Medical Sciences at Robinson - further information, October 2018

The Cambridge pre-clinical medicine course (years 1-3)

Aims. The first three years of the course ensure a thorough understanding of the basic principles of the biomedical sciences that underpin modern medicine. It also offers the excitement of research experience in the third year in an internationally recognized laboratory, before embarking on your clinical training. This allows students increasing independence to study subjects in depth and carry out original research. The goal is to produce doctors who can critically evaluate fast-moving medical research and apply this rigorous approach to their clinical practice.

Course structure. All students take the same courses in the first two years, covering physiology, anatomy and biochemistry in the first year (Part 1A) and pathology, neuroscience, pharmacology and endocrinology in the second (Part 1B). You will also have the opportunity to learn some clinical skills through the ‘Preparing for Patients’ modules. However the main focus is on biomedical science. See information for prospective students.

In the third year (Part 2) students choose from a wide variety of courses within the Biological Sciences, or from other departments such as Philosophy, Anthropology, Theology or Modern Languages. You will have the opportunity to gain research skills through a practical project or dissertation.  Popular Part 2 choices include: Pathology, Genetics, Neuroscience, Developmental Biology, Zoology or Experimental Psychology, however many other subjects are available including Law, Social Sciences, the History and Philosophy of Science and Anthropology. Each course offers choices from a number of modules. This exciting mix of opportunities means that Cambridge medical students can interact with students from other disciplines. They can thus develop a detailed understanding of many of the increasingly complex scientific and ethical issues that underpin modern medicine - essential for an effective doctor.

More information about pre-clinical subjects studied each year can be found at the medicine course website. The current undergraduate prospectus is available with full details here.

The clinical course (years 4-6)

Students who successfully complete their undergraduate course, graduate with a B.A. degree and all students now continue their clinical training based at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Further details about the clinical Course are available here. For those who decide at an early stage that they are interested in undertaking research as part of their clinical training, the clinical school offers the MB/PhD programme in which students complete a PhD during their clinical training. Advice on clinical school applications is available from the Directors of Studies and clinical fellows.

Why come to Robinson College to read Medicine?

Support for students. As well as developing excellent clinical skills, we seek to equip our students to undertake and lead research to develop the new medical treatments of the future, if they wish to do so. At Robinson we will help you throughout your time here to achieve these goals. Small group supervisions are an informal forum for discussing with experts any difficulties with particular topics. The supervisions will also cover essay writing and practice of examination skills, providing thorough support for all our students, enabling them to achieve their full academic potential.

Summer projects. Through our scientific fellows we help our students arrange clinical and scientific placements during the summer vacation so they can start to put what they have learned into action. In previous years, Robinson 2nd year pre-clinical students have undertaken clinical experience or research projects as far afield as Toronto, Michigan, Siena, Mysore and at Yale medical school. If things go well you may well get the opportunity to begin to publish as part of a research team. An example of a publication by one of our second year students, Fredrika Asenius resulting from her summer project in 2012 is shown here.

Dr Alex Yui Hui Studentships in Medicine. Thanks to a generous benefaction from an alumnus of the College, we are able to offer some financial assistance to pre-clinical students wanting to spend time during their long vacations engaged in medical research or clinical internships.

Clinical Electives. All Cambridge medical students have to undertake a seven-week “elective” prior to starting their final year of medical school. Many take this opportunity to experience medical practice abroad, often in developing healthcare settings. At Robinson, there is a dedicated fund available to help financially support these important formative experiences. Find advice from Robinson students on our YouTube channel.
 

Facilities. The college is located a beautiful 15-minute walk (10 minutes by bicycle) from all the lecture halls for medicine. It has excellent accommodation and teaching facilities for supervisions. There is a dedicated Resource Room on G staircase for the use of medical and veterinary students, equipped with models, skeletons and textbooks, and an excellent college library.

Work/life balance. All Robinson students are encouraged to participate in the many social, artistic and sporting activities available throughout the University. Learning to balance the demands of the course with your other activities is an essential requirement for a successful career in medicine. The College has its own Medical Students Society (MedSoc) which arranges talks by distinguished visiting speakers. It also arranges social events with MedSocs in other Colleges, so you get to know students throughout the university. To get a flavour of the diversity of clinical and biomedical expertise available among all college members including undergraduates, you can view the ’focus on medicine’ section of the  Easter 2018 edition of the college magazine ‘Bin Brook’. 

Robinson College Directors of Studies (DOS) in Medicine

The Directors of Studies in pre-clinical and clinical medicine work to ensure that the college provides outstanding training and mentoring for student doctors throughout their time here. They meet regularly with individual students to review progress and to support them in achieving their full academic potential.  They also provide advice about career development.

Pre-clinical (first and second year): Dr Andrej Corovic, MA MB BChir PhD MRCP
Pre-clinical (third year): Dr Bristi Basu, MA BM BCh PhD FRCP
Clinical (years 4-6): Professor Peter Hutchinson, BSc MBBS PhD FRCS FMedSci
 

Other Fellows in Medicine

There are a number of other Fellows in Medicine at Robinson, many of whom directly participate in the teaching of our students by providing small group teaching sessions (“supervisions”):

Professor German Berrios (Life Fellow), FMedSci
Professor Carlos Caldas, FMedSci
Dr Gary Doherty
Dr Andrew Sharkey (Emeritus Fellow)
Dr Teresa Tiffert (Emeritus Fellow)

How to apply to study Medicine at Robinson

Once you have decided to apply to the Cambridge medical course on your UCAS form, you can also select a college of preference. (Alternatively you can submit an Open Application and allow a college preference to be assigned at random).  This is an entirely personal choice and students have many different reasons for selecting a particular college or for making an open application. We would strongly suggest that you come to the university and college Open days, to talk to students and Admissions tutors to find out whether Robinson is right for you. More information about how to apply is available on our how to apply page. This also has details of our open days.

Work Experience. 


During the interviews we will be interested in what you have done to gain understanding of what a career in medicine will involve. We would normally expect applicants to show that they have tried to find out about current developments in the subject through wider reading as well as practical work.  This could involve volunteering at the local hospital, GP surgery or with charities working in nursing homes and other settings. There is no set formula and we understand that applicants may not always be able to get as much experience in clinical settings as they would like. Working with local youth groups, coaching in sport or helping other students with academic work are all valuable ways to develop skills such as listening and communication that you will require in addition to your academic side, to be successful in medicine.

For those considering medicine the General Medical Council has an excellent website with answers to many FAQs about this career choice. GMC FAQs.    

Document Updated October 2018