate post-qualification experience may be considered
• Diploma of Higher Education in Nursing will be considered with at least two years nursing work experience

Extended Medical Degree Other:

• Three A-levels, including Chemistry, Biology and any other subject.
• Grade B at English Language and Maths, if not offered at A/AS-level.
• Only Home/EU applicants are considered for this programme.
• To be eligible applicants must be studying in an eligible nonselective state school or FE College in London, or be a participant of Realising Opportunities across England.

MaxFax:

• Applicants must be qualified dentists, registered with the UK General Dental Council.

Clinical transfer students – direct entry to Phase 3

• For medical students from Oxford University who have obtained their BSc honors degree

Candidate Selection

• UCAT: there is no threshold UCAT score in any particular year, for guidelines consider:
  • 2015 entry 630
  • 2014 entry 735
  • 2013 entry 695
  • 2012 entry 685

• There are around 1,200-1,400 places for interview
• To be consider for interview, selectors consider:
  • GCSE (or equivalent performance) – most important
  • The reference and the score in the UCAT – most important
  • Predicted or achieved A-level grades (or equivalent)
  • Personal statement
• No offers are made without an interview

Interview procedure

• Interviews are held between January and March and you must be available for interview in order to be considered for admission.
• It is expected that candidates adopt the dress code required of clinical medical students at King’s.
• The Interview:
  • Are in the format of multiple mini interviews
  • There are several “mini” interviews or stations
  • At each station, candidates are asked to respond to questions relating to a scenario and then move onto the next station in a timed circuit.
    • Station to assess values and personality based attributes: kindness, compassion and empathy, respect for the individual, privacy and dignity, advocacy, decision-making, team working and integrity.
    • Station to assess information handling and evaluation skills
    • Station to assess knowledge on topical medical issues.
    • Station to assess the candidates’ ability to deal with an ethical dilemma.
  • A standardized interviewer assessment score sheet accompanies each station.

• The interview considered:
  • Communication skills
  • Interest in the subject and profession
  • Exploring general social and ethical issues normally health related
  • How the interviewee will contribute to the College as a whole.

Extra important information for candidates

• All applications are carefully considered, and therefore you should not expect a response until the cycle has been completed in early May.

• If you are made an offer for Medicine you will be invited to attend a post-offer Open Day.

• Suitably qualified graduate applicants for our four-year Graduate/Professional Entry Programme A102 who are invited to interview may also be considered for the five-year programme A100.

• All University of Oxford applicants are interviewed as part of the admissions process.

• The application can be tracked using the “King’s Apply” online portal system.

Admissions contacts:

• General enquiries – King’s College London Switchboard
  • Phone: +44 (0) 20 7836 5454
  • Email: [email protected]

• Admissions enquiries:
  • Phone: +44 (0) 207 848 7000
  • Visit: Admissions Office Enquiries Team, based on the 7th floor of the James Clerk Maxwell Building, Waterloo Campus.
  • Live Chat: Undergraduate Admissions Live Chats every other Friday from 15.00-17.00.