​The SMSC (Scottish medical students committee) represents and acts on issues relevant to medical students in Scotland. We also campaign on behalf of our constituents on a variety of issues, including education, finance and welfare.

We report to the BMA Scottish council and the MSC (medical students committee), who we work with closely on behalf of medical students across the UK.

Our priorities

Medical education

Medical education has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic with restrictions made on clinical placement time and adaptations made to the medical curriculum.

A lot of students have seen a decrease in clinical placement time and lectures being provided online through remote learning. SMSC are aware of the impact that this is having on mental health. We are ensuring that students are supported and represented as much as possible through this difficult time.

SMSC has written to medical school deans on various occasions during the year to get reassurance on the changes made to examinations and medical education and the education being provided is as close to the norm as possible. We will continue to engage with our respective medical schools to gain more clarity on the matter.

Student welfare in medical school

The pressurised situations and responsibilities that medical students will experience while studying can be uniquely stressful and can contribute to mental health problems. It is essential that medical students are well-supported during their time at university and that assistance and advice are readily available.

This year the pressures have become increasingly difficult with rapid changes being made to teaching and examinations. This has had a detrimental effect on all students.

SMSC have been supporting students through this as much as possible through engaging with our deans. In particular, for international medical students and new freshers who may find the time even more difficult with the lack of opportunity to make friends due to the COVID-19 guidelines.

SMSC will be engaging with organisations to discuss the unique mental health concerns of medical students and to gauge whether there is opportunity for more counselling services to be made available within medical schools.

The BMA also provides confidential support and counselling 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Student finance

It’s important that students are aware of the financial support available to them. SMSC have published a finance guide, which is updated annually, to help medical students in Scotland feel informed about the loans, grants and bursaries available to them.

SMSC continues to push for clarity on all student expenses (for example, understanding the cost of placements and being fully informed of reimbursement policies) and transparency of funding.

Widening participation

SMSC believes that students from all backgrounds should be able to study medicine, and supports the implementation of the recommendations made by the Commission on Widening Access’ (CoWA) final report: A Blueprint for Fairness.

While the committee supports the work of the Scottish Government and universities to implement initiatives to reach more students from diverse backgrounds, the committee continues to push for more to be done.

SMSC have published a booklet titled ‘Have you thought about studying medicine', which details the basics of how to apply to study medicine – what you need to do and what you need to know if you’re thinking of applying.

With hints and tips and personal accounts of what it was like for current medical students. Support available for finances and the myths that exist around studying medicine. The booklet is to promote widening participation and access to medicine regardless of background.

Equality and diversity

Equality, diversity and inclusion has always been a priority of importance for SMSC. This year SMSC will continue to actively engage with our respective medical schools to ensure that the BMA racial harassment charter will be implemented in each school.

Discrimination and harassment continues to be an issue in medical schools and at places of work. As explained in a blog from our past co-chair Sam Watson, "BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) students were four times more likely than their white counterparts to describe bullying and harassment as ‘often’ rather than ‘sometimes’ a problem.”

SMSC have continued to work, with our UK counterparts, on asking each medical school in the UK to sign up the charter.

Each SMSC representative have also developed where lacking, local LGBTQIA+ equality committee and working groups and have reached out to students to join. The aim is to provide a safe space to discuss matters that impact on individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ and how best we can support and represent them.

Other priorities

As well as the above priorities, SMSC have identified additional priorities for the 2022-23 session including: widening participation and improved engagement with students.

Our people

Chair:
Vaclav Loffelmann

Deputy chair:
Aaron Fernandez

Our meetings

SMSC meets four times a year to discuss the latest issues impacting medical students in Scotland. These meetings are open to the elected members of SMSC, but non-members can apply for the BMA committee visitors scheme.

Meeting dates:

• Wednesday 27 September 2023

• Saturday 25 November 2023

• Thursday 14 March 2024

• Saturday 25 May 2024

All our meetings take place either virtually or at:

BMA Scotland
14 Queen Street
Edinburgh
EH2 1LL

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 SMSC, these are: 

Elections

Election to SMSC is closed.

Get in touch

If you are interested in finding out more about the work of the SMSC, please email us or call 0131 247 3003.​