Tuition and assessment
Tuition
Many different teaching methods are employed during the course, including lectures (from Department of Surgery staff and experts from other Imperial College Departments), practical classes and demonstrations, and participation in the monthly departmental research seminars. Within the specialist modules, teaching will take the form of ‘journal club’ tutorials, attendance at seminars and bench side tuition in the laboratory. Clinical tuition is given on the wards and in theatres and by attendance and participation at the Surgical Grand Round meetings. Students will also be encouraged to attend the relevant specialist intensive courses run by the division.
Amount of work normally required:
The course if offered on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) basis. Students are expected to undertake private study in addition to the formal teaching sessions, including reading round the areas covered in the formal lectures and journal clubs.
Assessment
The final examination has six components: continuous assessment, a formal examination in May and June comprising two written papers, a clinical and journal viva-voce examination, and submission of a research thesis (towards the end of August).
For the continuous assessment mark, students will be assessed throughout the course, in the form of regular review by the course co-ordinators and tutors with particular reference to performance in journal clubs, and research and clinical presentations. A formal assessment will also take place with the course co-ordinators, and a grade will be awarded.
The examinations in May and June will consist of:
- a) A paper on problem solving, lasting two hours and made up of 30 questions, with questions common to the stem programme.
- b) A two-hour written essay style paper related to the principles of surgical science and practice.
- c) A thirty-minute clinical viva on principles of surgery and the candidates selected specialty.
d) A viva session lasting half an hour on the principles of surgical science and practice. Candidates will be given a surgical paper 24 hours in advance to discuss critically during the viva.
In August, the students will present a written report (dissertation) on a subject in which they have been supervised, within their specialist area of surgery. Each student will normally be given a viva on his or her thesis.
Grading is as follows:
- Distinction: 70% to 100% in all elements of the course.
- Merit: 60% to 69.9% in all elements of the course.
- Pass: 50% to 59.9% or more in all elements of the course.
