Life as an MSc Expedition and Marine Medicine student

Within the Peninsula Medical School

The Peninsula Medical School draws on a long history of remote medicine teaching and expertise.

With unique links to highly respected external organisations, the Diving Disease Research Centre (DDRC) and Endeavour Medical, we are able to offer a range of dedicated expedition, marine and diving medicine pathways and modules, that fully utilise the University’s resources as well as the outdoor environment of the Southwest and beyond.

What will you learn

The broad range of opportunities on offer will allow you to focus your learning on your own interests. A variety of expedition centred modules explore clinical skills and theory that will prepare you for working as a clinician in a marine or expedition setting, whilst three new modules developed with DDRC provide those with an interest in Diving Medicine to partake on an academic course that is unique within the UK.

How will you learn

Teaching is delivered across a variety of settings. To allow for flexibility, some learning will take place online, however face-to-face teaching is an essential part of the programme, both within the classroom and on expedition residentials. The broad range of learning activities and assessments utilised, from clinical simulation work to writing expedition plans and partaking in group discussion and debate, accommodates a wide range learning styles.

Where will you learn

Face to face teaching utilises the facilities within the medical school and DDRC. The experiential learning element of the course takes place at a variety of locations across the Southwest, from the tors of Dartmoor to the beaches of Cornwall, as well as offering an overseas residential course in Spain or Morocco.

Hear from a recent student

Ashley is an NHS doctor and Peninsula Medical School student, who recently completed the Remote and Expedition Medicine module.

“I wanted to do the expedition medicine module as I wanted to do something a bit different from hospital medicine and I would love to take on a medical role on an expedition or in a remote environment, but didn’t really have the confidence or the skills and knowledge to do so.”

“The most incredible thing about this module is the level of expertise and experience of the teachers. There is an outstanding level of teaching and taking away the experiences, tips and tricks of the teachers, just having such a hands-on and vocational teaching style, really, really helps build confidence and leadership skills that I hope to take into more remote environments. The surprising thing is, I've also learned things which I'm going to be able to take back to my current role, for example in the DDRC dive centre we were learning about the applications of hyperbaric oxygen, which can be used for healing diabetic foot ulcers; that's something I would be able to take back to the endocrine ward where I'm working right now.”

Expedition Medicine student Ashley on Dartmoor

The format of the course is a week of classroom teaching, where experts engage us in some amazing conversations, and then the second-half is delivered out here on Dartmoor.

We get to put all the theory into practice. It's very much a hands on simulation – getting people out of difficult situations in an isolated, prehospital environment.

Even the assessment is very practical, you get to create your own medical plan and risk assessment for an expedition you would like to do.