St Andrews

Overview of the Medical School

• The School of Medicine in St Andrews integrates the knowledge of the scientific basis of medicine within a clinical context. This approach allows graduates recognize the important contribution that science and scientific research make to the practice of medicine.

• St Andrews is proud to call itself ‘Scotland’s first university’, and Medicine was the 3^rd subject to be taught at St Salvator’s College. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, medical degrees from St Andrews were awarded by an early version of distance learning. In 1721, James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos endowed a Chair of Medicine, and until late in the 19^th century could be termed a “Medical School”.

• Among its alumni, the school is associated with 1 Nobel Prize (Sir James Black, MB ChB 1946, inventor of Propanolol and developer of Cimetidine and Ranitidine) and 2 Victoria Cross winners (Anthony Dickson Home, MD 1848 and Thomas Egerton Hale, MD 1855). Also with small pox vaccine pioneer Edward Jenner (MD 1792).

Campus and Facilities

• Campus:
  • Building of the School of Medicine at University of St Andrews

• Facilities:
  • Building: equipped for teaching, research and conference rooms
  • Dissecting room: 16 tables for full body dissection and room to display hundreds of excellent models and specimens.
  • Anatomy Resource Centre: space for private study for up to 40 students and is open for 14 hours each day.
  • Clinical Skills Suite: features 7 rooms containing 48 beds, all equipped with mounted video capture and bed-head touch screens to allow instant playback or video resources, features a full range of real and simulated clinical equipment, supported by the digital media team.
  • Medical Resource Center: provides students with a self-help study space open 14 hours a day.
  • Science Lab: designed to the BSc Hons course requirements of up to 100 students for practicals in physiology, pharmacology and histology.
  • Teaching rooms: 300-seat lecture theatre, two 50-seat Seminar Rooms and thirteen 12-seat tutorial rooms
  • Study space: 53 desks, all with WiFi or a desktop PC

National and International Rankings

• Complete University Guide ranking for medicine: rank 22 (2016)
• Guardian University ranking for medicine: rank 10 (2016)
• QS World ranking for medicine: ranked between 301-400
• Times Higher Education for medicine: NA

MBBS Programme Information

General overview

• (A100) Students entering Medicine at St Andrews have opportunity to graduate after three years at St Andrews with a BSc Honours degree in Medicine before moving on to one of our Partner Medical Schools to complete their training and graduate with an MB ChB/MBBS.
  • BSc Medicine (3 years) at St Andrews
  • MB ChB/MBBS (3 years) at Partner Medical School (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester or Barts)

Number of students on this course:

Small size groups: around 170 students in each year.

Course Structure and Length:

• Year 1 comprises 2 modules: Foundations of Medicine 1 and 2:
  • The first semester module provides a broad overview of the structure, function and behavior of cells, tissues, and systems within the human body.
  • The second semester module uses the musculoskeletal system to provide the integrated theme which mirrors the framework of the modules taught in subsequent years.

• Years 2 and 3 – Honours Programme comprises several modules that revisit and build upon the knowledge base that was established in Foundations of Medicine 1 and 2. The normal and abnormal structure and function of each of the body systems will be studied in depth and you will examine the scientific basis of important disease mechanisms and therapeutic treatment in each of the body systems.

• The final semester of Year 3 has a strong emphasis on independent learning and includes the student-selected research dissertation.

Course Content:

• Year 1: Foundations of Medicine 1 and 2
  • 1^st Semester: broad overview of:
    • Structure, functions and behavior of cells, tissues, and systems
  • 2^nd Semester: uses the musculoskeletal system to provide the integrated theme which mirrors the framework of the modules taught in subsequent years
    • Introductory overviews of the clinical sciences including:
      • Pathology, microbiology, health psychology
    • Public health medicine and key aspects of medical ethics and law.
  • Develop professional thinking, effective communication and problem solving skills:
    • Case-based clinical scenarios and interviews with patients
    • Basic clinical skills, including: basic life support, measuring and recording vital signs, clinical communication and patient safety.

• Years 2 and 3: Honours programme
  • The normal and abnormal structure and function of each of the body systems:
    • Year 2: cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal and reproductive
    • Year 3: nervous system, endocrine
  • Scientific basis of important disease mechanisms and therapeutic treatment in each of the body systems.
  • Deeper understanding of clinical communication, medical ethics, professionalism, public health, health psychology and the practice of medicine
  • Consolidate clinical skills and patient examination techniques and take the first steps in the diagnosis and management of patients.
  • 2^nd semester of year 3 is emphasized on independent learning and includes the student-selected research dissertation and applied medical science:
    • 10-12 week period: students choose a laboratory research, data handling, medical education or critical review project in order to pursue an area of their own interest.
  • Ward skills and practice of clinical and communication skills are developed in 10 sessions arranged in Fife teaching hospitals
  • During the summer vacation between 2nd and 3rd year, students may elect to consolidate their learning by spending a residential week in a primary or secondary clinical care placements.

Teaching locations:

• At the School of Medicine – University of St Andrews

• Partner Institutions: Graduates of the BSc Hons Medicine can progress on to one of our partner medical schools to complete their training as a doctor
  • The University of Edinburgh
  • University of Dundee
  • University of Aberdeen
  • University of Glasgow
  • Barts and the London: School of Medicine and Dentistry 

Open day dates:

To attend an open day, you should book by completing the online form

• Spring visiting dates:
• Wednesday 9 March 2016 – Bookings now closed
• Wednesday 30 March 2016 – Bookings now closed
• Wednesday 6 April 2016 – Bookings now closed
• Wednesday 13 April 2016

• Autumn visiting dates: Booking will open in early September 2016.
  • Wednesday 28 September 2016
  • Wednesday 5 October 2016
  • Wednesday 19 October 2016
  • Wednesday 26 October 2016
  • Wednesday 16 November 2016

Term dates:

• Autumn Term: 17 Aug 2016 – 07 Oct 2016

• Winter Term: 24 Oct 2016 – 23 Dec 2016

• Spring Term: 09 Jan 2017 – 31 Mar 2017

• Summer Term: 17 Apr 2017 – 29 Jun 2017

MBBS Admissions:

Application process:

• Meet the entry requirements
• Ensure that you have sat the UCAT:
• Check campus code details:
  • A990: No Campus Codes required
  • A100: Campus Codes required (Scotland ‘S’, England ‘R’, or No Preference ‘N’)
• Write a personal statement
• Arrange for a referee’s report
• Fill out the application form
• Submit by the due deadline
• Repeat applications: Applicants who are unsuccessful in obtaining a place at St Andrews can submit a new application the following year if they meet the entry requirements.

Entry requirements:

• UK Qualifications:
  • SQA – higher/advanced higher:
    • AAAAB (Highers in S5) including Chemistry (A grade) and one other of Biology, Mathematics or Physics.
    • BBB (Highers/Advanced Highers in S6)

• GCE: AAA (Advanced levels) including Chemistry and one other of Biology, Mathematics or Physics.

• Graduate and undergraduate entry:
  • Upper Second or First class Honours Science degree (or equivalent) to have been obtained within last 5 years
  • Chemistry Higher/Advanced Higher/A-level (or equivalent) (Grade A at first sitting) to have been obtained within last 6 years
  • Grade B in Biology, English and Mathematics GCSEs or equivalent.
  • Only applicants with Science Honours degrees will be considered.
  • Undergraduates who are in FIRST year of an undergraduate programme will be considered if they have fulfilled our academic entry requirements before they began their undergraduate course.

• Other:
• Open University qualifications are taken into account only for those who will have graduated with a BSc honours degree in science by the time of the proposed entry to the Medicine course.

• International Qualifications:
  • Graduate & Undergraduate Entry:
    • Upper Second or First class Honours Science degree (or equivalent) to have been obtained within last 5 years.
    • Chemistry Higher/Advanced Higher/A-level (or equivalent) (Grade A at first sitting) to have been obtained within last 6 years.
    • Plus grade B in Biology, English and Mathematics GCSEs or equivalent.

• European Baccalaureate
  • Minimum: overall score of 85% with 7+ in Chemistry and 7+ in one of Biology, Mathematics or Physics and 7+ in one other subject. Biology, Mathematics and English must be offered.
  • English Language requirements: all non-native English speakers must achieve 7 in all four areas of the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) exam, to be taken at one sitting.

• International Baccalaureate
  • Minimum: 38 points to include the following: Higher level: 3 passes at Grade 7,6,6, including Chemistry (7) and one other of Biology, Mathematics or Physics. Standard Level: 3 passes at Grade 6, including whichever of Mathematics or Biology is lacking at Higher Level; and including a pass in English if this is not gained at Higher Level.
  • English Language requirements: all non-native English speakers must achieve 7 in all four areas of the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) exam, to be taken at one sitting.

• UCAT score: can vary each year, for guidelines consider:
  • 2015: 2700

Candidate Selection

• There are around 400 places for interview
• To be consider for interview applicants must have:
  • Strong academic record
  • Positive and relevant reference
  • Medically related work experience
• Applicants will be ranked on the basis of their UCAT global score.
• Those ranked in the top 400 or so will be given an interview.
• Decisions to make offers will be based on the interview score and the global UCAT score.

Interview procedure

• Interviews take place in December and then in the following January, February and March.
• The process is as follows:

• Location: will be invited to interview in St Andrews, if you are oversees you can be interviewed by telephone or SKYPE.

• Identification: bring one photographic ID that shows the full name and date of birth, it should match the information provided on your application.

• The Interview:
  • Are in the format of multiple mini interviews
  • For the 2015/16 admissions cycle there will be 6 ‘mini’ interviews or stations.
  • They intend to use the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) as an element of the interview process; with the score being incorporated into the interview score.
  • You will be expected to demonstrate that you have an understanding of medicine as a career and that you appreciate the realities of working in a caring profession.
  • Communication and interpersonal skills will be assessed at each station and at least one station will involve role-play
  • You will also be assessed on your ability to discuss ethical issues.

• Touring the Medical School: it is hoped that candidates will have the opportunity to tour the medical facilities with one of our medical students. Tours will run after every interview and usually take about 20/30 minutes.

Extra important information for candidates

• The majority of decisions are not made until mid-March when it is much clearer where applicant scores fit within the overall ranking.

• The information on UCAS track will include some feedback as to why an applicant was unsuccessful in their application.

• Applicants can request additional feedback in writing or by email. At the end of Marc the Medical Admissions Office will respond to feedback requests.

• Requests for feedback must be received by the end of May. Enquiries should be submitted to:
  • Email: [email protected]

• The Medical School at the University of St Andrews has formed a partnership with Perth College whereby a small number of students following a specified pathway in the Higher National Certificate (HNC) Applied Sciences at Perth College will be eligible to articulate to the Medical programme at the University of St Andrews.

Admissions contacts:

• For information about application to courses at the University, including Medicine contact:
  • [email protected]
• For specific advice about studying Medicine:
  • [email protected]