Medicine at Queen Mary, Malta Campus – London Curriculum. Mediterranean Lifestyle.

Boarding that plane to Malta is your first step to studying medicine in English in Europe

Are you considering studying medicine but haven’t quite taken the plunge? Once you learn more about the medical degree at Queen Mary, Malta Campus, it’ll seem like a no-brainer.

Our ultramodern facilities and world-leading tutors will give you practical experience and grounding so that you can graduate into a real-world setting with confidence. You’ll study the exact same MBBS course as our students at our campus in London and will be awarded the same UK Medicine MBBS qualification.  And throughout your time at Queen Mary, Malta Campus, you’ll be able to enjoy a Mediterranean lifestyle.

Get a glimpse of what it’s like to study medicine in the EU and find out all about our five-year medical degree in less than five minutes.

From departure to doctor

Detailed and first-class medical study with placements in local hospitals? A final year shadowing working doctors to get hands-on experience? This is the format for the next five years if you choose to study medicine at Queen Mary, Malta Campus. The course has three distinct phases, from basic systems to general medicine, specialities, and, finally, preparation for practice.

PHASE 1

Year 1 

The main organ systems

The initial phase of the MBBS program focuses on understanding health through modules based on the primary organ systems of the human body. During the first nine weeks, you will cover the fundamentals of medicine before delving into each subject in greater depth, as part of several modules. This approach ensures that you develop a strong foundation in the following areas:

• The functioning of cells, organs, and body systems
• The effects of illnesses on individuals and their families
• The influence of environmental and social factors on health

In addition to traditional lectures, a significant portion of core teaching is conducted through problem-based learning. These weekly small-group sessions will help foster critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and effective communication.

Clinical exposure is an integral part of the curriculum from the start, providing opportunities for hands-on interaction with healthcare professionals and direct engagement with the healthcare environment. Moreover, you will have weekly practical sessions in anatomy, physiology, clinical skills, clinical communication skills and histology. 

During Year One, you will have the opportunity to select two Student Selected Components (SSCs) based on your personal interests. These SSCs cover a broad range of subjects in basic sciences and clinical disciplines. Most of these SSCs include formal assessments and taught components.

Year 2

Systems in disease

In the second year, you will build upon the knowledge gained in Year One. The course structure remains similar, revisiting the same modules but with a stronger focus on diseases and the treatments used to restore patients to health. Two new modules are introduced: Human Science and Public Health, and Cancer.

Problem-based learning sessions become more clinically oriented in Year Two, providing you with a deeper understanding of real-life medical scenarios. Furthermore, your exposure to healthcare professionals expands during this phase, allowing for enhanced learning and practical experience. 

Similar to Year One, Year Two offers the opportunity to choose two SSCs. These SSCs encompass a wide range of subjects in both basic sciences and clinical areas. These SSCs include formal assessments and taught components. 

PHASE 2  

Year 3 

Clinical attachments

Students start Year Three spending several weeks in our state-of-the-art Clinical Skills and Simulation Suite, to cement their preparation for the clinical environment. They then embark on the exciting world of three nine-week long clinical attachments in General Medicine, General Practice, and General Surgery. 

Students are introduced to clinical medicine through a series of placements in our associated teaching hospitals and community placements in Malta and Gozo. In addition, they regularly return to the medical school for teaching  weeks and assessments.

SSCs in Year Three build on the skills developed in previous years, and are tailored to coincide with your first experience of clinical rotations, with emphasis on the doctor-patient relationship. Their aim is to maximise this learning by enabling clinical tutors to involve you in a particular aspect of their specialty and learn in more depth whilst on the wards.

Year 4 

Further attachments

With a solid foundation in General Medicine, students are now given the opportunity to learn more about the specialties. In Year Four, students are fully immersed in the clinical environment, and have attachments in the following specialties:

• Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Paediatrics
• Musculoskeletal, Geriatric Medicine, and Dermatology
• Psychiatry and Neurology
• General Practice

This year’s SSC involves writing a 6,000-8,000 word dissertation in an area of medicine, clinical practice, or biomedical science. This is an opportunity for you to assess the wider impact of medicine on society, including public  health issues and the role of evidence-based medicine in medical practice.

Year 5 

Further attachments

During the final year, students are guided to develop the mindset and behaviours of doctors. By providing support during this transition from student to doctor, graduates will be able to effectively perform their duties from the very beginning of their professional careers.

To facilitate this transition, students will work as assistants to the Foundation Doctors, actively participating in patient care. The assistantship model emphasises learning by doing. Students will be assigned to specific medical  teams, becoming an integral part of them. This arrangement will enhance their practical experience and foster active learning under supervision, with the primary focus on ensuring patient safety. The medical teams will strive
to provide adequate supervision and organisation. They will also allow students to take on active and significant roles within the team.

During SSCs, students are given the opportunity to choose medical placements in Malta, England or other countries to develop particular interests and skills. These can inspire career choices or develop skills prior to entry into the Foundation Years.