A bit about the Oxford course...

Hello. I just thought I'd copy some of the other medblogs here and tell you a bit about the medical course at Oxford. As you probably know, it's more science-based and less clinical to start with than the courses at most other unis. In the first year a typical week includes about 10 lectures, a histology practical (looking down microscopes) , an anatomy practical (prosection - looking at already dissected bodies), a biochemistry practical and/or a physiology practical. Alongside this, tutorials are given by college tutors. Depending on the college, you might have about 1-3 tutorials per week in small groups or individually. Preparation for tutorials usually involves writing essays or presentations. Lectures tend to include clinical examples and are always relevent to becoming a doctor, and living anatomy (which involves things like using stethescopes and drawing anatomical structures onto each other) makes anatomy practicals more clinically relevent. There is also a patient and doctor course which allows you to have contact with real patients twice a term.

The second year has a similar structure but the subjects taught are neuroscience, pathology, and integrative physiology (rather than biochemistry & medical genetics, physiology & pharmacology, and organisation of the body, as in the first year). Also, more time is spent in lectures and practicals. I'll be able to tell you more about the second year once I start it in a couple of weeks! The third year is a bit different - it's called the Final Honours School (FHS) and it involves either doing a research project or extended essay on a medically-related topic of your choice. After finishing the three pre-clinical years, you have to reapply for the clinical three years. At this stage you can choose between Oxford, Cambridge and a London medical school (you may not get your first choice but you will go somewhere!).

I hope this info is useful and encourages you to look into the course further!