Student reviews
What is studying medicine at Cardiff University actually like?
The interview gets you a place; these reports are about the five or six years after that. Gathered from current student and recent graduate forums, weighted by how many independent sources agree. These are unverified community reports, not official university information.
6 reports
Placements stay commutable within South Wales for the first three years, with Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr as the furthest common site on a school-organised bus, but years four and five can send students anywhere in Wales including Bangor, Wrexham, and Rhyl in the north, with one student describing a drive of over 4 hours each way to a Bangor placement despite free accommodation being provided.
Several reports · 2 sources(spans several cycles)
Placements stay commutable within South Wales for the first three years, with Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr as the furthest common site on a school-organised bus, but years four and five can send students anywhere in Wales including Bangor, Wrexham, and Rhyl in the north, with one student describing a drive of over 4 hours each way to a Bangor placement despite free accommodation being provided.
"Describes being placed in Bangor for 8 weeks as part of the year 4 Women, Child and Family block, and the 4+ hours of driving each way, with strategic stops made to break up the journey. (paraphrase from search snippet)"
Cardiff University student blog, Beyond South Wales Medical Placements: Traveling there and back"The first 3 years are almost exclusively in hospitals in South Wales, commutable from Cardiff with the furthest probably being Prince Charles. Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil is 40 minutes drive from Cathays campus and a bus takes you to and from placement each week. Students can request to not have placement blocks outside of South Wales. (paraphrase from search snippet)"
The Student Room, Which hospitals do Cardiff med students do placements at? threadCase-based learning is the backbone of teaching and students say it fosters independent learning, but the opening 12-week Platform for Clinical Sciences block is described as intense and overwhelming, hated by almost every medical student, before CBL proper feels far more manageable.
Single report(older cycle)
Case-based learning is the backbone of teaching and students say it fosters independent learning, but the opening 12-week Platform for Clinical Sciences block is described as intense and overwhelming, hated by almost every medical student, before CBL proper feels far more manageable.
"Cardiff medical school aims to make students independent learners, giving you lots of time to investigate a subject yourself. CBL is less intense, more enjoyable and more manageable [than the Platform block]."
Life of a Medic, Cardiff Medical School student interviews"This first-term block is hated by almost every medical student, and students aren't warned about how intense it can feel."
Life of a Medic, Cardiff Medical School student interviews (part 2)Cardiff runs full cadaveric dissection rather than prosection-only, and students describe it as daunting at first but a genuinely valuable way to learn anatomy compared to textbooks.
Single report(older cycle)
Cardiff runs full cadaveric dissection rather than prosection-only, and students describe it as daunting at first but a genuinely valuable way to learn anatomy compared to textbooks.
"Dissection was a massive pro, aiding my learning experience since the human body is so different in textbooks. It can be quite daunting and scary at first but dissection is an amazing way to learn anatomy."
Life of a Medic, Cardiff Medical School student interviewsWorkload runs to roughly 40 hours a week including university time plus another 10-15 hours of extra study, and year two adds a practical ISCE clinical skills exam on top of theory assessments.
Single report(older cycle)
Workload runs to roughly 40 hours a week including university time plus another 10-15 hours of extra study, and year two adds a practical ISCE clinical skills exam on top of theory assessments.
"I would say that most students will work around 40 hours a week including their time in university, and around 10-15 hours of extra work outside of my usual placement time."
Life of a Medic, Cardiff Medical School student interviewsBeing split across the Heath and Cathays campuses means regular shuttling between sites in Welsh weather, but students consistently describe Cardiff as a relaxed, friendly medical school with strong pastoral support and affordable perks like a jobshop paying close to 100 pounds per open shift, especially compared to what they hear about other courses.
Single report(older cycle)
Being split across the Heath and Cathays campuses means regular shuttling between sites in Welsh weather, but students consistently describe Cardiff as a relaxed, friendly medical school with strong pastoral support and affordable perks like a jobshop paying close to 100 pounds per open shift, especially compared to what they hear about other courses.
"Students complained about being dragged from one campus to another between Heath and Cathays, requiring a good raincoat, comfortable shoes and an umbrella ready for the walk in Welsh weather."
Life of a Medic, Cardiff Medical School student interviews"Cardiff is definitely a more relaxed med-school and everyone is so friendly...competition will always exist among medics but Cardiff is definitely a lot more relaxed in comparison to what I have heard about other medical schools."
Life of a Medic, Cardiff Medical School student interviewsIntercalation is optional at Cardiff, not compulsory, and only around 100 of each roughly 300-student year group get to do it between years 3-4 or 4-5, with students reporting that being in the top half of the year is generally enough to secure a place.
Single report(spans several cycles)
Intercalation is optional at Cardiff, not compulsory, and only around 100 of each roughly 300-student year group get to do it between years 3-4 or 4-5, with students reporting that being in the top half of the year is generally enough to secure a place.
"Cardiff only allows a small number of medical students to intercalate and it is dependent on where you rank in your year, around 100/300 students intercalate here either after 3rd or after 4th year. Competition varies each year and depends on the option you choose, with the suggestion that if you are in the top 50% of the year you would not have an issue. (paraphrase from search snippet)"
The Student Room, Cardiff intercalation threadFree course: The NHS
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