At Keele University, we’re different. Nestled in 600 acres of countryside in the heart of the UK, we have a big campus but a small and cosmopolitan community. We proudly rank 1st for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey for the last three years. This is because it’s more than green and lovely, it’s a place of research and academic excellence too. The Health Foundation Year offers an opportunity for students to enter a degree course in the Faculty of Health who do not meet the necessary criteria for direct entry. This is often because they have not studied the subjects required or because they have gained non-traditional qualifications. The course will provide you with the requisite science knowledge, enhance your study skills and give you an introduction to the employability skills required by health professionals. A Health Foundation Year allows progression to study for a degree in Medicine. Study Medicine at Keele and you’ll be thoroughly prepared for a very diverse profession with an expanding range of career options. You’ll have a strong grounding in the basic and social sciences alongside a high level of patient contact in both hospital and community settings. You will also gain insight into the health needs of our population, the needs of our patients and their experiences of the NHS. The course is designed to ensure you meet the necessary standards in terms of knowledge, skills and attitudes that new doctors need, as identified by the GMC in its publication, ‘Outcomes for Graduates’. Throughout the course there is an emphasis on feedback to help you improve your knowledge, understanding and performance of medical practice. The modern, spiral, highly-integrated medical curriculum combines a range of learning strategies, including early clinical experience, integrated communication and clinical skills teaching, practical sessions, including dissection, problem-based-learning (PBL), lectures and seminars. You will have extensive experience of clinical placements in both primary and secondary care settings and in the community sector. Inter-professional learning and student interests are fostered throughout the programme. Further opportunities for diversity are encouraged through intercalation. Opportunities for intercalation to pursue an additional qualification in a medicine-related subject are available and include studying at Bachelor’s level after the second year or Master’s level after the fourth year. Intercalation is a year out of your undergraduate medical studies in order to study a subject area in greater depth before returning to complete the medical course. An intercalated degree provides you with an opportunity to pursue an additional qualification in a medicine-related subject that interests you, acquire a better understanding of basic biomedical sciences, medical humanities and research methodologies, publish scientific papers and present at conferences. What will this mean for my future? Successful completion of the MBChB course provides you with a primary medical qualification (PMQ). Holding a PMQ entitles you to provisional registration with the General Medical Council. Provisionally registered doctors can only practise in approved Foundation Year 1 posts. There is a national application process for Foundation Year 1 posts during the final year of the course, and costs are allocated on a competitive basis. So far, all suitably qualified UK graduates have found a place on the Foundation Year 1 programme, but this cannot be guaranteed. Successful completion of the Foundation Year 1 programme is normally achieved within 12 months and is marked by the award of a Certificate of Experience. You will then be eligible to apply for full registration with the General Medical Council. You need full regis