Medical students at Scottish universities: EQIA

4. Identifying Persons Affected by the Proposed Policy

Before Ministers could make their final decision about whether to proceed with the proposed policy, it was necessary to establish the likely effect on persons who share a protected characteristic in terms of the relevant equalities legislation.

The policy will affect any student commencing a Medical degree (MB ChB) course at a Scottish university in the 2019-20 and subsequent academic years (excluding any additional funded places.)

Since the number and protected characteristics of such students is not yet known, an estimate has been made based on the students who entered the MB ChB in Scotland in academic years 2014/15-2017/8 (“the relevant student group”.) The number and characteristics of persons entering in these years were reasonably consistent and this data is therefore considered to be a reasonable estimate of the number and protected characteristics of those who will comprise the student group affected by this policy.

The Equalities Impact Assessment considers evidence on the characteristics protected under the Equalities Act 2010: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation. The equality analysis helped inform the development and monitoring arrangements for the policy.