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Support for Students
Welfare and wellbeing
Galenicals as a society is committed to help promote and support the welfare of all medical students. So, we are a great port of call, especially if you aren’t sure where to go for any additional help or advice. We appreciate the challenges that you can face when being at university, let alone the additional aspects of being a medical student with longer term times and ‘out’ placements that can feel very lonely. We feel strongly that Bristol Medical school should be an inclusive place to which all of us should feel a sense of belonging. Embracing the positivity of diversity and supporting each other through cultural awareness and appreciation as we also manage the academic parts of our course.
We have several different schemes running within the society to provide pastoral support and build a sense of community. This includes the Medic Family scheme, Welfare rep network and running social events. We are also happy to hear about ideas, suggestions for improvements, or things that you think will make a positive difference within your medical school program.
Welfare directors
Please get in touch with our welfare directors through email: med-galenicalswelfare@bristol.ac.uk or on instagram: @galenicalswelfare.
Diya Roy
Hi, I’m Diya! I am a 2nd year medical student, and I will be your Preclinical Welfare Director. I am part of the university’s Pole and Aerial Arts & Yoga societies, and I also love reading and wandering around in nature! University can be a massive change, and I’m really passionate about making sure everyone has access to the support they need to thrive at university, no matter what. Please get in touch with me if you would like a chat about any support, you may need or any concerns you have. We can navigate it together.
Rosie Norris
Hi, I’m Rosie, a 4th year medical student and your Clinical Welfare Director. This year I’m on placement in Southmead and Taunton, but will be based in Bristol for most of the year where I love baking and eating the results of my endeavours. I am really passionate about the wellbeing of Bristol medical students and know what a difference genuine support can make. I am always happy to listen and have a friendly chat so please don’t hesitate to contact me or any member of the welfare team.
Peer-to-peer support
One of the key ways in which we are trying to promote welfare is through running our network of Welfare Reps who can be found both in Bristol and throughout the different clinical academies. Welfare reps are medical students who have had peer support training and who are available for a chat and to help navigate and signpost further support that’s available or are friendly faces who can be there to listen and help with anything that’s worrying you.
To access the peer-to-peer support scheme please fill in the form linked below. Alternatively, you can always email us with any queries or questions at med-galenicalswelfare@bristol.ac.uk.
Welfare contacts
Everybody will find things difficult or just need pointing in the right direction at some point and it’s important to know that there is help easily available. Please find below some useful university and external organisation contacts:
Galenicals contacts
- Galenicals Welfare Directors – welfare@galenicals.org.uk
- Galenicals EDI Directors – equalities@galenicals.org.uk
- Galenicals Co-Presidents – president@galenicals.org.uk
University contacts
- Student Health Service
- Student Wellbeing and Student Counselling
- Residential Life Support
- Sexual Violence Liaison Officers
- Medical School Senior Tutors (General Email – med-seniortutor@bristol.ac.uk)
- Dr Rosanna Bevan (Years 1-2)
- Dr Sherlie Arulanadam (Year 3)
- Dr Shilpa Zacharia (Year 4)
- Dr Nicola Taylor (Year 5)
External contacts
Emotional Support
- The Sanctuary – offers a safe place to visit for mental health support
- Off the Record – for mental health support information
- Nightline (only available within term time) – call 0117 266 266
- Bristol Mind – visit the website or call the helpline on 0117 203 4419
- Samaritans – visit the website or call 116 123
- Suicide Prevention Bristol – call 0800 689 5652
Sexual Violence
Drugs and Alcohol
- Bristol Drug Project
- Frank – visit the website or call 0300 123 6600
LGBTQ+ Support
The clinical academies
From Year 3 onward, students are allocated to 7 different ‘clinical academies’. These are essentially clinical placements where you will be attached to a hospital (yes, you get a NHS lanyard and ID card #almostadoctor).
You will receive teaching from doctors called clinical teaching fellows. They are really quite friendly and their job is to guide, assess and take care of you in general throughout the placement. If you have concerns about medicine or life in general they will often be happy to have a chat!
Bristol placements
North Bristol (Southmead)
‘As Bristol placements go these hospitals are great. Teaching is very good, though the hospital feels a little more rushed than others. There are more dramatic cases though– which always adds points!’
Getting there
Travelling from Bristol city centre:
Cycling takes about 20mins – simply go all the way up Gloucester Road (if coming from Cotham) or Coldharbour Road (from Redland). There is secure parking for bikes.
Buses are regular and can be used easily. The 54 comes up Whiteladies Road, while the 76 takes Gloucester Road. The 1 and 2 are also helpful buses!
Parking
Car parking is subsidised to £2 per day. You’ll need to get a scratchcard from the medical undergraduate office.
Facilities
Common Rooms
The biggest and best is in Southmead, though both have a small kitchen, lockers, pool table and a computer room. Perfect for perfecting your tea making skills if you’re doing psychiatry.
Food
There is a main canteen, and a number of smaller shops and cafes. The food is fairly standard, but the NHS discount always helps!
Year 3
MDEMO
This is a great place for MDEMO with lots of clinics and surgeries taking place throughout the week. Orthopods like you to know a little bit about the surgeries before you attend– they ask lots of questions during it!
Junior Med Surg
You’ll meet many a legendary consultant in these topics who just exude enthusiasm for their specialities. A&E weeks are over in Frenchay where you will do some of your emergency on take sessions– it’s a bigger hospital so if you hang around on a Friday evening, you’re sure to get some good cases. A good hospital for clerking too as the turnover is quite quick.
Year 4
Psychiatry
For this placement students are either based at Callington Road (usually need a car to get to) or the psychiatric units at Southmead (based next to the maternity units…). The junior doctors are all exceptional and all willing to give extra teaching sessions if you ask, which is fantastic just before the exam, which is actually quite difficult! The junior doctors room in Southmead is the place to go to get to know them (and grab free lunches by the drug reps on Tuesdays!)
Make sure you try to go to various wards to see different cases—its easy to think you have to stay on the ward your consultant is attached to, but this will make it duller for you! Clerking patients is not a requirement, though it really helps you develop your history taking skills! Prepare yourself for 6 cups of tea a day on this placement– it’s amazing how much more people tell you with a cuppa in hand!
Sian Williams is an old age consultant and one you should try to find– loves to teach (she gave us our own hallucination session) and is one of the happiest consultants around!
South Bristol (BRI)
Out-placements
Bath
The Hospital
Bath is the closest academy to Bristol and has a fantastic reputation for being a well run and friendly hospital. The Royal United Hospital (RUH) is pretty big, with excellent opportunities to learn, whichever unit you are studying. All the staff are very friendly and welcoming, and the majority love having students around. Teaching location depends on what Unit you are studying, but the majority of the teaching will be delivered in the education centre (part of the hospital, and very close to the accommodation), where you can also find the library, the admin team, and the common room.Getting there
Majority of students drive to Bath, as it’s only about 12 miles from Bristol – quickest way via the A4 from Bristol centre. Off peak it’s about 30minutes but during rush hour you need to allow at least an hour if not more. An alternative route is via A431, which takes about 45 minutes whatever time of day you go. Trains from Temple Meads are pretty regular – only take about 15 minutes. From the station in Bath it’s about a 15-minute cycle – warning it is uphill on the way to the RUH! Some have cycled from Bristol to Bath – it’s actually pretty easy to cycle if you have the inclination, and takes 50ish minutes if you put a bit of effort in.Accommodation and facilities
On-site hospital accommodation – you can roll out of bed 5 minutes before ward rounds and still be on time! The blocks are very similar to basic halls of residence standard – bed, desk, sink, and wardrobe. They are arranged into flats of 4-6 sharing a bathroom and kitchen and each block has a lounge with a TV and table. They give you linen and blankets (not towels), it might be worth bringing your duvet, as you need about 15 blankets to keep warm in the winter. There’s always plenty of hot water and the showers are generally good. The blocks have junior doctors, visiting staff and nurses in them so there is a mix although we get put together for the most part. Kitchen Most things are provided. Cutlery and crockery are supplied but its not the best – it may be worth bringing a sharp knife and a saucepan. Library & Computers 24-hour access to the Education Centre with your swipe card that has lots of computers and a pretty well stocked library. Parking Mo Jacobs does have parking permits but that just gives you access to the grass behind the barrier instead of in front of it. Parking is tough on site but there is usually somewhere to park at the back behind Hillview Lodge or the primary school.Local Area
Supermarkets A 7-11pm Tesco is really close, walking out of the main entrance or behind the residences turn left and cross the road walk past the Weston café and it is on your left. (It does really good deals after 6pm!) There is also a post office relatively close. Social Club Bath has its own social club open all day everyday. They have a TV, bar, ‘gym’ (more like home gym – its ok but don’t expect the works), skittles, squash and tennis courts, pool table and a swimming pool in winter months. You can go as a guest but it’s about £3 to join after which you get 50p off everything you book like squash courts. Swimming is £10 per month, its outdoors but its warm. A pint of fosters is about £1.80 if I remember right so its pretty cheap and 100m from your bed and the education centre. The payday party at the end of the month is held there and its worth going once you’ve gotten to know your SHO’s. Bars/Pubs Both pretty old man pubs but if the social club is getting unexciting then either side of Somerfield is a pub. The one on the right has a beer garden but is a bit more expensive. They do a pretty good curry night though. Places worth trying include: sub13, adventure café, haha bar, the assembly. Bath centre 30 minutes walk to the centre but buses run every 10 minutes in the daytime from the hospital main entrance. Cabs home are about £6. Not recommended to drive to shops as parking is a nightmare – its 2 minutes on the bus.Student thoughts
“Bath was a great placement! Ok, so the accommodation isn’t great, but the brilliant and living in the beautiful city of Bath more than made up for it. The staff are incredibly friendly and it’s a very social academy to be in, with events planned by the academy staff. Bath’s great!”
Gloucester
The Hospital
The Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest hospital trusts in the country. There are around 25 wards, 10 theatres and an A&E department. The bulk of formal teaching will be given at “Redwood Education Centre”, which has numerous teaching rooms, a clinical skills lab and library. You may also spend some of your time in Cheltenham (but this won’t be a lot in 3rd year), which is a little smaller, but has a very similar atmosphere and set-up. The hospital is a 15-minute walk away from accommodation. At first it seems like a complete maze so leave yourself plenty of time to get around. The staff are friendly and eager to teach too – so make the most of it! There is a student room at the top of the tower block – you will find a TV, lockers and sofas. You can also use the doctors’ kitchen – here you will find a supply of tea and coffee along with a microwave. There is also a computer room here. If that doesn’t take your fancy, there is the Fosters cafe for students, staff and patients – food is pretty cheap (NHS badge for discounts!). There is also the WRVS in the outpatients department for some corporate Costa goodness.Getting there
Most people travel to Gloucester by car, sharing lifts – can take around 40 minutes and sometimes up to an hour in heavy traffic. There is a really good train service that runs from Bristol (1-3 trains leaving each hour). The train station is a 20-minute walk from the halls but taxis are available. On the odd occasion you may have to travel to Cheltenham for clinics – there is a free bus that runs every half an hour – remember your hospital ID. The coordinator at Gloucester will issue you with a temporary bus pass – it can take 20-minutes (outside of rush hour) but up to an hour in rush hour.Accommodation
The accommodation is some of the best! Rooms are modern, clean and well decked out: large desk, bookshelf and small wardrobe etc. Internet is available and a connecting cable is provided. Some of the bathrooms are shared but some rooms, if you’re lucky enough, have en-suites. Standard bedding is sometimes provided but do check before going! (You might want to bring your own anyway, especially in winter, as the duvets can be pretty thin.) There are communal kitchens, which is the only shared area. Kitchens can be sparse so take a few cutlery/plates/pots/pans just in case. Get used to taking your door off its lock when you are in the halls, or keep your keys with your at all times. If you get locked out at night, it’s a mile walk to get the master key from security and you have to return it straight away – not nice! Roebook and Dicovery House Housing both 3rd and 5th year students, this property is situated on Brunswick Road. It is divided into a mix of flats: consisting of sharing with 2 others and sometimes up to 4. Some flats have shared bathrooms and others en-suites, as well as kitchens and lounge areas. The internet is via ethernet cable (which is provided). Situated in the newly developed Gloucester docks, it takes about 20 minutes to walk to the hospital. Ermin Hall This accommodation has two disabled rooms, which are comparatively enormous – for some unknown reason they don’t have bins or a mirror and the showers are pretty poor.Facilities in Gloucester
Supermarket There is a large 24hr ASDA between the hospital and accommodation with a slight detour. There is also a Tesco Express by the bus station. Pubs/bars If you ask anyone at the hospital where the best place to go out in Gloucester is, they will always say Cheltenham! However, it isn’t cheap. There are a good few pubs around the accommodation worth exploring. There are also a few clubs nearby on Eastgate Street. Nandos and Pizza Express (followed by cinema every Wednesday), were also very popular whilst in Gloucester. Exercise There is a very good Gym (GL1) close to the accommodation – it’s a modern looking sports complex, which has pretty much everything: swimming pool, tennis courts, aerobics classes, weights – it’s great! You also get NHS discount – ask the admin team. There is also a rock-climbing centre near the docks. It’s a 15 minute walk from halls and you can check out their website here.Student thoughts
“Gloucester is a great place to be in third year! It is known for being one of the more intense academies to study at, particularly for Med-Surg, but in hindsight this isn’t a bad thing! The teaching staff are brilliant, and everyone on the wards is always welcoming and helpful. Gloucester may not be the nicest city in the world (truth be told it’s a bit of a dump), but you’ll end up making some great friends and having a great time as a result!” “I was in Gloucester for MDEMO…Orthopaedics was great!! The orthopods were all super friendly and encouraging…scrubbed in and assisting at the first surgery I attended!! Loved it!!”
Swindon
The Academy
The Undergraduate Office is in the Academy and is staffed by a friendly undergraduate team, consisting of the undergrad manager, administrator and the Clinical Fellows. They are your first point of call for any questions or queries while you’re on placement at Swindon.Student Accomodation
Downsview House is located at the rear of the Great Western Hospital and is signposted from the main entrance. Every effort is made to provide medical students with appropriate accommodation and where possible, on the same floor as their colleagues.- All rooms have en-suite facilities.
- All rooms have Broadband internet.
- Kitchens are fully equipped and there is a TV in each living area.
- Bed linen, towels, duvets and pillows are supplied, and there is a regular cleaning service and weekly linen change.
- Toiletries including toilet tissue are not supplied.
- Communal laundry room on the ground floor.
How to find us
By Rail: The nearest main line station is Swindon, located in the town centre. The train takes 40mins and a Hospital Express Shuttle bus service (number 16) links the town centre to the hospital. By Road: The Great Western Hospital is about a 45 minute drive from Bristol and isn’t usually too bad to get to as you’ll be moving in the opposite direction to most of the traffic if you’re leaving Bristol in the morning. The hospital is really close to junction 15 of the M4 motorway. If using a sat nav, use postcode SN3 6BB. By Cycle: If you’re really keen (& students have been known to), you can reach Swindon by bicycle via National Cycle Route 4. The hospital is also linked to the Swindon Cycle path network. Bicycle parking is available outside the main entrance and various points around the hospital.The Hospital
The Great Western Hospital is a modern district general hospital (it recently had its 10th birthday!), with more than 600 beds. The idiosyncratic ward names take a while to get used to: the 2nd floor wards are named after trees (e.g. Beech: Gynae, Hazel: Maternity), the 3rd floor wards are named after birds (e.g. Linnet: MAU, Wren: Outpatients) and the 4th floor wards after named after planets (e.g. Saturn: Resp, Jupiter: CoE). Unfortunately the Sexual Health dept. (located on the 4th floor) has escaped this scheme; the potential for hilarity is obvious. It is a friendly hospital and once you get used to the U-shaped layout, you should be able to find your way round without too much difficulty. Although a convenient route of entry, no responsibility is accepted for anyone attempting to access the hospital via the Shalbourne Suite (private wing). You have been warned.Sustenance
Café Blue serves discounted Costa coffee as well as sandwiches and a decent selection of cakes. Meals and snacks are also available in the hospital restaurant and the staff canteen which is referred to as ‘Bookends’ and is situated just off the Library on the lower ground floor. What’s special about Swindon Academy?
Simulation Training at Swindon Academy Simulation training is a part of the curriculum here at the Great Western Hospital. Part of this involves using a SIM man model to re-create medical scenarios. Swindon has a well-equipped facility which opened in November 2012 and includes a control room with 1 way mirror, simulation room which can be adapted to simulate a variety of clinical environments (resus room, ward bay, operating theatre, GP surgery) and a debriefing room with audio visual links. Our SIM man has heart sounds, breath sounds, a pulse and a voice to make things as life like as possible. This allows students to practice using their clinical and judgement skills in a safe environment, without any risk of patient harm. The majority of our students really enjoy it and say it is one of the most useful forms of teaching! Academic opportunities There are lots of additional educational opportunities available at Swindon, including an Evening Teaching Programme to support final years in the autumn term. Details of these are advertised on the notice boards in the Academy, and via email. Swindon offers a number of exciting eSSC programmes in the summer which are advertised via the usual routes. This year (2012/13), they will include SSCs in Simulation and medical education as well as a group of students undertaking projects in Uganda. CTA Programme The Clinical Teaching Assistant (CTA) programme is new to the University of Bristol Academy at Swindon for 2012. Similar programmes of training are already well-established in several medical schools in the UK. CTAs are laywomen who have a special interest in women’s health and improving medical education. They have been recruited from the community to become clinical teachers and are specifically trained on how to deliver communication and consent tutorials as well as to teaching speculum and bimanual examination. Training in pelvic examination can be difficult to acquire as a student. Students are often anxious about hurting the patient, patients can be reluctant to be examined by students and doctors in clinic can be rushed and lack the time to teach you adequately. The CTA session gives you a unique opportunity a) to learn both the technical and communication aspects of doing a pelvic examination in a relaxed unhurried environment and b) to receive feedback on your skills. All students on an RHCN placement at the GWH are required to take part in a CTA training session. You will be guided through the procedure by two CTA’s and will be given the opportunity to practice on a conscious “patient” (one of the CTA’S) who will also give you feedback. The training takes place in the gynaecology outpatients department. More details can be found in the brand new shiny Academy Handbook!Out & about in Swindon
There is plenty to see in & around Swindon. Your time here will not be complete until you’ve been round the Magic Roundabout (the recommendation is not endorsed by Health & Safety) and seen the ancient White Horse at Uffington, a short drive from Swindon. Coate Water, which is a short distance from the hospital, is excellent for a healthy run or a romantic walk at sunset. The Link Centre Facilities Available:- Ice rink
- 25m deck level swimming pool
- Climbing wall
- Gym
- Health suite
- Fitness classes
- Multi-purpose sports hall (eight-court)
- 3G Outdoor Pitches
- Squash courts
- Snooker hall
- Free car parking
- Two swimming pools
- Gym
- Turkish baths
- Natural health clinic
- Fitness classes
Taunton/Somerset
The Hospital
Musgrove Park Hospital (MPH) is a sizeable hospital located in the centre of the Taunton. The teaching at Taunton centres on cardiology, respiratory medicine, ENT and vascular. Aside from at the bedside, teaching occurs mainly within the academy, which has a well-equipped clinical skills lab and a decent library. The staff are usually very welcoming and eager to provide outstanding teaching. The medical assessment unit is an excellent place to gain on-take experience and practise clinical skills.Getting to Taunton
Driving: most people drive and car share – it’s straight down the M5. Generally it’s best to leave about an hour to get there, longer if you’re leaving in the morning due to traffic. Train: there is a train station in the middle of Taunton – there is a regular service between Bristol and Taunton. The station is close to the hospital but a little further to the accommodation (40 min walk – but some students often shared a taxi back).Accommodation
All 3rd and 4th years are placed at Canonsgrove Halls of Residence – 3 miles from centre of Taunton. 5th years are placed in flats on-site at Musgrove Hospital. Canonsgrove The accommodation is something of a mixed blessing. Situated about 3 miles from the hospital, Canonsgrove is shared with Somerset College of Arts and Technology (SCAT) students. Rooms have a single bed, desk, shelves, bedside table. All are en-suite (watch the showers, the water goes everywhere!). You’re usually provided with a duvet and pillow – but you need to take sheets. The rooms are pretty similar to Durdham Hall… Kitchen – shared kitchens have an oven, hobs, microwave, kettle, fridge/freezer combo. Good idea to take your own pots/pans/cutlery/plates etc. – limited utensils available. There is always an on-site warden if any problems Facilities at Canonsgrove- Communal areas: There is a small bar with a TV and sofas, as well as sports hall, outside football pitch and BBQ area
- Parking: allocated spaces in the back car park – ask admin team for parking permit. Takes about 20-25 mins to drive to hospital.
- Bikes: there are bike racks available – takes 15mins to hospital.
- Supermarkets: Most people tend to go to Tesco as it’s really near the hospital – you can’t miss it! Otherwise, if you need bits and pieces, you can always go to the Trull shop which is on the left on the way back to the halls (on Honiton Road- the long road that takes you back to halls)…they sell really nice home made cakes in there!
- Pubs: there’s a number of good pubs around the area in walking distance.
- Local sport clubs: students in the past have joined local sports teams during their placement.
- Gyms: Anytime Fitness Gym near the hospital does good student/NHS discount
Taunton itself
The halls are located just under three miles outside of Taunton…so if you want to get into town it’s best to cycle, drive or take a bus. There are loads of great shops – including all the usual high street stuff and sometimes farmers markets. There are plenty of places to eat out such as Pizza Express and a Wetherspoons – some aren’t the cheapest of places. The Old Library is pretty nice too. If you fancy a big ‘un, the biggest club in Taunton is called Shout! (on east Street) or Fever has been said to be pretty fun. Mecca Bingo is also in the centre – medical students have been found there. The nearest cinema is the Odeon, near the M5 junction 25, where you will also find bowling. Student thoughts
“The admin staff are so friendly and really helpful!” “The academy is excellent and doctors on the wards were keen to teach and get students involved in the day-to-day running of the ward.”
Weston
The Hospital
Weston General Hospital is relatively small. It consists of around 10 wards, operating theatres, an outpatients department and a modern A/E department. Being placed in a small hospital has its advantage, most of the teaching happens on the wards, you get to know the ward staff and doctors well and genuinly feel part of the team. It’s a great way to get really stuck in! Other teaching and most tutorials take place in the two-floor academy, which is less than a 2-minute walk away from the main hospital and has a fully equipped light and spacious 24hr library.Getting there
The easiest way to travel to Weston is by car, usually along the M5 via Avonmouth – those who don’t have cars usually share lifts. It can take about 30-40 minutes from Bristol, traffic permitting (you are always going against the traffic so there isn’t really a rush-hour). It is also possible to get a train from Bristol, however the station is 30-minute walk from the accommodation – not ideal, but very do-able with a bike! There are plenty of parking spaces available next to the hospital accommodation, which the academy staff will provide you with permits for, (you pay a deposit that gets reimbursed).Accomodation
The hospital accommodation is only a couple of minutes’ walk away from the hospital and right next to the academy – where most of your tutorials will be based and includes library and computer facilities. The accommodation consists of houses of 6 people, usually all medical students on the same placement as you, but sometimes you may be with other healthcare professionals. They have 2 bathrooms (but not all houses…), a kitchen and a living room with a TV (and Freeview). You have your own room with a sink, desk, desk lamp and chair. The bed is a single bed and you need to bring your own bedding and towels. Once you move into your room it is yours until the end of placement. All bedrooms are provided with bedding – but double check this as sometimes the duvets go missing… Also you may need to bring extra duvet as they are tiny. Towels are also provided. Kitchens are quite small but there are free washing machines and tumble dryers (bring your own drying rack) and are fully equipped with cooking utensils. Things like loo paper, scrubbing brushes and washing up liquid is provided but you will need to bring your own hand soap and tea towels. A cleaner comes in daily to mop the floor and check the kitchen is tidy, be friendly to him/her and keep the place clean and you’ll get by just fine! Some students found it easier to group together and take turns to cook for house each night as this meant not everyone was trying to use the small kitchen at once! There is WiFi throughout the house – very useful! Parking spaces are onsite, free and readily available, no passes needed.Facilities
Supermarket The closest supermarket in walking distance of the accommodation is a Tesco’s local around a 20-minute walk from the accommodation. There is a huge ASDA and Waitrose on the same shopping complex a short drive away. Bars/Pubs Within the surrounding area of the hospital there is not much going on. There are a couple of pubs around a five minute walk away. The Ship Inn serves nice food, and they also have a pub quiz every week. The hospital is around a 30minute walk away from Weston city centre. There are various restaurants along the waterfront and a huge arcade in the grand pier. Apparently, there are 2 local nightclubs, a cage fighting club and a strip bar in town, but never ventured that far . . . Exercise The hospital has a reasonably well-equipped physiotherapy/gym room (although this may be closing soon!!) – they allow hospital staff and students to use for free any time after five. The beach is very close, great for evening walks and ideal for jogs along the picturesque sea-front.Year 3
Junior Medicine & Surgery Known to be the weakest of the four at Weston but still good, as very few wards and not a great deal of patients, so you need to seek out the patients that are there. However, there are lots of timetabled tutorials on useful and essential subjects, which will make it more worthwhile. Psychiatry Has own separate ward on site with lots of patients, and generally a good block in Weston. Staff are good and lots of teaching is timetabled, many staff will give you extra teaching if wanted too. This block has the most free time so it’s good to be close enough to Bristol to come back and forth. MDEMO Excellent block, one of the best in the academies. Lots of activities and clinics to attend, with special teaching clinics timetabled especially for students and lots of surgery too. Teaching is brilliant and lots of it! A&E is fantastic here too, as you have a whole weeks run of A&E to spend as much time as you want there. Need to be organised though as it’s a busy block!Student thoughts
“I really enjoyed my placement in Weston, I know others that didn’t so much, but you do end up coming away from the placement with new friends. There isn’t much going on in Weston, therefore this placement is what you make of it. The fact that Weston is a small hospital makes it easier to approach the wards at the start, and it gives you a chance to get to know the staff. The F1s are particularly helpful.” “The hospital is good for learning if you’re self motivated. The teaching is okay, not as thorough as other places like Gloucester or Bath.” “Weston was my first placement out of Bristol, although daunting at first it soon became a second home. Living in groups of 6, with the students you studied with meant that you really got to know a great new bunch of medics. The academy staff are very friendly and its so convenient having everything on your doorstep, living on-site. But Weston is also really commutable (though the staff like you to be there Monday-Friday) you don’t tend to be on the roads at the same time as everyone else so the journey is relatively quick, making it easy to come back for sports and other society things. The teaching in the hospital is well structured and with so few students to doctors you really do get an individual education!”
Yeovil
The Hospital
Yeovil District Hospital (YDH) is a fairly small district general compared to Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital. There are 2,200 staff, working to care for approximately 185,000 people, primarily in south Somerset, North and West Dorset and parts of Mendip. Per day: 20,000 emergency admissions, 3,500 elective admissions, and 18,000 day cases. More than 40,000 people attend A&E each year, the maternity department delivers nearly 2,000 babies, and the intensive care unit looks after many hundreds of people. The staff at the hospital are, on the whole, very approachable and willing to teach.
The academy is integrated within the main hospital. Library services are located next to the academy.
Getting to Yeovil
Yeovil is tricky to get to without a car – the most direct route is the A37 – this is mostly a single carriageway road and a result if you get stuck behind a lorry or tractor you’re stuck there for some time! Driving takes approximately 1.5 hours, it is recommended to share lifts to reduce the expense, and break up the monotony of the A37. Trains can take around 90 minutes.
Accommodation
Convamore – 2 minute walk from the hospital
- The rooms are spacious and all have their own sink. The kitchens are slightly more dubious. Kitchens are quite basic and not particularly well supplied, make sure you take the basics: crockery, a sharp knife and a chopping board etc.
- The big plus for Convamore, is that it is located 2 minutes’ walk from the wards. With such convenience, popping home for lunch was easy. The flats share one shower/ bath, and one toilet. Unlike Taunton, there is no bar or communal area, which is something of a downside.
- Check before going…but you might want/need to take your own bedding and a LAN cable for internet, apart from that, most things are catered for or can be borrowed from one of the permanent tenants.
- There is a communal TV room at the house.
Preston Road – 10-15 minute walk to hospital
What is provided: duvet/pillows/sheet/duvet covers/pillow cases (feel free to take your own if you wish) – only hand towels available so take your own bath towel! All beds are single. There are fully fitted kitchen with utensils and cutlery. Internet is available.
Facilities
Parking
At Preston Road, this is shared with the permanent tenants, there are generally enough spaces and the parking is relatively safe. Don’t bother trying to park at the hospital site – it’s a tiny place and probably a lot of consultants don’t even have a space! It is only a few minutes walk to the hospital anyway! Parking behind the Convamore residence is sparse – it requires a parking permit, which can be obtained from the hospital reception.
Supermarkets and pubs
There is a large Tesco within a 10-minute walk from the accommodation. There is a Nuffield Health gym about half a mile from YDH – sometimes offering good discounts to medical students.
Yeovil doesn’t boast a great spread of nightlife, but there is an excellent Wetherspoons bar a similar distance from YDH. The Others are mostly in the centre.
Student thoughts
“As a student I feel the staff were helpful and catered to our needs as and when we made requests. The organisation seems to be well put together with prompt responses to queries. It is great fun!”
“It is rather far from Bristol but having only a few students there it is a great chance to learn and be taught. The admin staff are really helpful!”
When do I find out about my placements?
Usually the list is published around December of 2nd Year. You won’t have to rotate through all 7 academies in one year! Often students will have 2 academies, one of which is a Bristol-based placement, e.g. Gloucester for 4-5 months, then South Bristol for the rest of the year.
Where will I live?
If your placement is in Bristol (South Bristol or North Bristol academy) then you will need to organise your own accommodation in Bristol. If you’re in any of the other ‘out-placements’, then the academy will provide FREE accommodation in the respective locations. Many students keep a Bristol residence while on out-placements in case they wish to come back in the weekends to see friends or for central study days.
For more information, check out the Medical School Website.
Intercalation
As a medical student you can intercalate an extra year in order to study for an Honours BSc degree. At present approximately 1/3 of medical students have the opportunity to intercalate. Most often people intercalate at the end of year 2 and exceptionally at the end of year 3.
A number of subjects are on offer to medics and these are constantly changing. For up to date information on the subjects offered contact the preclinical Curriculum Office. You may also intercalate at other Universities if the course you want is not offered at Bristol, but remember to liaise with academic staff and plan ahead!
For a list of current courses available at Bristol, check out the med school website:
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/health-sciences/courses/undergraduate/intercalate/
Should I intercalate?
Deciding whether to intercalate or not is often the most difficult decision that you have to make during medical school. The following tips will help you in reaching the right decision for you:
- Talk to past and present intercalators – there is no substitute for talking to as many people as possible – this way you’ll get an unbiased cross-section of opinion. To find out how many mornings off you’ll get each week, whether Friday afternoons are free or whether you’d be up all night cramming to meet your next essay deadline speak to the students, they’ll tell you what you really need to know.
- Talk to University academic staff – to find out the ins and outs of subject matter, past exam results, expectations and entry requirements. Also, they may be able to make you aware of medical student bursaries that exist in some subjects!
- Talk to your parents! They’re the ones with the money!
- If you still don’t know – toss a coin, OR click the links below and read what past and present intercalators have to say. Reports are 100% impartial and tell you about the good, the bad and the ugly in each subject.
For further information, contact the current preclinical VP at preclinical@galenicals.org.uk.
Want to share your own intercalator wisdom? please contact webmaster@galenicals.org.uk – Thanks!
Intercalator's reports
Anatomical Sciences
Simon Merrick
Why’d you choose it?
Many (most?) of the reasons I chose to intercalate were from that list of ‘bad reasons to intercalate’ that they was warn you of. Things such as the longer holidays and a less strenuous timetable for a year. I would say that these aren’t bad reasons per se but make sure you have some of the ‘good’ reasons as well, the year will be much more fun and successful if you do. For my part, these were: Getting some early experience of doing research (it’s something you have to do at some point, so you might as well start early). Having more free time to engage in other university activities outside of medicine. Pursue an area of interest that beyond that of the medical curriculum. CV points. I chose Anatomical Science in particular because it was an area of medicine which I found particularly interesting. It also has clear relevance to clinical medicine and I imagine it looks more impressive than some of the others if you are considering surgery (although that is speculative). The chance to do an experimental project in Anatomy was also appealing. Mine involved the dissection and subsequent testing of cadaveric vertebrae, which I felt would be more interesting than a bog standard library project.
What was good?
The skills you acquire from intercalating are invaluable as soon as you start year 3. In anatomy we had to do a fair few presentations throughout the year, something which is comparatively sparse in the preclinical years but become far more prevalent once you move out to the academies. The extra practice really helps, especially if (like me) you don’t particularly enjoy presentations. Similarly, the dissertation makes all subsequent SSCs look like a doddle. Whether you do an experimental project or a literature review, the 10,000-15,000 word essay you produce will make the 1,000-4,000 word SSCs feel like nothing. The practice will also make you a pro at literature searches, referencing etc all the things that you need to be good at for SSCs. The dissertation was probably the single most useful aspect of the year. It was a chance to pursue a subject in a huge amount of detail under the watchful eye of a supervisor. In the end I decided research probably wasn’t for me, but learning this early on was useful! I might otherwise have jumped into doing a masters later on without knowing. That the courses are so small (relative to the 200+ medics in each year) means you get to know all the lecturers really well. One will likely be your dissertation supervisor, with whom you will have frequent meetings and who will provides a remarkably useful point of contact for queries etc. CV points. When I last looked FPAS offered 7 points for ‘Educational Achievements’ when applying for foundation jobs. Getting a 1st in an intercalated degree gets you 4 of these straight away (2.1 = 3, 2.2 = 2, 3rd =1) and if you go on to get a publication or presentation out of your dissertation (which is very doable) you get another one.
What was bad?
Obviously, I can’t speak for other courses like physiology or pharmacology but in Anatomical Science the additional knowledge was of surprisingly limited help in 3rd year. This was by virtue of the fact that we had done only a few areas of clinical anatomy in extreme detail rather than covered the broad spectrum required in clinical medicine. This is not to say it was of no use however. One of the modules I did was on the spine, so I was already very familiar with a lot of what came up in spinal orthopaedics for example. It’s worth noting however that the Anatomy course isn’t geared towards clinical anatomy but the underlying science (as the name suggests) and it is not the same as the anatomy you learn in the dissection rooms (unless you chose an experimental research project for your dissertation there was no dissection). Rather than naming the structures and their paths through the body, the course focused more on the science of tissues such as bone and muscle. Many people didn’t enjoy the return to essay style exams. As far as I remember, only the statistics module had any multiple choice. Personally, I didn’t mind these too much (you’re given a choice of which essay questions to answer, and it’s relatively easy to predict what most of the options will be) but it’s something to bear in mind.
Any tips?
With the less demanding timetable and a much longer summer holiday it is easy to get complacent and hence a nasty shock when starting 3rd year. Be ready to increase the work input again once you return to medicine. Make the most of the extra free time! There’s no harm in simply enjoying the extra freedom as far as I can tell, but relative to 3rd year its a lot of free time you have and if you’re productive enough you can get a lot done! All in all, its a pretty awesome year! I would certainly choose it again.
Bioethics
Jeremy Cave
Why’d you choose it?
I chose Bioethics because (other than medical humanities – and poetry doesn’t do it for me) it seemed to be the only subject available that demanded some lateral and creative thinking. You are required to challenge and justify the reasons for your own actions and opinions and also the actions of other doctors, asking whether they are good reasons or bad reasons, giving explanations as to why or why not. It also seemed to provide you with a really good grasp of the legal framework for Medicine, how the law works and why we have to do some things rather than others. If, like me, you get frustrated when you look at an immensely difficult issue like abortion and don’t have an answer or opinion to it, but want to, and you want to have a better grasp of the issue, then Bioethics is for you. Likewise, if you think you’ve already got an answer to the issue, then Bioethics is the course to really test that view and come to understand it in greater depth.
What was good?
You are given a very broad scope to pursue the subjects you want to for your essays. So for one essay I wrote about the compulsory use of condoms in pornography and in the dissertation I wrote about the use of mandatory chemical castration of sex offenders. This means you won’t, or should not be, bored during your course. There shouldn’t be any reading or writing you do that you find tedious because it all goes towards answering an issue you find interesting. Moreover, for those who, like me, see intercalation as a release from all things medical this scope to write essays on subjects other than hospitals/patients/doctors is great. The law is also really enlightening. You come away with a very complete knowledge of the important legal requirements of doctors, why they are as they are, and more broadly how the law works. The course as a whole will also help to greatly improve your writing, or if you have done essay based subjects at A-level, it will re-connect you with the joy of writing freely rather than doing bloody tick box MCQs. Having said that, You shouldn’t worry, or be put off, if you think you’re no good at writing essays or have never done them before. You are given good advice and support when writing your first essay or two and it naturally develops over the year without you realising.
What was bad?
The law department love to set you quite a bit of work during the week for tutorials. This is perfectly do-able but its a pain nonetheless. The CEM set you readings and some of them are naff, or too complicated, but you should harass your intercalator parents over those ones. Other than that though there is very little about the course itself that is bad. You will really enjoy the year.
Any tips?
I think one of the big things you’ll learn is how you think and what matters to you. If you really engage with the course and think and discuss the issues that matter to you, you should hopefully come away with your own philosophy and ideas (about life, universe, everything). For example, I found myself, by mid-march, getting hot under the collar over the day to day restrictions of people’s freedoms and liberties (think seat belts, hard hats etc.). The beauty of the subject though is that unlike some crass journalist bleating away in the Mail you’ll have a body of text, other philosopher’s thoughts, and your own, to support and explain these views of yours. If I could do something differently it would be manage my time better and read a lot more. The large amount of free time you’re given is a blessing and a curse. It means you can do loads of the things you enjoy (and if you’re disciplined you will do) but if you’re slightly lazy like me you’ll end up playing FIFA all day. So although you are given an ample amount of time to do all the essays required of you I still found myself up against it. Fortunately, with intercalator parents next year you won’t be making the same mistake!
Cellular & Molecular Medicine
Maria Williams
Why’d you choose it?
- Considering research as part of career
- Interest in the subject and wanted to further knowledge
- Gain a BSc
What was good?
- The experience in the lab
- Meeting people from a different course
What was bad?
- Very long hours spent in labs and very large volume of work required for dissertation, but only worth 25%
- Data handling exam
Tips
- Don’t neglect lectures as they are worth more than anything else
- If things go wrong in labs keep going!
- Sit in on more than 4 units as you can choose which ones you like the most (if you choose 4 there is bound to be one you don’t like and you’ll be stuck with it for the exam!)
Global Health
Tim Robinson
Why’d you choose it?
- Another year of university before progressing to clinical stages of medicine.
- Interest in travelling abroad to low-income settings, highly useful for working for organisations such as Medicines Sans Frontieres.
What was good?
- Minimal contact time and work needed to be done
- Easy to understand
- Interesting
- Useful
- Only one exam which requires little revision
What was bad?
- Poor administration
- Significant delays in having essays returned to you
- Varied quality of teaching
- Minimal feedback
Any tips?
- Really improved my ability to critically analyse papers/journals etc.
- Lots of group presentations to be done, really helps improve your public speaking.
- Some really interesting and globally important topics involved.
- This degree does not cover any scientific sides of diseases/treatments etc. It is all about economics/politics/approaches of health care abroad.
- The essays take longer than you think.
- The dissertation takes a significant amount of time, but if you choose a topic of interest then it can be very rewarding.
Medical Humanities
Elizabeth Hancock
Why’d you choose it?
In the first few years of medicine I found the core sciences very challenging and difficult. Having always enjoyed humanities, this intercalation not only served as a complete break from medicine and science, but also gave me a chance to enjoy the subjects I had loved at school within the challenge of a degree course.
What was good?
As I had hoped it would, Medical Humanities completely reignited my passion for literature and history. The books I had had to relegate to my ‘need to read list’ in favour of staring at Grey’s Anatomy, could now be enjoyed and analysed for the benefit of the course. Having seminars with english and philosophy students means you have to raise your game quickly, but it also means that you become immersed in the course as an arts student. This was a great opportunity to explore humanities with reference to medicine and develop a non-clinical appreciation of illness. In addition, being able to write a dissertation of your choosing enables you to explore any topic of philosophy, history or english (with a medical slant) that has ever caught your interest.
What was bad?
Medical Humanities is a course which studies medicine in literature and the philosophy of medicine and science. Unfortunately, while you can chose a history dissertation, this only includes a limited amount of the history of medicine.
Any tips?
Studying Medical Humanities is a very steep learning curve! If you’re like me, there will be times when there is a rising sense of panic at the prospect of writing an 8000 word essay and studying philosophy, a subject which I had never done before. But, during the year, even if you can’t tell at the time, the amount you will learn in terms of an ability to critique, form an argument and coherently discuss that argument, is huge. My advice to new students would be to welcome any criticism of your work as it’ll only help you improve and to enjoy the course. Don’t underestimate how hard you will have to work, but love the opportunity to read and discuss classic works of literature.
Neuroscience
Omololu Akinsola
Why’d you choose it?
- Get a second degree in a year? Why not
- Gain and Practise Literature skills
- Interest in the subject (and be a student for one more year)
What was good?
- Less lectures, more seminars
- Experiments
- Covering interesting topics
What was bad?
- Essays
- Reading (and loads of it)
- Juggling time
Any tips?
- If you do choose Neuroscience, get a Dictaphone
- Manage your time
- Decide carefully
Pharmacology
Chloe Caws
Why’d you choose it?
- Wanted to intercalate in a science
- Enjoyed the pharmacology teaching in years 1&2
- Impressed by the pharmacology intercalation talk; the 3 main units looked
- Interesting/ clinically related
- Felt pharmacology would be clinically relevant in the future
What was good?
- Very well organised course; I knew exactly when all my deadlines would be and when I would be doing what from the beginning of the year
- Small number of students on the course; great to know the lecturers personally and feel part of a department
- Lecturers teach their own research areas so they’re all enthusiastic and the material is as fresh as possible
- Opportunity to get lab experience
- Opportunity to learn how to read and write scientific papers
What was bad?
- Lots of reading papers
- Potential for disappointing results in lab projects
Any tips?
- Make the most of the extra non-contact hours at the beginning to keep on top of note-making
- Be aware of the statistics component of the course
- Pharmacology is nothing like year 1&2 exam questions, you do not have to learn a list of drug names don’t worry!
- Assessment is in essay form but you get lots of practise and it is a good opportunity to go into depth about what you know
Overall I loved intercalating, the pharmacology course was interesting as well as challenging. The year massively helped build my confidence in key skills such as essay writing, reading scientific papers and carrying out lab research. Apart from anything else intercalating provided a breather after two intense years in which to focus on other things e.g. netball and experiencing life as a more normal student in Bristol!
Physiology
Peter Lillie
Why’d you choose it?
I was interested in physiology and the units that physiology offered sounded clinically relevant. I also wanted the opportunity to do a teaching project (UAS) as my dissertation project as I’m interested in teaching clinical medicine later in my career.
What was good?
I really enjoyed the UAS dissertation teaching project. It was a chance to get out of the university and be creative in producing teaching materials. It was also demanding however and required quite a bit of organising and communicating to run smoothly.
Also, although the ‘concepts and skills’ stats unit was a bit dull I anticipate the skills taught will be useful later in the course/my career.
What was bad?
Because teaching finishes in February for you to write up your dissertation and start revising, the spring term can be very isolating and involves a lot of self directed learning/motivation!
I’ve definitely found this year more challenging than the first two years of medicine. It requires a greater depth of learning, a critical approach, a lot of self directed learning/work and getting used to a completely different style of assessment and examination.
Any tips?
Getting together with other physiology students/intercalators to go over lectures and/or revise is a really good idea. It stops you getting bogged down in the massive amount of potential additional reading and you could even share out reading papers.
Working in a group to prepare for the data analysis assessment was also invaluable.
Try not to get to stressed by trying to read and remember 100s of papers- make sure you understand the lecture material and key reviews before looking at any original papers!
Get help if you’re feeling lost/amotivated/confused- there will always be a member of staff willing to offer guidance and/or you can speak to your intercalator parents.
External SSC
In addition to Internal Student Selected Components, in Years 3 and 5, all students must undertake a 4 week period of study in an area of their choosing as part of their External SSC. In the 3rd year, this takes place after the June exams, typically over four weeks in July, to be handed in on return to 4th year in September. In the 5th year, this four week block is fitted into one of the 3 main teaching blocks.
The criteria for choosing an external SSC if you choose to stay in Bristol are quite wide. In the past, people have used this period to do an audit, clinical or lab research, clinical attachments, courses, e-Learning tutorials.. the list goes on…
Every year the Med School allows some students to do their SSC outside of the Bristol area. This is a great opportunity to study and travel abroad and experience a different healthcare system to our own. It could also be a good talking point at interviews especially if you have a particular career path in mind.
Being allowed to do your SSC outside of the Bristol area requires a bit more planning; the criteria are much stricter, and all projects must be approved by a committee appointed by the Medical School. Applications are due in early (often months before the deadline for SSCs in Bristol). This deadline is final, so if you’re thinking about applying, you need to start organising it early!
Application criteria
The criteria for external SSCs undertaken outside of the Bristol area are strictly defined, and unfortunately, applications which do not fulfil these criteria will not be approved. These criteria are as follows:
- Accredited courses or curricula, which take up more than 75% of the allocated SSC time
- Defined project work within another accredited University, supported by a member of the University of Bristol
- Clinical attachment in a university in the ERASMUS scheme
- Clinical attachment at a medical school participating in the scheme organised by International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations
- Courses and clinical attachments which are integral to the training of military cadets as undergraduates
In addition:
- You must not be able to undertake the same project locally
- You must have a course average of 55% and no unit fails
- You will need 2 supervisors; one at your location, and one at an Academy or the University.
Previous examples
Some previous international eSSCs have been:
- Expedition Medicine Training Conference, Chamonix (Year 5)
- IFMSA Emergency Medicine Course, Indonesia
- Clinical attachment at Shock Trauma Centre in Baltimore, Maryland
- Clinical attachment within Emergency Medicine and Trauma Centre, New York
- Clinical attachment within Orthopaedics Department, New York
- Attachment at alcohol and drug addiction specialist centre in Rennes, France
Hints & tips
In 2008, 23 applications were received for Year 3 External SSCs outside of the Bristol area. Of these, 20 were approved or conditionally approved, and only 3 were rejected. For the Year 5 External SSCs, 12 of 16 applications were successful.
Provided you submit a good, well prepared application which meets the criteria, your application will usually be approved. However, all applications are scrutinised by at least 4 people, so read on for advice on how to make your application successful.
Choice of project:
- The project or placement must be something that you would be unable to undertake in the Severn region (either something not done in Severn Deanery or to a centre of excellence that Bristol can’t match). This is a strict requirement, and explanations as to why it can’t be done in Bristol should be included in your application.
- The SSC is not an elective, and many applications are rejected for being too similar to an elective in nature. For example, although it would be interesting to study respiratory diseases in another country and culture, this is not deemed appropriate for the external SSC period: your project or placement has to be more specific and you need to be able to justify why you are unable to undertake it here.
- Projects must be appropriate to your level of training (i.e. you cannot undertake a project or placement in Obs and Gynae if you have not yet covered this as part of your main curriculum). Exceptions to this are made when a student has previous experience (e.g. intercalation/previous degree) in the field.
- If you are an international student, be wary of applying to do a placement in your home country – this may be interpreted as an excuse to gain extra holiday time!
- Be clear and explicit about whether your SSC is research or a clinical placement. If research then show evidence for application for ethics approval; if audit then apply for permission from audit department.
Filling out the form:
- Make sure you are clear about the criteria your category falls under. Choosing the wrong criteria (e.g. saying it is a course when it is a clinical attachment) makes the project look poorly planned and the assessors will be unclear about what the project involves. If you are not sure – ask for clarification.
- Application forms for External SSCs to be taken outside the Bristol area are independently assessed by at least 4 people –they are scrutinised! Therefore try to ensure that you have addressed all possible issues with regards to every aspect of your proposed project. For example, always mention any possible health and safety concerns, whether you’re going to a developing country or Oxford, and make your proposal as detailed as possible so that you don’t miss out because people felt unclear about what your SSC would entail. Good, well thought out applications make a bigger impact, so include as much information to support your case as you can. Don’t be sloppy when you fill out your application and make sure you have written something under each of the headings.
- Your application will be strengthened by including any previous work experience (e.g. SSCs, intercalation, prizes) which show commitment to the subject field.
Supervisor:
- Your case will be improved by identifying both a local (Bristol-based) supervisor and a supervisor in your chosen location prior to handing your form in. Be aware that you must have a University of Bristol supervisor – this does not include every consultant at the BRI, so if in doubt – check!
- Once you have found a supervisor, ask them to read through your application before you submit it as they may identify areas that need more clarity, or issues that you have failed to address.
Other points:
- If you plan to undertake any form of research then consider whether ethical approval should be sought. If you are doing any kind of research involving patients then this will have to be from the ethics committee of the local trust hospital. Gaining ethical approval takes a minimum of 8 weeks and often considerably longer. This means that approval should ideally be sought during the first term of the third year. If this is not possible then you should have at least already applied or be in the process of applying when you submit your application –and mention this in your application, you will the be given a conditional acceptance based on your obtaining the ethical approval.
A good tip for undertaking clinical placements abroad is to do this through IFMSA exchange or one of the ERASMUS partner Universities.
Good luck!
Funding schemes
NHS Bursary
Many of you will have heard of the NHS Bursary. The NHS will fund medical students from their 5th year of study. This means if you’re intercalating, you’ll receive NHS bursary for your 5th and 6th year of study! This application process is straightforward and you will tend to receive an email remind you to apply around December of 4th Year. The NHS bursary covers your tuition fees for the year (paid directly to the university) and help with general living costs depending on your household income.
For more information, visit the websites below:
NHS Practice Placement Expenses
If you receive the NHS bursary you are also eligible for NHS Practice Placement Expenses. This reimburses some extra travel costs and it even includes cycling! The completed forms should be sent to the year lead so they can check them and forward them on.
All the information and the application form can be found below, reading the instructions before completing the form is recommended.
NHS Hardship Fund
The NHS Hardship Fund is also available to help people out in exceptional circumstances and who have exhausted all other funding options, further information on this can be found here:
University Funding Schemes
Sometimes you can try your hardest to budget, but university life is just really incompatible with a healthy bank balance. If you’re struggling, there are several financial aid schemes available at Bristol, such as the Bristol financial assistance fund. Check out the university funding website to find out more!
You can also apply to Bristol SU for the Activity Hardship Fund to cover society fees, so you should definitely join that club you’ve been eying up!
The Alumni Foundation can help out with funding for conferences or events with their general and travel grants, more information here.
Medical school funding
The medical school also contribute to costs of being on out placements. You can find more information and the online form for this on this on Blackboard.
Conference grants
Many medical students get involved in research projects and other great work that often goes on to be published and presented at conferences. Attending these event can be expensive, with students often having to travel long distances by train and sometimes even plane and then paying for accommodation once they get there.
We don’t want money to be something that limits your ability to present your great work, which is why we have set up the Galenicals Grant. Whilst we can’t promise to cover all of your costs, we can offer you some financial help which hopefully makes it easier for you to make the most of these exciting opportunities!
If you would like to apply for this grant, please do so via this Microsoft Forms link.
Before applying please read the terms of the grant, linked here.
Support for Societies
Funding
At Galenicals we are proud to have members whose interests and hobbies are so varied. As a result, we offer financial support to all our Sub-Societies in the form of the Galenicals Grant to allow their continued operation and encourage the setup of new ones. This funding allows the claiming of up to £200 over the course of an academic year.
We realise that not all societies are equal in size or financial commitment, and that the setup of the most ambitious societies brings with it sizable financial burden. If you have any enquiries about different arrangements for the funding of your society feel free to email me at galenicalstreasurer@gmail.com.
If you would like to apply for this funding, please ask your treasurer to do so via this Microsoft Forms link.
Before applying please read the terms of our funding, linked here.
Processing invoices
Got an invoice you’d like us to process? Part of my role as treasurer is processing invoices and expense claims so that societies can access their money. Invoices, once approved (usually within 5 working days) are then sent to the SU. They check them, process them and then pay them on your society’s behalf from your finances held by Galenicals. This can take up to 10 working days.
If your society has a time constraint in paying an invoice, you can process it as a priority order. This means that, if sent to the SU before 1pm it will be paid the same day. It will be paid the next day if received after 1pm. This service incurs a £3.50 charge which will be taken from your society’s account.
DO NOT submit an invoice without checking that it complies by the SU’s standard which can be found here.
Expense365
Expense 365 is an app developed by the SU for society members to claim money back following expenditure out of their own pocket. A diagram to illustrate this is below.
The details of how to set up and use an Expense365 account can be found here.
Read through this document before submitting any claims so that you are fully aware of what is required of a claim and how to check why a claim is rejected/avoid any other issues. Please be patient when using Expense365! The SU try to process your claims as fast as they can, but as stated above claims can take up to 2 weeks to process. If for any reason your claim hasn’t been processed after 2 weeks don’t hesitate to contact me at galenicalstreasurer@gmail.com.
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