Manchester or Bristol

**thunder** · 29-03-2005, 11:01 PM

I'm an Italian student who has been given an offer from Manchester, Bristol and KCL...now I'm trying to choose between Bristol and Manchester. I really like both of them .... but I'm quite interested in the manchester PBL curriculum...however that's what I have been told by someone in Bristol:

"Well, it's up to you and your gut feeling. Just one thing: we have a lot of Manchester medical graduates working in our anatomy and physiology departments as demonstrators. Normally, doctors do these jobs to revise their basic sciences before taking the FRCS, MRCP, etc. These Manchester doctors tell me that they are NOT revising; they are learning the material for the first time, because PBL did not require it to be learned when they were in Manchester.

The other thing to bear in mind is that you will tend to end up working in the geographical region where you qualified. So, you need to think whether you prefer warm, mild weather and agricultural people (Bristol), or wetter, colder weather and industrial people (Manchester)."

**motherfcuker** · 29-03-2005, 11:32 PM

The climatic difference between Bristol and Manchester is pretty insignificant and I don't think a decision should be made because of that. Same goes for the people. You do tend to spend the first 2 yrs post qualification within the deanery of your university but then after that, you are free to move around. You can apply for PRHO jobs outside of the deanery if you really want to.

**pacdorme** · 30-03-2005, 12:27 AM

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,6734,00.html

Then click on medicine.

I think its pretty simple where to go after that.

**j00ni** · 30-03-2005, 01:46 AM

LOL at the agricultural vs industrial people comment, what is this, 1900??

**motherfcuker** · 30-03-2005, 04:18 AM

Big up the industrial revolution!

**fatcat** · 30-03-2005, 12:02 PM

Ooo-arrrr! It's all dungarees and combine harvesters in Bristol so I hear...

If Manchester really does compromise on some aspects of medical teaching, as your friend was trying to imply, then surely it's for a reason; to focus on areas that are seen as more important. I'm sure Bristol students lose out somewhere too. And just because the Manchester grads said they were learning certain aspects of basic medical science for the first time doesn't mean that they weren't given the opportunity to learn it at med school. With all degree courses students do have a major resposnsibility to learn things for themselves since it's impossible to be taught everything you need to know. I'm sure there are Bristol graduates in the same situation.

Bear in mind that medical graduates study for the Royal College exams a few years after graduating. Surely any perceived shortfall in knowledge of the basic sciences required to satisfy the post-graduate exams wasn't too crucial to them practicing as doctors up until that point...ah, so that's the arse and that's the elbow...

**ertandbernie** · 30-03-2005, 12:23 PM

Hi Fatcat,
Any news yet on the Newcastle front?
I like your cat - is she called Mary?

**j00ni** · 30-03-2005, 07:35 PM

IMO one of the strongest aspects of the Manchester course is the anatomy teaching, and is definately one of my strongest subject areas. I think cadaveric dissection and working closely with the demonstrators in small groups is a much better way to learn than lectures (there are a few anatomy lectures, but most of the teaching is done in small groups). Also the hands on approach, enabling you to dissect the cadaver and get a feel for anatomy makes it stick with you much better.