Medicine (Graduate Entry) (MBBS 4YFT)
Study at the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine, a collaborative and inclusive medical school embedded in communities of Cumbria, training clinicians who are innovative, adaptable and focused on the delivery of high-quality person-centred care.
Study a bespoke, community-focused curriculum at the University of Cumbria and graduate with an Imperial College London degree
Gain early clinical experience to allow you to develop your clinical skills and professional practice
A 4-year graduate entry degree, with a commitment to widening access to under-represented groups in medicine
Course key facts
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Qualification
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MBBS
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Duration
4 years
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Start date
August 2025
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UCAS course code
A102
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Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£9,250 per year Home
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Delivered by
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Pears Cumbria School of Medicine
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Location
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Pears Cumbria School of Medicine
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Minimum entry standard
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2:1 (or above) in a Biosciences or Allied Healthcare degree.
Course overview
Study at an innovative new medical school embedded in the communities of Cumbria, with learning opportunities across the region.
The bespoke programme blends expertise from the highly rated MBBS programme at Imperial College London, with the University of Cumbria's longstanding reputation in training allied healthcare professionals.
You will gain early exposure to clinical practice alongside research-informed medical sciences teaching. You will also complete a community-based project on a topic of interest to you, linked with prevention and healthcare delivery. Clinical skills training and multi-professional collaborative learning will occur across the 4-year programme.
A professional development programme will support your academic progress and career development. You will be allocated a tutor with clinical experience in Cumbria and be given access to resources to structure your learning.
You will need to be a home student with at least an upper second-class science or allied healthcare degree to be considered. Successful students will graduate with an MBBS awarded by Imperial College London.
To encourage applications from groups less well represented in medicine and as part of our commitment to widening access, this 4-year graduate programme does not have any GCSE or A-level requirements.
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A new collaboration between the University of Cumbria and Imperial College London
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No.1 in the Northwest for Graduates into employment or further study within 15 months 99% of Graduates – HESA 2024
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Imperial College London is ranked 8th in the world for Medicine QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
Year 1 will focus on the integration of medical science and clinical knowledge, while you begin to develop the professional values and behaviours needed to become a doctor.
From early in the programme, you will undertake clinical placements and clinical simulation in a range of settings across North and South Cumbria, which may necessitate travel and/or temporary accommodation.
These sessions will enable you to develop your practical procedural, clinical and communication skills. You will also explore the contributing factors to health and healthcare delivery. There will be a focus on the application of research to healthcare delivery.
Core modules
Explore the anatomy and physiology of the major organ systems with a focus on how pathophysiology underpins disease.
Develop your clinical skills and professionalism and explore the roles and responsibilities of a medical student and a doctor.
Explore the social, psychological, and behavioural factors that contribute to health and healthcare delivery.
Year 2 will delve deeper into medical sciences with continuing focus on the integration of medical science and clinical knowledge, widening your clinical knowledge, and further building on your professional values and behaviours.
The clinical learning in primary and secondary care settings will increase, allowing further development of your practical procedural, clinical and communication skills.
You will deepen your understanding of the factors contributing to health and healthcare delivery completing a group project in an area of interest to you.
Core modules
Integrate the key concepts introduced in Medical Sciences 1 to adopt an evidence-informed approach to managing patients with multiple long-term conditions.
Further develop your clinical skills and professionalism; undertake clinical placements across the region, in general practice, community and mental health, and medical and surgical secondary care.
Deepen your understanding of the key concepts in social sciences and population health, while considering the practical aspects of applying research and healthcare data to improve health outcomes.
Years 3 and 4 are centred on your preparation for practice as a Foundation Doctor in the NHS.
In Years 3 and 4, you will undertake clinical placements in clinical specialties, medicine, and surgery, based in hospital and community settings. These placements will facilitate the integration of your learning within the medical school, and in the clinical settings, to prepare you for practice.
In addition to being embedded in clinical teams, a range of structured teaching and simulation sessions will provide you with added experience of unfamiliar situations, managing uncertainty to support you in your practice e.g., making clinical decisions.
During your final year, there will be the preparation for practice component. This will contain a pre-foundation assistantship, during which you will have a defined role and responsibilities within a local clinical team where you will participate in activities which are like those of a newly qualified doctor.
You will complete your training with an elective period that will enable you to organise your own extended placement, either in the UK or abroad.
You will need to complete all components of the Medicine (Graduate Entry) programme to a satisfactory standard to obtain your MBBS award
Year 3
Experience situational learning on clinical placement across the region, in a range of specialties, in both community and secondary care.
Year 4
Builds further on clinical skills, the professional capabilities, and the knowledge that is required for the Medical Licencing Assessment. The module also includes a pre-foundation assistantship and an elective period.
Professional accreditation
Please note: this MBBS programme is subject to ongoing quality assurance by the General Medical Council (GMC) who are responsible for the monitoring standard of medical education in the UK.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
- Interactive Lectures
- Scientific Practicals
- Tutorials
- Team-based and Skill-based Learning
- Situational Learning (e.g. Clinical Placements)
- Simulation Learning
- Case Studies
- Flipped Classroom
- Reflective Practice
Assessment methods
- Written Assessments
- Clinical Assessments
- Oral presentations
- Reports and Write-ups
- Workplace Based Assessments
- Project work
Your timetable and learning
Our timetable is structured to allow you to focus on your Professional Knowledge, Clinical Skills, Professional Values and Behaviours at specific times.
We will use active learning methods so you can practise and apply your knowledge and critical thinking.
Assessment
A variety of assessment modes will be used, specific to the aims of each module in each academic year. These include, but are not restricted to, written, clinical and oral examinations.
You will also undertake Workplace Based assessments, which examine clinical skills or practical procedures, undertaken in simulated circumstances, and/or in a clinical setting.
Assessments will take place in class and/or online; they may be open or closed book. Assessments for the MBBS programme are pass/fail. You will receive regular feedback through formative assessments that will allow you to track your progress and prepare for the summative assessments.
Medical Licensing Assessment
The General Medical Council's Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) aims to demonstrate that those who obtain registration with a licence to practise medicine in the UK meet a common threshold for safe practice. To obtain registration with a licence to practise, you will need to pass both parts of the MLA and demonstrate your fitness to practise.
Student agreement
Due to the unique nature of Medicine programme, which emphasises clinical placements, all students will be asked to sign an agreement upon entry, which sets out the responsibilities of both Pears Cumbria School of Medicine and the student.
The agreement complements Imperial College London’s current policies and procedures, promoting a coherent understanding between students and the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine Faculty as to what is expected from each, and improving the student’s learning experience.
Placements and location of study
The programme is based at the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine, at the University of Cumbria, Fusehill Street Campus, Carlisle.
You will complete a number of clinical placements throughout your degree in partner NHS organisations.
From early in the programme, you will undertake a range of clinical placements and simulation. These will be across North and South Cumbria, in community, primary and secondary care settings, including mental health.
During the programme you will be expected to complete placements in both north and south Cumbria areas which may necessitate travel and/or temporary accommodation.
Towards the end of the programme, you will undertake a period of pre-foundation assistantship during which you will be embedded in a clinical team locally; and an elective, where you will organise your own extended placement, either in the UK or abroad.
Staff expertise
You will be taught by a range of teachers from academic staff to local health care experts, plus specialists external to Imperial College London and the University of Cumbria. You may also experience peer teaching.
University of Cumbria Campus, library, and facilities
Based at the University of Cumbria’s Carlisle Fusehill Street Campus you will study alongside students undertaking to a wide variety of different programmes. You'll find a bustling environment for students offering multiple spaces to use for socialising and meeting with friends.
A 10-minute walk from the centre of Carlisle the campus allows students to enjoy the facilities at Fusehill Street whilst having the flexibility to easily access the city centre.
Our libraries offer you flexible, accessible, and safe spaces. Our excellent range of digital and physical library resources support your learning.
Our Skills@Cumbria team support your library, academic and digital skills development throughout your programme of study.
Library and academic advisors team provide online resources, including our Skills TV channel, webinars , group workshops, individual appointments and email guidance to support you with searching, writing, referencing, presenting, dissertations and more.
For further information, please refer to our facilities page.
Disability support at the University of Cumbria
Disability support will be provided to the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine students by the University of Cumbria.
The University of Cumbria is committed to supporting disabled students to participate in their programmes of study. The University seeks to embed policies and procedures which promote disability equality and offer support through the provision of reasonable adjustments.
Students are encouraged to declare Disabilities/Specific Learning Difficulties within the admission processes e.g., on their application form or UCAS forms, and during your registration and enrolment processes. By declaring information within these processes, the University of Cumbria can send students specific information and contact them to discuss needs.
Our Disability Support teams will work with you to develop your learner support plan detailing your needs and required and recommended adjustments which will be shared with your programme tutor. Our Specialist Learning Advisors provide support, information, resources, and appointments for students with specific learning difficulties you will have access to a range of specialist equipment, hardware, and software dependent on your specific needs.
On each campus, you will find accessible workstations with specialist hardware such as larger screens, keyboards, and adjustable height desks. All computers have access to a range of assistive software and a selection of over 100 free accessibility apps for everyone to use.
Further details are available on our disability support page.
University of Cumbria Student Accommodation
With a bustling city centre, beautiful surroundings and a wealth of history, Carlisle is a fantastic place to live and study.
Campus accommodation at Fusehill Street offers modern, stylish affordable ensuite accommodation, with 85 ensuite rooms organised into flats of 5-7 rooms per flat.
Accommodation contracts for medical students will be up to 49 weeks so you do not need to vacate your room at Christmas or Easter. Further contract extensions over the summer can usually be facilitated.
University of Cumbria also has a nominated a 3rd party provider, Denton Holme Student Village (‘the Host’). Denton Holme offers 249 rooms within 25 townhouses, with resident parking and bike storage facilities. Offering riverside views, the village is a 20-minute walk from the Fusehill Street campus. Denton Holme Student Village is managed by Host, the student facing brand for Victoria Hall Management Ltd. You can apply for this accommodation via the University of Cumbria application process; however, your contract will be directly with the Host.
For further information, please visit our accommodation page.
Entry requirements
Currently, the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine can accept applications only from prospective students who are considered a home student for fee purposes.
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
You can now submit your application via UCAS Hub. There you can add this course as one of your choices and track your application. Currently, the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine can accept applications only from prospective students who are considered a home student for fee purposes.
UCAS institution code: I50
Application deadlines – 15 October 2024 at 18.00 (UK time)
To be considered for this course for 2025 entry, you will need to sit either the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) or University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) as part of the application process.
Registration is now closed. Find out more information about the GAMSAT or UCAT.
A new Imperial Bursary is now available for students wishing to study the MBBS Medicine (Graduate Entry) at the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine (PCSM).
For more information and how to apply, please visit our Imperial Bursary page.
Providing that essential examination requirements or predictions are satisfactory, candidates will be short-listed for interview according to their GAMSAT scores.
Candidates are required to meet a minimum threshold score for each section and are ranked according to the final calculated sum of the three sections. The top-ranking candidates will be invited to interview.
Multiple mini interviews
The interviewers are comprised of staff and students with experience in the admissions process, who will contribute to the decision process.
These decisions are ratified by the admissions tutors. The following criteria may be considered when assessing your application:
- Undergraduate degree classification
- GAMSAT scores
- Evidence of commitment to the values of the NHS Constitution
- Motivation and understanding of medicine as a career
- Community activities
- Leadership and teamwork
- Extracurricular interests
- Referee’s report
Fitness to Practise policy
All UK medical schools have a duty to ensure that no member of the public is harmed because of training medical students. The Imperial College London Fitness to Practise policy may be activated in cases where significant concerns have been raised about the behaviour of students, including prior to their admission to the School.
Multiple-Mini interviews (MMIs) may be conducted in a blended format with a mixture of in person and asynchronous interviews.
MMI stations will seek to assess candidates across the following areas:
- Commitment to medicine and understanding the role of a doctor
- Potential to contribute to the medical school and the region
- Teamwork and leadership
- Ethics
- Empathy
- Resilience and adaptability
In line with Department of Health and Social Care guidelines, our admissions policy is not restricted to residents of Cumbria, and it promotes equality and fairness for prospective students nationally. Domestic students from other parts of the UK are encouraged to apply. During the MMI, candidates who do not have links with local area will be assessed on their understanding of and interest in improving health outcomes for the people of Cumbria. See supporting information for data used to identify candidates with links to the local area.
Work experience with service-users is strongly recommended and will be assessed during interview, together with other information in the personal statement.
If you are offered a place on this programme, Imperial College London’s Occupational Health Service will send you a confidential health questionnaire to complete.
We want to learn about any health problems or disabilities you have which may require special support, so that we can plan for this before you begin your programme. In accordance with our Privacy Statement, this information may be shared with University of Cumbria for the purposes of supporting students on their programme of study.
We are also required by the General Medical Council (GMC) to ensure that you are not affected by a condition that would make it impossible for you to acquire the skills to qualify and work safely as a doctor.
We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities and, wherever possible, seek to provide any extra support that may be necessary. Most disabilities or health problems, even if substantial, can be accommodated.
If you have a disability or health problem that may affect your fitness to practise or may be difficult to accommodate, contact the Imperial College London Occupational Health Physician for confidential advice before applying.
Age restriction
You must be 18 years of age by the time you would start this programme.
Vaccinations for medical school
If you are offered a place, you must be immunised against a range of infections to meet health and safety standards necessary for working with patients. You will be sent details of the vaccinations you need with your offer.
You should arrange with your doctor or a health clinic to begin this programme as soon as you receive this information, as it can take eight months to complete. Medical students are also required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Blood-borne infections
Chronic viral infections that are carried in the blood can be transmitted during surgery to patients from an infected healthcare worker.
When you come to the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine, to comply with NHS requirements, you will be offered blood tests to check you are not infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV, before you are cleared for direct surgical experience.
If you test positive for any of these infections, you can continue your programme, but you will not be allowed to assist with or undertake surgery or other ‘exposure-prone’ procedures on patients. This will not prevent you from qualifying or practising as a doctor, except for the restriction on these procedures.
Mitigating circumstances are unforeseen, unpreventable circumstances that significantly disrupt your academic performance, such as an illness or bereavement.
If you feel you have mitigating circumstances that should be taken into consideration when we make decisions about your exam results, we recommend contacting us as soon as possible, ideally through your GP.
You must provide appropriate, supportive, and independent evidence, not a letter from a family member or friend. The evidence must explain:
- What the circumstance is
- Exactly how it affected you in relation to your studies/assessment
- Precisely when it occurred (i.e., identifying which assessments were affected)
It is essential that you apply for mitigating circumstances as soon as you are aware of the problem.
Late claims will not be considered without clear supporting evidence of why an application was not made on or before the deadline.
Deferred entry
N/A
Transferring from another school
We do not accept students who have previously started at or are already studying at another medical school.
We also do not accept students for transfer from other Imperial College London programmes.
Tuition fees
Home fee
2025 entry
£9,250 per year
Your fee is based on the year you enter the College, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Your fee status is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a Home student, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan from the UK government to cover the entire cost of tuition for every year of your course.
You can also apply for a means-tested Maintenance Loan to help towards your living costs.
A new Imperial Bursary is now available for students wishing to study the MBBS Medicine (Graduate Entry) at the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine (PCSM).
For more information and how to apply, please visit our Imperial Bursary page.
How will studying at Imperial help my career?
99% Of Imperial Medicine graduates in work or further study*
- 99% Of Imperial Medicine graduates in work or further study*
- 1%
97% Of Imperial Medicine graduates in highly skilled work or further study*
- 97% Of Imperial Medicine graduates in highly skilled work or further study*
- 3%
*2021-22 graduate outcomes data, published by HESA in 2024
Graduate with the skills and knowledge to enter a diverse range of careers including: clinical medical practice, clinical and biomedical research, the pharmaceutical industry, scientific journalism, and healthcare management.
Access the specialist careers support from the Imperial College London medical school careers team, alongside the support offered through your professional development tutor and other medical school staff. Including one-to-one appointments, talks from doctors in different specialities, skill sessions, networking events and careers fairs, and much more.
Achieving this MBBS provides you with a primary medical qualification (PMQ), entitling you to provisional registration with the GMC and license to practise in approved Foundation Year 1 posts. In your final year, we will support you to apply for a Foundation Year 1 post through the UK Foundation Programme selection scheme.
On successful completion of the Foundation Year 1 programme, you can apply for full registration with the GMC before entering Foundation Year 2.
As a doctor you’ll need full registration with a license to practise for unsupervised medical practise in the NHS or UK private practice, although regulations in this area are subject to change. Then, you can train as a specialist through an NHS scheme, choosing from around seventy different specialities.
Further links
Contact the department
Email: cumbriamedadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk
Visit the University of Cumbria website
Request info
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Course data
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