Medical students have certain additional responsibilities to those of other students. As a result, different standards of professional behaviour are expected of them. Each medical school is responsible for ensuring that its students have the opportunity to learn about, and to practise behaviours expected of them. Student fitness to practise relates to the behaviours of students and can also refer to the health of the student; poor health can affect a student’s fitness to practise, either directly or by being a cause of misconduct.

A joint working group between the Medical Schools Council and General Medical Council (GMC) was set up in 2005 to develop some supportive guidance for both schools and students. The aim of the guidance was to define; the behaviours expected of medical students, the scope and threshold of fitness to practise, how decisions are made, and the key elements in student fitness to practise arrangements. 

Guidance
The student fitness to practise guidance is available to download:

Medical students: professional values and fitness to practise

The guidance was revised in 2009. For previous versions please contact us.