MBChB A10C (ScotCOM) programme and funding arrangements
The following information explains your progression through the MBChB programme and provides funding information from SAAS (Student Awards Agency Scotland) and SLC (Student Loans Company).
SLC administers funding for Student Finance England (SFE), Student Finance Wales (SFW) and Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI) funded students.
Annual progression and matriculation
Years 1 and 2 follow the standard St Andrews term dates and matriculation periods.
Year 3 follows the standard matriculation period, but the second semester module (MD4004) runs for longer than the standard St Andrews term dates. The longer term has been confirmed to SAAS and SLC.
Information for Years 4 and 5 is provided in detail below.
Placements for all relevant years
Students on Medicine programmes do not need to inform their funding bodies when they are undertaking placements. Medical placements are automatically recognised as an integral, mandatory part of your degree.
Year 4
Your fourth-year module (MD4005) will start at the end of July, which is earlier than the St Andrews standard year.
The earliest that SAAS and SLC recognise as the start of an academic year is 1 August so this is the date we have informed SAAS and SLC that your year commences.
You will be invited to complete matriculation from the end of July or start of August. Once you have completed matriculation, we will be able to confirm this to your funding body.
The first teaching block of your fifth-year module (MD5011) will start in June, which is within the Year 4 academic calendar. You will not matriculate at the start of MD5011.
For funding purposes, we must include this first block, June to end July, within Year 4. This means the funding dates for Year 4 will be a a full calendar year, from 1 August to 31 July.
Your funding body may adjust the timing of your maintenance payments for this long year, for example, SAAS payments will default to a 12-month schedule for students usually receiving payments over nine months. You should check with your funding body to confirm the arrangements.
Year 5
Funding for your fifth year will start when you return to continue MD5011 in September after the August vacation period.
Illustration of the calendars for 2026-2027 and 2027-2028
The funding arrangements for Year 5 of Medicine depend on which funding body is paying your fees.
SAAS-funded students should apply to SAAS as usual for a tuition fee grant and maintenance loan. Information can be found on the SAAS Medicine students webpage.
SFE-funded students should apply to the NHS for tuition support and an income assessed NHS Bursary, and to SFE for the non-income assessed reduced rate maintenance loan. Information on NHS Bursaries can be found on the NHS England Student Bursaries webpage.
SFW-funded student students should apply to the NHS for tuition support and an income assessed healthcare bursary from NHS Wales, and to Student Finance Wales (SFW) for a non-income assessed maintenance loan. Information on NHS Bursaries can be found on the NHS Wales Student Bursaries webpage.
SFNI funded students should apply to SFNI who administer tuition support and an income assessed healthcare bursary on behalf of the Department of Health. Students will also be eligible to apply for a reduced rate non-income assessed Maintenance Loan. Information can be found on the NI Direct Government Services webpage.