Urology deals with specific diseases and disorders of the male genitourinary and female urinary tract. In particular, this specialty concerns itself with kidney, bladder and urinary problems, as well as men’s sexual and reproductive health.

Urologists are currently combined medical and surgical specialists who treat men, women and children with kidney, bladder and urinary problems, as well those with as incontinence, impotence and infertility. These specialists take care of the management of benign conditions and cancers in both the young and the elderly.

Technology is changing the way this specialty works. In the last decade an increasing number of urological operations are being done laparoscopically, including radical prostatectomy. Radical prostatectomy is being done using robotic assistance.

Entry into ST3 requires successful completion of IMRCS or equivalent at time of application as well as MBBS or equivalent medical qualification.  Trainees then typically complete five years of training from ST3 to ST7.

The purpose of the curriculum is to train urologists who will be able to work independently and to the standard of a consultant with a general practise, such as one who works in a District General Hospital or equivalent setting. As such, most of their skills will relate to the management of “everyday” general elective and emergency urology and this forms the basis of the main part of the curriculum, with the competencies, both non-operative and operative being completed by the final year of training. This curriculum also allows a degree of flexibility to respond to the changing needs of our patients and the development of new models of healthcare delivery, and to incorporate technological advances.

ST3 – ST6

Clinical placements during the intermediate stage (ST3-6) will be purely in Urology. The purpose of the intermediate stage is to allow the trainee to develop further the skills necessary for independent urological practise. These will include skills in general urology and in emergency urology. They will also be an introduction to some specialist areas of Urology.

ST7

The final stage of urological training (ST7) will have two separate components. By the end of the Final stage trainees will be competent to manage a range of general urological conditions including operative competencies and emergency urological problems. These will be common to all trainees and will form the basis for the award of the CCT. In addition, trainees will be exposed to one or two specialist areas of urology and will develop competencies relevant to that specialist area. The number and extent of this exposure will depend upon the aptitude of the trainee and the size of the specialist area.

For more information, see the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme website.

Training programmes

A list of the Trusts involved in the Urology training programmes is available from the download in the right hand panel.