Medicine
Medicine at Cambridge is intellectually stimulating and professionally challenging. You study the medical sciences first, before learning to apply that knowledge to medical practice as a clinical student. The Faculty of Biology provides the core teaching through lectures and practical classes in the first two years, with small-group supervisions taking place in Colleges. The third year provides a unique opportunity to specialise in your choice of subject, typically (but not always) taken from the Natural Sciences course. The clinical years are built around placements in local hospitals and GP surgeries, where you will develop the skills and experience to practice medicine. The full 6-year course qualifies you for both the Bachelor of Medicine (MB) and Bachelor of Surgery (BChir) degrees. More details about the course can be found on the .
Medicine at °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï
°Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï has a strong tradition in Medicine, welcoming around 10 undergraduates each year. This means we have around 60 medical students in the College at any one time, providing a lively, highly interactive, and supportive community. The College has a strong supervision record, with our teaching staff working across the breadth of biomedical disciplines. Importantly, half of our medical Fellows are practising clinicians and we have dedicated Directors of Studies for the pre-clinical and clinical years. The College provides grants for internships, research projects, medical electives and travel. Our excellent College Medical Society (MEdMedSoc) provides a wealth of social and academic support across all six years, and our alumnae network is a further valuable source of career guidance and mentoring. We aim to provide an environment where medical students thrive, achieve their full potential and go on to make a difference in the world.
What our students say
Aditri Ghosh
I have always found Medwards to be an incredibly friendly and welcoming college, right from the first day in October. There are so many different spaces in college that really make Medwards feel like home; from the cosy art café, our gorgeous 3-floor library overlooking fountain court, and the beautiful garden grounds where we can pick flowers and fresh produce and sit on the grass (unlike other colleges!). The breadth of societies, both college and university-wide, is amazing and in my 1st year I had the chance of really getting immersed in rowing, despite having never been in a boat before!
I have really enjoyed studying medicine at Cambridge and particularly appreciate the strong scientific focus of pre-clinical years; one of the best parts of the course is the opportunity to engage in research, specifically in 3rd year where I was able to carry out a project examining the effect of a novel drug modelled to target PTSD. Whilst studying medicine at Medwards, I have had the privilege of being taught by supervisors who are experts in their field and always felt very supported by both my Director of Studies and my tutor, who always remembered to host welfare drop-ins with cake and congratulate us after finishing exams. College has given me the opportunity to connect with wonderful, like-minded women and build life-long friendships.
Meet an alumna
Dr Mrinalini Dey
Studying Medicine at °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï equipped me with skills and experiences which have proved invaluable. Although challenging at times, I have come to appreciate the importance of the rigorous scientific foundation in the first three years of the course, followed by the high-quality teaching provided by the clinical school. The small supervision groups afforded an excellent opportunity to discuss and clarify concepts from lectures, and explore more complex aspects in depth.
As someone with an interest in academic medicine, I am grateful to initiatives such as the Gateway Programme for supporting me with experiences such as summer research projects and presenting at conferences in the UK and abroad, which would go on to lay important foundations for my future career. Outside of studying, I loved living amongst the art and stunning gardens, as well as playing the beautiful Steinway piano in the Fellows’ Drawing Room in moments of relaxation!
I am now a Registrar in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, currently completing a PhD at King’s College London. My research focuses on the impact of social determinants of health on outcomes in people living with inflammatory arthritis. I love my work, and have been fortunate to give presentations and forge collaborations with teams within the UK and beyond. I hope to go on to become an Academic Rheumatologist, continuing my work in epidemiology and public health in the care of people with rheumatic diseases.
