Vocational Studies Tutor
Vocational Studies Tutor
- Posted 01 May 2026
- Salary £220 per session paid in equal instalments over 12 months
- Job Type Clinical
- Reference197273
- Expiry 31 Aug 2026 23:45
Job description
The School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing are seeking to recruit several Vocational Studies Tutors. Vocational Studies (VS) is an integral part of first and second-year medical student education covering clinical examination skills, ethics, professionalism, communication skills, and early patient contact. These topics are taught in a weekly 3-hour session, in groups of 8-9 students with a VS tutor who teaches the same group throughout the year.
VS is taught during term times only and tutors are unable to take holidays during term time. Year 1 VS teaching takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, and Year 2 VS teaching on Wednesday and Thursday . Successful applicants would be appointed to undertake one session a week on a fixed day and time, as outlined above, depending on which session has a vacancy. Teaching is primarily in the Wolfson Medical School Building, although some clinical skills sessions and project work are undertaken at GP practices.
Year 1 VS teaching comprises 33 sessions of teaching (26 sessions are teaching days), and Year 2 VS teaching comprises 29 sessions (21 sessions teaching days). The non-teaching days comprise of one tutor development session, and the remaining sessions are for teaching preparation and time for marking coursework.
We welcome applications from individuals who are educated to MBChB and are registered with GMC. Candidates must be a practising clinician in good standing with the GMC or within 3 years of expiry of Licence to Practice and still registered with the GMC. Candidates must have completed their speciality training or GP training before commencing the role e.g. candidates can apply while still training but must have completed training prior to starting as a VS tutor.
Job Purpose
1. To foster learning within the 8 domains of Vocational Studies:
* Clinical examination skills
* Communication skills
* Medical ethics and the law
* Professionalism
* Understanding the clinical context
* People, patients and communities
- Information Skills
* Working with others/teamworking
Objectives
1. To ensure a high quality clinical educational experience for students through good preparation, planning and co-ordination of weekly sessions in the undergraduate medical curriculum within a course that focuses on the skills, behaviours, and attitudes of doctors.
2. To maintain high standards of clinical teaching, assessment, and evaluation in the undergraduate medical curriculum in line with the requirements of the General Medical Council.
Key Task Summary
1. To facilitate the delivery of the Vocational Studies curriculum.
2. To participate in the programme of tutor debrief and development.
3. To contribute to the formative and summative assessment of students and participate in marker calibration sessions.
4. To foster the welfare of students.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Key Tasks
1. To facilitate the delivery of the Vocational Studies curriculum:
* Act as facilitator of learning for a group of medical students by meeting them every week (face to face or online) of the academic year to enable them to meet the learning objectives of the VS course.
* To prepare and plan their learning by organising placement learning and patients.
* Act as personal and professional development mentor in terms of professional regulation, responsibilities, and fitness to practice.
* To teach and collaborate with other clinical teachers to ensure the achievement of learning outcomes in clinical contexts with patients for medical students through liaison with Medical Faculty and hospital staff.
* Provide a clinical base in the community and to recruit and brief patients and other members of the community involved in teaching.
2. To participate in the programme of tutor development:
* To attend briefing meetings and keep up to date with changes in course material and delivery.
* To mentor new tutors.
* To contribute to the review and evaluation of the VS course.
* To participate in appraisal by course directors if required e.g. for retired clinicians.
* To meet with other tutors to engage in the tutor debrief and development sessions.
* To reflect on student evaluation and feedback to appropriate member of VS team.
3. To contribute to the assessment of students:
* To provide formative assessment of clinical and communication skills.
* Undertake marking of VS summative coursework, including giving effective written feedback.
* Participate in OSCEs (formative and summative) and provide feedback to students.
* Provide feedback on students’ formative e-portfolios.
4. To foster the welfare of students:
* Act as a professional role model and mentor for students.
* Liaise with Advisors of Studies and the VS academic team where appropriate.
* Be aware of referral mechanisms for student welfare and advice.
Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills, and Experience
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
A1 Educated to MBChB.
A2 Registered with GMC.
A3 To be a practising clinician in good standing with the GMC or within 3 years of expiry of Licence to Practice and still registered with the GMC.
A4 Possession of professional qualifications e.g. MRCGP, MRCP, FRCS, or will have completed training before commencing the post.
A5 Must hold a current medical post within a West of Scotland Health Board (Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire & Arran, Forth Valley, or Dumfries & Galloway).
Desirable
B1 Knowledge of current educational principles and best practice in medical education.
B2 To have undertaken additional formal learning/qualification in medical education e.g. diploma or post graduate trainer’s course.
Skills
Essential
C1 Excellent understanding of effective feedback and ability to give constructive feedback.
C2 Ability to participate in tutor development sessions and continuing professional development.
C3 Advanced clinical and communication skills (written and oral).
C4 Up to date knowledge of medical, ethical, and legal issues.
C5 Excellent interpersonal and communication skills which would enhance student engagement.
C6 Excellent understanding of small group facilitation skills.
Desirable
D1 Knowledge of Glasgow’s undergraduate medical curriculum.
D2 Good IT skills/willingness to upskill as needed.
Experience
Essential
E1 Experience of teaching or of being a learner in the last 3 years.
E2 Experience of working as a General Practitioner, or speciality doctor, for the last 5 years.
Desirable
F1 Knowledge of general practice and primary care and/or healthcare in the hospital setting in West of Scotland.
F2 Accredited post-graduate trainer in general practice or educational supervisor in an undergraduate or postgraduate setting.
Terms and Conditions
Salary will be £220 per session paid in equal instalments over 12 months. Please note any national pay increases will be reflected as appropriate based on NHS uplifts.
The posts are part time for a regular 3-hourly weekly session during term time. Each year we have a mixture of open ended and temporary/fixed-term posts e.g. posts to cover an existing tutor’s maternity leave. Depending on a candidate’s availability and the vacancy requirements, you would be offered one of the two types of contracts.
VS tutors are employed as members of University staff with a contract and the option to join the University Pension Scheme or pay University-related earnings into their NHS Pension Scheme.
Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG)
The University of Glasgow is committed to safeguarding children and protected adults by ensuring that individuals in regulated roles are appropriately vetted and monitored.
The University of Glasgow’s PVG policy aligns with the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 and reflects the legal requirements effective from 1 April 2025, including the mandatory PVG Scheme membership for regulated roles.
The post for which you are applying is considered to be a regulated role under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020. Under the Act, individuals working in a regulated role must be a PVG Scheme member before employment. If you are successful in your application, the offer of employment will be conditional subject to a satisfactory PVG Scheme record check. We will be in touch regarding requirements related to this.
Further information is available at : https://www.mygov.scot/pvg-scheme
As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.
We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community here.
We endorse the principles of Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.
Informal Enquiries should be directed to Dr Lynsay Crawford, Lynsay.Crawford@glasgow.ac.uk
Interviews are scheduled for June/July 2026.
We may have vacancies during the academic year, but for those interested in becoming a Vocational Studies Tutor for the academic year 2026-2027 (starting September 2026) please apply by Monday 18 May 2026 at 23:45.
Closing Date: 31 August 2026 at 23:45.