This notice explains how the University of Aberdeen shares personal information and uses information it receives about students within the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition. This includes all students on regulated healthcare programmes or are intending to return to regulated healthcare programmes:
- MBChB
- Intercalating Students
- BDS
- G2M and PreMed
- MSc PA
- MSc Advanced Clinical Practise
- Dip HE Dental Technologies
This privacy notice complements our existing Student Privacy notice and should be read alongside this notice.
What information do we share about you?
The Medical Schools Council (MSC) and The Dental Schools Council (DSC)
For the purposes of checking the Excluded Student Database – Full name, UCAS Student ID, School ID, Date of Birth, name of School attended.
For the purposes of updating the Excluded Student Database (where a Fitness to Practice investigation has determined a student should be excluded)
- Known name(s) of the students (including any changes of name)
- Date of birth
- Name of the school which the student was excluded from
- UCAS ID
- Photograph
- A copy of the outcome letter at the end of fitness to practise proceedings. (Note: - this would only be made available by the MSC/ DSC once a match has been identified – for 48 hours only)
For the purposes of examinations - Full name, Student number, any additional time awarded to sit the exam
Disclosure Scotland
For the purposes of requesting information Disclosure Scotland hold about you - Name, date of birth, address, previous addresses, email address
General Medical Council (GMC) and General Dental Council (GDC)
For the purpose of registering with the appropriate council:
Registration number, Name, Student ID, Exam results, Fitness to Practice Information including evidence, minutes and outcomes (if applicable)
To assist the council with research:
Demographic data, Student ID, examination results, provisions. This information will not be used for other purposes by the GMC/ GDC will not be used to make decisions about you and will not be published in a way which could identify you.
Deaneries and UK Foundation Programme Office UKFPO
For the purpose of registering you for a post degree placement - Student name, email, GMC number and nominating school
References requested by students may contain Fitness to Practice Information including evidence, minutes and outcomes (if applicable).
NHS Occupational Health Services (if applicable)
For the purpose of organising an Occupational Health assessment for you - Name, Date of Birth, contact detials, details of any specific concerns, reported illness patterns, etc
Public Delivery for Scotland
For the purpose of assisting PDS to process Dental Student data to meet its training quality duties and assist PDS in their statutory duty to undertake Workforce planning on behalf of the Scottish Government
For the purpose of reporting attendance on the MSC Advanced Clinical Practice MSC to assist PDS to meet its training quality duties and assist PDS in their statutory duty to undertake Workforce planning on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Names, Date of Birth, Ethnicity, Contact details, NI Number (for MSC ACP students), Ethnicity, Sex, Previous award body, Details of degree taken, Date of completion , (If applicable) Date and reason for discontinuation
NHS partners, GP surgeries and NHS Dental surgeries
For the purposes of organising placements, clinics and providing training:
Name, Student ID, Email , Phone Number , any information about risks to practice and additional requirements.
We will also share limited information with accommodation providers if your placement is outwith Aberdeen.
The third-party suppliers we use for IT and service delivery support also have access to your personal information in order to provide these services to the University.
We may also disclose information about you upon your request. In these cases, we will require written permission to do so.
We may disclose personal information to other recipients in exceptional circumstances or when required to do so by law.
We will transfer your personal information to countries and organisations outside the European Union where necessary when you participate in our exchange, electives or study abroad programmes. We have agreements in place with our partners to safeguard your information.
Why do we share and collect this information?
The School needs to be able to ensure that students graduating with the degrees listed are fit to practice and therefore eligible for pre-registration with the appropriate regulatory bodies.
There are several lawful bases on which the University routinely processes your personal information. These are:
- to fulfil the University's contractual relationship with you
- to comply with our legal obligations under equalities, health and safety, safeguarding and higher education governance legislation
- to comply with our legal obligations to ensure that healthcare students meet professionalism standards and to protect the public
- to ensure students meet the required medical capacity required to train
- for the University's statutory powers to provide teaching, promote research and administer the University
How long your information is kept
We retain your other personal information:
- whilst the information is relevant to your studies at the University, and
- for a period that allows for the exercise or defence of legal claims, and
- in accordance with codes of practice for the University's role as a provider of regulated Healthcare degrees, as a registered employer with Disclosure Scotland and to supply information to professional regulatory bodies.
How can I access information about me?
You can ask about your privacy rights or make a request about your personal information by contacting the University Data Protection Officer at dpa@abdn.ac.uk and visiting our Privacy pages: Your Privacy | About | The University of Aberdeen
Where can I find out more information about the University of Aberdeen’s Fitness to Practice regulations?
For more information please visit: Fitness to Practise | The School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition | The University of Aberdeen
Last updated 20 April 2026