The education principles of the RCSI Bahrain mean the medical curriculum will be delivered to the standards of the World Federation for Medical Education. It will have the following characteristics:
- Outcome focused
- Integrated and systems based
- Hospital and community based
- Student centred
- Monitored and evaluated to ensure implementation and continuous development
- IT supported
The core curriculum is outcome focused, integrated and systems based with initial emphasis on biomedical sciences and mechanisms of disease and accompanied by increasing emphasis on clinical medicine and its associated specialties.
Vertical themes will accompany the systems based courses from years 1 to 5 to facilitate integration and to develop self-directed learning and professionalism:
- Case studies will illustrate the early application of biomedical sciences and create the link with mechanisms of disease and with diagnosis and patient management.
- Consultation and clinical skills will progress from an early introductory programme with simulated patients to hospital and community based student-patient interaction.
- Personal and professional development will promote understanding of personal challenges experienced by students and health care professionals, ethical and legal issues, the economic and social environment of health care and the role of the doctors as a member of the health care team.
- Student selected components will promote self directed learning and in depth study of selected topics. A significant portfolio will be developed by each student, either working as a member of a team or individually.
The course structure has a Foundation Year followed by a 5 year medical programme. Each of these components of the full curriculum are modularised within semesters.