Hull York Medical School

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The Hull York Medical School (HYMS) is a medical school in England which took its first intake of students in 2003. The school was opened as a part of the British Government's attempts (under the Labour Party) to train more doctors, which also saw Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Peninsula Medical School and Keele University Medical School open their doors.

The founding of a medical school as part of the University of Hull was considered in the Report of the Royal Commission on Medical Education 1965-68 (Todd Report) (published 1968), however the idea was thought to be unviable until the Humber Bridge were built, as this would enable students to travel to attachments in South Lincolnshire.

The medical school admits 130 students each year, 1200+ applied for 2006 entry. Of the successful applicants each year sixty five are based at the University of Hull and the other sixty five are based at the University of York. The medical school has scored well in University League tables; The Guardian newspaper ranked HYMS as the second best medical school in 2005. HYMS was the highest ranked of the new medical schools. As of 2006 applicants will be required to sit the UKCAT admissions test. Information about the test and preparation can be found at UKCAT

The course has a high proportion of mature students when compared to other medical courses. The 2005 intake year had 44 mature students spread over both Hull and York universities, a higher number than in most medical schools.

Students spend the two years in phase one at their academic bases (either Hull or York). Phase two consists of rotation around York, Hull, Scunthorpe, Grimsby and Scarborough. In the final year of the course (phase three) students essentially take on the role of a 'junior' pre-registration house officer and are also able to carry out an 'elective' period overseas. This is a common feature in most UK medical curricula. The school's first international students will begin their studies in September, 2006.

The HYMS course uses Problem-based learning[1] as opposed to more traditional teaching methods, and students see a great deal of clinical contact from the first year of their course as opposed to other medical schools. This has been praised by the General Medical Council and students alike, who see the vocational nature of the course one of the most exciting parts of their medical education. There is also a great emphasis on the community aspects of medicine, with students spending half of their time in General Practice as opposed to the more traditional hospital oriented clinical placements.

The course is praised for its use of clinically orientated subjects, as opposed to traditional medical school subjects which are more abstract science based.

Like other medical schools, HYMS also offers the ability to Intercalate a BSc degree in various subjects. The first set of intercalating students have began studying BSc Basket Weaving at the University of York.

Students spend five years at HYMS and leave with a MB BS degree (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery).

On 21 June 2006, it was announced that Glasgow Medical School's Deputy Dean Professor Ian Greer would take over from William Gillespie as Dean of the Hull York Medical School from January 2007.

[edit] External links

• [2] - The Hull York Medical School
• Discussion forum for applicants to Hull York Medical School

UK Medical Schools
England	Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton and Sussex, Cambridge, Durham*, UEA, Hull York, Keele, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London (Barts, Imperial, King's, Royal Free and UCL, St George's), Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Peninsula, Sheffield, Southampton, Warwick.
Scotland	Aberdeen, Bute (St Andrews)*, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow.
Wales	Cardiff, Swansea.
Northern Ireland	Queen's Belfast.
	* Durham and Bute (St Andrews) offer a pre-clinical course only, with students transferring to another university to complete their clinical studies