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Become an OSCE examiner

Support our Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs). Examine our doctors of the future. Complete training to be recognised with 3 CPD points and a certificate.

OSCE Suite

What is an OSCE?

An OSCE is an objective structured clinical examination. These are used to examine within the skills domain of our assessment strategy.

We examine OSCEs in all years of our course. In phase 1 (year 1 and 2), these examinations take place on site at the University. In phase 2 and 3 (year 3, 4 and 5), these examinations take place in our clinical partner organisations.

Station types vary from year to year of the course but can include history taking, clinical examination, prescribing and procedural skills to name a few. There are formative, summative and resit assessments for all year groups.

student sitting in a chair reading a document

Who can examine?

For our OSCE examiners, we are looking for:

Phase 1 (Years 1 and 2)

  • Trained doctors of any seniority including foundation year 1 and 2.
  • Allied Healthcare Professionals (e.g. Pharmacists, Nurse Teaching Fellows). Must examine stations that map to their expertise.

 

Phase 2 (Years 3 and 4)

  • Trained doctors of any seniority post foundation training.
  • Allied Healthcare Professionals (e.g. Pharmacists, Nurse Teaching Fellows) with a considerable involvement in the UOS undergraduate curriculum. Must examine stations that map to their expertise.

 

Phase 3 (Year 5)

  • Examiners need to be qualified doctors of grade ST4 or above OR Advanced Clinical Practitioners.  
  • Year 5 (CPSA) examiners should usually have examined other OSCE assessments before being eligible to examine in the final year. Alternatively, they should have had enhanced OSCE examination training and direct involvement in clinical medical education and training.

 

Completion of the examiner training will be recognised with a certificate confirming 3 CPD points from the University of Sunderland. Examiner training is valid for 3 years and will prepare potential examiners for examining any year group of the course. 

Training dates

We have training dates both online and face to face throughout the year. See the dates available and sign up to attend.

Some training also takes place in our clinical partner organisations on an ad-hoc by our clinical assessment leads. This can be organised and facilitated on an as required basis.

If you are unable to attend one of these dates but are still interested in examining, please contact the team.

Exam dates

Once you have completed your examiner training a sign up form will be sent to you to allow you to sign up to dates to examine.

For reference the dates for the 2023/24 OSCE examinations can be found below:

All take place on campus at University of Sunderland.

Year 1

Formative - 22nd March 2024

Summative - 10th and 11th June 2024

Resit – 5th August 2024

Year 2

Formative - 21st March 2024

Summative – 6th and 7th June 2024

Resit – 6th August 2024

All take place at Sunderland Royal, Wansbeck, and Hartlepool Hospital for all dates except resits.

Year 3

Formative – 12th January 2024

Summative – 23rd and 24th April 2024

Resit – 31st July 2024 (at St Nicholas’ Hospital, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear only)

Year 4

Formative – Takes place as part of a clinical skills event running on various days within the hospitals

Summative – 20th and 21st June 2024

Resit – 1st August 2024 (at Wansbeck General Hospital, Northumbria Healthcare Trust only)

All at Sunderland Royal Hospital, South Tyneside and Sunderland Foundation Trust only for 2023/24.

Year 5

Formative – 13th December 2023

Summative – 18th and 19th April 2024

Resit – 25th June 2024

Contact us

OSCE Leads

Dr Leah Williams

Year 1-2 OSCE Co-Lead

leah.williams@sunderland.ac.uk

Dr Reem Kipling

Year 1-2 OSCE Co-Lead

reem.kipling@sunderland.ac.uk

Dr Amy Cresswell

Year 3-5 OSCE Lead

amy.cresswell@sunderland.ac.uk

 

Clinical Assessment Leads

Dr Vikram Mitra 

Clinical Assessment Lead (North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust)

Mr Pud Bhaskar 

Deputy Clinical Assessment Lead​ (North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust)

Dr Charlotte Bates 

Clinical Assessment Lead (Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust)

Dr Claire Bracewell 

Clinical Assessment Lead (South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust)

 

Assessment Team Leads

Dr James Nott

Academic Assessment Lead

Mr Ian Maxwell

Deputy Academic Assessment Lead and Psychometrician

 

Administration Team

For more information, please contact the medicine assessments team.

Cherelyne Hannan

Programme Administration Co-ordinator (Assessments)

Sophie Thompson

Programme Administration Co-ordinator (Assessments)

Sai Begum

Programme Administration Assistant (Assessments)