Professional Doctorate in General Internal Medicine (Clinical MD; MPhil)


School of study	School of Life and Medical Sciences

Entry requirements
In addition to the entry qualifications for this Schedule which are set out in the Research Degrees – Generic Institutional Regulations (UPR AS10, section 4 refers), a candidate for a research degree on this schedule will satisfy the following criteria:
1. Normally have completed undergraduate training from an internationally recognised medical school and be fully registered with the medical council of the respective country whilst undertaking any research degree within this schedule
2. Normally have completed one year of internship (internship may have been completed as an integral part of medical school training)
3. An academic IELTS score of 7.0, with a minimum of 6.5 in each section, with all scores achieved in the most recent test
4. Two-character reference letters from their medical school or from their current consultants
5. If successful at online-application review, applicants will be invited to an online video conferencing interview.
6. To be considered by the General Medical Council (GMC) to apply for full registration with a licence to practise in the UK, you need to meet the GMC eligibility requirements. This includes evidence that you have carried out medical practice for three out of the last five years, including the most recent 12 months, and evidence of your knowledge of English.

About the course

The Clinical MD programme is especially designed for overseas, early career medical practitioners who wish to undertake a substantial course of individual research and develop clinical skills related to general internal medicine. It will provide you with the recognition required to become a specialist in general internal medicine in your home country.

You'll undertake an individual research project on novel medical or healthcare delivery combined with related studies in general internal medicine supported by clinical placements at local NHS hospital sites. Mandatory checks will need to be undertaken before the start of the clinical placements. These checks usually take a few weeks and are:

an Occupational Health check;
a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) or criminal record check.

The duration of the programme is of 27 months, with a flexible starting date with two intakes per year.

All applicants have the option to be considered by the General Medical Council (GMC) for full registration with sponsorship. Additional entry requirements and fees apply.

The 27-month programme (Clinical MD only) is referred to as pathway 1; the GMC sponsored registered assessment training + Clinical MD programme as pathway 2. The choice of pathway does not affect the award given.

Admissions queries and how to apply

If you have any admissions related queries, please contact the course administrator, Donna Beamish. For queries related to the research project, clinical skills and your timetable, please contact the Programme Director, Dr Kate Earl.

Applications are now being considered for admission to the programme from September, 2024 onwards. To apply, please email the Doctoral College.

Teaching methods

You'll undertake an individual research project on novel medical or healthcare delivery combined with related studies in general internal medicine supported by clinical placements at local NHS hospital sites. Each NHS clinical placement will consist of attending ward rounds, clinics, multidisciplinary team meetings, hospital grand rounds and specialist’s clinical procedures (e.g. cardiac catheterisation, endoscopy).

The structure of the programme falls into three parts: (a) research project, (b) clinical placement and (c) clinical units of study.

Research project

You'll choose a novel research topic in collaboration with your supervisory team within the field of general internal medicine, and will be guided and supported through:

guided learning in health research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative research), social, political and economic concepts of health research among other research development courses
supervision and independent study to define the research topic assessed by an initial registration assessment to progress onto the next stage
guided learning study days with continued supervised research and independent study assessed by doctoral review assessment (second progression). The first and second progression assessments consist of a viva based on a progress report detailing the student’s learning area evaluations and reflections
presentation of the final project results in a thesis defended by a final viva. While undertaking the programme, students will also be encouraged to publish manuscripts, submit posters, abstracts, and present at scientific conferences to give more visibility to their research work.

NHS clinical placement

Each NHS clinical placement will consist of attending ward rounds, clinics, multidisciplinary team meetings, hospital grand rounds and specialist’s clinical procedures (e.g. cardiac catheterisation, endoscopy). In addition, there will be:

sharing of up-to-date knowledge of international guidelines in day-to-day clinical practice (e.g. NICE)
bedside teaching and case-based discussions of different clinical scenarios
teaching and direct experience and understanding of NHS healthcare system
demonstration of clinical competencies through assessments such as Mini Clinical Evaluation Skills (mini-CEX) and case-based discussion (CbD) of Knowledge and Skills. Completion will be supported by teaching medical consultants and recorded using a personalised e-portfolio.

University blended learning

Throughout the course, you'll also have access to:

online pre-recorded sessions, discussions, webinars and self-study in support of all the clinical units of learning
study days in clinical skills including an introduction
pre-placement tutorials to facilitate the working practises in the NHS (e.g. cultural safety, human factors)
a wide range of online research development programmes (e.g. statistics, communication and presentation skills, technical writing, resilience and assertiveness)
self-directed learning to complement all the above
invitation to events, social gatherings and others.

Course experts

Professor Diana Gorog
Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Consultant Cardiologist
Find out more about Professor Diana Gorog

Professor Jay Arnold
Consultant Gastroenterologist, Ealing Hospital

Dr Kate Earl
Programme Director
Find out more about Dr Kate Earl

Professor Shahid Khan
Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Consultant Cardiologist, Lister Hospital, Stevenage

Professor Simon Payne
Senior Consultant Emergency Medicine

Professor Thida Win
Consultant in Respiratory Medicine, Lister Hospital, Stevenage

What’s next for my career?

While studying at the University of Hertfordshire and working at NHS hospitals, you'll be supported by a team of expert academics and practitioners from different specialties who are conducting world-leading research (3-4* REF) within the Centre of Health Services and Clinical Research.

You'll gain essential doctoral level knowledge and skills in general internal medicine, which will be recorded using an e-portfolio. You'll also benefit from our vibrant, dynamic and international community of postgraduate medical researchers and have the opportunity of living close to London.

I came to the UK to undertake studies to obtain the postgraduate degree of Clinical MD. I am now a NHS Consultant in Acute Medicine and Cardiology at Ealing Hospital in West London. I would recommend the Clinical MD in the UK as it is a great start to a career and training in Medicine and the NHS.

Dr Harmandeep Singh

Clinical MD, Ealing Hospital

Course fees

International students

Full time

£25,000 per year

Plus an additional £7,500 for GMC sponsored registration assessment training. There is a minimum advance fee payment of £20,000 for students choosing GMC sponsored registration.