Views wanted on bill to allow St Andrews University to confer medical and dentistry degrees

The University of St Andrews (Degrees in Medicine and Dentistry) Bill, which was introduced in September, would remove a legal prohibition that currently prevents the University from granting medical degrees by repealing a section of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966.

If passed, the bill would be the first step in allowing the university to award the qualification to Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScottGEM) students, who are set to graduate in 2022.

The Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 removed the ability of the university to grant degrees in medicine and dentistry. This was because the act made Dundee and St Andrews entirely separate universities. As a result, because the clinical part of the medical school had been based in Dundee, St Andrews had no clinical medical school or teaching hospital and the university lost its right to award MBChB medical degrees

Speaking as the call for views was launched, Health and Sport Committee convener, Lewis Macdonald MSP, said: “St Andrews is the oldest university in the country and, due to historic reasons, the only ancient university not to award medical and dental degrees.

“This bill looks to revisit this matter and, if passed, would be the first step in allowing the university to award such degrees for the first time since 1966.”

Mr Macdonald continued: “The committee wants to hear from a range of stakeholders including universities, regulatory bodies, medical organisations and students.

“We look forward to hearing both the case for making this change but also any concerns which may exist in the wider context of the provision of medical and dental education in Scotland.”

The call for views closes on November 18 and can be found online at – parliament.scot/standrewsbill.