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Year Guide: Fourth Year


This is the year things start to get serious and you’ll feel the weeks getting longer and the exams harder. But with that will come more confidence on the wards and closer to being a doctor. You will continue to learn about other specialties such as Pathology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GP and care of the elderly. Much like year 3 you will spend half of your year “on placement” outside Bristol.

Fourth year is a really enjoyable year. But is it long and generally considered to be the hardest year there is. Nevertheless, you do get involved more clinically and there are more opportunities available.

Below are just some aspects which will hopefully make made fourth year a bit easier.

The Units

  • COMP1 (Community Orientated Medical Practice 1): Paediatrics and Epidemiology
  • COMP2 (Community Orientated Medical Practice 2): Care of the Elderly, General Practice and Dermatology
  • ACS (Applied clinical sciences): Pathology and Anaesthetics
  • RHCN (Reproductive health and care of the new born): Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Care of the Newborn and Sexual health

Currently COMP1 and ACS are paired, and COMP2 and RHCN.