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 International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute (IELLI). This includes one-on-one study skill appointments, skills workshops and online resources. IELLI 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! My name is Ishani Badala, and I have the role of PALS President for the upcoming academic year! On behalf of the entire PALS team, I would like to give you a very warm welcome to St Andrews and to the School of Medicine. Starting medical school is incredibly exciting and while the transition from school to medicine can feel like a big jump, PALS is here to help make that process a little easier.

PALS is a mentoring scheme run by students, for students in MBChB Phase 1 (including the BSc (Hons) Medicine programme and ScotCOM) and ScotGEM students. Our aim is to provide peer support, study advice, and guidance from students who have recently been in your position. Whether you have questions about academics, university life, or anything in between, we’re always happy to help!

We have lots of exciting events and opportunities planned for this year, and most importantly, we hope PALS will be a friendly and familiar source of support throughout your time at St Andrews. Please never hesitate to reach out- the more questions, the better! I am so excited to meet you all and get started on what I’m sure will be a fantastic year!

Hey! My name is Emily Walker and I’m so excited to introduce myself as the PALS Vice President for this coming year!
Myself, Ishani and the whole committee feel so privileged to have the opportunity to help support and guide you through the beginnings of your medical journeys and beyond. We understand that at times medical school can present challenges and may feel overwhelming, but PALS is here for exactly those moments. Through our wide range of workshops, study skills sessions, talks and academic resources (e.g. revision booklets) we hope to help lay the foundations which will allow you to succeed, thrive and grow. We can’t wait to meet all of you come September and introduce you to the fabulous St Andrews!

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 opening in September. This also leads us nicely into our first event…

Mentor-Mentee Mixer!
We’re excited to host our Mentor-Mentee Mixer in the medical school café and courtyard during Week 2. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet your mentors, fellow freshers, and enjoy some refreshments. It’s also the perfect chance to get to know others, make new friends, and settle into life at St Andrews.

You’ll also hear a welcome talk from your School of Medicine President, myself (Ishani), and Emily, and have the opportunity to meet the rest of the PALS committee. Make sure to come along and get to know the people behind PALS!

Study Skills
Our Study Skills event was a huge success last year, and we’re excited to bring it back again. We’ll introduce effective revision strategies tailored specifically to medical school, covering flashcard platforms, study techniques, and balancing extracurricular activities alongside your studies. With advice from students across different years, we’ll help you explore a range of revision methods so you can find what works best for you.

Clinical Skills and Content Revision Workshops
We’re delighted to continue our clinical skills and content revision sessions throughout the year. These interactive sessions are designed to strengthen your understanding of core medical concepts and build confidence in essential clinical skills. Led by experienced students and supported by staff, these sessions provide valuable opportunities for hands-on practice and application of your learning. Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates and sign-up information.
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 assessments. These sessions aim to recreate exam conditions while maintaining a supportive and low-pressure environment. You’ll receive personalised feedback to help identify areas for improvement, and previous mock stations have even appeared in final examinations. These sessions are not to be missed and can make a real difference to your confidence and preparation.

Newsletter
We’re excited to continue the PALS Newsletter for another year! By signing up, you’ll receive regular updates, useful resources, revision tips, and practice questions straight to your inbox. More than just a newsletter, it’s designed to keep you informed, supported, and connected throughout your medical school journey. Stay tuned!

Social Media

Easily keep up to date with all of our events and easily access our resources via the PALS social media. Find us on instagram @pals_st.andrews or join the whatsapp group https://tinyurl.com/PALS-WhatsApp

The PALS Committee for 2026/27-
President: Ishani Badala
Vice President: Emily Walker
Secretaries: Shanessa Mak and Harmony Loader
Academic Coordinators: Hebe Muckle, Deborah Li and Florence Moncur
Clinical Coordinators: Joshua Enechukwu and Julia Kazmierska
2nd Year Representative: Shriya Rao
3rd Year Representative: Sofia Vilarinho
Social Media Managers: Nida Kiyani and Hannah Salem
Event Managers: Charvi Gupta and Rita Maria Abou Khalil
Charity and Careers Lead: Sejan Vigneswaralingam

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.

From Your School President

• Get to know your cohort from day one. The Orientation Programme exists for a reason so make the most of it! Explore the Med School together, find the good study spots, and figure out where everything is.

• Be open to completely changing how you study. What got you here might not be what gets you through. Give yourself time and grace to experiment – spaced repetition, active recall, past questions — and don’t panic if your first approach doesn’t stick. Trial and error is part of the process, most of us (including myself) went through this in first year.

• Ask questions. Constantly!! You get out what you put in, no one walks out of a single lecture knowing everything, and no one expects you to. Staff are genuinely approachable and love to help – email them, catch them after sessions, be curious. That curiosity is what will carry you through the degree and beyond.

• Plan realistically. Set honest goals, know your deadlines, and prioritise!! The skill of realistic planning will serve you more than any amount of cramming.

• Talk to students in the years above you. We genuinely love sharing what we’ve learned – what worked, what didn’t, what we’d do differently. You might even find your academic family along the way.

• Join societies and find your people. There is genuinely something for everyone. Societies give you a life outside the course and connections outside your year group – both of which you’ll be grateful for.

• Try to connect what you’re learning to the bigger picture. Lectures, clinical skills, dissection, placements – they all feed into the same thing. That patient in front of you one day. Keep that in mind when it gets dry rather than trying to learn random facts.

• Ask for help – in any area of university life. Academic, personal, mental health, financial – the support exists. Use it without hesitation. Asking for help is not weakness; it’s exactly what a good clinician does.

• Most importantly – actually enjoy your first year, and your whole journey! This one matters more than people will tell you. First year is hard, yes – but it’s also the beginning of something huge, and if you spend it buried in notes without coming up for air, you’ll burn out long before the finish line. Medicine is a marathon, not a sprint. Students who go the distance are the ones who figured out balance early. Go out. Sleep properly. Enjoy yourself – you only get to do med school once!!