Student reviews
What is studying medicine at Queen Mary (Barts) 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.
7 reports · 4 widely reported
Teaching mixes daily lectures with twice-weekly PBL sessions, but how much students get out of PBL depends heavily on the luck of their tutor and group. Most students say the real learning is still self-directed.
Widely reported · 4 sources(spans several cycles)
Teaching mixes daily lectures with twice-weekly PBL sessions, but how much students get out of PBL depends heavily on the luck of their tutor and group. Most students say the real learning is still self-directed.
"very interactive... twice a week for two hours each... most of the work is down to you!"
lifeofamedic.com interview with Megan Hart, 1st year Barts student"PBL really helps to consolidate your knowledge and tie it all together!... In order to make the most of it, getting stuck in is the most important thing."
lifeofamedic.com interview with Safiya, Barts student"paraphrase from search snippet: PBLs can be fun and are a great way of learning if you have a nice tutor and group"
The Student Room, Barts & The London (QMUL) Medicine - ask a student"Barts has a PBL approach with learning which I enjoy as I prefer hands on and case based learning."
6med.co.uk review quoting Malikha, current Barts studentStudents must pass in-course assessments on average across the year to even sit finals, and teaching days can be packed with back-to-back lectures plus a PBL session. Students describe the workload as intense and at times overwhelming, though manageable if organised.
Widely reported · 4 sources(spans several cycles)
Students must pass in-course assessments on average across the year to even sit finals, and teaching days can be packed with back-to-back lectures plus a PBL session. Students describe the workload as intense and at times overwhelming, though manageable if organised.
"You have to pass everything on average throughout the year in order to sit the final exams."
lifeofamedic.com interview with Megan Hart, 1st year Barts student"You will have a few ICAs (in course assessments) throughout the year... Most first years spend a week or two studying in the library before them."
6med.co.uk review quoting Malikha, current Barts student"The curriculum at Bart's is challenging but rewarding... the workload felt overwhelming at times."
medicsandme.com first-person post by Dalia Al-Temimi, 4th year Barts medical studentThe Whitechapel medical school campus sits in a scruffier, less polished part of east London than rival London schools' campuses, with students flagging some safety caution at night, but this is balanced by a tight-knit community feel and quick tube access to the rest of London.
Widely reported · 4 sources(spans several cycles)
The Whitechapel medical school campus sits in a scruffier, less polished part of east London than rival London schools' campuses, with students flagging some safety caution at night, but this is balanced by a tight-knit community feel and quick tube access to the rest of London.
"paraphrase from search snippet: prospective student concern that Whitechapel isn't as nice as areas of King's and UCL; current student reply: don't let the location put you off, you can rent nearby much cheaper than other London universities"
The Student Room, Medicine at Barts - honest opinions?"paraphrase from search snippet: the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel is not in a nice or clean area outside but the actual hospital is modern and amazing"
StudentCrowd student review of QMUL Medicine"Yes of course there are some aspects that are quite dangerous when it comes night time but both campuses have security."
lifeofamedic.com interview with Megan Hart, 1st year Barts student"Barts is so friendly! I love being a student at Barts and would not want to study anywhere else... it isn't just amongst peers but across the whole student community."
lifeofamedic.com interview with Safiya, Barts studentPlacements are spread wide across east London plus Essex out-firms that students describe as far from campus, though the school provides free accommodation near the out-firm site during those blocks.
Widely reported · 3 sources(spans several cycles)
Placements are spread wide across east London plus Essex out-firms that students describe as far from campus, though the school provides free accommodation near the out-firm site during those blocks.
"Placements include: The Royal London Hospital, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Whipps Cross, Newham University Hospital, Homerton University Hospital, and Essex outfirms (Broomfield, Southend, Colchester, Princess Alexandra Hospital)... All infirms are reasonably accessible with public transport."
lifeofamedic.com interview with Safiya, Barts student"After Year 2, you will be seeing patients in any outreach clinic. This can be in Canary Wharf or Stratford and both of these are about 30 mins away from main campus."
6med.co.uk review quoting Malikha, current Barts student"paraphrase from search snippet: out-firms are based in Essex which can be far from campus, though the medical school provides free accommodation close to the hospital throughout placement stays"
The Student Room, Barts & The London (QMUL) Medicine - ask a studentAnatomy is taught mainly through prosection and workbook stations rather than students doing their own dissection. Hands-on full-body dissection is only available as a competitive optional Student Selected Component, not the default experience.
Several reports · 3 sources(spans several cycles)
Anatomy is taught mainly through prosection and workbook stations rather than students doing their own dissection. Hands-on full-body dissection is only available as a competitive optional Student Selected Component, not the default experience.
"In Anatomy Practicals you will be given a workbook to read through and answer questions while walking between information stations which also have prosection that you may look at."
lifeofamedic.com interview with Megan Hart, 1st year Barts student"During your Student Selected Components you will have the opportunity to apply for dissection, however from my understanding it'll only be the head or the torso etc but the full body is there."
lifeofamedic.com interview with Megan Hart, page 2"paraphrase from search snippet: Barts do prosection for anatomy teaching"
The Student Room, Do Barts & Liverpool do dissection or prosection?Cost of living in east London is a real recurring gripe, with students saying accommodation, travel and food all cost noticeably more than expected once actually living there.
Several reports · 2 sources(spans several cycles)
Cost of living in east London is a real recurring gripe, with students saying accommodation, travel and food all cost noticeably more than expected once actually living there.
"Everything from accommodation, travel and food costs more when you are here."
lifeofamedic.com interview with Megan Hart, 1st year Barts student"First year accommodation is offered by the university and is anywhere from £130 to £200 a week... Travel costs are £2 to £4 each way by tube... A pint is around £6."
6med.co.uk review quoting Malikha, current Barts studentIntercalation at Barts is optional, not built into the standard 5-year course. Students describe a choice of roughly 8-9 one-year iBSc programmes after year 2, with one recent student noting Barts is unusual among London schools in also allowing intercalation into a Masters after year 4.
Several reports · 2 sources(spans several cycles)
Intercalation at Barts is optional, not built into the standard 5-year course. Students describe a choice of roughly 8-9 one-year iBSc programmes after year 2, with one recent student noting Barts is unusual among London schools in also allowing intercalation into a Masters after year 4.
"After your 2nd year...you can apply to do one of the 9 one-year iBSc courses."
lifeofamedic.com interview with Megan Hart, 1st year Barts student"Barts is the only university to offer intercalation into a Masters after 4th year rather than a BSc."
6med.co.uk review quoting Malikha, current Barts studentGet into Queen Mary (Barts)
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