Careers

Preparation for Pre Registration House Officer (PRHO)

Students specifically undertake Professional Work Experience (PWE) in order to prepare for their PRHO posts. PWE placements aim to provide students with an opportunity to experience the day to day work of a PRHO, and to reflect on and develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to make the transition.

In addition to this, students' general clinical placements and the Introduction to Graduate Medical Practice course are specifically designed to prepare students and bridge the gap between student years and the start of a professional career. The Introduction to Graduate Medical Practice course looks at diverse issues including medical negligence and ethics, the role of the General Medical Council, clinical governance, communicating with difficult patients and relatives, management of the critically ill patient and what to do when a patient dies.

Careers Advice

Most careers advice is gained by the students discussing issues with members of NHS staff to whom they are attached as part of the course. However the Undergraduate Medicine Office runs an annual Medical Careers Fair and students are encouraged to attend national Careers Fairs. Students with questions related to disability and medical careers are able to obtain advice from the London Deanery. The College Careers Service offers advice to medical students who are interested in careers peripheral to medical practice.

The College has a central Careers Advisory Committee, with a Faculty of Medicine representative, which exercises general responsibility for overseeing the direction of the Imperial College student careers advisory service and reports periodically to the Senate.

References

Students needing references obtain them in the first instance from their Personal/Clinical Tutors. If this is not possible the Head of Pastoral Care will carry out this function. Generally these references confirm that the student is a medical student at Imperial College and at what stage, and that they are of good-standing. In some cases more detail is needed and an overall impression of the student’s academic progress is given and of their general behaviour. Detailed examination results are not given. These can be obtained by the student from the Registry. Detailed guidance for providing references is given to Personal/Clinical Tutors in their welcome packs.