The MSC (medical students committee) represents medical students in the UK. We consider and address issues of importance to medical students and make sure your views are represented in wider BMA policy.
Updates from the MSC
Foundation programme allocation review outcome
Following the review into the foundation programme allocation system that took place earlier this year, UKFPO have announced that a system of Preference Informed Allocation will be used to allocate graduates who start the foundation programme in 2024. This means that students will no longer have to sit a Situational Judgement Test (SJT). This move was supported by the BMA and the vast majority of respondents to the review.
Reconsidering the allocation process to UK foundation training
- BMA view on the UKFPO’s stakeholder engagement exercise on proposed changes to the UK Foundation Programme allocation process.
- Watch the recording of our latest webinar with UKFPO and Prof. Sam that explores the pros and cons of the current allocation method and what an alternative to ranking could look like.
MSC launch first ever wellbeing checklist
The medical student wellbeing work aims to contribute towards the standardisation of medical student support services throughout the region.
Our priorities
MSC policy is set by the annual medical students conference and the BMA's ARM (annual representative meeting). As future doctors, we want to safeguard our NHS. As such, our four main priorities are:
Finance
- Lobby for the protection of the NHS bursary for AHP and medical students.
- Lobby for sufficient and equitable travel expenses for medical students on placement.
- Lobby against increase of fees for international medical students.
Welfare
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Addressing racial harassment and other harmful behaviours at medical schools
- Improve awareness of student mental health issues.
- Lobby for improvements to support systems.
Education
- Contribute to the development of the UKMLA (UK medical licensing assessment).
- Increase medical student places.
Widening participation
- Support students from a widening participation background, including mature students.
- Engage the wider BMA and relevant stakeholders in widening participation, making recommendations and/or developing resources.
Our people
Each UK medical school elects a representative to the MSC for one year. To find out who the MSC representative for your medical school is, please contact the MSC secretariat at [email protected] or download the full list below.
The MSC also has an executive subcommittee, which is entitled to take decisions in between meetings of the MSC.
Co-chairs: Chinelo Nnadi and Shivani Ganesh
Take part in one of our free courses designed to give you the right skills to:
- break down equality and inclusion bias (CPD-accredited)
- value difference and inclusivity
- live our BMA behaviour principles.
Associated committees
- Welsh medical students committee.
- Northern Ireland medical students committee.
- Scottish medical students committee.
Our meetings
The committee meets four times a year to discuss the latest issues affecting medical students. Our meetings are open to all elected medical student representatives for each medical school across the UK, but non-members can apply to attend via the committee visitors scheme.
Committee meetings:
- Saturday 18 November 2023 (Microsoft Teams)
- Friday 23 February 2024 (Hybrid meeting at BMA House)
- Friday 14 June 2024 (Microsoft Teams)
For more information, please email [email protected].
Conference
The MSC annual conference is an opportunity to discuss the current issues affecting medical students and to pass motions based on these debates.
BMA members from all medical schools across the UK are invited to attend, with each medical school allocated a certain number of conference places.
Any policy passed at the conference directs the MSC’s work for the coming year.
2024
The 2024 conference dates are 12 and 13 April 2024.
How to join
There are many advantages to becoming involved in our committees. You can actively influence BMA policy-making and negotiations, represent your colleagues' voices and develop your leadership skills.
Each committee has a few routes to becoming an elected member. In the case of the Medical students committee, this is:
- Seats/term - every year, all medical schools elect a representative and a deputy representative for a one-session term. For split campuses (Nottingham/Derby and York/Hull), an additional deputy representative is elected. An extra deputy representative is elected from Manchester, Keele, Exeter and Cardiff medical schools.
- Timeline - elections usually take place in March or April.
- Eligibility - all student BMA members are eligible to stand and vote in this election.
The election section below is kept up to date with details about any running elections, so make sure you keep checking it throughout the year.
Elections
Elections to MSC take place in the spring of each academic year. We currently have two vacant positions for the 2023-24 session which are now open on an expression of interest basis. If you are a student at one of the medical schools below and are interested in taking up this position, please contact: [email protected]
- Anglia Ruskin University – Deputy rep
- Kent and Medway Medical School – Deputy rep
Get in touch
If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the work of the MSC, please email [email protected].
The BMA is working to meet the challenges that women face in the medical profession.
Stand for a BMA committee and be part of this change.