UK qualifications

• SQA Highers and Advanced Highers

  To be considered for interview, applicants must have achieved the following grades:

  • AAAAB Highers in S5 including Chemistry (A grade) and one other from Biology, Mathematics or Physics.
  • Predicted to achieve at least BBB Highers or Advanced Highers in S6 studies.

  Applicants should also note the following entry exceptions:

  • Higher qualifications should normally be obtained at the same sitting in S5. Exceptions may be made for candidates who attend schools which are unable to present pupils for five Highers at one sitting.
  • Applicants who obtain a B grade in Chemistry in S5 may be considered if they are sitting Advanced Higher Chemistry in S6.
  • If Biology, Mathematics and English have not been passed at Higher grade, each must normally have been passed at Intermediate 2 (grade A or B) or National 5 (grade A or B).
  • Human Biology may replace Biology.
  • A Higher in Intensive English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is not acceptable as one of 5 Highers required at one sitting.
  • Students unable to take missing sciences in S5 may take the missing subjects in S6. Two science subjects must be sat in the same year – either S5 or S6.
  • Offers made will be conditional and based on S6 programmes of study.
  • Advanced Highers or a mix of Highers and Advanced Highers are acceptable.

• GCE Advanced Levels

  To be considered for interview, applicants must have achieved (or be predicted to achieve) the following grades:

  • AAA Advanced Levels including Chemistry and one other from Biology, Mathematics or Physics.
  • Minimum of five A grades (grade 7 in numerical grading) at GCSE to be taken at one sitting (those with achieved Advanced Levels, may be considered with less than five A grades (grade 7 in numerical grading) at GCSE).

  Applicants should also note the following entry exceptions:

  • If Biology, Mathematics and English are not offered at Advanced (A2) or AS Level, each must normally have been passed at GCSE grade B (grade 5 in numerical grading) or better. Dual award Science is not acceptable in lieu of GCSE Biology.
  • Human Biology may replace Biology.
  • General Studies, Critical Thinking and Global Perspectives & Research are not considered.
  • Advanced Levels must be studied over a two-year period and completed in Year 13.
  • Only one of Mathematics or Further Mathematics will be considered for the three subjects required at Advanced Level.
  • Four Advanced Levels or a fourth subject at AS are not required.

• Cambridge Pre-U

  To be considered for interview, applicants must have achieved (or be predicted to achieve) the following grades:

  • D3 in three subjects including Chemistry and one other from Biology, Mathematics or Physics.
  • Minimum of five A grades (grade 7 in numerical grading) at GCSE to be taken at one sitting (those with achieved Pre-U or Advanced Levels, may be considered with less than five A grades (grade 7 in numerical grading) at GCSE).
  • A mixutre of Pre-U and Advanced Levels will be considered.

  Applicants should also note the following entry exceptions:

  • If Biology, Mathematics and English are not offered at Pre-U, Advanced (A2) or AS Level, each must normally have been passed at GCSE grade B (grade 5 in numerical grading) or better. Dual award Science is not acceptable in lieu of GCSE Biology.
  • Human Biology may replace Biology.
  • General Studies, Critical Thinking and Global Perspectives & Research are not considered.
  • Pre-U or Advanced Levels must be studied over a two-year period and completed in Year 13.
  • Only one of Mathematics or Further Mathematics will be considered for the three subjects required at Pre-U or Advanced Level.
  • Four Pre-U or Advanced Levels or a fourth subject at AS are not required.

• Welsh Baccalaureate

  To be considered for interview, applicants must have achieved (or be predicted to achieve) the following grades:

  • Applicants with Welsh Baccalaureate awards until 2017 are expected to obtain a Pass at Core Certificate (level 3) plus AA at A-level in Chemistry and one other of Biology, Mathematics or Physics.
  • Applicants from 2018 onwards are expected to obtain a grade A plus AA at A-Level in Chemistry and one other of Biology, Mathematics or Physics.

  In addition the following will be required:

  • Minimum of five A grades (grade 7 in numerical grading) at GCSE to be taken at one sitting (those with achieved Advanced Levels, may be considered with less than five A grades (grade 7 in numerical grading) at GCSE).
  • If Biology, Mathematics and English are not offered at Advanced (A2) or AS Level, each must normally have been passed at GCSE grade B (grade 5 in numerical grading) or better. Dual award Science is not acceptable in lieu of GCSE Biology.
  • Human Biology may replace Biology.
  • General Studies, Critical Thinking, and Global Perspectives and Research are not considered.
  • Advanced Levels and the Welsh Baccalaureate must be studied over a two-year period and completed in Year 13.
  • Only one of Mathematics or Further Mathematics will be considered for the three subjects required at Advanced Level.
  • Four Advanced Levels or a fourth subject at AS are not required.

• Graduate entry

  Applicants who already hold an undergraduate degree that is no more than five years old may apply to study Medicine at undergraduate level.

  To be considered for interview, applicants must have achieved the following grades:

  • Upper second or first class Honours Science degree (or equivalent) to have been obtained within last five years.
  • A grade in Chemistry at Higher or A-level, or B grade at Advanced Higher, or equivalent to have been obtained within last six years. (Upper Second or First class Honours degree in Chemistry, or degree with substantial Chemistry content will be accepted in place of A-level, Higher or Advanced Higher).
  • B grade in Biology, English and Mathematics at GCSE or equivalent.

  Applicants should also note the following:

  • Only applicants with Science Honours degrees will be considered. Those who have previously studied on undergraduate Medicine degree programmes will not be considered.
  • Applicants who have not studied Chemistry at the appropriate level at the time of leaving school or at undergraduate level might be eligible to apply if they obtain grade A (first sitting) in Higher, Advanced Higher, A-Level or equivalent post degree.
  • Applicants whose degree is more than five years old will not be considered. Further study (except for a PhD) will not be considered for a degree that is more than five years old.
  • Those offering a PhD should contact Medical Admissions for advice by emailing medical.admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk.
  • A lower second class Honours degree followed by a second degree (first or upper second class Honours, Masters or PhD) will not be accepted.
  • Entry requirements would be the same for both Scottish/EU/RUK and those who are ‘Overseas’ for fee purposes.
  • A GPA of 3.5 is considered to be the equivalent of an upper second class Honours degree. For advice with regard to degree classifications from other countries please email sturecruit@st-andrews.ac.uk.
  • A reference from your university tutor commenting on your academic performance and suitability for medicine should be part of your UCAS application. If you have not yet achieved your degree, the reference should include a predicted degree classification.
  • A university transcript of academic performance should be forwarded to the Admissions Office as supplementary information. Graduates need to supply an academic transcript of their performance at university at the time of application. Those who will be graduating should, at the time of application, supply details of undergraduate courses taken and grades obtained so far.

  Please also see the four-year ScotGEM graduate entry programme.

• Undergraduate entry

  Undergraduates on courses other than Medicine who are in first year of an undergraduate programme will be considered if they have fulfilled the School's academic entry requirements before they began their undergraduate course. They must apply by the deadline of 15 October (first semester of first undergraduate year) and have sat the UKCAT that year.

  The School will not consider applicants who have progressed to second year. Meeting minimum entry requirements will not guarantee an offer – grades will have to be competitive with grades of all those applying at the same time. No credit for the undergraduate year is given as all entrants must do the full six years of the medical degree.

  Undergraduates on Medicine courses

  Those who are already on, or have been on, an undergraduate Medicine degree programme elsewhere will not be considered.

• Other UK qualifications

  HNC, HND and SQA National Certificate qualifications are not taken into consideration for places in Medicine.

  Open University qualifications are taken into account only in the cases of those who will have graduated with a BSc Honours degree in science from the Open University by the time of the proposed entry to the Medicine course.

• Advanced Diplomas

  Advanced Diplomas currently available do not provide a progression route to Medicine at St Andrews. The School will continue to review each Advanced Diploma as it becomes available.

• AQA Baccalaureate

  A pass in the Baccalaureate will be required, along with AAA (Advanced Levels) including Chemistry and one other of Biology, Mathematics or Physics.