Course summary

Please note that for September 2025 entry, the University of Bolton is only able to offer this course to International applicants. The five-year undergraduate medical degree programme offered by the University of Bolton results in a Primary Medical Qualification (MBChB), enabling you to apply for provisional registration with the General Medical Council (GMC). The course is delivered by our School of Medicine in new, state-of-the-art facilities in The Institute of Medical Sciences building, situated on the grounds of the Royal Bolton NHS Foundation Trust hospital in Greater Manchester. You will learn from expert scientists and clinicians in our world-class facilities while experiencing life at our supportive, student-focused, multicultural university. Bolton and the surrounding areas have a rich industrial and multicultural heritage, reflected in diverse patient profiles and clinical teaching staff. Our philosophy is 'Teaching Intensive, Research Informed', and we are committed to excellence in learning and teaching. Using the new and respected medicine curriculum from the University of Leicester, you will benefit from enhanced patient contact time and a programme focused on meeting future challenges in medicine. We will also support you in building vital lifelong learning skills so you can keep abreast of future developments in medicine, take ownership of your professional development and specialist knowledge, and maximise your career potential. This integrated medicine course builds knowledge of scientific theory alongside clinical practice so you can understand the mechanisms underpinning the functioning of the human body and see how this understanding applies to clinical practice. Our expert team will deliver the patient-centred curriculum through a carefully balanced mixture of lectures, small group work, and clinical teaching. From an early stage of the course, you will work with patients to learn how disease and injury can affect the body. We will provide you with a tablet or iPad at the outset of the course, and your course study materials will be accessed electronically via the virtual learning environment, Moodle. In the first two years (Phase 1), teaching will be mainly based on campus. There are clinical experiences in years one and two that will be undertaken at our partner trusts and GP surgeries. Years three to five (Phase 2) will take place primarily in clinical placements with regular university contact days. During Phase 1 (in years one and two), you will focus on building your understanding of health care, the systems of the body, and relevant sciences (including molecular, cellular, applied, population and social sciences), alongside developing your skills and knowledge for compassionate and holistic diagnosis. During Phase 2, you will spend most of your time working full-time in clinical environments. In year three, you will undertake a series of clinical clerkships, including medicine, surgery, and primary care. Year 4 will focus on speciality placements, allowing you to gain experience in a wide range of health and care disciplines in physical and mental health. During year 5, you will focus on foundation assistantships in emergency medicine, medicine, surgery and primary care, alongside an elective of your choice. As a new UK medical school, our MBChB programme is subject to the General Medical Council's (GMC) quality assurance process (GMC Quality Assurance for New Medical Schools). The GMC publication Promoting Excellence: Standards for Medical Education and Training details the standards that all UK medical schools must achieve. As is compulsory for all new medical schools in the UK, we have a contingency agreement with the University of Leicester Medical School so that students enrolled in our programme can continue their studies at Leicester should the need arise.