It’s good that you are thinking about IT.

We’ve made a special section of Flying Start just for questions about IT.  You can find this here…

The School of Medicine orientation begins at 9.00am on Monday of Orientation week with a welcome from the Dean of Medicine, the Director of Teaching and 1st year Module Controllers. This will be delivered online and recorded for those unable to attend. This will be immediately followed by an introduction to the Medical Support Team in the School of Medicine who will guide you through important resources and actions you may need to take early in the semester. The full programme can be found on this page in the medhandbook, linked under ‘Orientation Week’.

The School will be running in-person induction events during orientation week, including some academic events.

Tours of the School of Medicine for parents/families will be available on the Sunday before Orientation Week commences.

Academic support

There’s a range of support available to help transition your study skills from school to University. The University offers academic and study skills training and resources to all students via the Centre for Educational Enhancement and Development (CEED). This includes one-on-one study skill appointments, skills workshops and online resources. CEED work closely with Medicine and deliver a study skills session to you in Orientation Week, which can be accessed throughout all years of study with us. Throughout the semester, the School will provide hints and tips to help you approach your studies effectively. We will also provide practice opportunities to help familiarise you with the exam formats.

You will be allocated a personal tutor who will meet with you periodically to discuss your progress. Your tutor will also help you identify and reflect on the support you may need to balance your studies with the other opportunities available to you as a student of our University.

The School also supports the student-led Peer Assisted Learning Scheme (PALS) who can provide support to you as a new student. The welcome message below from their current lead coordinator outlines many of the ways they’ll help you adjust to studying at University.

Peer Assisted Learning Scheme (PALS)

Welcome to PALS at St Andrews!

Hi there, welcome to Medical School! I’m Sushmhitah Sandanatavan, your lead coordinator for PALS.  PALS is a mentoring scheme run by students, for students of the BSc (Hons) Medicine course, to provide peer assisted support within the medical school. We know the jump from high school to medicine can be huge and we’re here to help you manage that transition by providing extra help regarding study skills and advice from those who have experienced it already. Keep reading to see how we can support you!

• Mentor-Mentee Scheme

We run the Mentor-Mentee Scheme, which connects first-year students with experienced second and third-year mentors. Sign-ups will be available at the Medic Freshers’ Fayre Stall, with mentee registration starting in September. This also leads us into our first event…

• Mentor-Mentee Mixer

We’re excited to host the first-ever Mentor-Mentee Mixer in the medical school café and courtyard during Week 2. This networking session will be a fantastic opportunity to meet your mentors, fellow freshers, and enjoy a little bite to eat. It’s also the perfect opportunity to get to know others and make new friends! You’ll also have a Welcome talk from your School of Medicine President and myself. It’s a perfect chance to get to know your President and to meet the rest of the PALS committee, make sure to attend so you can chat and get to know the people behind PALS!

• Study Skills

Last year’s Study Skills event was a success, and we’re planning another one to introduce effective study strategies tailored for medical school. We’ll cover flashcard apps, study methods, and advice on balancing activities with studies, with a range of speakers. We’ll guide you through all your revision options, especially if flashcards aren’t your thing and you would like to know other methods to revise!

• Clinical Skills and Content Revision

We’re thrilled to announce a series of dynamic and interactive revision sessions focused on clinical skills and lecture content throughout the year. These sessions are designed to enhance your understanding of and confidence in essential medical skills. Led by our dedicated staff and experienced fellow students, each session will provide hands-on practice and real-world applications. Stay connected with us on social media for the latest updates, session schedules, and sign-up details.

• Mock APE and Mock OSCE at PALS

We organise comprehensive Mock Anatomy Practical Exams (APEs) and Mock Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) to help you prepare for practical exams. These sessions are designed to mimic actual exam conditions, providing a realistic, pressure-free practice environment. Our mock exams are helpful for boosting students’ confidence, offering personalised feedback to identify improvement areas. Notably, one of our mock OSCE stations appeared in the actual exam last year. Do not miss these essential preparation opportunities – they can be a game changer!

• Newsletter

We’re excited to introduce our new PALS Newsletter! By signing up, you’ll receive the latest updates and resources. Each edition includes practice questions and expert revision tips. This is more than just a newsletter – it’s your go-to guide for staying informed and inspired throughout your medical school journey. Stay tuned!

Lead Coordinator: Sushmhitah Sandanatavan

Secretary: Manal Alam

Academic Coordinator: Fergus Jajdelski

Clinical Coordinator: Amrit Dhillon

MD3000 Representative: Kaavya Chandrasekar

Get in Touch!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!

– Feel free to reach out via email at palsmed@st-andrews.ac.uk

-Join our Whatsapp Group Chat (with 100 members already!) to stay up to date with upcoming events + updates! https://chat.whatsapp.com/JE6O5IA07IxB4UCW5VRs3j

– Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date as well! instagram.com/pals_st.andrews

Here’s to an amazing year ahead at St Andrews, where your medical journey truly begins. We are here to support you every step of the way, and we can’t wait to see all that you will achieve. Let’s make this year the best one yet!

Welcome to the PALS family 🙂

Yes. During orientation week there will be a full programme of in-person introductory classes specifically organised by the School of Medicine for new medical students – where possible these will be recorded for those who are unable to attend due from the beginning of the week due to logistical issues. Your attendance at these classes is essential since they will help you to find your feet in the early stages of your medical course, and we would encourage you to ensure you watch the recording of any session you miss during the week as soon as possible.

Useful tips and advice from your School President

• Engage with the Orientation Programme and Events: There are plenty of facilities around the school that are worth knowing, and Galen is definitely helpful if you take plenty of time to explore its functions. Look at every nook and cranny during Orientation week and bring out the explorer in you! However, don’t be afraid if you don’t remember everything in one go because that is normal.
• Try out and be open to different study methods: Medical school differs from high school. Thus, it is worth looking at diverse study methods and finding out which suits you best. Don’t be afraid if a study method you thought would work out doesn’t; trial and error are essential in medical school.
• Learn how to make a realistic plan: Planning is easy to do but being realistic needs practice; set a goal of what you ‘want’ to do and what you are ‘able’ to do and prioritise a few things that you ‘can’ do and ‘should’ do.
• Balance studying and well-being: Medical school does seem like a lot, but it doesn’t mean you should spend all your time studying. Enjoy spending time with friends or by yourself to make sure you get to relax, thus taking care of yourself so that you do not burn out. This also means getting plenty of sleep.
• Get involved in plenty of societies: You don’t have to join a lot of societies or go and try out every activity, but since there are a lot of societies, it is always worth having a look around and picking a few that you would like to have continuous interest in. You can always explore freely and decide to join the committee in your second or third year.
• Don’t be afraid to approach other medical students: It is expected to be nervous when meeting new people, but remember, all the other freshers feel like that, too! Don’t be afraid to start a conversation with them because, deep down, they might want to talk too. Also, do not hesitate to approach students in different years; we love answering questions, giving advice, or just chatting about how bad the weather is.
• Do not be intimidated: I get that when first entering medical school, it might seem huge, scary, and intimidating. However, I want to emphasise that it is perfectly okay not to understand something straight away and you may have lots of questions you want to ask. Therefore, feel free to ask staff questions after a lecture or when you see them in the School café; they are very friendly and eager to answer questions.

Current students have provided the following information on what they would have liked to have known to help them transition into life at medical school

1. You are coming into an environment where everyone is extremely talented, the best of the best, and deserving of being here so don’t be disheartened if you’re grades are average or feel you are struggling
2. Be prepared to change your study technique! Look into evidence-based study techniques such as spaced repetition and active recall before starting university (it’s also okay to change during and in between semesters)
3. Help each other as you’re all going through the same experience and are in the same boat
4. Try not to compare yourself to other students! Everyone has their own unique skill set and moves at a different pace
5. Remember to take breaks and have a life out with medical school e.g. hobbies and socials
6. The importance of organisation and being able to adapt to different and unfamiliar situations
7. Try and relate what your are learning in the lectures to that in clinical skills, dissection, communication skills, and placement – remember the bigger picture
8. Remember a career in medicine is a life of continued learned, the foundations are important and the spiral curriculum
9. Don’t be afraid to ask for help in any aspect of university life – there are so many areas of support out there
10. Remember to have fun and enjoy your time as a medical student