PAPER 07/CE/54
MBChB PRIZES
Existing prizes
The award of prizes was extensively reviewed within the Co-ordinating Assessment Board (CAB) as the new
curriculum was developed prior to its introduction in 1998 and as each year rolled out. The then Faculty of
Medicine also approved the arrangements for awarding prizes in the new curriculum. Faculty and CAB took into
account the fact that some subjects e.g. biochemistry, were integrated so that there was no longer a specific
assessment for which a prize could be awarded.
CAB and Faculty agreed that where possible within the new curriculum prizes would be awarded within the spirit
of the original bequest. This has been possible in the later years of the curriculum where the prizes are discipline
based and fitted appropriately into the new curriculum. However, the prizes in first and second year were mainly
subject specific, e.g. pharmacology and anatomy, subjects which were integrated within new courses in the new
curriculum. The Faculty of Medicine minutes of 28 May 1999 state that:
“The new first and second year courses are not discipline-based and it is recommended that the income from these
prizes should from the year 2000 onwards be evenly distributed between first and second year MBChB”.
The prizes were therefore ‘pooled’ to give an award to up to 5 of the top ranked students in each year.
A further review of prizes at a CAB meeting on 4 June 2002 noted Faculty’s approval of the allocation of prizes in
first and second year but the minutes state that “… legal advice be taken to ensure prizes were award within the
spirit in which they were originally gifted.” This was discussed with the central University at the time and the
advice was that Counsel’s opinion would need to be sought. It was considered likely that this course would prove
expensive, complex and not without risk. It was therefore decided to follow the approved arrangements for prize
allocation as agreed by CAB and the Faculty. The ongoing review of years 3, 4 and 5 would take account of any
impact on prizes currently awarded in these years.
Disappointment has been expressed at the loss of some subject specific prizes particularly the Cunningham Medal
for Anatomy which, under the terms of the original bequest was awarded annually to the student who
“….having attending the whole course in Anatomy including the Professional Examination in Anatomy at the end
of First Year and the parts of Anatomy which come into the Professional Examination in the Second year, is
considered to be the most distinguished student of the year in Anatomy.”
In the new curriculum anatomy became part of an integrated course with an integrated assessment so it was not
possible to meet the original conditions of the bequest. Assessment of anatomy currently takes the form of a 15
minute ‘spot’ examination. The prize is therefore included in the award for overall performance in Year 1.
There would not appear to be a Cunningham Medal. The only MBChB medals currently awarded are for final year
prizes. Advice from the University would suggest that medals are now rarely given as prizes.
The list of MBChB prizes awarded annually is attached.
New Prizes
The MBChB Board of Studies was of the view that, in general, prizes should be encouraged. It was also
acknowledged that prizes were extremely important in applications for Foundation programmes.
Proposals for new prizes have in the past been brought to the MBChB UG Studies Committee and to the MBChB
Board of Studies. Taking into account the advice from the University at the time of the last proposal and
subsequent discussions in Committees, criteria for new prizes should include the following:
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a minimum capital sum of £5000
a minimum prize of £150 per annum
a significant piece of assessment
robust and transparent processes for awarding the prize
availability for the long term, not just for a few years
Curriculum Executive is asked to
 approve the criteria for new prizes
PRIZES IN THE CURRICULUM
All decisions ratified by Final Examination Boards
PRIZE TITLE
ORIGINAL BEQUEST
OVERALL PRIZES - awarded at the end of year 5
1)Ettles Scholarship &
1) Awarded annually to the most
distinguished Bachelor of Medicine and
2)Leslie Gold Medal in
Bachelor of Surgery Graduate in the year
Medicine
of the award.
2) Awarded annually to the most
distinguished student in Medicine.
Scottish Association for the
Awarded annually to the most
Medical Education of
distinguished woman graduate in Medicine
Women Prize
of the year.
Dorothy Gilfillan Memorial
Prize
AWARDED
PRIZE
(2008/09)
As stated in original
bequest.
£700 (Ettles)
plus medal
(Leslie Gold
medal)
As stated in original
bequest.
£400
Awarded annually to the woman student
most distinguished in the final MBChB
examination
DISCIPLINE-BASED PRIZES - Year 5
Annandale Gold Medal and
Awarded annually to the graduate in
Prize in Surgery
Medicine who is most distinguished in the
assessment and Final Examination in
Surgery.
Thomas Keith Memorial
Awarded to the MBChB graduate in
Prize
Medicine who is the runner up in the
assessment and Final Examination in
Surgery.
Mouat Scholarship in the
A bronze medal and a sum of money
Practice of Physic
awarded annually to the graduate in
Medicine who has taken the highest place
both in the class examination and in the
Final Examinations (oral, clinical and
written) in the Principles and Practice of
Medicine.
Murdoch Brown Silver
Awarded annually on the basis of an
Medal
examination to the best of the six
candidates who obtained the highest marks
in the final examination in Clinical
Medicine
W.B. Ellis Prize in Child
Bequest from the late Professor Emeritus
Life & Health
R.W.B. Ellis a sum of money, the income
of which is to be used for two prizes to be
awarded annually at graduation. The first to the student obtaining the highest marks
in the Final Professional Examination in
Child Life & Health, who will also be
awarded the class medal. The second - to
the student who completes the best
paediatric project during his or her clinical
clerkship in Child Life & Health.
As stated in original
bequest.
£400
1st prize in Surgery.
£600 + medal
2nd prize in Surgery.
£350
1st Prize in Medicine.
£200 + medal
2nd Prize in Medicine.
£300 + Medal
Prize in Child Life
and Health.
£100
Monroe Prize in Geriatric
Medicine
Prize in Geriatric
Medicine.
£100
Prize in General
Practice.
£400
Dorothea Walpole
Memorial Prize together
with Mrs. B E Sloggie's
Prize
Awarded on the recommendation of the
Professor of Geriatric Medicine to a Final
Year medical student on the basis of
excellence in classwork and undergraduate
in-course assessment in the Geriatric
Medicine attachment(s) of the curriculum.
Awarded annually to the Final Year
medical student in the Faculty of Medicine
on the basis of excellence in class work in
the General Practice attachment.
DISCIPLINE-BASED PRIZES - Year 4
Buchanan Scholarship
Awarded annually to the graduate in
Medicine who, throughout Phase III and
including the Final Professional
Examination, has shown the highest
attainment in Gynaecology
Lawson Gifford Prize
together with the Dr. Ariel I
Goldberg Prize
Annual award to the graduate in Medicine
in the year of the award who has obtained
the highest mark in the written component
of the Final Professional Examination in
Gynaecology and Obstetrics
James Scott Scholarship
(with Gifford/Goldberg )
Awarded annually to the graduate in
Medicine in the year of the award who,
throughout Phase III and including the
Final Professional Examination, has shown
the highest attainment in Obstetrics
James Monroe Prize in
Psychiatry
Awarded to a Final Year medical student
on the recommendation of the Head of the
Department of Psychiatry.
K Velluppillai prize in
Opthalmology
This prize is awarded to the best project in
Opthalmology in the Year, either the best
SSM in Year 4. (or either the best PBLP
in Year 1.)
N.B. student can only win prize once
during MBCHB course.
Awarded annually to the best medical
student in the class of Dermatology
Seggie Prize in
Dermatology
Third Year Prizes
Colonel Thomas Biggam
Memorial Medal and Prize
in Pathology
Ross-Inkster Medal
A bronze medal and a sum of money
awarded annually on the basis of the classwork and class examinations of the
MBChB Professional examination (and, if
necessary, an oral examination) in
Pathology to the best undergraduate
member of the class during the full course
immediately preceding the award who has
passed the Professional examination in the
subject
A bronze medal awarded annually to the
student who, having attended the whole
undergraduate course in Public Health, and
having passed the Final Professional
Examination in the subject, is considered
the most distinguished student in the class.
Awarded for
excellence in
Gynaecology on
recommendations
from the Professor of
Obs & Gynae
Awarded for
excellence in
Gynaecology on
recommendations
from the Professor of
Obs & Gynae
Awarded for
excellence in
Gynaecology on
recommendations
from the Professor of
Obs & Gynae
Awarded for
excellence in after
recommendations
from the Professor of
Psychiatry
As stated in original
bequest.
£600
As stated in original
bequest.
Current award
£100.
Awarded to top
ranked student for
overall performance
in year 3
£500
Awarded to 3rd
ranked student for
overall performance.
(ARC prize of £250
awarded to 2nd ranked
student.)
£100
£600
£600
£400
£300
SECOND YEAR PRIZES
John Aitken Carlyle
Bursaries
MacKenzie Bursaries
Lauder Brunton Prize in
Pharmacology
FIRST YEAR PRIZES
MacKenzie and Carlyle
Bursaries are also used to
make up 5 prizes to 1st
years.
Cunningham Memorial
Medal
Robert Wilson Memorial
Prize
Ian Oswald Prizes for
Anatomy
Dr. Kurt Gillis Prize in
Anatomy
September 2008
Two bursaries awarded at the end of the
first year MBChB curriculum, taking into
account class work and the results of the
first Professional Examination in Anatomy
and Biochemistry. One bursary awarded at
the end of the whole course in Anatomy
and Physiology, on the results of class
work and the Professional Examination in
Physiological Sciences.
* Senior MacKenzie Bursaries will be
awarded annually to students who have
completed the 1st Professional MBChB
Anatomy Examination and who, following
oral examination, are awarded a distinction
in Anatomy. * Junior MacKenzie
Bursaries will be awarded to candidates
who are awarded an A Grade in the 1st
Professional MBChB Examination without
an added distinction. The total number of
prizes awarded in any one year depends on
the number of candidates considered
worthy and the availability of funds to
meet the awards
Awarded annually in the from of a medal
and a sum of money on the
recommendation of the Head of the
Department of Pharmacology to the most
distinguished undergraduate in the Second
Professional MBChB examination
Included in prizes for
overall performance
in Year 2.
Included in prizes for
overall performance
in Year 2.
Awarded to students
ranked 5.
£150
See above under Year 2 prizes.
Included in prizes for
overall performance
in Year 1.
Awarded to students
ranked 1 and 2.
Included in prizes for
overall performance
in Year 1.
£800
The medal is awarded annually with a sum
of money to the student who, having
attended the whole course in Anatomy
including the Professional Examination in
Anatomy at the end of the First Year and
the parts of Anatomy which come into the
Professional Examination in the Second
Year, is considered to be the most
distinguished student of the year in
Anatomy.
A medal, to be awarded annually at the end
of the first year of the MBChB course, to
the student who obtains the highest mark
in the Biochemistry component of the First
Professional MBChB Examination
Two prizes awarded annually on the same
general conditions as the Cunningham
Memorial Medal, to students who have
distinguished themselves in the course of
Anatomy
See above – Cunningham Memorial Medal
£600
£300 x 2
Awarded to students
ranked 1 and 2.
Included in prizes for
overall performance
in Year 2.
£600
£300 x 2
Awarded to students
ranked 3 and 4.
£400 x 2
£300
Awarded to student
ranked 3.
Included in prizes for
overall performance
in Year 1.
Awarded to student
ranked 4.
Included in prizes for
overall performance
in Year 1.
Awarded to student
ranked 5.
Included in prizes for
overall performance
in Year 1.
Awarded to student
ranked 6.
£300
£300
£250