Clinical Education BSc

Course overview

The intercalated BSc in Clinical Education provides a one-year opportunity for undergraduate medical and dental students to take time out of their clinical programme to pursue an education degree.

This course focuses on building your knowledge of Clinical Education by gaining an understanding in the context of teaching others and educational research methodology.

You'll explore and evaluate the key principles of pedagogical practice, including curriculum design, educational policy, and teaching and assessment skills. You'll learn how to integrate and apply these theoretical elements to practice. You'll also have the opportunity to engage in educational research through the development and completion of a research project.

Peer learning and discussion are integrated into each module and will help you to explore new ideas, reflect on your experiences and develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Course highlights

• Opportunities to learn with and from other healthcare professionals
• eligibility to apply (with support, after course completion) for Associate Fellow of Advance HE through UoL PRiSE scheme
• development of pedagogical research skills
• a considered career pathway for medical and dental students to become healthcare professional educators.

Facilities

The intercalated BSc in Clinical Education is taught by staff from the Leeds Institute of Medical Education (LIME) and the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (LIHS).

As a medical education student, you will have access to the academic resources of the Leeds Institute of Medical Education (LIME), including expertise in areas such as GMC educational requirements, curriculum development, assessment, educational research methods, and statistical support.

LIME is one of the leading medical education units within the UK, and research produced by LIME has influenced medical education research, policy and practice locally, nationally and internationally. Members of LIME have particular research interests and strengths in assessment of competence, transitions and performance in medicine and the use of technology to enhance learning and teaching. LIME provides an encouraging and supportive culture to foster the research development of students and staff.

Course details

This course is designed to develop knowledge and skills in teaching, learning, assessment and research in clinical settings.

The course demonstrates the synergy between academic theory and professional practice and will allow you to develop this through supervised practice of teaching on placements, the development of an education focussed research project and development of critical thinking skills.

You'll consider your own individual education practice and your wider roles when qualified healthcare professionals, as change agents and advocates for learning and teaching within a broader context. To support this, there is a critical engagement with evidence-based teaching and learning, and support in developing both the capacity to critique research and to design and conduct small-scale empirical research on issues and topics relevant to clinical education, and particularly to medical and dental students.

A distinctive feature of this course is the opportunity for you to participate as near peers in teaching via a variety of education placements, and by undertaking your own research project. The course team draws on expertise from a range of clinical professions and academic disciplines across the social and healthcare sciences and diverse teaching experience in clinical and non-clinical workplaces. There's also great scope for shared learning to be experienced with those undertaking the PGCert Clinical Education.

On completion of the course, you should be able to:

• deploy educational theory, principles, and evidence to inform teaching and assessment plans, teaching practice and educational research

• identify an important clinical education research question and develop an appropriate research design, defending own methodological choices and considering ethical dimensions

• identify implications of your research for educational practice and/or research and reflect on any uncertainties, limitations, or complexities that emerged during the research process

• teach and support learning, implementing learning activities to enable understanding and engagement, and to address intended learning outcomes

• explain the principles, systems, stakeholders, and societal trends that inform clinical education curriculam

• Explain the rationale for using a range of different assessment methods in clinical education, including theoretical justification

• employ a curious, questioning, and critical stance in relation to academic literature, received opinion and established educational practice

• seek, evaluate, and use feedback to develop reflective practice as an educator and scholar

• communicate clearly and persuasively in written, oral, and digital formats, selecting appropriate techniques and tools for the topic, situation, and audience.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Clinical Education Research and Reflection (60 credits) - This module equips you with the knowledge, skills, support and experience to undertake clinical education research that is relevant, robust and can inform future clinical education practice and research. In addition, you'll be able to develop deep reflection skills to help you develop as a lifelong learner.

Clinical Education Placement (20 credits) - You'll experience different types of learning and teaching delivered to undergraduate and postgraduate healthcare professionals. You'll practice and develop your teaching skills through regular delivery (or assisting delivery) of a variety of teaching sessions to a range of health professions and levels of experience.

Learning, Teaching and Assessment in Clinical Education (20 credits) - This module introduces methods and theories concerning education and learning. You'll learn about teaching and assessment methods in clinical education, critique the place of appraisal and assessment in undergraduate and post-graduate Clinical Education and identify theoretical principles of feedback, appraisal and assessment.

Clinical Curricula: Developing and transforming practice (20 credits) - The module provides an introduction to the principles of curriculum development, including underpinning learning and teaching theory and the impact of policy. You'll learn to recognise the role of organisations such as the GMC in influencing undergraduate and postgraduate medical education as well as consider how contemporary issues in healthcare can be addressed through education; GMC history and politics; critical pedagogies for promoting change.

Learning and teaching

The BSc in Clinical Education aims to encourage independent and critical thought and you are respected as adult learners. For this reason, the programme not only includes structured teaching sessions, but also demands independent and self-directed study time.

Taught sessions will contain practical exercises and group work. You will be asked to prepare for each session prior to attendance and are set tasks to do in advance. This will allow the session tutor to assess and evaluate the information gathered and focus on application of knowledge through exercises. Where sessions are taught online, the emphasis will be on interaction with the tutor and peers.

Tutorials are led by a member of the module team and will also require you to draw on your experience and reading.

Group work (incorporating workshop format) will consist of discussion between students on a set task, and the subsequent reporting on that task.

Independent work will consist of gathering information on set topics and reading the recommended texts. These may include journal papers, book chapters, and reportage. In addition, you will be expected to read around your chosen topic areas for written assignments.

You will learn from other students as well as from faculty – Sound preparation and a willingness to participate in discussions and group work makes for a lively and productive module and good all-round learning experience!

Private Study Hours include reading and other preparation required for taught sessions as well as preparation for each summative assignment.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed using a variety of methods including (but not limited to) presentations (oral and poster), debates, reflective writing, essays, case reports, observation of practice and a research project dissertation.

Entry requirements

Other course specific tests:

Entry requirements
Intercalating medical students can undertake the programme at any time following successful completion of Year 2 of MBChB programme or equivalent.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in all components. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Fees

UK: To be confirmed

International: £32,250 (per year)

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

Applying

Application deadline: 9 March 2025

Further application information:

Applications to this programme require the following documentation;
• Your most recent academic transcripts (for the previous academic year if you are still studying)
• Supporting statement (one side of A4):
- tell us more about yourself
- Why you want to study clinical education at Leeds
- Your experience of clinical education and how studying clinical education may contribute to your academic and/or professional development.
• Evidence of your English language test scores, if English isn’t your first language

To apply for this programme, please see our How to apply page or for further information about how to apply contact medinter@leeds.ac.uk

This course is taught by

School of Medicine

Contact us

Applied Health (Medical Education) Admissions

Email: iBScAHS@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Career opportunities

Graduates from the intercalated BSc in Clinical Education are well placed for careers in medical education and medical education research. This course serves as an excellent foundation for postgraduate programmes, such as the PGCert, PGDiploma, MEd in Clinical Education programmes at the University of Leeds, Specialised Foundation programmes in medical education, or a DClinEd (professional doctorate programme offered here in Leeds) or PhD on a medical education topic.

As a graduate of the intercalated BSc in Clinical Education you're welcome to join the community of medical education scholars at the Leeds Institute of Medical Education.

Study abroad and work placements

The course includes a 30-credit placement module, in which students attend and reflect on teaching and learning sessions in and around Leeds. Possible placement locations include University of Leeds MBChB teaching rooms, clinical teaching environments and local medical schools. By the end of your studies, you're expected to have gained some experience in teaching and in critically appraising medical education practice, policy and research.

You'll also develop and undertake a research project on a topic pertinent to medical education, with the support of a research supervisor. Recent graduates have completed research on topics such as clinical placement learning, surgical teaching, wellbeing and disability in clinical education, social accountability in medical education and the arts in medical education.