MBBS curriculum review

Overview

A UCL Future Doctor is a leader and innovator of the future who is a highly capable, and patient-centred clinician, equipped to practise medicine in a professional, inclusive, and sustainable way grounded in science and best practice.

We will be reviewing the content, delivery and structure of the curriculum. Changes to the structure of the curriculum will be introduced in a staged approach:

Academic year 2026-2027: New Year 6
Academic year 2027-2028: New Year 1 and Year 4
Academic year 2028-2029: New Year 2 and Year 5

Changes to the content and delivery will be a continuous process and has already started.

We know we graduate excellent doctors at UCL medical school. We also know that there are always areas where we can improve our programme and curriculum. To inform our review, we have met with a wide range of stakeholders. This has enabled us to gather feedback on our current curriculum and ideas for change. We will continue to consult widely as the review progresses.

Dr Aroon Lal, Academic Lead for MBBS Curriculum Review

Why are we reviewing the curriculum now?

Our last formal wholesale curriculum review was in 2012.
Responding to student feedback.
Introduction of the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA) by the General Medical Council (GMC).
Publication and update to Outcomes for graduates (2020) by the GMC, which sets out the Professional values & behaviours, Professional skills and Professional knowledge for newly qualified doctors.
Publication of the Wass Report (2016), By choice - not by chance, supporting medical students towards future GP careers.
The increasing role for technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine and medical education.
UCL’s Programme Excellence Project (2023) which includes reducing complexity across programmes.

Timeline

Winter 2023 - Spring 2024: Information gathering
Summer - Winter 2024: Reviewing potential curriculum structures
Winter 2024 - Spring 2025: Consultation on preferred curriculum structure
Winter 2024 - Summer 2025: Finalising curriculum structure and regulatory approval by UCL
Autumn 2025 - Spring 2026: Detailed mapping of curriculum content

Summary of the aims of the review

Create a spiral curriculum that can continually adapt in content and structure to respond to the evolving role of the doctor and changing healthcare needs and provider landscape. This will require robust structures and processes for continual curriculum review.
Be consistent with the principles and recommendations specified in the GMC's Outcomes for graduates (2020) and the MLA content map.
Ensure there is an appropriate balance between scientific and clinical content that is manageable for students whilst maintaining the academic rigor of the UCL programme.
Ensure constructive alignment with curriculum and assessment.
Incorporate relevant educational theory, evidence, practice and student and patient perspectives.
Align with UCL's institutional vision of disruptive thinking and research-based education in training 'The UCL Doctor’.
Instil the skills and philosophies required for independent and lifelong learning.
Reduce complexity in the organisation and format of learning activities, clinical placements, and modules.
Ensure the programme is supported by learning technologies integrated into the curriculum.
Ensure UCL’s principles of equality, diversity, inclusivity and sustainability are embedded into the programme.

Imperatives of the review

To streamline content
To enhance integration of community medicine/primary care
To enhance clinical relevance appropriate to the stage of training
To reduce complexity

Get involved

We welcome your ideas on the review. If you are a UCL staff member, student or alumni, please share your suggestions for changing the curriculum through Microsoft Forms. If you do not have a UCL account, please share your suggestions by emailing the Project Management Team.

If you’d like to be kept up to date on the review’s progress, please subscribe by submitting your email to us and be informed of future updates.

Further information

See our Further information webpage to learn more about the Curriculum Review and meet the Project Management Team. For information surrounding governance of the review please see our Governance Structure webpage.