Clinician-scientist MB/PhD training in the United Kingdom: A nationwide survey of medical school policy
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Author(s)
Barnett-Vanes, A
Ho, G
Cox, T
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Objective
This study surveyed all UK medical schools regarding their Bachelor of Medicine (MB),
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (MB/PhD) training policy in order to map the current
training landscape and provide evidence for further research and policy development.
Setting
Deans of all UK medical schools registered with the Medical Schools Council were
invited to participate in this survey electronically.
Outcomes
Primary: The number of medical schools that operate institutional MB/PhD
programmes or permit self-directed student PhD intercalation.
Secondary: Medical school recruitment procedures and attitudes to policy guidance.
Findings
Twenty-seven of 33 (81%) registered UK medical schools responded. Four (14%) offer
an institutional MB/PhD programme. However, of those without institutional
programmes, 17 (73%) permit study interruption and PhD intercalation: two do not
(one of whom had discontinued their programme in 2013), three were unsure and one
failed to answer the question. Regarding student eligibility, respondents cited high
academic achievement in medical studies and a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Of the
Medical schools without institutional MB/PhD programmes, 5 (21%) have intentions to
establish a programme, 8 (34%) do not and 3 were unsure, seven did not answer.
Nineteen medical schools (70%) considered national guidelines are needed for future
MB/PhD programme development.
Conclusions
We report the first national survey of MB/PhD training in the UK. Four medical schools
have operational institutional MB/PhD programmes, with a further 5 intending to
establish one. Most medical schools permit study interruption and PhD intercalation.
The total number MB/PhD students yet to graduate from medical school could exceed
150, with 30 graduating per year. A majority of medical school respondents to this
survey believe national guidelines are required for MB/PhD programme development
and implementation. Further research should focus on the MB/PhD student
experience. Discussion regarding local and national MB/PhD policies between
medical schools and academic stakeholders are needed.
This study surveyed all UK medical schools regarding their Bachelor of Medicine (MB),
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (MB/PhD) training policy in order to map the current
training landscape and provide evidence for further research and policy development.
Setting
Deans of all UK medical schools registered with the Medical Schools Council were
invited to participate in this survey electronically.
Outcomes
Primary: The number of medical schools that operate institutional MB/PhD
programmes or permit self-directed student PhD intercalation.
Secondary: Medical school recruitment procedures and attitudes to policy guidance.
Findings
Twenty-seven of 33 (81%) registered UK medical schools responded. Four (14%) offer
an institutional MB/PhD programme. However, of those without institutional
programmes, 17 (73%) permit study interruption and PhD intercalation: two do not
(one of whom had discontinued their programme in 2013), three were unsure and one
failed to answer the question. Regarding student eligibility, respondents cited high
academic achievement in medical studies and a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Of the
Medical schools without institutional MB/PhD programmes, 5 (21%) have intentions to
establish a programme, 8 (34%) do not and 3 were unsure, seven did not answer.
Nineteen medical schools (70%) considered national guidelines are needed for future
MB/PhD programme development.
Conclusions
We report the first national survey of MB/PhD training in the UK. Four medical schools
have operational institutional MB/PhD programmes, with a further 5 intending to
establish one. Most medical schools permit study interruption and PhD intercalation.
The total number MB/PhD students yet to graduate from medical school could exceed
150, with 30 graduating per year. A majority of medical school respondents to this
survey believe national guidelines are required for MB/PhD programme development
and implementation. Further research should focus on the MB/PhD student
experience. Discussion regarding local and national MB/PhD policies between
medical schools and academic stakeholders are needed.
Date Issued
2015-12-30
Date Acceptance
2015-10-13
Citation
BMJ Open, 2015, 5
ISSN
2044-6055
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
Journal / Book Title
BMJ Open
Volume
5
Copyright Statement
This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
License URL
Subjects
AUDIT
BASIC SCIENCES
EDUCATION & TRAINING (see Medical Education & Training)
MEDICAL EDUCATION & TRAINING
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
e009852