Additional Information for Courses with Required Placements: PVG; Health Clearance; Uniforms; Insurance

All students undertaking practical placement activities as an intrinsic part of their course are required to join the PVG Scheme, or have their PVG membership linked to QMU.  Information on applying can be found on the Disclosure Scotland website.  Please note that only matriculated students with a current UK address are able to apply.

There are three types of PVG Scheme application available and it is essential that the university submits the correct application for you.  The three types are:

You must provide three forms of ID* to Queen Margaret University, via the Student Portal, for the purposes of identity checking, as required by Disclosure Scotland.  At least one of the ID's should be photographic and, across the three, they should confirm your name, date of birth and your current UK address.

*Acceptable forms of ID include (but are not limited to):

• Birth Certificate
• Passport
• National ID card
• BRP
• Driving License (Provisional License is also acceptable)
• Bank Statement or similar (dated within last three calendar months)
• Utility Bill (dated within last three calendar months)
• Lease Agreement

Scanned copies / good quality photographs of original documents will need to be submitted to Queen Margaret University as soon as possible after matriculating via the student portal.

Countersignatories, acting on behalf of QMU, will create your PVG application form using the supplied ID. An email containing a link to your application form will be sent from Disclosure Scotland to your QMU student email address, and you will have seven days in which to complete the application. After this time, the link will no longer be valid and a new application will need to be generated by us. In order to help with this, a virtual session will be timetabled within that 7 day period to provide allocated time, should you require it, and for staff to be available for any questions you may have about your application.

Documents submitted for PVG ID purposes will only be retained by QMU for use by authorised countersignatories in the event of any queries with your application. Once the PVG Scheme Membership certificate is issued by Disclosure Scotland all documents submitted for this purpose will be deleted in line with Data Protection requirements. For further information, please see our web page.

ASSaM students/applicants require to pay the PVG application fee of £18 or £59 (depending on the level of clearance required).

Due to professional requirements, students on Nursing, Allied Health Profession and Healthcare Science qualifying programmes are required to hold Professional Indemnity Insurance as a pre-condition of progressing to placement. This is most easily gained through the joining of the appropriate professional body, and information on this will be provided during the induction process into your programme.  Details on anticipated costs can also be found on the specific fees page of our website here.

All students undertaking placements must complete the Health Clearance process before starting.

The Government require us to ensure that all students who will have direct clinical contact with patients meet the health clearance requirements as set out in their guidance. This process is managed by NHS Lothian’s Occupational Health team and includes submitting vaccination records and attending at least one face-to-face appointment.

Please follow the steps below carefully and within the required timescales.

Step 1: Watch the Information Video

📅 When: Now
Watch a short video from Occupational Health explaining the process.

Step 2: Gather Your Vaccination Records

📅 When: Start now – this can take up to 6 weeks

• Contact your GP or check your childhood health records.
• You must provide proof of 2 MMR vaccinations (Measles, Mumps, Rubella).
• If you cannot obtain records, write a short explanation (e.g. records are missing).
  👉 You’ll upload this in Step 4.

Step 3: Accept Your Offer

📅 When: As soon as your offer becomes unconditional

• Accept your place at QMU to proceed with health clearance.
• Use your personal email address (not a school, college, or agent email).
  ⚠️ Using the wrong email may delay your placement.

Step 4: Complete the Online Occupational Health Form

📅 When: From mid-July

• You’ll receive an email from NHS Lothian with a link to the form and login details.
• Check your junk/spam folder if you don’t see it.
  👉 Complete the form within 10 working days and upload your vaccination proof or explanation.
  ⚠️ If not completed by 31 August, you may miss your on-campus appointment, which could delay your placement.

Step 5: Attend Your Health Clearance Appointment

📅 When: Mid-to-late September

• You’ll be given a 30-minute appointment on campus.
  👉 If you can’t attend, contact Occupational Health at least 48 hours in advance.
  ⚠️ Missed appointments without notice may incur a £40 charge.
• If further appointments are needed, they’ll contact you directly.

💷 Payment Information

If you are not SAAS-funded, not living in Scotland, and not an undergraduate student, you will need to pay for any vaccines or tests.

• QMU will invoice you, usually in Semester 2.
• The total cost is likely to be around £250. The cost is decided by Occupational Health. You can ask them for the price list. QMU can’t tell you what you’ll need, as we don’t have access to your medical records for data protection reasons.
• Payment plans are available.
  👉 See our Fees FAQs for more information.

📩 Need Help?

If you have any questions, please contact the Health Clearance Team – we’re here to help!

Badges

All Nursing, Paramedic Science, Audiology and AHP students will be issued with a name badge.  We will take your 'Known as' name from the Student Portal and you can be edit this at any time.  Replacement badges are charged at £7.50 and take around three weeks to be delivered.

Uniform for Nursing and AHP programmes

Information on the NHS guidelines regarding uniforms can be found here. Please note the requirements regarding sleeve length. A video showing how the uniform should look, fit and feel is also available. 

Students will be emailed, during September, with instructions on how to place your order via the supplier's website. Measuring guides have been made available to us from the uniform suppliers. Please note that the uniforms are unisex so the guides are to help you get the best fit for your body type.

Measuring guide for men

Measuring guide for women

Those who require a uniform for placement will be issued with four tunics and four pairs of trousers around 2 weeks before their first placement; details will be emailed to you. All trousers will need to be hemmed as they are made with a long leg!  If you are required to pay for these, or you require an alternate size or want an extra set, tunics are charged at £5.99 each and trousers are £7.74 a pair. 

Registry will invoice students directly for these items at the point of matriculation.  Prices as at August 2024.

PLS Medical, who are not affiliated with QMU, offer a variety of footwear, all suitable for placement.  You are under no obligation to purchase from them, but it may be of interest to see what types of footwear are acceptable.

Badges

All Nursing, Paramedic Science, Audiology and AHP students will be issued with a name badge.  We will take your 'Known as' name from the Student Portal and you can be edit this at any time.  Replacement badges are charged at £7.50 and take around three weeks to be delivered.

Uniform

Students will be emailed during September with instructions on how to place your order via the supplier's web portal. 

Paramedic Science students will be issued with the following items at a core class in mid-October: