The ScotGEM Launchpad Checklist is a checklist which you can print out and use to help you to keep track of the things you need to do as you prepare to start your medical training at St Andrews.

ScotGEM Launchpad Checklist

Please familiarise yourself with the ScotGEM Student Contract before arrival – however do not sign the contract yet – you will be asked to do this when you are here. The 2026/27 ScotGEM Student Contract will be available over the summer, meantime please familiarise yourself with the GMC’s Achieving good medical practice:guidance for medical students in preparation.

Students should be familiar with the School of Medicine Handbook. There is a section of the handbook, which relates specifically to ScotGEM (MBChB).

Click for web based handbook

Although you will have already made a statement about any previous criminal convictions, further checks are required for students entering Medicine programmes as you will conduct regulated work with children and protected adults. To do this, the School requires that you are a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. This supersedes any other background checks you may have (DBS, Basic Disclosure, etc.)

Please familiarise yourself with the online guidance, this includes information on the ID documents you are required to send (section 8 of the PVG applicant document).

You should email 3 acceptable forms of supporting ID to medpvg@st-andrews.ac.uk within two weeks of meeting the conditions of your offer. 

When your application status becomes unconditional firm, you will be given an individual appointment time for a meeting on Microsoft Teams which will last 10-15 minutes, please check your emails regularly throughout the summer for further information.

If you currently have a PVG for working/volunteering with adults and children, please send us a copy of your PVG certificate along with your IDs to confirm your current PVG status.

The Occupational Health Questionnaire will be emailed to you by the Admissions Team once your offer becomes Unconditional Firm. It should be completed and returned directly to the NHS Tayside address on the Questionnaire as soon as possible.

If an appointment is required following review of your completed PPQ, you will be notified by email. Please ensure you supply your personal email address and not an institutional one (please check your spam boxes regularly as sometimes NHS emails end up there). SMS text messages will be sent as reminders 24 hours prior to an appointment.

Accommodation should be arranged before you arrive. For St Andrews visit the University’s new entrants and orientation web page and follow the accommodation link. Accommodation applications should be submitted by 30th June 2025. As you will be aware ScotGEM semester is longer than standard semesters therefore it is important to let accommodation services know you would like accommodation for a longer term. There is no guarantee that all ScotGEM students will be allocated accommodation that they can stay in until the end of the final semester, therefore please check the end date on your accommodation contract. Please note all standard catered UG residences close during the Christmas vacation period. Any student who applies for and accepts this type of residence will have to vacate during this period. All students in these residences can apply for Christmas vacation accommodation but if they do not apply, they will not be allocated anything due to limited numbers of rooms. Any ScotGEM student who is offered accommodation for 2025/26 in a standard catered will have to submit an application for Christmas Vacation accommodation in early November 2025. Accommodation may also be available through the University of Dundee. ScotGEM applicants who wish to be considered for student residences at the University of Dundee may contact residences@dundee.ac.uk to request an application invitation to be sent to them. See the University of Dundee website for more information  https://www.dundee.ac.uk/accommodation/.

The New Undergraduate Students page contains important information for students who are matriculating (registering) at the University of St Andrews for the first time as entrants to the ScotGEM Programme.

Be aware that there are a number of admin tasks to do before you come to St Andrews. You will find a helpful list on the New Undergraduate Students page. 

Read the NHS Tayside Student Handcare Advice sheet.

Please complete the Student Skin Surveillance Declaration Form by 18th August 2026.  A Student Statutory Skin Health Record form will be sent to you after 19th August, and in person appointment will be scheduled during Orientation Week. The School Handbook includes Skin Surveillance information.