The Department’s undergraduate teaching embraces courses for students studying pre-clinical Medicine, non-medical Physiological Sciences (last undergraduate intake in October 2010), and a new course, Biomedical Sciences (first undergraduate in October 2011). The annual numbers within these categories attending our courses are approximately respectively 150, 20 and 15. Consequently we are fortunate to be able to teach a wide range of very able students with interests extending widely over the life-sciences.

Teaching in the first year concentrates on the fundamental principles necessary for understanding the science underlying the three main topic areas undertaken by the majority of students. Lectures and practical classes both contribute substantially to the teaching. In addition, each undergraduate is a member of a college that provides tutorial teaching for 1-2 hours per week on a more individual basis, many of the college tutors being also lecturers within the Department.

From the second year there is increasing emphasis on understanding original scientific literature; reading becomes concentrated in the journals rather than textbooks. By the time undergraduates sit their final examinations at the end of three years, most have developed quite advanced skills of assessing primary sources of evidence. For many members of staff, the lively contact with enquiring minds is a valuable stimulus to our own studies and research.

More details and information can be found at the Medical Sciences Division website

See also: Study Medicine at Oxford

See also: Study Biomedical Sciences at Oxford