Medical students committee Policy guide for medical students committee and medical students conference 2021 Welcome Welcome to the conference 2021 edition of the MSC policy guide. This document comprises all the current policy that has been passed by the annual medical students conference and relevant policy from the ARM (annual representative meetings) of the BMA. The annual BMA medical students conference is an important opportunity to establish our position as medical students on issues in a variety of areas including widening participation, equality and human rights, education, assessments, finance, mental health and medical ethics. Many policies passed at the conference have led to national-level change in policy across government and the healthcare landscape. Policy is reviewed annually to ensure it is still relevant and representative of the work of MSC. The motions proposed to be lapsed this year can be found in a separate document. As with previous editions, a glossary of acronyms can be found at the end. In previous years some motions were combined after they had been passed at conference; these composite motions were presented as “combined resolutions”. This practice has now been discontinued but if you feel there is a section or topic that would benefit from this, please get in touch. If you have any queries regarding policy, please feel free to ask myself or secretariat - we will be more than happy to help. Khadija Meghrawi Medical students conference chair 2021 2 Contents Primary medical training admissions........................................................................................ 6 Interviews ............................................................................................................................ 6 Admission tests ..................................................................................................................... 6 Widening participation .......................................................................................................... 6 The core curriculum ............................................................................................................... 8 Delivery of medical education ............................................................................................... 13 Clinical placements .............................................................................................................. 14 Placement accommodation facilities ..................................................................................... 15 Internet access .................................................................................................................... 16 Academic standards and quality ............................................................................................ 16 Feedback to medical schools and complaints .......................................................................... 16 Educational resources .......................................................................................................... 17 Higher education funding ..................................................................................................... 17 Assessments and exam feedback .......................................................................................... 18 National examinations ......................................................................................................... 19 Prescribing skills assessment ................................................................................................ 21 Intercalation ....................................................................................................................... 21 International placements ..................................................................................................... 21 Electives ............................................................................................................................. 22 Careers advice .................................................................................................................... 22 Medical associate professionals ............................................................................................ 23 Postgraduate medical training .............................................................................................. 23 Application to the foundation programmes ............................................................................ 23 The Foundation Programme ................................................................................................. 25 Coupling ............................................................................................................................. 25 Accommodation in foundation year one ................................................................................ 25 Academic Foundation Programme ........................................................................................ 25 Further postgraduate training ............................................................................................... 26 Student welfare .................................................................................................................. 27 Transport ........................................................................................................................... 28 The Medical Schools’ Charter................................................................................................ 29 Occupational health ............................................................................................................ 29 Bullying, harassment, and discrimination ............................................................................... 30 Disability ............................................................................................................................ 31 Mental health ..................................................................................................................... 31 Drugs and alcohol ................................................................................................................ 34 3 Equality, inclusion and culture .............................................................................................. 34 Combining medicine with family life ...................................................................................... 36 Support for students on international placements .................................................................. 36 Funding for primary medical training ..................................................................................... 37 Loans ................................................................................................................................. 37 Tuition fee loans ................................................................................................................. 39 Maintenance loans .............................................................................................................. 39 Commercial loans ................................................................................................................ 40 NHS bursary........................................................................................................................ 40 Funding for intercalation ...................................................................................................... 41 Travel costs and other expenses ........................................................................................... 42 Other financial sources ........................................................................................................ 42 Postgraduate funding .......................................................................................................... 42 Devolved nations ................................................................................................................ 43 Northern Ireland ................................................................................................................. 43 Scotland ............................................................................................................................. 44 Wales ................................................................................................................................ 44 Professional medical practice (undergraduate and postgraduate) ............................................. 44 Professionalism and fitness to practise .................................................................................. 44 Uniform ............................................................................................................................. 45 Workforce .......................................................................................................................... 45 Student numbers ................................................................................................................ 46 International medical students ............................................................................................. 46 Oversubscription of the foundation programme ..................................................................... 47 Workforce planning ............................................................................................................. 47 Terms and conditions of service ...........................................................................................