Year 3 / iBSc Programme

During the iBSc year, you will have the opportunity to study topics in greater depth than during your medical studies. It also affords you with the opportunity to become familiar with the research literature, scientific methods and techniques and the current state of thinking in your selected area. An experimental project may form a significant part of a programme, in some cases extending for one or more days a week throughout the year, in other cases concentrated over a period of six or more weeks. This is a valuable experience and will help you to determine your aptitude and enthusiasm for future research in your clinical career.

Whether the iBSc incorporates an experimental project or not, you will obtain considerable benefit from the intellectual experience of pursuing knowledge and learning valuable transferable skills, not least in critical thinking and evaluation of evidence. From the point of view of clinical training and career options, it is relatively unimportant which programme you choose. The training given in approaching problems scientifically is a common feature of all iBSc programmes. Do not be misled into believing that one iBSc programme has a higher profile or is more prestigious than another.

The iBSc programme follows UCL’s modular degree structure in which a module carries 15 or 30 credits and a total of 120 credits are required for the iBSc degree to be awarded.  Years 1 and 2 of the MBBS do not contribute to the iBSc degree classification, which is based on marks achieved in the iBSc year only.  

In the iBSc year, you are required to take several modules, including a dissertation/substantive laboratory, clinical, or literature-based research project with a value of 30 or 45 credits depending on the programme. Module choices and research projects are specific to individual iBSc programmes of study.

Each degree programme is defined by its CORE MODULES: those modules that are compulsory for that iBSc programme. In many cases there is the possibility of selecting optional modules. Your course tutor will provide details of optional modules. In all cases your course tutor and/or the department/division teaching the course must approve your optional modules. You will be asked to choose optional modules using the UCL Module Selection process which opens in which opens in April. Please follow UCL’s instructions as sent to you at the time.

It is usual for approximately 90% of iBSc students at UCL to obtain a first or upper second class honours degree.

UCL’s Progression and Award Requirements are set out.

To be awarded an iBSc honours degree, a UCL medical student must have satisfied the course and assessment requirements for MBBS Years 1 and 2 and have successfully completed 120 credits in Year 3.  
A student who does not pass 120 credits in a year of study must nonetheless be considered to have met the Progression and Award Requirements if they meet all the following Condonement Criteria in that year of study:

1. Pass all Non-Condonable Modules, and
2. Pass at least 90 credits, and
3. Attain marks in the Condonable Range in no more than 30 credits in any one academic year, and
4. Have attained marks in the Condonable Range in no more than 60 credits up to and including the current year of study across the whole programme, and
5. Have no module marks below 1.00%, and
6. Achieve a credit-weighted mean of at least 40.00% across 120 credits.

In order to progress from Year 3 to Year 4, a student must have been awarded the iBSc degree and fulfilled the Medical School’s fitness to practise requirements, which continue to apply during the IBSc year. Any issues potentially affecting fitness to practise must be declared and any disciplinary action incurred is notified to the Medical School. Any plans to withdraw from the iBSc or interrupt studies during the iBSc year must be discussed with the iBSc programme lead and with the MBBS Divisional Tutor via medsch.mbbstutors@ucl.ac.uk. The Medical School is responsible for confirming that students may progress into Year 4.  

International Partnership and external students enter the IBSc with accreditation of prior learning for Years 1 and 2. 

Please see UCL’s rules for calculating classifications and the Honours Degree Classification Scheme.

Degree classifications are determined by the programme Board of Examiners responsible for each iBSc. 

Qualifies for First Class Honours (1):

• A Final Weighted Mark greater than or equal to 69.50% or
• A Final Weighted Mark greater than or equal to 68.50% and Module marks of at least 70.00% in at least 50% of the Final Year credits.

Qualifies for Second Class Honours Upper Division (2.1):

• A Final Weighted Mark greater than or equal to 59.50% or
• A Final Weighted Mark greater than or equal to 58.50% and Module marks of at least 60.00% in at least 50% of the Final Year credits.

Qualifies for Second Class Honours Lower Division (2.2):

• A Final Weighted Mark greater than or equal to 49.50% or
• A Final Weighted Mark greater than or equal to 48.50% and Module marks of at least 50.00% in at least 50% of the Final Year credits.

Qualifies for Third Class Honours (3):

• A Final Weighted Mark greater than or equal to 40.00%.

The ‘Final Year’ in this classification scheme is equivalent to your iBSc/year 3.
 

Degree Award Classification Statistics: see 2019/2020-2023/2024 iBSc Degree Classifications awarded under Documents

Every effort will be made to place students on their preferred programmes.

It is expected that you will be allocated to your first preference if the number of applications to that programme is within the maximum capacity that can be accommodated on the programme and provided you meet any entry criteria for the programme. Where the number of applicants exceeds the programme capacity, entry will be competitive and based on anonymous personal statements.

Students who cannot be allocated to their first preference will be advised that they have been unsuccessful. The application will be passed to the programme of second preference, and if needed the third, fourth or fifth.

Any indication given by programme leads may only be viewed as provisional and not binding. Confirmation of places on an iBSc programme will be issued formally via email notification from the Year 3 coordinator. The places are issued subject to capacity and are final. All students will need to respond via email confirming and acknowledging receipt of their designated iBSc programme.

Once the iBSc allocation process has closed you will not be able to change programmes. Therefore, please select your programme preferences carefully and with due consideration.

An online iBSc fair will be held on Thursday 28th November to provide an opportunity for iBSc programme leads to present information and take questions to help students to decide your top five preferences.    

After the fair, students are required to submit a form listing five programmes in order of preference and two personal statements, one for the programme listed as first preference and one for the programme listed second.  

The deadline for submitting preferences is noon on 2nd January 2025. .Any students who miss this deadline will be allocated an iBSc programme at the discretion of the iBSc academic lead (Prof. Andrew Williams). 

Preferences are considered sequentially. Personal statements for first preference programmes are sent to Programme Leads to select students up to their published maximum number of places. 

Where programmes are oversubscribed, second preference personal statements are sent to the relevant Programme Leads to fill up their places, before looking at third, fourth then fifth preferences. The intended deadline for selection is the end of January, with the aim of notifying students of the outcome by mid-February.   

See Allocation Figures 2016-2024 under Documents

IBSc prizes, eligibility and criteria for award can be found at our MBBS Year 3/IBSc prize webpage. 

Should you be experiencing hardship, please refer to UCL’s guidance and contact UCL Student Funding. 

At this site you will be able to locate details on a student welfare funding advisory service, a Financial Assistance Fund, emergency loans, welfare and support, and more. 

The Medical School’s Programme and Progression Support services continue to be a place for you during your iBSc year and you are welcome to discuss finances with an MBBS Tutor  at any time.  Please be aware, however, that the terms of most Medical School bequests that fund financial assistance exclude the iBSc year and so our ability to provide financial help is limited.

iBSc student funding UK

It is very important that ALL students who are having problems with their tuition fee payment discuss these matters with Student Centre Finance Division (ground floor of the Chadwick Building). Tuition fee refunds are not normally given but applications for partial refund of fees will be considered on an individual basis. It is your responsibility to request a refund from Student Centre Finance Division.

Please be aware it is your responsibility to arrange funding for your iBSc year and to inform your student funding body (SFE, SFW, SAAS or appropriate Library Board in Northern Ireland) of any change in details during the year. 

It is anticipated that your Host Department will be able to offer you all the necessary support you may require during your iBSc year.

As always, UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services will be available all year.

UCL medical students should contact the Year 3 team (medsch.mbbsy3@ucl.ac.uk) if you have continuing difficulties or if your Host Department is unable to resolve your issue or if an issue develops which might affect your return to the MBBS programme.  The Year 3 team will liaise with the iBSc Academic Lead and MBBS Divisional Tutor to provide appropriate support, including liaising with your Host Department where appropriate.  

International Partnership students may also contact the Year 3 team for advice from the IBSc Academic Lead or MBBS Divisional Tutor if your Host Department and UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services are unable to resolve your difficulties and your progress on the IBSc is at risk. 

The Medical School are aware that students may have concerns about their iBSc and we can offer you advice and support if needed.

If you have any queries about your iBSc year please contact the Year 3 Team via medsch.mbbsy3@ucl.ac.uk in the first instance. 

Prof. Andrew Williams is the Academic Lead for Year 3 and may be able to offer additional guidance (andrew.williams@ucl.ac.uk).

The iBSc is a compulsory part of the MBBS programme, and completion is a progression requirement to continue your MBBS programme. If you have concerns that you may not be able to complete your iBSc course, please make an appointment to see the MBBS Divisional Tutor (Dr Will Coppola) as a matter of urgency.