DN400 Medicine (MDS2)

The medical degree programme is an exciting pathway to becoming a doctor.

Curricular information is subject to change

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Our mission is to improve patient health by developing competent, caring doctors who are life-long learners, driven by scientific enquiry and the desire to serve our society’s evolving healthcare needs. We aim to develop in our medical students an in-depth knowledge of the fundamentals of health and disease and an understanding of modern medicine including its applications and limitations. We teach our students to be self-directed learners and as graduates to be life-long participants in education and research. Our objective is to build strong professional, inter-personal and decision-making skills that are key to success in their careers. We develop in our students an innate sense of responsibility, commitment to social and cultural diversity, equity and ethical standards. We strive for a supportive, dynamic learning environment where each student in the Medicine Programme will have been supported in reaching their individual potential.

We use innovative and creative evidence based educational approaches to develop in our students a repertoire of analytical, cognitive and examination skills and teach them key procedural techniques which become essential to their work as doctors.  A patient centred reflective approach is key to all our teaching methods. Our assessment strategy is driven by the necessity to translate knowledge, skills and attitudes to face- to- face patient care.


1 - Possess and apply in-depth knowledge of the core biomedical and clinical sciences that underpin the practice of medicine.
2 - Be able to maintain and enhance professional activities through lifelong learning.
3 - Critically evaluate information and its sources and apply this appropriately in their decision making.
4 - Facilitate the learning of patients, families, junior colleagues, other health professionals, the public, and others, as appropriate.
5 - Contribute to the creation, dissemination, application, and translation of new medical knowledge and practices through research and audit.
6 - Recognise personal and professional limits of knowledge and competence and consult appropriately.
7 - Establish and maintain the clinical skills to perform a complete and appropriate patient centred assessment of a patient and to use therapeutic interventions effectively.
8 - Have acquired proficient practical skills for diagnostic and therapeutic use as required of an intern in practice.
9 - Understand and accept the roles and responsibilities of the doctor as defined by the Medical Council or other professional regulatory body.
10 - Be committed to the professional ethical and legal codes of practice.
11 - Be committed to physician health and wellbeing including self.
12 - Possess team working skills to promote and maintain the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary team in healthcare provision.
13 - Develop and maintain communication skills to support all roles.
14 - Possess the capacity to develop management and leadership skills over time in the knowledge of the principles of the Irish healthcare system, the fundamentals of management science and personal professional development.
Students may not register to the final stage of the programme unless all preceding stages in their entirety have
been successfully completed. (DR005 approved by UPB in 2019 – Derogation from Academic Regulation 5.4).
Students progression and continuation in the programme is subject to the requirements of the School of
Medicine’s Fitness to Practice Statement.
The medical degree programme is an exciting pathway to becoming a doctor.

One of the strengths of the undergraduate medical degree programme is patient-based teaching in small groups where our students learn the necessary skills under the tuition of highly qualified clinical tutors. We aim to enhance your experience by attention to student welfare and by adopting innovative teaching strategies and assessment methods.

The UCD teaching hospitals are leading, modern national medical centres that deliver the highest quality in patient care. The major general teaching hospitals are the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and St Vincent's University Hospital, based in Dublin.

UCD Medicine programmes are accredited by the Irish Medical Council (IMC). The School is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.

UCD's Health Sciences centre, opened in September 2005, is a state-of-the-art facility for medical education and research and brings the research and teaching activities of physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and radiographers together under one roof.
STAGE 1
In Stage 1, you will take modules in the basic sciences including Physics, Chemistry, Cell Biology and Genetics. Modules in Healthcare Informatics will equip you with the appropriate information technology.

STAGE 2
Stage 2 modules examine the anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of healthy cells, tissues and organ systems. Both semesters contain clinical modules that introduce students to patient care in community and hospital settings.

STAGES 3 & 4
Stage 3 modules begin to review the pathology, microbiology and pharmacology of organ systems in a clinically integrated approach. Modules in Stage 4 complete the study of the diseased organ systems with continued clinical integration.

STAGE 5/YEARS 5 & 6
In the final two stages, modular programmes in Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Psychiatry are studied. This involves periods of clinical attachments in the general and specialist hospitals, attachment to a general practice and systematic instruction in the various medical specialties. Clinical tuition is patient-based and is largely carried out through small group sessions at the bedside.
Extensive international links offer you a variety of opportunities to widen your experience. Scholarships awarded on the basis of an essay competition are available to support elective periods in centres of clinical and research excellence in the USA, Europe and Malaysia.

The UCD School of Medicine has links with several USA medical schools (e.g. University of Pennsylvania, University of Kansas, University of California, San Diego, Emory University and Washington University, St Louis) and Penang Medical College in Malaysia where you may take elective programmes and gain valuable experience overseas.

Graduates of the School have achieved worldwide recognition in clinical practice, research and healthcare leadership. Upon graduation, you must complete one year as an intern to gain full registration with the Irish Medical Council. You may then pursue training towards a career in a wide variety of specialties, in diverse settings, including hospitals and primary care facilities, or laboratory-based diagnosis and research.


Candidates must agree to undergo testing to assess levels of immunity to certain infectious diseases as per
the current UCD School of Medicine Infectious Diseases Policy. The results of such tests are not used to
determine entry to the course but are used to provide the student with a suitable immunisation programme
schedule.

For further information, please see the UCD School of Medicine Infectious Diseases Policy.

For General Health information see UCD Student Health.

Full List of Programme Requirements.

Fitness to Practice.

Contact The Programme Team.
Stage 4

Students in Stage 4 of the programme carrying more than 10 credits (includes all remediations) following the Autumn Examination Board, held in January/February each year, will not ordinarily participate in clinical placements in the Spring Trimester. A bespoke academic plan will be developed by the School to support the student.

Stage 5

Students will not progress to Stage 5 of the programme if they have not completed all previous stages in their entireity - see major derogations for MDS2 Medicine DR005

Module ID Module Title Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
     
CHEM10130 Applied Intro. & Phys Chem Autumn 5
MDCS10310 Patients, Doctors & Healthcare Autumn 5
PATH10020 Basic Principles of Cell Biolo Autumn 5
PHYC10120 Physics in Medicine Autumn 5
RDGY10090 Healthcare Imaging and Information Systems Autumn 5
ZOOL10010 Medical Zoology Autumn 5
CHEM10080 Inorganic Chemistry Spring 5
CHEM10090 Organic Chemistry Spring 5
MDSA10210 Science Medicine and Society Spring 5
PATH10200 Basic Principles of Genetics Spring 5
PHYC10130 Physics II Medical Science Spring 5
Stage 1 Core Modules
     
Stage 1 Options - A)MIN0OF:
Non-mandatory Options
     
MEIN10030 Multimedia Studies Spring 5
Stage 1 Options - A)MIN0OF:
Non-mandatory Options
     
Stage 2 Core Modules
     
ANAT20030 Basic Tissues & Early Develop Autumn 5
ANAT20080 Musculoskeletal Biology Autumn 5
GPRS20010 Clinical Science and Healthcare Informatics 1 Autumn 5
MDSA20210 Molecules in Medicine 2 Autumn 5
PHYS20100 Cell-Cell Signalling Autumn 5
MDSA20170 Vascular Biology Spring 5
MDSA20180 Cardiac Biology Spring 5
MDSA20190 Renal Biology Spring 5
MDSA20200 Respiratory Biology Spring 5
PHPS20010 Introduction to Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Public Health Spring 5
Stage 2 Core Modules
     
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN0OF:
Non-mandatory Options
     
FDSC10010 Food Diet and Health Autumn and Spring (separate) 5
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN0OF:
Non-mandatory Options
     
Stage 3 Core Modules
     
ANAT20040 Neurosciences Autumn 5
ANAT20060 Locomotor Biology Autumn 5
MDSA20010 Gastrointestinal Tract and Liver Biology Autumn 5
MDSA20030 Endocrine Biology Autumn 5
PATH30080 Disease Mechanisms & Pharmacological Principles Autumn 5
MDSA30090 Understanding Disability for Healthcare Students Spring 5
MEMI30040 Principles of Infection and its Treatment Spring 5
PATH30060 Genetics, Perinatal and Paediatric Diseases Spring 5
PATH30190 Oncology & Immunopathology Spring 5
PHAR30110 Cardiovascular and Renal Diseases Spring 5
Stage 3 Core Modules
     
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN0OF:
Non-mandatory Options
     
ANAT20050 Basic Principles of Trauma Autumn 5
ANAT30000 Sonographic anatomy Autumn 5
PHYS30110 Adaptation to hypoxia: high altitude and lessons for disease Autumn 5
PATH30220 Rare Genetic Disorders Spring 5
Stage 3 Options - A)MIN0OF:
Non-mandatory Options
     
Stage 4 Core Modules
     
MDSA30050 Respiratory Disease Autumn 5
PATH30030 Haematology/Immunosuppression Autumn 5
PATH30040 GI/Hepatobiliary Diseases Autumn 5
PHAR30060 Central Nervous Systems Diseases Autumn 5
PHAR30070 Endocrine Diseases Autumn 5
MDSA30300 Clinical Skills Spring 10
MDSA30310 G.P. & Professionalism Spring 5
MDSA40060 Otolaryngology/Ophthalmology Spring 5
MEDN30000 Therapeutics Spring 10
Stage 4 Core Modules
     
Stage 4 Options - A)MIN0OF:
Non-mandatory Options
     
CLIP30240 Stem Cells in Medicine Autumn 5
PHYS30110 Adaptation to hypoxia: high altitude and lessons for disease Autumn 5
RDGY30470 Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging Autumn 5
Stage 4 Options - A)MIN0OF:
Non-mandatory Options
     
Stage 5 Options - B)MIN3OF:
Students should ONLY select Year One modules in the first year of this stage. Please DO NOT select year two modules until next year.
     
SURG40080 Surgery 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 20
FLME40130 Forensic & Legal Medicine Autumn 5
MEDN40090 Medicine I Autumn 10
MEDN40100 Medicine II Spring 10
Stage 5 Options - B)MIN3OF:
Students should ONLY select Year One modules in the first year of this stage. Please DO NOT select year two modules until next year.
     
Stage 5 Options - C)MIN 4OF:
Complete all modules over 2yrs
     
MDSA40140 Medicine in the Community Autumn and Spring (separate) 10
OBGY40110 Obstetrics & Gynaecology Autumn and Spring (separate) 10
PAED40120 Paediatrics Autumn and Spring (separate) 10
PSYC40150 Psychiatry Autumn and Spring (separate) 10
Stage 5 Options - C)MIN 4OF:
Complete all modules over 2yrs
     
Stage 5 Options - D)MIN1OF:
Year 2 Option modules:non core
     
MDSA40240 Medicine Elective Spring 10
MDSA40270 Clinical Elective A Spring 5
Stage 5 Options - D)MIN1OF:
Year 2 Option modules:non core
     
Stage 5 Options - E)MIN2OF:
Students should ONLY select the Year Two modules when they are in their second year of this stage. Please DO NOT select any year one modules you did last year.
     
PHPS30020 Public Health Medicine, Epidemiology & International Health Autumn 5
MDSA40160 Professional Completion Spring 20
Stage 5 Options - E)MIN2OF:
Students should ONLY select the Year Two modules when they are in their second year of this stage. Please DO NOT select any year one modules you did last year.
     
See the UCD Assessment website for further details

Module Weighting Info  
  Award GPA
Programme Module Weightings Rule Description Description >= <=
BHMED001 Stage 5 - 100.00%
Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

3.68

4.20

Second Class Honours, Grade 1

3.08

3.67

Second Class Honours, Grade 2

2.48

3.07

Pass

2.00

2.47


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