How students are selected

The selection process for applicants to Medicine includes an assessment of all information on the application form including:

academic performance
personal statement and reference
UKCAT scores.

The School has a limited number of interview places (around 400). To be considered for interview, applicants must have:

a strong academic record
a positive reference
relevant, medically related work experience (see qualities and experience on the entry requirements page).

Applicants meeting these requirements will be ranked on the basis of their UKCAT global score. Those ranked in the top 400 or so will be given an interview. Decisions to make offers will be based on the interview score and the ‘route’ to which applicants have applied. Where applicants have the same interview score, the global UKCAT score will be used to differentiate between them.

The interview process

If chosen for interview, home, EU, and overseas students living in Britain will be invited to interview in St Andrews. Other overseas students can be interviewed by telephone or video call.

Interviews take place in December and then in the following January, February and March. Applicants who applied via UCAS will be notified of decisions via UCAS, and those who submitted a direct application will be notified via email.

The majority of decisions are made in mid-March when it is clear where applicant scores fit within the overall ranking for the different 'routes' of application.

On the day of the interview, you should bring with you one piece of photographic identification from the list below. If you do not bring an acceptable identity document, you will not be allowed to sit the interview.

The full name and date of birth on your identity document should match the name and date of birth you provided on your application through UCAS. If you applied using a name which does not exactly match your identity document, please contact the School as soon as possible after receiving your invitation to interview by emailing medical.admissions@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Acceptable identification documents:

a current (non-expired) original signed passport
a current (non-expired) signed government-issued photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
a current (non-expired) government-issued identity card that carries your photograph and signature.

If your passport was issued before your 16^th birthday, it is likely to be a child’s passport. As these are not usually signed by the passport holder, a child’s passport will not be accepted as a valid ID on its own; you will need to bring another form of identification to the interview.

If you cannot obtain one of these forms of identification above, ask your school or college to attach your photograph to its headed notepaper (original, not a photocopy), confirming your date of birth and identity. The letter should be signed by a head teacher or a senior member of staff and bear the school stamp (across the photograph). You must also sign this document.

Please note:

Bus passes, transport passes, library cards, student or school identification cards and work identification cards are not acceptable identification.
Only original identity documents will be accepted for admission to the interview. Copies or facsimiles of identification are not acceptable forms of identification.
Identification must be valid and current. Expired identification documents are not acceptable forms of identification.
Identification must be signed. If your passport ID is not signed, you must bring an alternative ID.

Interviews for entry to the School of Medicine are in the format of multiple mini interviews: usually six 'mini' interviews or 'stations' that last about six minutes each. The Situational Judgement Test (SJT) component of the UKCAT will be used as an element of the interview, with the score being incorporated into the interview score.

At the interview, you will be expected to demonstrate that you have an understanding of medicine as a career and that you appreciate the realities of working in a caring profession. Your communication and interpersonal skills will be assessed at each station, and at least one station will involve role-play and interaction with an actor. You will also be assessed on your ability to discuss ethical issues.

If you have any additional support needs, please let the medical admissions team know about these well in advance of the interview so that they can consider what special adjustments might be put in place.

There are a large number of applicants to interview, so candidates are expected to accept the date offered for interview. The School will try to offer another date if there is an exceptional reason for a candidate not being able to attend; for example, attending another interview or sitting an examination or due to ill health.

If a candidate becomes ill near to or on the interview date, they should let the School know as soon as possible. The School will endeavour to offer another date, but will only be able to do so if they have spaces on other interview dates that have been scheduled.

Feedback on application

The information on UCAS track will include some feedback as to why an applicant was unsuccessful in their application. Applicants can request additional feedback in writing or by email. It is likely that the medical admissions office will not be in a position to respond to feedback requests until all decisions have been made, which should be by the end of March.

Requests for feedback must be received by the end of May; no response will be given to requests received after that deadline. Inquiries should be submitted to:

Medical Admissions Officer
University of St Andrews
Admissions Application Centre
St Katherine’s West
The Scores
St Andrews
KY16 9AX

Email: myapplication@st-andrews.ac.uk

Please see the University’s undergraduate admissions policy for information on the appeal process.

Courses archive

How students are selected

The interview process

Identification

The interview

Touring the School

What if I am unable to attend the interview?

Feedback on application