MBBS CBME Curriculum: Clinical Posting Schedule in Weeks Phase Wise

Ever wondered what your clinical posting schedule will actually look like during MBBS? You're not alone. The moment the white coat comes on, every medical student starts imagining what it's like to finally step into the wards. What is the clinical posting schedule in weeks phase wise under the CBME curriculum? That’s a question every student asks—and today, we’re answering it. By the end of this post, you’ll walk away with a clear breakdown of your clinical journey, phase by phase, week by week.

Phase I (First Professional Year – 13 Months)

It all begins slowly. This phase isn’t heavily clinical, but it gives you a taste.

Posting Duration: 6–8 weeksDepartments: General Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics, Community MedicineFocus Areas:

• Early Clinical Exposure (ECE)

• Introduction to hospital etiquette

• Observing patients

• Basic clinical examination skills

• Patient communication

This phase plants the first seed of clinical interest. The first time you see a real patient it sticks. The sounds of the hospital, the rush, the learning it’s like opening a new chapter.

Phase II (Second Professional Year – 11 Months)

Now the pace picks up. You’re deep into understanding diseases, drugs, and microbes—and you start to see them in real life.

Posting Duration: 12–16 weeksDepartments: Pathology Lab, Microbiology, Pharmacology (Hospital Pharmacy), Forensic Medicine, Medicine, Surgery

Key Learning:

• Clinical-lab correlation

• Understanding diagnostics

• Patient interviewing and note taking

• Pharmacology applications in wards

This is where students start connecting theory to practice. You start understanding what abnormal really means. And slowly, it makes sense.

Phase III Part I (Third Professional Year – 12 Months)

Things get serious. You're expected to know more, do more, question more.

Posting Duration: 24–28 weeksDepartments: ENT, Ophthalmology, Community Medicine (including field visits), Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics

Key Learning:

• OPD sessions

• Clinical case documentation

• Diagnostic procedures

• Community health work and surveys

In this year, students begin to function as near-clinicians. Your confidence grows. You know where the stethoscope goes—and what it means when the sounds don’t sound right.

Phase III Part II (Final Professional Year – 17 Months)

This is the big one. You’re preparing to practice, and everything is hands-on.

Posting Duration: 40–48 weeksDepartments: Medicine, Surgery, OBGY, Pediatrics, Orthopedics, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia

Key Learning:

• Independent clinical assessments

• Team-based patient care

• Assisting in surgeries and deliveries

• Managing emergencies

• Clinical decision making

By now, you're the senior in the ward. Juniors look up to you. Interns trust you. And professors expect you to think like a doctor.

Internship (CRRI) – 12 Months

From student to almost-doctor.

Posting Duration: Full-time (52 weeks)Weekly Duty: ~48 hours/weekDepartments:

• Medicine (2 months)

• Surgery (2 months)

• OBGY (1.5 months)

• Pediatrics (1 month)

• Orthopedics (1 month)

• Community Medicine (2 months)

• Minor specialties & electives (2.5 months)

Key Learning:

• Patient rounds

• Emergency procedures

• Documentation and counseling

• Hands-on management of real cases

This year molds you. You live in hospitals, you work through nights, you learn from life and death and somehow, you come out stronger.

Understanding the clinical posting schedule in weeks phase wise isn’t just about managing time it’s about preparing for a journey. Every posting, every rotation, every patient it all adds up. The CBME curriculum doesn’t just throw you into the wards. It trains you, layer by layer.

So if you’re a medical student or preparing to be one, take this roadmap seriously. Because behind each week of clinical work is a lesson you won’t find in books. And that’s what makes you a doctor not just the degree, but the experience.

Stay tuned at www.edicine.tech for more MBBS insights, timelines, and CBME guidance.