How to Study or Train with the School of Clinical Medicine (medschl.cam.ac.uk)
Updated
The School of Clinical Medicine at the University of Cambridge offers three main routes to study or train with it: undergraduate study, postgraduate study (research-only, research with taught elements, higher doctorates, higher degrees by special regulations, and master's), and clinical academic training through specialised programmes, fellowships and lectureships. The right entry point depends on your current stage — prospective medical student, graduate researcher, or clinician seeking academic development — and you can find courses spanning primary, community-based or hospital care through the School's "Find a course" and "Explore Clinical Academic Training" sections.
Undergraduate study
If you are at the pre-degree stage, the School directs you to its undergraduate provision. The site's "Learn with us" section covers undergraduate study alongside postgraduate and clinical academic training, so this is the starting point for anyone not yet qualified in medicine.
Use this route if you are choosing a medical degree or an undergraduate course linked to clinical medicine. The School describes its overall approach as "a first class scientific approach to medicine" aimed at helping students "develop excellence in good medical practice."
Postgraduate study
The School describes a "dynamic and vibrant postgraduate community" and lists the following postgraduate categories:
| Category | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Research only | A pure research degree |
| Research with taught elements | Research combined with taught components |
| Higher doctorates | Advanced doctoral-level awards |
| Higher degrees by special regulations | Degrees awarded under specific regulations |
| Master's | Taught and research master's programmes |
It also highlights taught MPhil programmes specifically: "Advance your career with taught MPhil programmes at the University of Cambridge, spanning clinical medicine, translational research and emerging areas of health."
Use this route if you already hold a degree and want either a research career or a taught master's/MPhil to advance your career.
Clinical academic training
For clinicians who want to combine practice with research, the School offers "specialised programmes, fellowships and lectureships" under its Clinical Academic Training heading. The stated purpose is to "develop your academic research skills."
Use this route if you are already in clinical practice or clinical training and want to build a research component into your career. The three mechanisms named — programmes, fellowships and lectureships — represent different levels of commitment and seniority, so check each one against your current position.
Finding the right course
The School provides two navigation aids:
- Find a course — "Choose from a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in primary, community-based or hospital care." Use this if you know your preferred care setting and want to filter by it.
- Explore Clinical Academic Training — the entry point for programmes, fellowships and lectureships.
Research context
The School states its aim is to "conduct internationally excellent research that is: peer reviewed; clinical and translational; diverse; relates to a range of medical conditions and treatments." If your goal is to train within a research-active environment, this describes the setting you would be joining. The School describes itself as "one of the most prestigious medical schools in the world, renowned for research excellence and first class teaching."
How to decide
- No medical degree yet → undergraduate study.
- Degree in hand, want research → research-only postgraduate route.
- Degree in hand, want structured teaching plus research → taught MPhil or research with taught elements.
- Already clinically qualified, want academic skills → clinical academic training (programmes, fellowships, lectureships).
- Know your care setting → start from "Find a course" and filter by primary, community-based or hospital care.
The site does not publish fees, deadlines or entry requirements in the material available here, so confirm those details on the individual course pages before applying.