This module will enable students to take detailed medical histories and develop advanced clinical assessment skills with the ability to link their findings to clinical conditions and disease processes.

Module Summary

This module aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the clinical assessment, diagnosis, and appropriate management of illness across the lifespan.

It will enable students to develop advanced clinical assessment skills in the context of primary care, emergency, or urgent care settings. The module will emphasise utilising evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and decision-making, to enhance students' ability to provide safe and effective care.

Content

This 20-week course will utilise in-person lectures and some pre-recorded sessions over eight teaching weeks, featuring simulation and discussion forums to put theory into practice, so that learning is contextual and clinically relevant. A further two weeks focuses on OSCE practice and formal OSCES. Then another ten weeks is allocated for the student to build a portfolio in practice, to provide evidence of clinical competence. 

The following topics will be covered:  

• Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, per organ system:
• Assessment and diagnosis

  •      History taking
  •      Physical examination
• Assessment and management of common illnesses, including presentations from the following systems:

• Adult and paediatric patients 
• Professional, legal and ethical responsibilities
• Interprofessional collaboration, effective communication, and onward specialist referral in the context of illness.

Teaching

This module runs once every other week for 20 weeks:

Start Month: January 2026 (Terms 2 & 3)

Teaching: w/c 12.01.2026 - 19/06/2026 (Thursday)

Student Vacation: 23/03/2026 - 10/04/2026

Start Month: April 2026 (Terms 3 & 4)

Teaching: w/c 13.04.2026 - 11/09/2026 (Wednesday)

Student Vacation: 22/06/2026 - 06/07/2026

Assessment

20-credit module / Level 7

• OSCE
• Portfolio

Faculty

The module lead is Senior Lecturer Judy Scott-Langley supported by the ACP faculty and guest lecturers