Congratulations – you got into medicine!

 I’m Safiyah, your School of Medicine President, and I am so excited to welcome you to the start of what will genuinely be one of the most rewarding journeys of your life. St Andrews is a special place – small enough that you’ll quickly feel at home, but full of enough people, societies and experiences to keep things interesting for your coming years. You’re going to love it here.

So what does the School President actually do? In short, I’m your academic representative – the link between you (the student body) and the staff who shape your learning experience, so basically the one who ensures student voices are heard on everything from teaching to assessments, and everything in between. That feedback comes largely from Class Representatives, so if you’re keen to get involved in shaping the med school experience from day one, look out for elections in September – it’s one of the best ways to hit the ground running.

Outside of the formal stuff, I’m here for you. I remember how nervous and excited I felt when starting, so whether you have questions about what to expect in first year (or any of your time at St Andrews), need to know the best spots in St Andrews, or just want a familiar face to chat to – come find me. My door (and my DMs) are open.

Get ready for Freshers’ Week and Bute Medical Society events – it’s going to be a good one. Looking forward to meeting you all on your first day!

Safiyah

School of Medicine President

• P.S. I recommend joining Facebook group chats for students incoming in the year 26/27 – great way to meet people before starting!
• Reach out via medicinepresident@st-andrews.ac.uk on email or @sta_medpresident on Instagram if you have any questions