Medicine

The Oxford medical course sets out to train doctors who will be at the forefront of medicine, be it as GPs, hospital doctors or researchers. We thus emphasise the scientific basis of medicine throughout the course. We are interested not just in the facts (although all medics need to learn a very large number of facts), but also in the experimental basis of current medical practice (why and how do some cells become cancerous?) and in evidence-based clinical medicine (what is the most effective way of treating a patient with raised blood cholesterol?). Thus we are looking for students of the highest academic ability, with the drive to maintain learning throughout their careers, and with a deep curiosity into how the body works and how and why it sometimes does not.

Oriel’s tutors are experienced teachers but additionally are researchers of international renown in their particular fields. The very well-stocked library supplies students with personal copies of all the standard texts, which they may retain for the duration of their courses. Oriel has an active medical society, which meets annually for a lecture and dinner at which students meet senior doctors in a very relaxed atmosphere, and we have a list of ex-Oriel medics who are always available for consultation by students and junior doctors. Oriel has a generous academic travel grant scheme and has extra funds to help clinical students with their elective travel.

Oriel is developing a strong medical “subject family” which brings together undergraduates, graduates, researchers and clinicians engaged in the biomedical sciences for discussions and other events.