My Statement in the RUMS Alternative Prospectus 2008-09:

You may notice this BSc stands out amongst the rest as it is perhaps the only IBSc with some relation to surgery. So for all you budding orthopods out there this course would be the ideal start for you.

Another unique aspect you should notice is that all the lectures for the four taught modules are crammed into the first half of the year, which comfortably allows you to concentrate on your research project from January which counts for 50% of your BSc! Research projects expand from what you are taught, and they can be very interesting once you are engrossed into them; a good handful even go on to get published in renowned journals.

You are expected to attend all the lectures and your typical week will be 10am-5pm Monday to Thursday, except Wednesday are half days and Fridays free for 'extra study'. For BSc students, it is encouraged to use Friday's as an opportunity to get into scrubs and watch top class orthopaedic surgery in the Operating Theatres next to the ever-welcoming surgeons at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH).The lectures cover clinical aspects of orthopaedics, skeletal tissue biology and biomechanics. Although they may appear as completely different, they are essentially three sides of a triangle; you will be taught the same clinical scenarios but from a different perspective. However, the general consensus is that students enjoy the Clinical Aspects module the most. There is one set coursework per module to keep you occupied in the evenings and the bulk of exams are in January, so there isn't much of a Christmas holiday.

You also have to realise, the course is based at the Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, within the grounds of the RNOH, situated on top of a hill in Stanmore and your legs, car, bus or bike may all struggle to climb the gradient! Travelling by public transport can be tiresome but it's something you get used to, otherwise by car you may be fighting for parking space in the early morning.

There aren't many facilities for recreation except the Aspire gym on site and surrounding golf courses, but the coursework should keep you occupied. The hospital restaurant offer hot meal deals otherwise the local Tesco, Costco or the microwave in the kitchen can suffice.

In summary, it's a fantastic course if you want to learn basic science's related to orthopaedics and be involved in top research in the field, some of which are clinically related and you may well be working with patients!

Good luck with your IBSc options! If you have any further questions, I'll be happy to help.