Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) MBChB 2021 entry

Teaching format

ScotGEM uses a wide range of teaching methods, much of which will be delivered within an NHS setting. A case-based learning approach in the first two years will prepare you for an exciting range of clinical learning opportunities in third and fourth years.

The ScotGEM course will be based on clinical cases from the outset. These will be supported by a set of learning objectives, lectures, practical classes, tutorials, simulated and ‘real’ clinical and consultation skills plus extensive supported independent and peer-peer learning.

Your learning will be underpinned by a sophisticated online Curriculum Management System, which will give access to a wide range of resources and enables progress to be monitored, particularly during Year 2 when the students will be located in different regions. For instance, regular online self-assessment tests and workplace based learning assessments will be required.

Increasingly, learning will become more self-directed, and you will be reliant upon yourself and your peers to explore, investigate and learn from the cases (still guided by clear learning objectives and with synchronised centrally organised teaching). This approach will set you up well for learning based on real patients in the clinical environment.

The longitudinal integrated clerkship in Year 3 will allow you to join a clinical team and learn whilst becoming increasingly involved in patient care. You will select patients to follow through and study them, their conditions and their care in more detail. Where relevant, you will attend specialist clinics, operations, etc as you follow these individuals’ journey through the healthcare system.

Finally, in Year 4, you will experience intensive hospital attachments that involve shadowing foundation doctors and other secondary care attachments.

Assessment

Each year will require you to pass assessments of knowledge, clinical skills and a portfolio demonstrating professional development.

• In Years 1 and 2, you will be assessed on your knowledge using a mix of online multiple choice questions and short answer written assessments. Year 3 will use online multiple choice questions aligned with the planned General Medical Council common exam (Medical Licencing Assessment).
  
  
• In every year, there will be a portfolio assessment based on a mixture of engagement with learning, workplace-based performance and project work related to the curriculum themes.
  
  
• In every year, there will be an Objective Structured Clinical Examination.

The assessments will be selected specifically for the ScotGEM course, but draw heavily upon those available within both medical schools. Thus, your progress will be benchmarked against existing UK standards throughout.

Students must pass all of their modules each year in order to progress to the subsequent year.

Tuition fees for 2021 entry

Home-funded	Tuition fees will be paid by the Scottish Government. Students do not need to apply to SAAS for payment of tuition fees.
Rest of the UK	£9,250

Additional compulsory costs

You will need to have your own stethoscope, pocket mask, laboratory coats, and safety glasses for your clinical skills training and anatomy teaching. These items can be bought for around £125 and details specific to these purchases will be given to you on Launchpad when it goes live in June. Necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for clinical skills training will be provided.

You will also be expected to pay £59 to register with the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme when you arrive in St Andrews.

The purchase of books is not compulsory, but you may find it useful to meet your specific learning needs. Further details of reading lists will be given on Launchpad.

Funding arrangements

You can see the ScotGEM funding arrangements for the 2020-2021 academic year; guidance and legislation may change in future years.

Accommodation fees

Find out about University of St Andrews accommodation fees.

Find out about University of Dundee accommodation fees. 

Scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

The University of Dundee does not have any scholarships or funding available for ScotGEM applicants. 

ScotGEM bursary

Students on the ScotGEM course are offered a 'return of service' bursary, a grant worth up to £16,000 in total, in exchange for working in NHS Scotland for up to four years.

The scheme, administered by NHS Education for Scotland (NES), will offer ScotGEM students a bursary of £4,000 per student per annum in return for a year of service up to a maximum of four bursaries and four equivalent years of service.

For students opting to participate, the ‘return of service’ arrangement will become effective at the beginning of year one of their foundation training.

If you have any questions on the ‘return of service’ bursary, please contact the fees and funding team at fees@st-andrews.ac.uk. 

How to apply for ScotGEM bursary

Any student who has been offered a place on ScotGEM is eligible to apply for a bursary. Payment of the bursary will only take place once matriculation onto the ScotGEM course is complete.

If you wish to apply for the bursary, please follow the link supplied on your offer letter, download the application form and return the completed form to NHS Education for Scotland.

If you wish to leave the return of service scheme, you will have the option to buy yourself out.

If you have any questions on applying for the ‘return of service’ bursary, please contact the NHS Education for Scotland directly.