Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Programme (MBBS) 6-year curriculum (last cohort in 2015/16)
The goal of the curriculum is to produce doctors who are competent in the understanding and delivery of effective, humane and ethical medical care, committed to lifelong learning, and ready to proceed to postgraduate training. The design of the course reflects the following educational principles:
Active, student-centred learning
Students are encouraged to be active in managing their own learning and to question both what and how they learn through problem-based, small-group tutorials. These tutorials foster the development of skills for interpersonal communication and teamwork, and help train students to become lifelong learners.
Integration
The curriculum emphasizes the inter-connections between different fields of knowledge. Essential elements of basic science and clinical practice are learnt through an integrated approach.
Early clinical contact
Students are introduced to clinical and clinical interpersonal skills, and are exposed to patient contact early in the curriculum. These clinical experiences relate closely to theoretical teaching. Students develop clinical skills in a purpose-built Clinical Skills Training Centre to achieve early and effective training.
Community-based experience
A wide variety of community-based teaching is employed to complement the activities that take place within hospitals, exploiting the educational experiences which family physicians, maternal and child health services, hospices and patient support groups can provide.
Core and options approach
Students are given the opportunities to choose and explore specific areas of interest or experience in either medical or non-medical fields by making use of the electives to be held in the second half semester of the third year and at the end of the final year after the final examination. They are required to incubate and brainstorm protocols for a health research project. They are also exposed to various clinical settings through clinical visits and attachments, and will engage themselves in voluntary and community services, overseas exchange and/or other learning activities.
The MBBS curriculum lasts for 12 semesters spreading over six years and is designed to emphasize and integrate four key themes:
- Human Biology in Health and Disease;
- Professional Skills: Diagnostic, Problem Solving, Effective Communication and Clinical Management;
- Population Health, Health Services, Economics and Policy; and
- Medical Ethics, Professional Attitudes and Behaviour.
| Year I Semesters 1 and 2 |
Introduction to the Art and Science of Medicine (around 28 weeks) |
The Block aims to provide an introductory overview of the structure and function of the human body. This also aims to strengthen students’ foundation in basic and health sciences, give an overview of the processes of diseases and introduce the therapeutic strategies for modulating disease processes. From the beginning, students are encouraged to develop an understanding of the ethical and economic implications of modern medical care, medical humanities, as well as the importance of an approach to patient care that is based on sound scientific evidence. |
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| Year II Semesters 3 and 4 |
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In the entire second year, the first semester and the first half of the second semester of Year 3, the curriculum is based on a ‘human systems’ approach. Through these nine interdisciplinary modules, each of around 4-5 weeks, students learn the structure and functions of the body systems through these modules as they relate to the patient both as an individual and as a member of a wider population group. |
| Year III Semester 5 |
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| Year III Semester 6 |
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| Integrated Block (A) (4 Weeks) Elective (around 12 weeks) |
Students are given the opportunities to take a “core-plus-option” approach to learning during a duration of at least 12 weeks. During the period, they are required to prepare for the undertaking of a health research project and are exposed to the clinical setting through various clinical visits and attachments. In addition, they are encouraged to follow voluntary and community services, participate in overseas exchanges and/ or initiate their own learning activities, which are subject to the formal approval by the Elective Sub-Committee. | |
| Year IV Semesters 7 and 8 |
Integrated Block (B) (around 8 weeks) |
The Block adopts a ‘life-cycle approach’ to studying multi-system problems is introduced. The aim is to help students integrate the knowledge they have acquired during the earlier parts of the curriculum and prepare them for the subsequent clerkships. |
Junior Clerkship
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The emphasis shifts to the clinical management of patients. During the clerkship phases, students are directly involved in the day-to-day care of patients. They are expected to understand the basic concepts that underlie their patients’ problems and apply the knowledge they have gained in earlier parts of the course. Much emphasis is put on the clinical aspects of care in diagnosis, treatment and patient management. Students learn to apply their clinical and clinical interpersonal skills in an increasingly sophisticated fashion. During the period of the Specialty Clerkship, students are required to reside in the Madam S.H. Ho Residence for Medical Students or in an approved teaching hospital for specified periods. | |
| Year V Semester 9 |
Senior Clerkship
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| Year V/VI Semesters 10 and 11 |
Specialty Clerkship
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| Year VI Semester 12 |
Revision Block Final Examination Elective |
The twelfth semester comprises a revision block preceding the Final Examination, which is followed by a 4-week elective. During the elective period, students can explore areas of individual interest by means of either clinical attachment or laboratory/clinical research. Students then proceed to a 4-week pre-internship programme comprising practical tips workshops, hospital attachments, and orientations organised by the Hospital Authority and the hospitals. |
E-mail : medfac@hku.hk
Phone : (852)2819 9346