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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 supplementary sit assessments for all year groups.

student sitting in a chair reading a document

Who can examine?

The specific requirements for examining at each phase are listed below. We encourage healthcare professionals who are local to the region to consider examining for us. Our training is specific to Medicine at the University of Sunderland, so is not transferable to other institutions.  

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 a number of training dates online 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 at medicine.osce@sunderland.ac.uk. 

Exam dates

The dates for the 2024/25 OSCE examinations can be found below: 

All take place on campus at University of Sunderland.

Year 1

Formative – 21st March 2025 

Summative – 9th and 10th June 2025 

Supplementary – 4th and 5th August 2025 

Year 2

Formative – 20th March 2025 

Summative – 2nd and 3rd June 2025 

Supplementary – 4th and 5th August 2025 

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

Year 3

Formative – 10th January 2025 

Summative – 29th and 30th April 2025 

Supplementary – TBC

Year 4

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

Summative – 1st and 2nd July 2025 

Supplementary – TBC 

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

Year 5

Formative – 19th December 2024 

Summative – 3rd and 4th April 2025 

Supplementary – 24th June 2025

 

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)