University of St Andrews - degrees and licenses in medicine and dentistry: consultation

1. Introduction

1. This consultation seeks views on reinstating the ability of the University of St Andrews ("the University") to hold qualifying examinations for or granting undergraduate degrees in medicine, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and certificates in midwifery and dentistry, by removing a legislative barrier which is not in place for any other UK higher education institution.

2. The Scottish Government is seeking to repeal paragraph 17 of Schedule 6 to the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 ("the 1966 Act") which currently prohibits the University from awarding undergraduate degrees in medicine, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in midwifery and surgery, and undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and licences in dentistry.^[1]

3. The 1966 Act requires to be amended to allow the University to award a Primary UK Medical Qualification (PMQ) to Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine (ScotGEM) MBChB students, jointly with Dundee University. It is, however, proposed that the prohibition on all types of degrees under Schedule 6 is repealed.