Medical Sciences (Extended International Pre-Med) September 2026

Course information may change. Module information and course content, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at the University of St Andrews. We display the most up-to-date information possible, but this could be from a previous academic year. For the latest module information, see the module catalogue.

• Year 1

  All students will study the same five modules in Semester 1:

  • Foundation Academic Thought in Arts and Science: introduces you to the history and development of academic thought in both the arts and the sciences, which will enhance understanding of the key philosophical and analytical principles underpinning academic study. This module supports you in the preliminary stages of acquiring a discipline-appropriate academic voice. 
  • Foundation Inorganic and Physical Chemistry: develops your existing knowledge and understanding of inorganic and physical chemistry and provides a useful introduction to many of the chemical concepts that are used in organic and biological chemistry courses.
  • Psychology A: will familiarise you with a wide range of the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of modern psychology, through the detailed study of classic and contemporary literature. This will include a solid grounding in the empirical approach to provide the necessary basis for conducting research in psychology and an appreciation of the diversity of psychology and its practical applications in modern society. 
  • Communicating in Academic Contexts 1: helps you develop and practise productive and receptive academic spoken communication skills to use within the International Foundation programme and in your undergraduate programme.
  • Research and Writing for Science A: aims to explore a range of academic functions, features of academic style and organisation, and academic grammar and vocabulary in order to improve your overall academic literacy but with a focus on the texts you need to write for science. You will learn how to evaluate the reliability of a variety of published texts and develop your own academic voice.

  In Semester 2, all students will study the same five compulsory modules:

  • Foundation Physiology 1: introduces the study of the physiological systems in the human body, covering cell structure, cell function and cell membranes, homeostasis, temperature regulation, metabolism and enzymes, the endocrine system, the nervous system and circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems. 
  • Psychology B: further develops the skills introduced in Psychology A and shows you how research methods have helped to develop understanding in three areas of psychology, developmental, evolutionary and social, and aims to develop your research methods and analytical skills.
  • Communicating in Academic Contexts 2: helps you further develop and practise productive and receptive academic oral communication skills that you will need to draw on in your degree programme.
  • Research and Writing for Science B: further develops the skills introduced in Research and Writing Skills for Science A in Semester 1 with students working more specifically on more extended research skills using references, and using them to support arguments in science.
  • Foundation Organic Chemistry: develops your existing knowledge and understanding of patterns in the periodic table, structure and bonding in elements and compounds, reaction kinetics, equilibria and acid base chemistry, redox reactions and electrochemical cells, and chemical calculations using the mole concept.

  Clinical observation post Year 1

  If possible, students are encouraged to undertake some clinical observation, usually in their home country. The key purpose is to enhance your understanding of the skills, qualities, practices and systems of care settings. This will prepare you for Year 2 of the programme, where there will be a much greater focus on what is required to study and practice medicine. 

  The observation should take place in a care facility which you will organise in a location most convenient for you. It should only be undertaken if it is safe for you to do so. IELLI can provide documentation to support your application to the care facility.

• Year 2

  All students will study the same three modules in Semester 1:

  • Communicating in Medical Contexts 1: focuses on academic research and writing skills along with seminar and project skills. You will study medical ethics in order to understand how this links to clinical practice and medical professionalism. You will also have sessions on effective communication and will attend workshops with simulated and real patients in the School of Medicine.
  • Biology 1: will introduce you to molecular and cellular biology and covers cell diversity and the origins of life, cellular structures and fundamental processes. 
  • Introductory Inorganic and Physical Chemistry: covers the origin of the elements, atoms and the Periodic Table, shapes and properties of molecules, chemistry of the elements, properties of solutions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics and kinetics.

  All students will study the same three modules in Semester 2:

  • Communicating in Medical Contexts 2: builds on the skills studied in Semester 1 to enhance your confidence and competence in communication, specifically for a degree in medicine. You will continue studying medical ethics and will also have a series of lectures on important themes in Medicine which are delivered by staff from the School of Medicine. 
  • Organic and Biological Chemistry 1: includes lectures on the structure, stereochemistry and nomenclature of simple organic compounds, fundamental organic reaction mechanisms, organic functional groups and their reactions, introductory bioorganic chemistry, and organic spectroscopy.
  • Human Biology: covers all the key physiological systems within the topic areas, with an overarching focus on how disease affects these systems.

  Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs)

  To prepare for the MMIs held by the School of Medicine in Semester 2 of Year 2, there will be workshops on the various interview stations so that students can develop their interview skills and MMI performance. You will also study medical ethics in order to transition into first-year medicine with an understanding of how medical ethics link to clinical practice and medical professionalism.

• Teaching and assessment

  Your classes take place Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm. In a typical week you will spend around 16 hours a week on your focused learning activities like live lectures, laboratory practicals, seminars and tutorials. To ensure our students are getting tailored support, we schedule seminar classes with groups of no more than 16 students.  

  You will also be expected to complete around 25 hours of independent study each week to achieve your academic goals.  

  In Year 2 of the programme, students are introduced to simulated and real patients throughout the programme and are given opportunities to explore how to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds with a variety of health conditions. 

  Top tip

  Students are also encouraged to volunteer with a local charity during the programme. 

  Assessment 

  Students are assessed on coursework and end-of-semester exams. Examples of these are: 

  • academic essays  
  • end-of-module exams (in-person or online) 
  • individual or group projects 
  • presentations 
  • laboratory reports 
  • class tests

  Each module handbook will include information on assessments.