Congratulations! You made it to Med School! As you wrap up your summer adventures and embark on this new journey, I hope you can battle the jitters with all the excitement and curiosity that starting university brings. It is an amazing experience, and we at the Medical School and the associated student societies have lots in store for you!

So, who am I? I’m Ayra, the President of the Bute Medical Society for the next academic year. I am thrilled to be welcoming you to St Andrews in September! Be it at the Medical School, the many Bute events or St Andrew’s three streets, you will be sure to catch me somewhere – I guarantee it. So, please come say hi! I would love to chat, answer any questions, or offer my expertise on the best cafés in town. I am a croissant connoisseur first and foremost.

Um… what is the Bute Medical Society? It is only the biggest, oldest, (best) and most well-established student society at the University of St Andrews! It boasts an active student body of 550 members and is an integral part of medic life for most of us here. Being a medical society, Bute offers recreational events that are easy to balance alongside intense studies. Being a medic and a Butie go hand in hand. Bute is intrinsic to the Medical School, and we often co-organise events and research opportunities for students to get involved in. Whilst most of our members are undergraduate and postgraduate medics, we are open to anyone keen on exploring the medical field. Our committees exceptional work means we often yield university awards such as ‘’Best Event,’ ‘Best Society’… the list goes on! As we approach the 110th anniversary of the Bute Medical Society, be prepared for events bigger and better than ever before. We’re going all out this year, and we’d love for you to join us. Some events to jot on your calendars…

Hecklings: Shrouded in mystery, Hecklings is a welcome social for all medic freshers. Held in the first few weeks of Martinmas, it involves crazy challenges and treasure hunts. Memorable (for some) and notoriously fun, every St Andrews medic has a story from Hecklings. I’d tell you more, but I signed an NDA.

Balls: We strive to help you blow off steam in good ol’ Bute fashion; with music, ceilidh dancing, delicious food, and other delights. For this reason, Bute is big on balls. We host three incredible formals:

1. Hippocrates: Our wonderful welcome ball poised in the first semester to help you to get to know other medics!
2. Bute Ball: Our pride and joy, heralding our return in the New Year. Always a gem to remember.
3. St Vitus: Our summer ball celebrating the end of exams and sending off our third year comrades in style.

The best part? Bute subsidises all these events, so we’re known for being the best value for money in town. Ah, the benefits of being a Butie.

Research events:  We encourage our members to be innovators in their fields and expand their horizons. Bute hosts the Bute Innovation Leadership Forum, our impressive inter-societal speaker competition that aims to promote the researching and presenting skills of our members. Bute also advertises opportunities and offers academic talks on what interests you. Be it Surgery or the integration of Medicine and AI, our speakers inspire our members to venture into new areas of research and industry. Many of our speakers are our Med Dems, who teach us in clinical skills and dissection classes.

Sports teams: Teaming up with your fellow Buties to annihilate the other team is an excellent way to boost morale! Bute FC, Bute Rugby, Bute Hockey and Bute Netball have all been big hitters in the past, but we are very much open to sharing the love with an array of other sports and getting a team started. Matches are flexible around the hectic medicine timetable, so medics with commitment issues fear not! With teams of varying abilities and no pressure, it’s a great opportunity to start something new. We are always on the lookout for new members!

Charity events: Pub quiz? Bake off? Fun run? Bute is not afraid to host the classic, fantastic events you love to raise money for our two annually chosen charities. Hugely popular and filled with great energy, our charity events are designed to be a chill way to unwind.  Who wouldn’t want their histology lecturer to join the pub quiz and grill them on Rihanna’s biggest hits?

Bute Revue: You’ll quickly get to know the lecturers and Med Dems. What better way to end the year than make fun of them and your fellow medics at a comedy show? Undoubtedly one of the most iconic Bute events of the year. Just wait and see…

What should you be on the lookout for during Freshers’ Week?

Alongside all the events, gatherings and exploring during Freshers’ Week, the Medical School has some things planned to help introduce you to fellow students and staff:

Family tours: Alongside staff, the Bute committee will have the pleasure of guiding you and your families/guardians around the Medical School to explore where you’ll be spending the next three years. Whilst you might remember some aspects from your interviews, this will be your first opportunity to check it out for real! Feel free to ask your guides (second and third year medics) any questions that you may have. Tea and coffee will also be provided! Do not worry if you are unable to attend these tours, as there will be ample opportunity to explore the school throughout the week.

Introduction: Alongside introductory talks on Monday from staff, you’ll be able to meet Jimin, the School of Medicine President, and myself to hear more about what we do for med students.

Meet Your Group Sessions: You will be shown around the Medical School by current students once more in your assigned groups. This serves as a great way to get to know your fellow group members; these are the folk you’ll be spending clinical practice sessions with!

Bute BBQ Social: Our long-standing tradition is a Bute BBQ on Monday evening in the Medicine Courtyard. Feel free to grab some food, relax and mingle. Vegetarian and vegan options will also be available.

Medics Freshers’ Fayre: All medical societies and unions will have a stall for you to ask questions and sign up. Most societies will be on the lookout for some First Year Representatives to join the committee. Being a First Year Rep in my first year was a brilliant way to meet some people, especially from other year groups – would highly recommend applying. You’ll find the Bute stall at Freshers Fayre too!

Bute Bonfire: What better way to kickstart the weekend and explore St Andrews beaches than with a bonfire! Another Bute tradition, hosted on Friday of Freshers Week. Many second and third year students attend the bonfire, so this is a brilliant opportunity to ask questions in a more informal environment!

Help desk: During Orientation Week, we will have a staffed “help desk” by the foyer of the Medical School to help re-direct you or answer any questions! Our staff are very friendly so don’t be afraid to approach them if you are unsure of anything.

Is there anything I can do now?

• Follow @butemedics, @standmedicine and @standrewsunion  on Instagram.
• Join your fellow medics before you come to St Andrews on the “St Andrews Medic Freshers 2024/25” Facebook page.
• If you have any questions for Bute, we would be delighted to help. You can email our secretary on butemedsoc@st-andrews.ac.uk
• Congrats! You’re ready for Freshers!

I hope I’ve helped the jitters and given you much to look forward to! I’ve only scratched the surface of what you can expect from us in Martinmas. Freshers’ Week will be bustling with the unpacking, forms to fill out, stethoscopes and lab coats to get hold of. It may be difficult to find a moment to sit back and relax. I’ve found, however, that things have a funny way of falling into place. Eventually.

So, before you enter the gleaming gates of our small, bustling town on the East Coast of Scotland, remember that you have an entire Summer ahead to relax, be proud, and get excited. St Andrews is a truly wonderful place to study. The Bute Medical Society and University of St Andrews look forward to welcoming you in September.