Years 1-3 (Pre-Clinical)
Years 1&2 are focused on learning the academic basis of medicine/veterinary medicine. This mostly involves lectures with the whole year group and small-group supervisions in college. There is also a mixture of lab practicals, PBL (problem based learning) sessions, full-body dissection, and much more!
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Year 3 is an intercalation year where you will choose what to study. Most students choose a module from within the Medical Sciences or Natural Sciences, however it is also possible to intercalate in subjects from the humanities. At the end of Year 3, you will receive a BA.
TRIPOS VS MB
During your pre-clinical years, you actually complete two separate qualifications - the Tripos and the 2nd MB.
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The 2nd MB is a pass/fail qualification and you must pass it to qualify as a doctor. In order to determine this, your marks within each individual subject are added up and must reach the overall pass mark (the essay papers do not count towards the 2nd MB). If you do not pass the 2nd MB for a particular subject, you are allowed ONE resit and you must resit all of the papers for that subject.
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The Tripos is an archaic Cambridge term (derived from the fact that these exams were initially sat on a three-legged stool). Your Tripos exams are what determine the grade you achieve (1st, 2:1, 2:2 etc). Tripos consists of Part IA sat at the end of Year 1, Part IB sat at the end of Year 2, and Part II sat at the end of Year 3. Both the multiple choice and the essay papers contribute to your Tripos results, and you must pass Tripos to continue the course. You are not allowed to resit Tripos exams (but few fail them).
Part IA
Year 1
During Part IA, Medicine and Veterinary students share three modules: HOM, MIMS, and FEBP. However, only medics complete FAB, SECHI and PfPA, while only vets complete VAP and PAM.
Part IB
Year 2
During Part IB, Medicine students complete BOD, MODA, NHB, HR, HNA, and PfPB. Veterinary students complete BOD, MODA, NAB, VRB, CVB, PfVP
Part II
Year 3
This is a mandatory intercalation year, where you choose what subject you would like to study. There are generally three pathways which you can choose from, as shown below. More information about Part II can be found on the University website here. Every year, there is also an intercalation evening where you will be told more about your options and how to confirm your choice.