Medicine Summer School | Ages 12 to 18

For Ages 12 to 15 | Explore Medicine

Module One: Life as a Doctor

An introduction to the course, this first module will help you discover where your unique interests and aptitude lies in the field of Medicine. You’ll explore the range of careers available to budding medical practitioners and scientists; the qualities that make a good doctor; and the basics of anatomy and physiology, before you go on to study these in more detail in later modules.

Module Two: The Respiratory System

Delve into the respiratory system, consisting of the network of tissues, organs, and airways responsible for breathing. Through engaging lessons and case studies, you’ll learn about the respiratory system in health and disease, including the physiology of the lungs and common respiratory conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia. Finally, you’ll hear about the various careers you can pursue in this field, before learning how to conduct a chest examination.  

Module Three: The Cardiovascular System

You’ll learn about the overall function of the cardiovascular system and innovations in cardiovascular medicine, as well as the various career paths you can pursue that specialise in this area. You’ll also master the fundamentals of heart anatomy, cardiac physiology, and cardiovascular disease with supporting case studies, before learning how to carry out a cardiovascular examination, including how to listen to the heart using a stethoscope, assessing for a pulse, and taking a cardiovascular history. 

Module Four: Diabetes

A metabolic disease that causes people to have elevated levels of blood glucose, diabetes  affects millions of people all around the world. This module will walk you through the condition, from its causes to its consequences, and treatment options. You’ll learn about the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, how to assess a patient for symptoms and risk factors, and how to take patient histories from those with diagnosed or suspected diabetes.

Module Five: The Nervous System

This module explores the anatomy and physiology of the human nervous system; the varied careers available in the field of neurology; and the causes of common nervous system conditions like strokes, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases. You will learn through clinical cases, developing an understanding of how to examine patients and diagnose neurological conditions.

Module Six: The Gastrointestinal System

In this fascinating module, you’ll begin by delving into the careers available to those who specialise in the GI system. As you progress, you’ll learn how the GI tract functions normally, the important part it plays in your health, and how it can be affected by common disease, such as inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS). You’ll also develop clinical skills, learning how they can be applied to gastrointestinal system cases. 

Module Seven: Oncology

Oncology is a vital part of modern healthcare, with cancer affecting millions worldwide each year. The work of general practitioners, oncologists, and clinical researchers in this field is incredibly important when it comes to the management, early diagnosis, and prevention of cancer. Throughout this module, you will master the basics of oncology, learning about the different types of cancer, diagnostic approaches, treatments, and the latest advances in cancer research. To put your knowledge into practice, you’ll learn how to conduct and present research by producing your very own research poster.

Module Eight: Medical Ethics

This module explores the core pillars of medical ethics – autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice – introducing you to the roles of medical lawyers and healthcare administrators, who oversee and regulate these ethics every day. You’ll go on to explore topical issues, including case scenarios of recent ethnic dilemmas in medicine.

Module Nine: The Immune System

This module gives you a complete introduction to the immune system, made up of the organs, cells, and proteins that defend the body from infectious diseases. You’ll learn to differentiate between various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and get an overview of how they interact with the immune system. Finally, you’ll discover how immunologists, infectious disease specialists, and vaccine researchers work to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases, before diving into how vaccines are designed to prevent them. 

Module Ten: Practical Skills

Time to get hands-on experience, essential for future university and medical school applications! You’ll learn about doctor-patient interactions, how to take a patient’s history, and how to put theory into practice as you roleplay different scenarios – skills which you will be called upon to use throughout the programme. You will learn through case studies, hands-on clinical simulations, and practicals, mastering the life-saving techniques of Basic Life Support (BLS) and how to take a typical A&E assessment. You’ll also develop essential communication and ‘soft’ skills, such as how to break bad news and manage delicate situations. This module will prepare you both for your final assignments – and your exciting future in healthcare. 

Module Eleven: The Future of Medicine

In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, keeping a close eye on  the future of medicine is paramount for today’s healthcare professionals. You’ll finish the course by exploring the thrilling future of healthcare, delving into emerging trends like telemedicine, virtual nursing, robotic surgery, and how AI is changing healthcare. You’ll also learn about the new careers available for healthcare professionals working at the forefront of innovation, including healthcare technologists, entrepreneurs, and AI specialists. 

For Aged 16 to 18 | Medicine

Download the Syllabus Guide

As a guide to what our 16 to 18 students will learn, the Syllabus Guide gives an overview of the key outcomes and modules studied.

Available Here

Module One: Your Future in Medicine

This introductory module explores how recent changes are transforming the medical landscape, including the role of AI and medtech and the rise of personalised medicine (also known as precision medicine). You’ll also learn the specifics on how to become a doctor, how the UK training pathway works, and how to enter other medical specialisms. Finally, you’ll create your own academic research poster – a popular form of disseminating new research at conferences and scientific meetings – with information about a disease of your choice, and the current research surrounding it.

Module Two: Core Skills

This module covers core practical medical skills and their importance in influencing patient care and outcomes. You’ll learn and rehearse how to effectively communicate in various medical situations, from initial consultation to delivering a diagnosis empathetically, using detailed case scenarios. Finally, you’ll learn to take a patient’s history. You’ll use these skills throughout the two-week course, and be tested on them in your final assignment.

Module Three: The Cardiovascular System

You’ll learn about the overall function of the cardiovascular system and innovations in cardiovascular medicine, as well as the various career paths you can pursue that specialise in this area. You’ll also master the fundamentals of heart anatomy, cardiac physiology, and cardiovascular disease with supporting case studies, before learning how to carry out a cardiovascular examination.

Module Four: The Respiratory System

You’ll study the respiratory system’s roles in gas exchange, lung anatomy, the maintenance of the body’s acid-base balance, and the prevention of infection, as well as the various careers you can explore in this area. You’ll go into depth about the anatomy and physiology of the lungs, before tackling the pathology, clinical manifestations, and treatment of common respiratory diseases. Finally, you’ll learn to conduct a respiratory examination.

Module Five: Medical Ethics

This module explores the core pillars of medical ethics – autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice – introducing you to the roles of medical lawyers and healthcare administrators, who oversee and regulate these ethics every day. You’ll go on to explore topical issues, including case scenarios of recent ethnic dilemmas in medicine.

Module Six: Neurology

For this module, you’ll examine the fascinating careers you can have in neurology, including neurosurgery, neurophysiology, and neuroscience. You’ll then delve into the anatomy of the brain, electrical signal transmission in neurons, neurotransmitters, and the structure of the nervous system and learn to describe (and diagnose) conditions like dementia, stroke, and seizures. Finally, you’ll learn to conduct a neurological examination.

Module Seven: General surgery

This module covers different career pathways you can explore as a surgeon, the types of surgery you might perform, as well as future innovations and advancements. You’ll also study the anatomy of the gastrointestinal system, before examining the pathophysiology and treatment of conditions such as appendicitis, gallstones, and colorectal cancer through case-based learning.

Module Eight: Immunology

For this module, you’ll  delve into three core topics: the structure and function of the immune system, the function and creation of vaccinations, and how gene-editing could find a cure for genetic diseases – including sickle cell anaemia, cystic fibrosis, and muscular dystrophy – as well as how it’s used in other fields, like agriculture.

Module Nine: Genetics

This covers the flow of genetic information within a biological organism; types and consequences of genetic mutations; categories of genetic disease; and the use of pedigree trees, graphical representations of family relationships, and medical history. You’ll also discover the career paths available in this field, including roles as a genetic counsellor, genetic engineer, and bioinformatician.