Programme Specification School of Life Sciences (Clinical Sciences)
Awarding and teaching institution: / University of BradfordFinal award: / BSc (Hons) [English National Qualifications Framework level H]
Programme title: / Clinical Sciences
Programme accredited by: / GMC (Year 1 as part of Leeds MBChB)
Duration: / 3 or 4 years full-time
UCAS code: / B990, B991
Subject benchmark statement: / Tomorrows Doctors, Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Biosciences, Health Studies, Accounting
Date produced: / Original: Jan 2002; updated: Dec 2004: Aug 2006: Aug 2007, Nov 2007, July 2008, July 2009, July 2010
Introduction and Programme Aims
Clinical Sciences at Bradford is a result of a joint initiative with the Medical School at the University of Leeds. In accordance with the Universities’ Mission Statements, this high-quality, multi-disciplinary course has been designed to widen participation for students, from under-represented groups, entering medical and healthcare education. Entry onto the Clinical Sciences Course, either directly or via a Foundation Year, allows students a unique and exciting opportunity to study science and health studies in a curriculum providing knowledge and understanding, developing attitudes and skills that will promote effective lifelong learning and support professional development.
A distinctive feature of the course is close collaboration between the Schools of Life Sciences and Health Studies at Bradford, the School of Medicine at Leeds and local NHS hospital and community trusts. The course is informed by research, clinical expertise and multi-professional teaching from the School of Life Sciences and Health Studies, both awarded ‘excellent’ grades (23/24) in reviews of teaching quality. It offers opportunities for students to visit healthcare and community settings with an option to undertake a 1-year intercalated placement between stages two and three. In addition to a BSc in Clinical Sciences the course offers two routes to the MBChB programme at Leeds.
The overall aims of the course are:
· To encourage able students from a wide range of backgrounds to enter higher education using outreach schemes with local schools and colleges, Junior University and Summer School Programmes, and building on the ‘Aimhigher’ programmes in Bradford and Leeds.
· To develop approaches to learning and teaching that are based on curiosity and exploration of knowledge in preparation for lifelong learning and reflective practice.
· To provide an opportunity for some students to enter the MBChB programme at Leeds at year 1 or 2.
· To produce graduates who are better prepared to understand, reflect and meet the needs of our local community and respond appropriately to cultural and medical needs.
· To equip Foundation Year students with basic biological, chemical and social sciences and essential transferable skills that are required for year 1 of Clinical Sciences or the MBChB Course at Leeds.
· To develop knowledge and understanding of health and its promotion, the causes and mechanisms of disease, prevention and treatment.
· To provide optional pathways leading to a variety of healthcare and pharmaceutical-based careers.
Learning Outcomes
As a successful Clinical Sciences graduate you will be able to:
· Knowledge and Understanding
A1. Evaluate, discuss and apply core aspects of the basic medical sciences from molecules, cells and tissues to populations; physiological systems of the body;
A2. Appraise the scientific principles of the causes, diagnosis and treatment of disease;
A3. Review the genetic and environmental factors affecting health and disease;
A4. Discuss the psychosocial aspects of health and disease;
A5. Evaluate the roles of health and social care workers and the NHS;
A6. Analyse the ethical and legal issues of healthcare; clinical pharmacology and management of clinical trials.
A7. Optionally evaluate - mechanisms of disease or drug action; molecular genetics; bioinformatics; accounting and
finance, clinical science; healthcare provision.
· Discipline Skills
B1. Retrieve handle and analyse experimental and clinical data;
B2. Critically analyse and interpret health and health issues;
B3. Apply subject-specific knowledge to new and familiar problems;
B4. Show respect for colleagues and clients that encompasses, without prejudice, diversity of background and
opportunity, language, culture and way of life.
· Personal Transferable Skills
C1. Employ teamworking and leadership skills;
C2. Employ reflective practice;
C3. Assess and reflect on personal growth;
C4. Manage your time, self and resources effectively
C5. Employ oral and written presentation, problem-solving and self-directed learning skills including information retrieval; numerical and statistical techniques;
C6. Undertake electronic manipulation and presentation of data.
The curriculum
Depending on your initial qualifications, you may enter Clinical Sciences at stage one or via the Foundation Year.
The Foundation Year is designed for non-traditional entrants and will provide the basic biological, chemical and numeracy skills required for stage 1, Clinical Sciences. Consideration of health concepts from a psychosocial perspective, the role and responsibilities of health and social care professionals and the consolidation of key skills will enable you to make an informed decision about your career pathway. Students who successfully complete the foundation year will progress to stage 1, Clinical Sciences and up to 20 students, subject to satisfactory grades (> 70% overall and at least 70% in Chemistry) and interview, may progress into year 1 of Leeds Medical School.
Stage one will mirror the first-year learning outcomes of the MBChB programme at Leeds. You will use an integrated systems-based approach to study physiological systems of the body and disease in addition to the underlying scientific principles and you will address multi-professional healthcare issues. Successful completion of stage 1 will allow you to progress either towards medicine or continue with the degree in Clinical Sciences. Up to 20 students will progress into year 2 of Leeds Medical School subject to satisfactory performance (> 60% overall with no failed components or modules) and structured interview.
In stages 2 and 3 of the Clinical Sciences Course you will continue with the themes of systems-based learning and mechanisms of disease. Emphasis will be placed on the development of effective communication, cultural awareness and team-working skills to provide you with the confidence and competence to embark on a career in allied health professions. You will be able to select modules from a range of clinical science, health studies and management modules such as mechanisms of disease, clinical data management, psychology of health behaviour, common diseases & their treatment, health economics, NHS structure, or accounting, subject to necessary prerequisites and timetable requirements. Special study modules will allow you to study a topic in depth and further develop your skills in critical analysis.
The curriculum may change, subject to the University’s and GMC approval, monitoring and review procedures.
You may undertake an optional intercalated placement between stages 2 and 3 which will not be subject to University fees. This will provide valuable experiential learning in a healthcare setting or in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries. You will be eligible to apply for Licentiateship of the City & Guilds Institute to assess your proficiency in a work environment and your performance in those personal skills required to operate effectively in a professional or managerial context. Not only will this improve your understanding of final year material, it will significantly enhance job recruitment after graduation.
Opportunities for clinical sciences graduates will reflect your balanced portfolio of clinical sciences, health studies and professional skills. Depending on your chosen pathway through the course you will be able to embark upon a graduate career within the NHS ranging from health service management, bioinformatics, primary care to specialist clinical scientists. The highly successful Pharmaceutical Industry also offers a wide variety of careers where you will be able to use your knowledge and skills to improve healthcare in the UK or worldwide; these include clinical trials, registration and regulatory affairs. In addition, Clinical Sciences has been proven to be an accepted and popular route into graduate medicine.
Assessment regulations: a summary (the text of the progression regulations is maintained on the Web)
To pass and proceed from each stage to the next, and also to be eligible for a classified Honours award, you must achieve at least 40% in 100 credits and 35% in the other 20 credits.
The class and division of the Honours degree that you are awarded is based on the overall weighted marks that you receive for each stage. Stage 2 contributes 30% and stage 3 contributes 70%. The classes and divisions of the Honours degree are awarded on the basis of the following minimum final overall weighted average marks:
70.0% or above: / First Class Honours60.0% or above: / Second Class Honours – First Division
50.0% or above: / Second Class Honours – Second Division
Otherwise: / Third Class Honours
If you complete the Foundation Stage successfully, you are eligible for the Foundation Certificate in Clinical Sciences/Medicine. If you complete Stage 1 successfully, you are eligible for a Certificate of Higher Education; if you complete stage 2 successfully, you are eligible for a Diploma of Higher Education. The learning outcomes for these awards and the final award are consistent with those of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications
Notwithstanding the entrance requirements for entry into the School of Medicine, University of Leeds, students may only progress from Stage 1, Clinical Sciences to year 2, School of Medicine if they have passed a ‘First Aid at Work’ assessment.
Unit Code / Credits / Semester /Unit Title
/ Core/Option / Level
CS0011L / 10 / 1,2F / Chemistry for Clinical Sciences / C / 0
CS0010L / 10 / 1,2F / Biology for Clinical Sciences / C / 0
CS-0004L / 20 / 1,2F / Laboratory and Study Skills for Clinical Sciences/Medicine / C / 0
CS0001L / 20 / 1,2F / Health and Society / C / 0
CS0009L / 20 / 1,2F / Personal and Professional Development (Foundation) / C / 0
CS0003L / 20 / 1,2F / Special Studies (Foundation) / C / 0
BM1116DD / 20 / 1 / Basic Medical Sciences / C / 1
CS1007M / 10 / 1 / Integrated Medical Sciences / C / 1
CS1008L / 20 / 1,2 / Personal and Professional Development 1 / C / 1
CS1004L / 20 / 1,2 / Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Renal Systems / C / 1
CS1001L / 20 / 1,2 / Special Studies 1 / C / 1
CS1005D / 20 / 2 / Nutrition and Energy / C / 1
CS1003M / 10 / 2 / Individuals and Populations / C / 1
BM3103M / 10 / 3 / Immunology / C / 2
PH2000M / 10 / 3 / Control Systems 1 (Control and Movement) / C / 2
CS2005M / 10 / 3 / Healthcare Management / C / 2
MAN0103M / 10 / 3 / Foundations of Accounting / O1 / 1
BM3102M / 10 / 3 / Clinical Biochemistry / O1 / 2
PH2002L / 20 / 3,4 / Control Systems 2 / C / 2
CS2001L / 20 / 3,4 / Special Studies and Professional & Personal Development / C / 2
LSS2000M(D) / 10 / 4 / Career and Personal Development / C / 2
CS2002M / 10 / 4 / Genetics and Health / C / 2
BM1115M / 10 / 4 / Cellular Pathology / O2 / 2
BM2004M / 10 / 4 / Haematology and Transfusion Science / O2 / 2
HH2001M / 10 / 4 / Complementary Therapies / O2 / 2
BM3119D / 20 / 5 / Research Topics in Pharmacology / O3 / 3
BM3122D / 20 / 5 / Research Topics in Medical Biochemistry / O3 / 3
BM3121D / 20 / 5 / Research Topics in Cancer Biology & Therapeutics 1 / O3 / 3
BM3117D / 20 / 5 / Research Topics in Medical Cell Biology 1 / O3 / 3
PH3301D / 20 / 5 / Researching Drug Effects in the brain / O3 / 3
HH3016M / 10 / 5 / Contemporary Issues in Health Care / O4 / 3
MAN0405 / 10 / 4 / Financial Management / O4 / 2
CS3001M / 10 / 5 / Clinical Pharmacology / C / 3
CS3006M / 10 / 5 / Clinical Data Management / C / 3
CS3002J / 30 / 5,6 / Special Studies 3 (Dissertation) / C / 3
PH8312D / 20 / 6 / Common Diseases and their Treatment / O6 / 3
BM3124D / 20 / 6 / Biology of Disease / O6 / 3
PH3023D / 20 / 6 / Pyschology of Health Behaviour / O6 / 3
CS3003M / 10 / 6 / PPD 3 (Cultural & Social divisions in health) / C / 3
CS3004M / 10 / 6 / Health Economics / C / 3
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies
The teaching and learning strategies recognise the wide diversity of educational backgrounds with which students may enter the course and the different exit points of students and graduates. Consequently, a variety of teaching and learning opportunities and assessment methods are used to reflect the differences in learning styles between students and to address the various learning outcomes outlined on Page 1. These are indicated in parentheses in the following section.
Formative assessments are embedded throughout the course to monitor your progress (C3). Your knowledge and understanding (A1 to A7) and discipline skills (B1 to B4) are developed through lectures, practicals, groupwork, seminars, tutorials and computer-assisted and self-directed learning. Case studies, groupwork, individual assignments, verbal presentations, problem-based learning and a reflective portfolio will be used to develop your personal transferable skills in self-directed learning and reflective practice in preparation for lifelong learning (B4, C1-C6). Personal & Professional Development and Special Studies are key themes throughout the course to enable you to build on essential transferable skills and focus on reflective learning (C1-C6).
In the foundation year you will be introduced to basic concepts. You will be assessed by examination for the breadth of knowledge (A1, A5) and your self-directed learning, presentation skills and group skills will also be assessed (B3, B4, C1-C6). In Stage 1 you will acquire and learn to evaluate a broad knowledge of a variety of scientific and health care topics, which underpin the BSc in Clinical Science and the MBChB programme at Leeds (A1, A2, A4, A6. You will begin to develop the appropriate attitudes required for autonomous learning (C1-C6). At stage 2 and 3 you will be able to select a pathway from core and optional modules according to your personal strengths and career aspirations (A7). In stage 2 you will extend your knowledge and understanding in disease processes and the social impact of disease (A1-A6). You will be more reliant on self-directed learning and be introduced to the analysis and synthesis of information (B1- B3). This is assessed in an investigative report. At level 3 you will further develop your specialist subject knowledge and analytical skills (A1-A6). You will be able to demonstrate this knowledge and analytical skills in essay based examinations, a variety of coursework assignments (B1-B3) and a substantial critical dissertation