MBChB degree programme

Admissions

Fitness to practise

Policy on Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious blood-borne virus. This can be passed between a doctor, dentist, nurse and patient. Health care workers must ensure that they do everything possible to protect themselves and their patients from this infection.

Students must complete a full course of immunisation against the Hepatitis B virus. The immunisation process can take up to nine months and applicants are therefore advised to contact their GP to discuss this at the earliest possible opportunity. Please note that your GP is NOT under obligation to immunise you.

Confirmation of a student's Hepatitis B Surface Antigen status is identified by the University Health Service’s screening programme, prior to registration in September. No student will be admitted without having this blood test. Identification of Hepatitis B in a potential student will not preclude registration to undergraduate Medicine or Nursing. However, carriers of Hepatitis B may be precluded from registration to Dentistry because of the nature of the clinical procedures undertaken during training.

If you are concerned you may be at risk of being a carrier of Hepatitis B virus you should have this checked immediately, and if positive, you must contact the Medical School/Nursing & Midwifery School/Dental School as soon as possible. Should identification of Hepatitis B occur in applicants wishing to embark on undergraduate programme in Medicine and Nursing, a meeting may take place with the student and a member of the Faculty to discuss whether modifications would be required to be made within the undergraduate programme.

MBChB Health Screening

All new entrants may be required to complete a health screening before admission to the degree programme. However, the results of any testing will not preclude entry to the degree programme, but modifications to the individual's programme may be required.