Imperial College School of Medicine 2244729 219920647 2008-06-17T13:37:37Z SmackBot 433328 Date the maintenance tags or general fixes {{Infobox University |name =Imperial College School of Medicine |image =[[Image:ICSM Phoenix.gif|180px]] |established =1997{{smallsup|1}} |type =Medical school |Principal =Professor Stephen Smith |undergrad =2000 |city =[[London]] |country =[[England]] |affiliations =[[Imperial College London]] |website =http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine |footnotes =<sup>1</sup> 1834 as separate schools }} The '''Imperial College School of Medicine''' is the medical school of [[Imperial College London]] in [[England]]. It is currently part of the Faculty of Medicine, which was established in 1997 through a merger of the major West London [[medical schools]] into one world-class institution. The constituent schools were [[St Mary's Hospital Medical School]], the National Heart and Lung Institute, the [[Royal Postgraduate Medical School]] and the [[Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School]]. The Faculty is one of [[Europe]]'s largest medical institutions - in terms of both of its staff and student population and its research income. The School of Medicine is widely renowned as one of the world's best medical schools and was ranked top in the country by [[The Guardian]] in 2005. In the same year, it was ranked fourth among medical schools globally by the [[THES]]. In October 2007, the Faculty Principal was appointed Chief Executive of the new [[Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust]], forming the UK's first Academic Health Science Centre, which is envisaged to be the UK's foremost medical research and innovation centre. The School currently offers four undergraduate courses: *6 year [[MBBS]]/BSc, the standard medical course for school leavers *4 year MBBS for graduates in a biological science (first entry 2008) *3 year [[BSc]] in Biomedical Science (first entry 2006, taught jointly with Department of Life Sciences) *3 year BSc in Pharmacology and Translational Medical Science (first entry 2009, taught jointly with Department of Life Sciences) The latter two fulfil the requirements to be considered for the graduate MBBS programme, though Imperial students are given no preference as compared to other applicants. Undergraduate students are supported by the [[Imperial College School of Medicine Students' Union]]. The Faculty also offers a number of taught and research postgraduate courses, leading to the degrees of [[MSc]], [[MRes]] or [[PhD]]. These come under the Graduate School of Life Sciences and Medicine though the campuses, teaching staff and facilities are completely shared with the medical school. ==Undergraduate courses== ===Medicine=== The School accepts 286 school leavers as medical undergraduates each year (including 21 from outside the [[EU]]) for a six-year course leading to the award of an [[MBBS]] and [[BSc]]. For 2007 or earlier entry, 336 students were accepted (including 31 from outside the EU). Approximately 50 of these were already graduates, and were thus exempt from Year 4 and were to achieve their MBBS in five years. However, For 2008 or later entry, 50 graduates (including 10 from outside the EU) will instead be offered a place on a new four-year course that leads to the [[MBBS]]. Entry is highly competitive with applicants requiring AAAb at [[A-level]], or a 2:1 degree and/or [[PhD]]. Further, the [[BMAT]] is required for entry to the 6-year course and [[UKCAT]] for the 4-year course, as well as an [[interview]]. For 2008 entry, there were approximately 3000 applicants for the six-year and 500 for the four-year course, an average acceptance rate of 1 in 10. However, medical students from other institutions may also join various portions of the course. ====6-year MBBS/BSc (A100)==== Teaching in the first 2 years is focused on the scientific basis of medicine with study focusing on a systems based format, moving towards integrated disease and including clinical aspects later on. It also includes communication skills, medical ethics and law. Teaching comprises lectures, clinical demonstrations, tutorials, dissection, computer workshops, laboratory practical and clinical skills classes, independent study, and some problem-based learning. Clinical experience in first year is provided by a ''patient contact course'' and in the second year with a 4 week attachment in general [[medicine]] or [[surgery]] at one of the attached teaching hospitals. Third year consists of one 6 week attachment and two 10 week attachments in general [[medicine]] and [[surgery]]. Teaching consists of in-hospital clinical teaching, problem based learning within firms and a lecture programme delivered at one of the central teaching sites and via the faculty intranet. This year also consists of a 6 week BSc foundation course on a topic of choice. Fourth year involves study for the BSc, with a series of modules then a supervised research project towards an area of interest, leading to a BSc in Medical sciences with one of the following: Cardiovascular science; Endocrinology; Gastroenterology and hepatology; Haematology; immunity and infection; Management; Neuroscience and Mental Health; Reproductive and Developmental Science; Respiratory Science; Surgery and Anaesthesia. In addition the following BScs are also awarded: Medical Humanities, History of Medicine, Epidemiology and International Health. BSc courses are open to medical students from other universities who wish to intercalate. Fifth year covers the specialties of obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry, oncology, general practice, neurology, infectious diseases, dermatology, rheumatology and orthopaedics through clinical attachments. It includes a course in clinical pathology at the start of the year. Final year consists of seven 3 week clinical attachments in accident and emergency medicine; general practice; cardiology; radiology; ear, nose and throat; ophthalmology and renal medicine; two professional work experience attachments (one in medicine and one in surgery); one specialty choice module; an eight week elective period which may be spent in the UK or overseas and a practical medicine course, which provides specific preparation for the foundation year after graduating. ====Oxbridge Entry (A305)==== Historically, all [[Oxbridge]] students completed their clinical training at one of the London medical schools. Although those universities now have their own clinical schools, Imperial accepts students who have completed the first 3 pre-clinical years at the [[University of Oxford]] or the [[University of Cambridge]]. Oxbridge students join the third year of the undergraduate course. This begins with the 4 week attachment that Imperial students complete in second year, then a 6 week attachment whilst the rest of the year take the BSc foundation course. After this, they progress to the 5th and 6th years of the standard course. ====4-year graduate-entry MBBS (A101)==== Despite only accepting graduates, this is still considered an undergraduate course. The first year consists of years 1 and 2 of the six-year course condensed into one. This will be primarily self-directed or tutorial based, with students grouped by the biological disciplines of their first degree to receive specialised instruction in the areas that they are not so familiar with. The second, third and fourth years of the graduate-entry course correspond to the third, fifth and final years of the 6-year course respectively. ===BSc courses=== The School offers two BSc courses in conjuction with the Department of Life Sciences. Administratively, these are offshoots of the BSc in Biology and taught mainly by staff from the Faculty of Natural Sciences. However, plant or animal-related modules are replaced by modules on medical topics some of which are derived from the pre-clinical 1st, 2nd and 4th years of the standard medical course, and some of which have been newly designed for these degrees. ====Biomedical Science (B900)==== This three-year degree commenced in 2006 and accepts 50 students per year. Although a four-year undergraduate Master's ([[MSci]]) was initially offered, students would not have been awarded the BSc. In 2008, the MSci was withdrawn and instead, students who achieve a 2:1 average by their second year will be guaranteed a place on one of the School's MSc taught courses, thus obtaining a BSc and an MSc in four years to comply with the [[Bologna process]]. The entry requirements were ABB in 2006, and 800 applications were received for the 50 places. In 2007, they were raised to AAB and 1500 applications were received. For 2008 and beyond offers of AAAb will be made, and beginning with 2009 entry the [[BMAT]] will also be required. In the first year, students follow the Biological Chemistry and Cell Biology modules from the Biology degree, and newly developed modules on human anatomy and systems physiology drawn from years 1, 2 and 4 of the medical course. Short courses on bacteriology and animal behaviour are also given from the Biology degree. In the second year, students again follow the 2nd year of the Biology degree completing the Applied Molecular Biology, Immunology, Genetics or Parasitology, Tutored Dissertation and compulsory humanities modules. However, instead of the animal, plant and microbiological modules of the biology degree, students attend the newly developed Human Pathophysiology and Disease course which comprises basic pharmacology (from medicine year 2), ethics, epidemiology, radiology, cancer and other human diseases. In the third year, students take one of the BSc modules from Year 4 of the medical course, followed by a research project. These Medicine modules (including Management) may be combined with or replaced by modules from Biology and Biochemistry degrees. ====Pharmacology and Translational Medical Science (BB29/BB2X)==== This three- or four-year degree will commence in the 2009 entry cycle. Previously, the School intended to expand the Biomedical Science BSc to an intake of 100 students per year, but this will remain at 50 and the 50 new places will instead be available on this new degree course. Applicants are required to have AAAb and to take the [[BMAT]], in common with the medical and biomedical courses. The first year will be similar to the Biomedical Science course (and thus also based on the Biology BSc and preclinical medical course). However, instead of bacteriology and animal behavior, students will take new modules in Basic pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics and Drug discovery and drug development. The second year will also be shared with the Biomedical Science course but not with the Biology course. Students will take the Human Pathphysiology and Disease module as well as new modules in Basic, Systematic and Experimental Pharmacology. Additionally, there are choices between Molecular pharmacology or toxicology, and Drugs and the hospitalised patient or drug resistance. The optional third year will be a Year in Industry where students undertake 12-month placements with commercial partners of Imperial College. The final year will have the same format as Year 4 of the medical course, involving BSc taught modules and the research project. However a new set of taught modules will be offered with a pharmalogical focus, and the project will also be pharmacologically related. Students may also take one module from some the medical BSc courses. ==ICSM Students Union== In contrast to other British universities where medical students may merely be part of a "MedSoc", the School of Medicine has its own complete union. ICSM SU is a subsidiary part of Imperial College Union, and medical and BSc students are members of both. As such, they may join any of the 250 ICU clubs and societies and take up positions of responsibility in them. However, over 30 of these clubs and societies are under the direct jurisdiction of the ICSM SU. Further, the medical student's union also owns the Reynolds building the at the Charing Cross campus, as medical students live or spend more time around that area than the South Kensington-based ICU buildings. ICSM also has a strong sporting ethos inherited from its previous medical schools. It enjoys success against the other London medical schools in the [[United Hospitals]] competitions and in the [[British Universities & Colleges Sport|BUCS]] league. While medical students may join the standard ICU sports clubs (and non-medical students may join the medical clubs and societies), most prefer to participate in ICSM sports teams which, depending on the sport, may compete against [[Imperial College]] or other Imperial faculty teams such as the [[Royal School of Mines]]. ==Research== Over 700 Faculty members are active in research, with an annual research income approaching £100 million. It houses many centres of excellence, including the National Heart And Lung Institute, a centre for excellence for [[cardiovascular]] and [[respiratory disease]]s. Joint research projects with other faculties include initiatives in [[imaging technology]], [[tissue engineering]], [[bioinformatics]] and [[structural biology]]. {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} ==Campuses== The School's teaching campuses include: *Undergraduate campus **[[South Kensington]] *Main Teaching Hospitals **[[Charing Cross Hospital]] **[[St Mary's Hospital, London]] **[[Chelsea & Westminster Hospital]] Students in the 1st and 2nd years as well as those on the BSc courses attend lectures and labs mainly at these four campuses. Parts of the 4th year, as well as other selected modules are also held at the postgraduate hospitals. *Postgraduate Hospitals **[[Hammersmith Hospital]] **[[Royal Brompton Hospital]] **[[Queen Charlotte's Hospital|Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea Hospital]] Master's courses are mainly held at South Kensington, while PhD students may work in labs at any of the above seven campuses, depending on the location of their supervisor/team. *District General Hospitals **[[Central Middlesex Hospital]] **[[Ealing Hospital]] **[[Hillingdon Hospital]] **[[Northwick Park Hospital]] **[[West Middlesex Hospital]] **Ashford & [[St Peter's Hospital (UK)|St Peter's]] Hospitals Clinical attachment and teaching in years 2 (four weeks), 3 (twenty-six weeks), 5 and 6 (all year) are held at these hospitals. These hospitals also have small research divisions which are part of the Faculty of Medicine. ==External links== *{{Official|http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine}} *[http://www.icsmsu.com Students' Union] *[http://www.imperial.nhs.uk] {{Medical Schools (United Kingdom)}} [[Category:Imperial College London|Medicine]] [[Category:Schools of medicine in England]] [[ar:مدرسة طب كلية إمبيريال]]