West Midlands Training Course/MSc in Clinical Biochemistry

MSc in Clinical Biochemistry

Information for Trainees 2008/09

Taught Component

The MSc consists of nine taught modules. Some training days may be attended by medical students doing an intercalated degree.

1st and 2nd year trainees

There will be nine teaching days per term.
The nine taught modules will be spread over two years, with 4.5 modules taught in each year.

3rd year trainees

There will be six teaching days per term. The nine taught modules will be spread over three years with three modules taught in each year.

Summer exams for 1st year trainees

Trainees will sit one essay paper and one short answer question paper comprising a choice of one from two essay questions and five short answer questions (three clinical/analytical and two calculations) from each of the four completed modules (3,7,8,9) covered in the year. Both papers will contribute to the final MSc mark.

Summer exams for 2nd year trainees

Trainees will sit  essay papers and  short answer question papers on two different days.  The essay papers will comprise a choice of one from two questions for each of the nine modules studied in years one and two. The short answer papers will consist of FIVE short answer questions from each of the nine modules studied in years one and two i.e. forty five questions in total. All papers will contribute to the final MSc mark

Summer exams for 3rd year trainees

Trainees will sit one essay paper and one short answer question paper comprising a choice of one from two essay questions and five short answer questions (three clinical/analytical and two calculations) from each of the 3 completed modules (7,8,9) covered in the year.
This will contribute to the final MSc mark

End of term assessments

Assessments will be set at the end of the Autumn and Spring Terms. They will consist of an essay paper and a short answer question paper. The essay paper consists of a choice of two from four questions on topics covered by year one and two trainees during that term. The short answer paper consists of ten short answer questions (both calculations and clinical/analytical questions). These assessments will not contribute to the overall MSc mark but they will be used in the overall assessment of the trainee.

Past examination papers

Examination papers pre 2008 may be found a http://www.wmtc.org.uk/examinat.htm
More recent examination papers are on the course website

Project and Specialist Training

A project and dissertation(s) are requirements of the MSc and represent 50% of the final mark. These must be approved by the University of Birmingham and External Examiner before any practical work commences. Failure to get prior approval may lead to them being deemed unsuitable and subsequently being rejected by the Examinations Board of The University of Birmingham.

Dissertation & Project Proposals

A project proposal form for both the project and dissertation(s) should be submitted by ALL 1st year trainees and must be received by the Regional Tutor for West Midlands, Dr David Vallance (david.vallance@dgoh.nhs.uk), by the beginning of February 2009.

Dissertation (Module 10)

Trainees may do either one large (10,000 words) or two smaller dissertations (5,000 words each). It is expected that no more than two months should be spent on this part of the training.

Deadlines Year 2 - 26/9/08, Year 3 - 5/6/09, Year 1 - 1st day 2009/10 academic term.

Project (Module 11)

The project should be executable within 3 months with 3 months for write up (Project report 15,000 -20,000 words).

(For West Midlands’ trainees from 2008/09 academic year the project will be conducted at the base laboratory there will be no secondments in year 2).

Deadlines Year 2 & 3 - 5/6/09 Year 1 - early June 2010

Penalty for Late Submission

The University of Birmingham apply a penalty of a 5% per day reduction in marks for late submission of the project and / or dissertation.

More information on projects and dissertation requirements may be found in the ‘Guidance for Projects and Dissertations’ document

Plagiarism

The University of Birmingham has a strict anti-plagiarism policy, details of which may be found at www.as.bham.ac.uk/study/assess/sca/plagiarism.shtml

Ethics Approval

It is the supervisor’s responsibility to ensure that ethics committee approval is sought, where required, for any research projects undertaken by the trainee.

Mitigation

Under achievement in examinations and late submission of project and / or dissertation work owing to genuine mitigating circumstances will be viewed sympathetically. It is essential that trainees submit their mitigation in writing, as soon as possible to Dr Glenn Matthews, University lead for the course (g.m.matthews@bham.ac.uk). Sufficient detail and supporting information to fully inform the exam board must be included.

Website

Course website www.wmtc.org.uk

Course dates

Autumn term 2008

Dates on website

Spring Term 2009

All years 9th Jan, 16th Jan, 30th Jan, 6th Feb, 27th Feb
1st /2nd Years 23rd Jan, 13th Feb, 6th Mar, Exam 20th Mar

(Note only 8 study days not 9 this term)

Summer Term 2009

All years 24th Apr, 1st May, 15th May, 5th Jun, 10th Jun, 19th Jun
1st/2nd Years 8th May, 3rd Jun, 12th Jun, Exam 2nd years only 26th Jun, All years 3rd July

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