About your course

As you study Medicine and Surgery at Lancaster, you’ll experience a dynamic and supportive learning environment designed to shape you into a skilled, empathetic doctor. 

Medical students practicing on a manequin

Course structure and progression

Over five or six years, depending on your entry route, you’ll build the knowledge, skills and experience you need to become a confident, capable and compassionate doctor. You’ll start by learning the foundations of medical science and clinical practice, before progressing to hospital and community placements where you’ll apply your learning with real patients. Each year builds on the last, increasing your clinical exposure, responsibility and readiness for medical practice.

year-on-year overview of medicine and surgery accordion

Phone with FHM Tiktok

Student life at Lancaster Medical School

Find out what day to day life looks like for our medical students. Head over to the Faculty of Health and Medicine TikTok account for student insights, behind-the-scenes content and more.

Watch on TikTok

Placements

Throughout your degree, you’ll complete clinical placements in both hospital and community settings across Lancashire and South Cumbria. Hospital placements take place at local NHS Trusts, where you’ll apply your learning in real clinical environments and develop essential patient communication skills. You’ll also gain experience in community settings such as GP practices, primary care assessment services and specialist clinics, reflecting the shift in modern healthcare delivery.

Two medical students in a hospital setting

A student perspective on hospital and community placements

Here's what some of our students have to say about their experience with being on placement at Lancaster Medical School.

Rhys

Rhys, final-year MBChB student

I am interested in Anaesthetics and ICU and the University gives plenty of opportunity to explore specialisms in and out of placement. In 5th year I was able to choose 2 of my own rotations, one of which was Anaesthetics. I also work at the hospital as a clinical support worker. It is sometimes difficult to try and balance but luckily with this role I was able to choose when I worked allowing flexibility and forward planning.

Shiv

Shiv, third-year MBChB student

I chose Lancaster because I like the small group teaching and clinical placements from the second year onwards. The clinical placements early on may seem daunting at first, but they are a very engaging way of learning and getting more clinical experience for our future work.

Clinical Skills teaching at Lancaster Medical School

Clinical Skills is a key component of medical education. At Lancaster, we use a variety of modern technologies in our Clinical Skills lab. This element of teaching aims to prepare you for placement and your future as a medical practitioner, allowing you to build confidence, skills and practice in a safe and supported environment.

My very first time talking to patients in a clinical setting was very daunting. I became more confident at this by the communication for medical practice sessions taught by the medical school, which make us excel in our history taking skills as well as early clinical exposure, which strengthens our confidence when talking to patients.

A quote from Shiv MBChB Medicine and Surgery student