What do medical students understand by research and research skills? Identifying research opportunities within undergraduate projects.

Background: Undergraduate research exposure leads to increased recruitment into academic medicine, enhanced employability and improved postgraduate research productivity. Uptake of undergraduate research opportunities is reported to be disappointing, and little is known about how students perceive research.

Aim: To investigate opportunities for undergraduate participation in research, recognition of such opportunities, and associated skills development.

Research governance: impeding both research and teaching? A survey of impact on undergraduate research opportunities.

Objective: To explore the impact of research governance on medical students' ability to gain an understanding of research methodology, as required by the General Medical Council.

Methods: We carried out a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews, in 3 medical schools in the UK, with 12 interviewees including academic supervisors and administrative staff.

Results: Research governance has the potential to facilitate medical undergraduates to experience better quality research but, unfortunately, the inhibitory effects of the current framework overwhelm this.

Alternative learning environments: what do they contribute to professional development of medical students?

Special study modules provide opportunities for students to develop lifelong learning skills and develop areas of interest. The GMC also recommends opportunities to study topics not included in the core medical curriculum. This paper reports the evaluation of modules based within alternative learning environments developed to provide students with experiences outside traditional medical, scientific or academic cultures.