We interviewed Siraj, student at Lancaster Medical School

A supportive community

As one of the smallest medical schools in the UK, Lancaster Medical School offers more than just a degree: here you'll be supported by a true community. Watch the video to meet our students and find out why Sarah, Siraj, Salma, Dominic and Sukhbir chose to devote their lives to medicine.

Watch the full video

Linked icons

Early patient contact

You will experience early patient contact in Year 1, when you meet patients in general practice under the supervision of a tutor. In Year 2, you will spend two days per week on hospital placement, and engage in various community-related activities throughout the year. Then in Years 3-5, the majority of your time will be spent on clinical placements, rotating through a variety of hospital and community settings to gain experience of different specialities.

Clinical skills

In Year 1 you'll have a training session every week in which you will be introduced to basic clinical skills in our Clinical Skills Centre. In Years 2-5, you'll then learn to perform these clinical skills on patients, supervised by senior medical staff. This ensures that by the time you graduate, you will be fully competent in all the skills required for clinical practice.

Communication for medical practice

Doctors must communicate effectively with patients and their families, often at times of great suffering and distress, to be their advocates, and help inform their health choices.

We place a strong emphasis on communication skills training, and putting these skills into practice. In Year 1 you'll have the chance to develop your skills in a safe environment using simulated patients (actors) before beginning your placements in Year 2 when increasingly you'll work with real patients.

Linked icons