Things to think about …
Support
If you feel your health or a disability may impact on your studies please get in touch early. We hope this video created by medical students helps you.
If you want to explore this further contact md2000@st-andrews.ac.uk putting “support” in the subject line. If you have any specific concerns or questions in relation to support available for medical students please do get in contact with the Medical Support Team on medsupport@st-andrews.ac.uk. We want you to achieve your full potential.
Blood borne viruses
At the time of entry to Medical School students will be screened for Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV infection and any necessary immunisations and antibody tests will be performed. It is strongly recommended that all entrants complete a course of immunisation against Hepatitis B virus in order to fully participate in clinical placements. Applicant students who have/had an infection with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV are not precluded from training to be a doctor. This may place restrictions on the student’s clinical training and limit their medical practice following qualification. Students who have/had an infection of this nature and wish to discuss this further before making a decision should contact the Occupational Health Services, via the Pro Dean (medsupport@st-andrews.ac.uk), who will be able to advise on current policy. Applicants or students who are affected by any of these diseases should consider their position as it may have implications on their future career choices. Further advice can be found in the Medical Schools Council publication Medical and dental students: Health clearance for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV and Tuberculosis
IT Skills
During your time as a medical student you will need to be competent with the Microsoft products Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams. Although many of you will have been taught these skills at school there may be a number of you that would benefit from more formal training.
The University offers some IT training resources.
Agents of Change Placements
ScotGEM: Changing the future medical workforce – Third sector placements for medical students
Angela Flynn, ScotGEM Agents of Change Director, email: af238@st-andrews.ac.uk
Jayne Stuart, ScotGEM Service Learning and Community Engagement Vertical Theme Lead, email: js502@st-andrews.ac.uk
Summary
As a Year 1 ScotGEM medical student you will complete at least 20 hours in a third sector community placement or project, offering positive benefits for both students and third sector partners.
Background
The ambition of the ScotGEM programme is for new doctors in the 21st century to be able to both deliver care and develop healthcare systems. Much medical training is focused upon using techniques to gather information from each individual patient in order to inform the choice and delivery of treatment. However, to practice as an effective medical professional within local and global communities we believe that a fuller understanding of these communities is essential.
Through spending time with third-sector organisations and local communities, you will be able to develop a fuller understanding of the social determinants of health and the impact on health and well being. You will also see ways that you can work in partnership with third-sector organisations to give the best clinical care you can.
Examples of previous students’ activities include:
- Attending support groups
- Creating and offering food parcels
- Community gardening
- Developing activities for children and young people
- Meeting with and supporting people who live on the streets
- Investigating community needs and assets
What this means for you
As a ScotGEM student, you are required to undertake one of these placements or projects during October-December 2025. Information and support will be provided to help you make choices about what kind of activity you would like to experience. We endeavour to meet your placement or project preferences.
When you start the course in September, you will be given details about what placements and projects are available, when they occur and how you submit your preferences. In the meantime, please think about the type of voluntary sector placement or project you would like to take part in; this may continue from previous experience you have had, or you may wish to try something different. There is also the option of self-selecting a third-sector organisation with whom you already have a link with.
“You couldn’t learn this in a classroom. You have to experience it” – a previous ScotGEM Year 1 student.
“My volunteering experience with (the charity) was transformational and really fuelled my passion for inclusion and advocacy for people with (this condition), who are one of the most isolated and marginalised groups in society” – a previous ScotGEM Year 1 student.