Life as a Medical Student

The undergraduate course is 5 years long - longer than other university courses - and requires endless energy and commitment from the student. The work is well within the capacity of all who make the entrance requirements, but extra reading and revision needs to be done in the evenings and at weekends, to keep up with the course. If students are living at home, they will need quiet periods each evening and at weekends, free from distraction. It is also worth remembering that the medical course presents much more than an intellectual challenge to students - they must also learn to deal with interpersonal communication, serious illness and ethical issues.

Partway through the curriculum in Aberdeen, students can apply to undertake a one-year research degree - the Intercalated BSc in Medical Sciences. Clearly, this lengthens an already long degree programme from 5 to 6 years, with associated financial implications. However, should the student be interested, an intercalated degree will offer research expertise and may improve future career prospects by enriching a future Curriculum Vitae. Each year, approximately 20% of the student year group undertake this degree.

In Aberdeen, students have the opportunity to work abroad for 8 weeks in their final year. This Elective Period is usually hugely enjoyed and students can apply for grants and bursaries to support this.

Should students find they need help and advice, there are many support systems in place at Aberdeen:

  • The Regent Scheme: Every medical student is assigned to a senior member of staff who meets with his or her students regularly. The Regent is available to provide support and guidance on any personal or academic problem that a student may have throughout the course. In addition, the Regent acts as a mentor to help with the student's professional development e.g. identifying strengths and weaknesses, career advice, preparing a CV, and in the transition from junior to senior student to junior doctor.
  • The Student Pairing Scheme involves a pairing of every first year student with a "mum & dad" - second year students, who can provide help and support and advice based upon their own experiences.
  • All the course lecturers and tutors can be approached for academic problems and indeed, will be happy to discuss more personal problems.
  • The university as a whole has a comprehensive range of general student support services
  • Financial help and guidance can be offered by the Student Support Officer based at the Medical School.

Despite having a busy schedule, we strongly recommend that students should manage their time to allow for some social and leisure pursuits. Student societies such as MedSoc are widely supported by the School and there are regular joint functions with the "grown-up" version - the Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society

This need for such an outlet for relaxation should become all too apparent in postgraduate years when the work commitment can become very intense.

The accommodation that is selected by students often reflects the stage they have reached in the curriculum:

Year 1 students: Many students prefer to stay in halls of residence, in or near the Old Aberdeen campus, which are generally located within a 20 minute walking distance of Foresterhill.

From Year 2: As students become familiar with Aberdeen, the University and Foresterhill,  many students often elect to share houses or flats within the city environs.

Within the final two years of the course: Students undertake quite intense clinical attachments at Foresterhill. They often elect to stay close-by, either in shared flats and houses, or in the self-catering flats of Rosemount Hall of Residence. When students then undertake clinical attachments outwith Aberdeen, they maintain a home-base locally, but their accommodation is paid for during this distant placement.

Students who undertake the Remote & Rural Option based in Inverness during Year 4 and/or Year 5 will have accommodation supplied and may elect to relinquish their Aberdeen accommodation for the duration of the attachments.